Originally posted by yankeerose
they are sworn to protect one another... even to the point of perjury.
Where do you get stuff like this? Have you actually read our ritual? For someone who says they are suspicious, you seem to not have done any research
on all the PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE RITUAL.
If you had, you would notice things like this:
In the State you are to be a quiet and peaceable citizen, true to your government and just to your country. You are not to countenance
disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country in which you
live.
That comes from the CHARGE (the, "heres what you need to do now" part) of the first degree. Well now, there goes your whole "sworn to protect to
the point of perjury" down the drain. I again am amazed that people just don't read the publically available ritual. If they did, it would be
obvious that many of these beleifs are simply wrong.
Originally posted by yankeerose
All I am trying to say is I find it amazing that they are even being charged. You hardly ever hear of these claims being investigated much less
actually charged. Why? Because Masons are involved in every level of the process... they are the cops, detectives, doctors, district attorneys,
judges, politicians... and they are sworn to protect one another... even to the point of perjury. In my opinion they are almost
untouchable.
I am always amazed with the absolutely huge amounts of power people give masons. My lodge cannot even coordinate a pancake breakfast, yet masons are
somehow capable of escaping the iron hand of the law.
Rotary club members, college fraternity and sorority members are involved in every level of the process...they are the cops, detectives, doctors,
district attorneys, judges, politicians. AGAIN, I ask, why are you not suspicious with them? They are charged with crimes too, you know.
Originally posted by yankeerose
No one can deny the great charitable work Freemasons have done. One should be in awe of their brotherhood, and the power they have to do great things
for society.
But wait - didn't you just call all shriners liars, adulterers, drunks, etc.? While I am happy to see this admission, it certainly isn't consistent
with your other posts. Not all masons are shriners, but all shriners are masons.
Originally posted by yankeerose
But there is also a very dark side to Freemasonry. With great blessings comes great responsibility. I pray that the members will at least police their
own, and attempt to live by the standards that they themselves would find abhorent if it were to happen to their own.
I realize its sexy to say things like "there is a dark side," but would you explain to me what this nefarious sounding verbiage is supposed to mean?
I would love to see an example of any mason who has been tried and convicted of a crime who was not kicked out of all their masonic bodies, or a group
of masons who did something wrong who did not have their charter revoked. Tell me, where is this "dark side "of perverting justice and unchecked
corruption?
I do not know of anyone, mason or non-mason, who thinks masons are prefect. They are men, and in their capacity as men, they do bad things. But that
has nothing to do with their masonic affiliation.
Originally posted by yankeerose
If the accusations made against these Shriners are true, then they should be punished as any other non Mason would be. No one should be above the
law... not in America.
This is a very clear straw man attempt. Is anyone arguing that shriners are above the law, and does anyone think that, if true, these people should
not be punished? No. But by making this argument, you give the illusion that someone would somehow disagree with it - but no one does.
