reply to post by network dude
Let the Truth Be Told: FreeMasonry
Modern day Freemasonry can trace its lineage back to the late 1600’s to the early 1700’s. While some try to connect Freemasonry with Ancient
Egypt, the documentation doesn’t support this.
Most FreeMason lodges are “Blue” lodges, this means they only contain three Masonic Degrees, these three degrees are as follows:
Entered Apprentice = 1st Degree
FellowCraft = 2nd Degree
Master Mason = 3rd Degree
Within these degrees the subject of religion is not the cornerstone of the brotherhood. In fact within these degrees the members religion only comes
into play during the rituals. At those times the holy book being used is that which is sacred to that lodge or brother. So in a Christian lodge the
Holy Bible is used, in a Muslim lodge the Holy Koran is used. It is the same practice for all of the other religions. They hold sacred the brothers
belief, so much so that the brothers are never asked to reveal who their god is. Instead they are asked to declare a belief in a supreme being (in
doing so it assumed that they directly relate this supreme being to whatever religion they follow). In the Masonic rituals this supreme being is
referred to as the Great Architect of the Universe.
The blue lodges teach its brothers to be good men. They are to be charitable, kind and generous. They are to strive to be the best man they can
become. It is of the utmost importance that the members strive to be the best person they possible can. Each brother is not only responsible for
himself but they are also responsible for their brothers. If a brother is in need, others must respond. If the community is need the brothers will
act. Freemasons on the whole are a very respectful, decent group of men.
If this is the truth, why are they shrouded in controversy?
The controversy comes from the appendant Masionic orders. These appendant orders require its members to be 3rd degree Masons and they have added
several degrees for their members to ascend. The Scottish Rite for example has a total of 33 degrees. As one ascends into the higher degrees they
begin to learn the secrets of the sect. Once the secrets are learned the brothers are forbidden from revealing these secrets to anyone, including
their brothers in the lower degrees. It is because of these secrets that Masons have been given the title of a “Secret Society.”
It is at this point where Masonry takes a twist. The person who wrote and established the 33 degrees in the Scottish Rite is none other than Albert
Pike. Mr. Pike happened to also pen the foundational book for this group. The book is called Morals and Dogma. It is in this book as well as books
from Manly P. Hall and various others that the mystery comes into play. Some of the passages in these books seem to tie these appendant orders to
Luciferianism. Some say it is at these higher levels where one learns the identity of Great Architect of the Universe.
Let me make it clear, I am not a Mason. I have studied the subject and I have satisfied my own curiosity. For any of you that are not Masons, I have
given you enough information to investigate them and educate yourself. For those of you that are Masons, I encourage you to challenge any portion of
this post that you see as false. Please do not bring empty arguments that have not been researched. One of the most frustrating things in this subject
is a Mason who has not done his homework. My brief explanation above is only an attempt to help educate. If I am wrong point it out, not because I
want to debate, but because I want to learn.