Mason lodges can change thepasswords and secret handhakes at any time, so no. this wont "crash the freemasons" and is likely to be completly irrelevent as most lodges change things like this periodially

Originally posted by monkeybus
Mason lodges can change thepasswords and secret handhakes at any time, so no. this wont "crash the freemasons" and is likely to be completly irrelevent as most lodges change things like this periodially

This is news to me.

We have had the same secrets since 1717 (officially) but those won't get ya into a meetin'.

Originally posted by monkeybus
really? secrets or secret hanshakes?

Step, Due Guard, Penal Sign, Grip, Word, Pass Grip, Pass Word... All the same as they have been for at least 120 years as far as I can tell. Likely longer. Why would you want to change them?

Originally posted by AugustusMasonicus

Originally posted by emsed1
...drink chocolate milk...

We get beer...........jealous? I know Rockpuck is...............mmmmmmm...............beeeeeeeeeeer.

You got Beer in Jersey ? Lucky bastage !

You know I have no problem believing that Masons are not as bad they are portrayed sometimes. I do however have a problem believing all Masons sit around eating turkey sandwiches and doing mundane things like it is a book club for housewives.

C'mon, really? Maybe some lodges do that, but you can't seriously be telling us that the most powerful people on the planet are in one of the most secretive secret societies ever and all they do is sit around and eat snacks?

If so, why all the secrecy? If you jerks have gone to such great lengths to hide the fact that you are some of the most boring people alive, then that is just as bad as conspiring to take over the world.

Originally posted by Santeria
You know I have no problem believing that Masons are not as bad they are portrayed sometimes. I do however have a problem believing all Masons sit around eating turkey sandwiches and doing mundane things like it is a book club for housewives.

C'mon, really? Maybe some lodges do that, but you can't seriously be telling us that the most powerful people on the planet are in one of the most secretive secret societies ever and all they do is sit around and eat snacks?

If so, why all the secrecy? If you jerks have gone to such great lengths to hide the fact that you are some of the most boring people alive, then that is just as bad as conspiring to take over the world.

Hi,

We have been called far worse things before.

It brings up a question I want to ask though. What have masons done to make you think we are bad?

I mean we discuss all the good things masons do all the time here (charities, philanthropy). These things are all visible in the community.

Nobody has ever been able to show proof that masons are 'bad' or 'conspiring' to take over the world.

Do you have any experiences or evidence?

If there is a reason you think we are jerks then we should address it. As a mason I would not tolerate my brothers treating people unkindly, taking advantage of someone or using any part of masonry for their personal benefit.

If you know something please share it. I am very interested in your thoughts but I don't think it's fair to call us 'jerks' for no reason.

Thanks!

Well let me apologize for the wording in my previous post. I didn't mean that all Masons are jerks or that the Masons that post here are jerks. It was more of a rhetorical "you".

I am very aware of the good works that Masons do and I know personally many Masons who are great people. My father is a low-level Mason and several other people I know very well are Shriners.

I also have been reading and studying these things long enough to know the other side of the coin. There is no way to know for sure what is true and what isn't as far as the theories go. But, I don't see how anyone can deny that Freemasonry has been a major player behind the curtain in world events for the past few centuries at least. Whether it is organized Masonry behind it, or just some of the highest ranking members of Masonry who are involved, the fact remains that they are involved.

I just think it is extremely naive to think that all Masons sit around and hold lame meetings as described earlier in this thread. Masonry is bigger than that, we all know it. There are decent number of Masons here, but you are just a sample. 15 or 20 of the most powerful people in every decent sized town or city in America belong to this club, it is an insult to them and to ourselves to think they don't use that kind of organized power to their advantage. Where and when it has happened is up in the air... but to say all the conspiracy talk is just hype is pretty stupid.

[edit on 8/5/2008 by Santeria]

Originally posted by RWPBR
You got Beer in Jersey ? Lucky bastage !

We certainly do, and it is my favorite kind.....free and cold. Ahhh, the kegulator, one of mankind's greatest inventions.

Originally posted by Santeria
You know I have no problem believing that Masons are not as bad they are portrayed sometimes. I do however have a problem believing all Masons sit around eating turkey sandwiches and doing mundane things like it is a book club for housewives.

C'mon, really? Maybe some lodges do that, but you can't seriously be telling us that the most powerful people on the planet are in one of the most secretive secret societies ever and all they do is sit around and eat snacks?

If so, why all the secrecy? If you jerks have gone to such great lengths to hide the fact that you are some of the most boring people alive, then that is just as bad as conspiring to take over the world.

Still a new member here, but I thought I would throw in my 2¢, as this post really did get to me.

Believe what makes you happy, but try to keep it to yourself, if it is an opinion backed by little information, or disinformation. The better course of action would be to just ask.

Try to look up some facts on what you're bashing here. Masons preach nothing but Friendship, Brotherhood, Respect, Charity, and Attempting to better the current stock of Humanity's Knowledge, and Understanding.

Anyways, Take care in future posts please... People don't need their beliefs challenged in such a way.

Are any of the other masons on ATS getting sick of the phrase "low-level", "high-level" masons that the non-masons say?

it is to me...GRRR

btw we aren't aloud to have alcohol in my lodge (California) i don't know why. personally i think it would be hilarious to get the elderly brethren drunk and try to open lodge up "correctly"

Next thing you know the baphomet statue comes out everyone gets naked and.......opps don't want to give away to much info about what happens in the 3rd degree!!

lol

Originally posted by bushidomason
Are any of the other masons on ATS getting sick of the phrase "low-level", "high-level" masons that the non-masons say?

You have to take it from where it is coming from. This is a conspiracy site and the majority of posters will be those who believe in such. Those who have truly done their research will not make such pronouncements and will have a more open and rational approach to discussing Masonry and Masons.

btw we aren't aloud to have alcohol in my lodge (California) i don't know why. personally i think it would be hilarious to get the elderly brethren drunk and try to open lodge up "correctly"

My heart pains for you. Next time I down a frosty one after the lodge meeting I will most assuredly think of your plight.

I think it is great that the Masons here are passionate enough to respond and minimize accusations so diligently. My posts are not a personal attack on any of you and I'm not trying to make you out as liars.

That being said, the fact remains that you guys are just a select few Masons from a select few lodges. Obviously, by the descriptions given, you all attend pretty average and mundane lodges. The fact that you don't participate in or have knowledge of a conspiracy doesn't mean that Masons don't conspire. The fact that you totally rule out any notion that some important Masons conspired in the past makes you naive.

Frankly, I find it suspicious that the Masons here are so adamant about showing that Freemasonry is just a secret club that does totally normal and mundane things except it is a secret. I mean, one of you even quotes Albert Pike in your signature! The Scottish Rite and the York Rite are real. The levels are real and meaningful. Membership in the club by a good many of the players who shaped the world for the past 300 years is real. Yet, you guys act annoyed that people refer to the levels with meaning (low-level and high-level).

I'm not saying I know how to connect all the dots or that I know specifically what level of involvement Freemasonry or its highest members have had in the crimes of history. You can erase and criticize the lines people draw all you want, but you can't erase the dots and until you explain why the lines don't connect to Freemasonry than people will keep asking questions about the dots.