Is there any truth to the "Goat race" rumour? Apparently at some lodges the Masons will get modified and take to goat back to race one another in a bizarre relay style contest. I can't remember where I heard this now... I think it was from a Mason himself, but he was probably joking. I hope he wasn't, though. I'd respect Masons even more if they were actually that disturbed.

Has anyone ever thought of fitting the animals with motorbike wheels and throttle ears?

Originally posted by Animal


Am I right though in thinking you have no proof of where the rituals came from and no proof of who made them?

That's pretty much the case. The fraternity was practicing a form of initiation in the middle ages, although nothing anywhere near as elaborate as it is today. It pretty much consisted of an oath and the formal presentation of working tools.

The modern ritual's origin is really anybody's guess. Some point toward Elias Ashmole. Ashmole was not only a scholar of antiquities, but also a Rosicrucian and alchemist. If we could pinpoint an Ashmole connection to ritual composition, that would be a glorious day...but so far, we can't. We know that he was one of the first non-stonemasons to join a Masonic Lodge, but that's about it. The only record he left behind concerning Freemasonry was that he had been initiated, and that he had been summoned to a meeting many years later.

Desaguliers also could have authored the ritual. There is a possibility of Rosicrucian learning with him as well, although not so blatant as Ashmole.

Some have suggested that the Rev. James Anderson may have composed the Master Mason ceremony. This is possible, but pure speculation.

Still others have suggested that the Master Mason ceremony was composed by English Jacobins. According to this theory, the Grand Master Hiram represented Prince Charles Edward Stuart, and the ceremony symbolically taught that he should be restored to the British throne.

Even Pike, at least partially, believed this last theory, but to me it seems contrived. The Masonic legend of Hiram seems to me to be based on that of Christian Rosenkreutz, as detailed in the Fama Fraternitatis of the Rosicrucians.

Originally posted by Animal
Am I right though in thinking you have no proof of where the rituals came from and no proof of who made them? I have been under the impression that they are in some way disconnected from historical record.

*shrug* The same could be said of the ritual cannibalism some Christians perform.

Originally posted by JoshNorton

*shrug* The same could be said of the ritual cannibalism some Christians perform.

Just to be clear I also refuse to participate in above mentioned ritual. Actually I refuse to participate in ANY blood-drinker cult.

[edit on 10-6-2008 by Animal]

Originally posted by Animal
Just to be clear I also refuse to participate in above mentioned ritual. Actually I refuse to participate in ANY blood-drinker cult.

So what qualifies as ritual that you WOULD perform? I mean, honestly, can you name one ritual that you can definitively cite the origin of, unless you created it yourself?

i have replied to this thread and I can't find my responses...What gives
I find this an interesting topic anyone care to elaborate on my missing posts?

EDIT: i see that my linked avatar is missing hence i could not find myself...

the goat riding- i heard that too, and the actually blood letting they said i would need to show some to pass through the 1st


[edit on 10-6-2008 by fiorano]

G.A.O.T.U. /goat : a simple misplay of words that turned into a common Joke. In the past there were even a few companies that built goats that could be riden. I think you can read about them on the Pheinox Masonry web Page. I sure some of the guys here can direct you to better sources.

I think the Mason's Symbol looks like a swing and there are two boys (at bottom) sitting on the swing. Isn't that what it is? Does anybody know? It looks exactly like the same scenes on the Penny, as if they were the same hidden message. I noticed it first in Abe Lincoln's Head,( In his hair) then at several different angles too.Some scenes differ in ways. The boys are swinging so high,that they look scared. To find these scenes, You have to catch the light to hit the correct angle that reveals a scene. I had the penny upside down,and tilted it towards the right side until some raised images appear at the same time. Then I tilted it back and forth repeatedly,( like a swing)until Penny was almost flat,which helped me to find other scenes like it I used a loupe or magnifying glass to see details. After you find one scene, keep turning penny slightly to see other scenes like it,that duplicate A swing and children/boys on it.

Originally posted by sierragoose
I think the Mason's Symbol looks like a swing and there are two boys (at bottom) sitting on the swing. Isn't that what it is?

No.

The Masonic symbol is a compass superimposed over a square of 90 degrees. In the United States and Canada, the letter G is included in the center.