Questions about Masonry: an open and honest forum, page 3


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reply posted on 3-4-2007 @ 07:17 PM by Rockpuck
Originally posted by Masonic Student
To all the brothers here and anyone intrested.

Simlply out of curiosity, how many hold to the "from the operative" theory and how many hold to the "from the english templars" theory? Or a third or fourth theory for that matter? I'm refering to the origens of Free Masonry.

As for me I've come around to the "from the english templars" theory myself.


It is my belief (and I do intend to investigate next year in Scotland) that when the Templar where persecuted the Scots harbored and assisted in protecting Templar activity off the coast of Scotland, citing the Templar navy engaged in pirate activity against the English and French disrupting trade in retaliation..

While in hiding living as normal Scots would, they took in local folk lore and various Gaelic culture, mixing with Christianity, Judaism and various other mythological religions..

It came together after I would say 150 years or so of hiding into an actual brother hood, fashioned after Gaelic Druidic orders, including the three degrees to membership and so on..

The Templar / Masonic groups even engaged in several battles with the Scotts against the English ensuring their protectorates survival until they willingly signed over to the United Kingdom, which I believe was very much so Masonic involved..

There is quite a bit of evidence I see to support my claims, including in Roslyn Chapel all over the walls and pillars is...... the Green Man..





An estimated 150 green men reside in Roslyn Chapel.

The Green Man is most typically within Gaelic culture expressed in association with rebirth.

Within the craft its self I see as the most significant indications to Gaelic influences within the verbal communication -- every thing must be memorized, the objective is threw word of mouth are the secrets of the craft pass down to those seeking further or more light, and the degree system its self which Gaelic culture in the form of druidic religions have used for thousands of years.

This is just a very short description of my hypothesis.. I can't wait for the chance to study early Masonic architecture and literature in Scotland for my self.


reply posted on 3-4-2007 @ 09:04 PM by Trinityman
Originally posted by Rockpuck
To carry on with Masonry being a religion, I believe Masonic Student hit it head on..

It is a philosophy.. or rather a collection of philosophies..

Indeed. And it is the fact that the philosophy is based on Judeo-Christian moral values that drives the confusion. Despite the fact that freemasonry is open to all men who profess a belief in a 'Supreme Being', it was originally a Christian organization. All the lessons taught within freemasony are illustrated by passages and excerpts from the Old Testament, but are broad enough to appeal to a wider audience.

It is a difficult sometimes to draw a distinction between the religion and the 'supporting material', which is what freemasonry is, really. The lessons are broad enough to be interpreted in a number of different ways, which is its power and why it works so well for so many diverse individuals.

Unfortunately that broad interpretation means it can be easily twisted and misinterpreted, and that is what we see anti-masons doing. Not, for the most part, ATS posters, but the people who set up poisonous web sites for the sole purpose of discrediting the Craft.

I'm reminded of a poem by a famous freemason:

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools...

...Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!




reply posted on 4-4-2007 @ 08:17 AM by Masonic Student
Originally posted by xpert11
OK I have a few basic questions.

Why do you have to believe in a higher power to become a Mason ?
Why is does secrecy still surround aspects of Masonry ?
Is Free Masonry and Masonry the same organisation ?

Surely if there still wasn't a blanket of secrecy chances are many of the conspiracy theories wouldn't exist. I have never known a mason in person little alone have them cause me any trouble. A thanks in advance for answering my questions.


To take them in order.

The reason for the requirement of a belief in a higher power is that we depend on a man's "word" being good. Without a belief in a higher power outside this reality then there is nothing holding him to that "word"

There really is no secrecy left, if you substitute the word "privacy" instead it would be more accurate. We so swear by our own God to keep the secrets of masonry but they are readily avalible on the internet. But we do so out of tradition and most of us take our oaths seriously. For example what is said in lodge is really only the business of the members, sort of like what you talk about at home is noone else's business but yours.

Both free masonry and masonry as used here are really just short hand versions of the full name of the order in N. C. it is Anchient Free and Accepted Masons, in some states it is Free and acceped Free Masons.

I do sertainly agree with you the secrecy lablel is a problem, but it is not likely to go away any time soon. We will keep our traditions, all we can do is try and adress the misconceptions at forums like this. Convincing people that it a matter of privacy not secrecy is like trying to prove a negative.

[edit on 4-4-2007 by Masonic Student]

mod edit; misc. spelling/punctuation

[edit on 4/4/2007 by benevolent tyrant]
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