Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
So each grand lodge can practice "Freemasonry" as they so wish? That would make the fraternal order as a whole a bit amorphous.

You hit the nail on the head. There IS no central governing body over all of Freemasonry. Which is why it doesn't make any sense to say that it's part of a conspiracy.

Originally posted by vcwxvwligen
So each grand lodge can practice "Freemasonry" as they so wish? That would make the fraternal order as a whole a bit amorphous.

While every Grand Lodge is autonomous we are all regulated by the basic principles of Freemasonry.

It is somewhat weird going to other Lodges in different States. There are some subtle differences, but everything is essentially the same.

Originally posted by depth om
You don't know what the other lodge does.

We do know what the other Grand Lodge does. Minutes of the Grand Lodges are sent out to other jurisdictions. What big boys? There is no other body that governs outside the Grand Lodge.

Originally posted by Icarus_Fallen

Originally posted by LowLevelMason ...33rd degree masons are no different than anyone else. [...]

The nature of the honor suggests otherwise. Unlike the three initial degrees of The Symbolic Lodge and the additional 29 S.R. degrees available to the general population, the 33rd degree cannot be sought. It's an honor reserved for the select few. That is, one must be recommended for it. Obviously, anyone so honored would be deemed a cut above the average 32nd degree Mason.



[edit on 12/28/2008 by Icarus_Fallen]

First off, your ignorance is showing. Sorry to be so blunt but it really jerks my chain to have non-Masons claim they know more about Freemasonry than those of us who are Masons do.

The 33rd degree exists only in Scottish Rite Freemasonry and nowhere else. NOWHERE ELSE! It is an honorary degree given to those who have been considered to have make exceptional contributions to scholarship and knowledge within Freemasonry or to have made exceptional contributions to their communities and society at large. Any other bilge water you may believe is total bunk. I recently attended the awarding of a 32nd degree SR Mason to the 33rd degree and it was based on his contribution to numerous charities and decades of involvement in Freemasonry. My father will be receiving his 33rd later this year and he will have no more of the secret powers that you non Masonic conspiracy theorists believe in than he had when he was a 32nd degree.

Also, you are incorrect to say that that the 33rd degree is higher than other degrees. In Freemasonry, there is no degree higher than that of Master Mason in the blue lodge or Craft system. Once you are a Master Mason, you may achieve side degrees which add to your understanding of the degrees you already have, but there is no degree higher than MM which is why many Masons never go any farther than the 3rd degree.

It galls me to no end to constantly read the garbage spewed by non-Masons who somehow think because they have read a few conspiracy theory books byother non Masons and watched all the videos on youtube about Masonry, that they no more than men who have been in the Order for 50 years. Do yourself a favor, go to your local lodge and offer to by the lodges secretary a cup of coffee and he will lay it all out for you as it really is. Not this David Icke reptilian crapola that so many of you follow and actually swallow as the truth.

Im a proud Freemason, and though I havent been for very long, look forward to being for many decades just like my father.

Ive also found that many of the wingnuts out there who think they have Freemasonry pinned down as some kind of Satanic world-dominating cult are just really those who wanted to be Freemasons and got blackballed when they petitioned and so have an axe to grind and will therefore say anything to make Freemasons look like monsters and cultmember satan worshippers.

Get over it. You probably didnt get in because you are a chowderhead and we do have our standards for membership.

Join the Rotary and move on.

Originally posted by RuneSpider
He was referring to Myrddinzos, who my own last post was to.
The 33rd degree is part of the Scottis Rite, it's members are honored according to the auspices of the Scottish Rite.
If one were to work at it, someone could gain an invitation to the Knights Templar of the York Rite, or entrance to one of other side orders that are invitation or action based for entry.
Each Rite system to their own.

First of all, there are invitational Rites and Orders within Freemasonry, like the Order of the Secret Monitor (which has as its sole purpose to look after Brothers who are sick, their wives and children, etc), but the Masonic Knights Tempar is not one of them. The KT is the final "degree" if the so called York or American Rite and anyone who is willing to swear that he is a Christian or will defend the Christian faith is allowed to join the Masonic Knights Templar. The York Rite Consists of the Royal Arch degrees, the Cryptic degrees (which I myself intend to work) and the degree of the Knights Templar. As I am not a Christian, I feel it would be hypocritical of me to say I was or pretend to be a defender of Christianity just to become a Knight Templar. Frankly, to me as a Mason, it just isnt that important. Just like becoming a Shriner. They arent my cup of tea, so i wont take part in that particular side body of Freemasonry. And for clarity, the Shriners arent really a side body of Masonry, but a seperate club which requires that a man be a Master Mason to apply for membership in the Shrine. The whole point of the Shrine is fun and cheritable work and the kind of fun they have just doesnt interest me so I wont join.

Man..what is it going to take to get you people to read books or ask qustions of actual Masons and not the friend of a friend of a Mason. Read a frigging book.

Originally posted by emsed1
I found a nice little quote that might work for this thread. It's from the much-maligned and much-venerated Manly Hall, but it's true:

"All true Masons know that their work is not secret.

They also realize that it must remain unknown to all who do not live the true Masonic Life.

If the secrets of Masonry were shouted from the housetops they would be absolutely safe. Certain spiritual qualities are necessary before Masonic secrets can be understood by the Brothers themselves. It is only those who have been weighed in the balance and found true, upright, and square who have prepared themselves by their own growth to appreciate the inner meanings of their Craft.

To the rest of their Brethren within or without the Lodge their sacred rituals must remain, as Shakespeare might have said, "Words, words, words."

Within the Mason's own being is concealed the Power, which, blazing forth from his purified being, constitutes the Builder's Word. His life is the password which admits him to the true Masonic Lodge.

His spiritual urge is the sprig of acacia which through the darkness of ignorance still proves that spiritual fire is alight. Within himself he must build those qualities which will make possible his true understanding of the Craft.

He can show the world only forms which mean nothing; the life within is forever concealed until the eye of Spirit reveals it."

Manly Hall

I like the part about a Mason's 'life' being his password. That, for me, is what it all boils down to.

I think our grips and passwords, etc. are just symbols to remind us that one day we are going to (as Monty Python puts it):

- cease to be

- expired and gone to meet the Maker

- bereft of life

- resting in peace

- pushing up the daisies

- metabolic processes are now history

- off the twig, kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtains and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!

--

At that point we are going to need a password and I don't think a handshake or silly word will do it. Our 'password' (and indeed the password of any person, mason or not) is going to be a life well-spent, helping others, loving our neighbors and God.

Anyway, I thought Hall's quote was poignant and (hopefully my brothers agree) exactly on target.

So mote it be, my Brother. It just doesnt get any more well said than the combination of Hall's words and yours. Clearly you are not only a true Mason in every sense of the word, but a credit to what our founding Brothers had int heir minds and hearts when the Order was founded. I hope that you receive all teh wages due to you in your travels and that you may know an abundance of corn, wine and oil all your days.

Again, I say, so mote it be.

Originally posted by Checkered Pavement
First of all, there are invitational Rites and Orders within Freemasonry, like the Order of the Secret Monitor (which has as its sole purpose to look after Brothers who are sick, their wives and children, etc)

I disagree with the statement that this is the sole purpose of OSM. I think it unites the brethren in a bond of friendship like no other side order.

What about friendly visitations? What about making sure your brother doesn't make harmful decisions?

I would say that friendship is the main theme of OSM, not sickness.