Originally posted by Occult_Science
I study in school of magic founded by my brother Vlad.
The disciplines on the introductory stage are Occultism, Qabalah, Tarot, Astrology, Runes, Practical and ritual magic. On next stages other disciplines will be added. I cannot say anything more, since it is an area forbidden for discussion.

Your not allowed to disccuss knowledge that has been available to the public for several hundred years? now that worries me more then anything people think the masons are doing.

And to the subject of the thread... the only masonic secret i want to know is this uber secret pancake recipe i keep hearing about. does it go well with peanut butter? or is that something i will learn when i become 33rd*??



[edit on 21-10-2008 by Secret Master]

Originally posted by Secret Master

... the only masonic secret i want to know is this uber secret pancake recipe i keep hearing about ...

You know, it's not that it's a secret recipe, it's that it's a recipe with secrets. Huge difference.

I'm not saying that these are the exact pancakes that Hiram ate after his ordeal, but presupposing Solomon invited him back to the Temple coffee shop for a quick bite and to get his strength back, they might have enjoyed fellowship over a plate of same. Maple syrup was hard to come by in those days, so they would have used fig or date or apricot sauce instead. (Don't laugh - that part is actually true.)

Here, then, is the ...

ANCIENT AND APPROVED SEMI-SECRET MYSTIC BUTTERMILK PANCAKES* OF HIRAM AND HIS COMPANIONS

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1/2 teaspoon for griddle

DIRECTIONS:

Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons butter; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps.

Heat oven to 175 degrees. Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Using a pastry brush, brush remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter or reserved bacon fat onto griddle. Wipe off excess.

Using a 4-ounce ladle, about 1/2 cup, pour pancake batter, in pools 2 inches away from one other. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over USING A NON-STICK TROWEL. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.

Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heatproof plate in oven. Serve warm.

* With grateful appreciation to Martha Stewart, from whom this recipe was purloined because the original was lost sometime during the Middle Ages.

Originally posted by Sandalfon
* With grateful appreciation to Martha Stewart, from whom this recipe was purloined because the original was lost sometime during the Middle Ages.

So what you're saying is that the original recipe was lost with the death of Hiram Abiff, but a substitute recipe has been passed down until such time as the real recipe might be rediscovered? Yeah, that sounds about right. (I was always more a chicken & waffles guy, myself...)

I am aware that to become a freemason you must believe in God, correct?

So, I have a question and I am very curious to hear what different masons have to say about this. Do you Masons believe in Jesus?

Please elaborate, I am dying with curiosity here. Thank You!

Originally posted by 12.21.12
So, I have a question and I am very curious to hear what different masons have to say about this. Do you Masons believe in Jesus?

Christian Masons do. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, pagan or other Masons might not.

As a follow up question can you also tell me about the symbolism you use, more specifically the beehive?

Would you care to explain how this works and the meaning behind it for us non-masons? Thanks again!

Originally posted by JoshNorton

Originally posted by 12.21.12
So, I have a question and I am very curious to hear what different masons have to say about this. Do you Masons believe in Jesus?

Christian Masons do. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, pagan or other Masons might not.

Thank you! But I was more less asking for your personal opinion. Would you care to try again?

Originally posted by 12.21.12
As a follow up question can you also tell me about the symbolism you use, more specifically the beehive?

That I can do. I happen to have my monitor handy...

The Bee Hive

Is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in the heavens to the lowest reptile of the dust. It teaches us that, as we came into the world endowed as rational and intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented while our fellow creatures around us are in want, when it is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience to ourselves.

When we take a survey of nature, we view man in his infancy more helpless and indigent than the brute creation; he lies languishing for days, months and years, totally incapable of providing sustenance for himself, or guarding against the attack of wild beasts of the field or sheltering himself from the inclemencies of the weather.

It might have pleased the great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man independent of all other beings; but, as dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society, mankind were made dependent upon each other for protection and security, as they thereby enjoy better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active life; the noblest part of the work of God; and he will so demean himself as not to be endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless member of society, and unworthy of our protection as Masons.

from the Monitor of the Lodge

Originally posted by 12.21.12

Originally posted by JoshNorton

Originally posted by 12.21.12
So, I have a question and I am very curious to hear what different masons have to say about this. Do you Masons believe in Jesus?

Christian Masons do. Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, pagan or other Masons might not.

Thank you! But I was more less asking for your personal opinion. Would you care to try again?

No, you asked if Masons believed in Jesus. You didn't ask if I did.

But to answer the question you failed to ask, no. I've never made any claims to be Christian, myself. I've sung latin masses in great cathedrals around the world, and I've danced naked with a bunch of self-described witches around a bonfire. In the end, I rejected both and found my own path. What does this have to do with Masonry?

Originally posted by 12.21.12
As a follow up to that question. It was said that the pope condemned members of the catholic church from becoming a member of a masonic lodge? Is this true?

Yes, there are papal edicts dating back more than 150 years that claim that Freemasonry and Catholicism are incompatible.

If so, would a masonic lodge allow a member of the catholic church who wishes to become a member or would you deny this person from initiation into your fraternal order?

If so, why?

No, they'd be welcomed as brothers. As part of the interview process, we don't ask what religion someone is. We only ask if they believe in God. If the interviewer happened to know that the candidate was Catholic, he might inform said candidate of the church's view (if the interviewer happened to know that...) But there's not an exclusionary policy regarding Catholics from the Mason's point of view.