Why aren't Masons secretive like the Illuminati?, page 1

I'd like to make a few comments on this thread.

Most Masonic Lodges are run and managed at the local level, with some influence from the Grand Lodge of the particular state. Some of the influence from the Grand Lodge is related to Masonic ritual - keeping the ritual intact. But the management of the day to day operations of a Lodge happens primarily at the local level.

In years past, Masonic Lodges tended to attract prominent people within a local community - businessmen, police officers, mayors, etc.

Over the years, this has all changed. Masonic membership has been dwindling, and membership continues to decline as older members pass on. There is apt to be a resurgence and heightened interest in the years ahead, but not like the membership increases seen after WWII.

Secondly, once a man becomes a Master Mason (3rd degree), he then can choose to participate in the Lodge functions - meetings, initiations of new members, etc. The attrition at this level is - by my personal experience - generally high.

Most members go through the first 3 degrees, then attend meetings from time to time or sporadically. Only the die-hards - as in any organization - stick it out and become the officers of the Lodge. Becoming an officer and moving up the chain of command in the local Lodge can take several years. First years as a Steward...One year as a Jr. Deacon, second year as a Sr. Deacon, third year as a Jr. Warden, then fourth year as a Sr. Warden, then the opportunity to become the Worshipful Master. As you can see, it takes several years to make it to this level even at the local level.

You are correct in stating that there is quite a bit of public information on the fraternity. This is true, and not difficult to find if someone spends just a modicum of effort in research at their local library or via the web.

In terms of the "Illuminati", I would only suggest a few things to consider. First, if there is even such a thing as the Illuminati, these will be the very, very active Masons that are involved heavily at their local level, and also at the Grand Lodge level. They also may hold leadership positions in the Scottish Rite, York Rite, and in America, the Shriners. These are the people that run Masonry from an operational standpoint.

Now, this does not take into account what I call the aristocratic families with long bloodlines of power and prestige. The Windsor family, for example, supports Freemasonry, but you won't find them attending the local Lodges. They are more active politically on an international level, but not necessarily in the functions of the daily operations of a local Lodge.

So I see two levels - First, the local level of movers and shakers within a community, many of which will be active in fraternal organizations and their local church.

Then you have a whole other level, of much more power, decision-making power, and international political power. If anyone qualifies as power brokers at the "Illuminati" level, it is this level. I would put the Pope, the President of the United States, the leaders in the United Nations, the Queen of England and all of the European aristocracy, as well as the major power brokers in the Bilderbergerss as falling into this "higher" category - Rockefellers, Rothschilds, etc. I would also put the very, very wealthy into this category, as well as the major military leaders around the world.

At the head of the pyramid is the Pope - externally at least. Internally, within the Illuminati, there are probably power brokers that are not visible ot the general public pulling strings. Icke talks about the head of the Illuminati being a character called, "Pindar". My guess is that you will never know for sure who runs the show unless you are involved at the highest levels of these organizations, so it would be pure speculation as to who actually is at the top. Nevertheless, Freemasons do occupy these higher levels - Catholic Cardinals surrounding the Pope for example.