Over Zealous Christians and Satan-loving Masons

What can I say?? Really.

I've been reading through all of these posts and I've encountered everything from outright ignorance and VERY poor scholarship, to reasonable, thoughtful posts. Yet, the contention that Freemasons are sinister or have some sort of clak-and-dagger agenda to pull the strings of world politics still remains.

As a person that hopes to join the masons and is looking for CLARITY when it comes to this organization, I must ay that I'm now at the point where I really don't mind if the masons ARE planning to control our political and social destinies. You know, I don't mind joining a cabal/brotherhood that seeks world domination, LOL. I think it's about time that some talented people clear the smoke for the rest of us; If the masons are indeed the heirs of the planet, then hell . . . .I might as well join them. I've worked too hard and too long and spent too much time looking for something larger than myself to sell myself short.

I'd like to rule the world and get involved in some good old sex-magic, whatever that is. Orgies at every meeting, and strawberry pie afterward. Life is grand, baby, and may the masonic mythology of the GRAND PLAN FOR THE EARTH AS BERQUEATHED TO US BY OUR OVVERLORDS OF THE PLANET ZLARVOX continue for all time.

Let me clarify
I do not believe the masons are trying to over throw the world or even the Church. I do however believe what I said before the Templars/ Masons were trying to weaken the hold over the daily lives of men by the Church.
But this was accomplished during the age of enlightinment. The Masons hold on to many rites and ideas from the past that even they can no longer interperate. But dispite the fact that the average Mason can no longer explain all of their symbology there are Masons who know their entire history and what they were up to. I believe what the Templars/Masons were doing was for the betterment of men witness the age of enlightinment and what it did for science! Imagine if this had happened in the 1300's. I recently heard that at the time of their arrest there were plans or at least rumors of plans to establish a Templar state in the south of France ( I am still checking this out) but suppose this had happened? Suppose the Richest and most well trained millitary order had set itself up a state? After crushing the sure to come invasion they could have ushered in the Rennessance 200 yrs ahead of time!I dont believe this would have been a bad thing at all!

The Templars were the first international bankers. Nearly every king was in debt to them. Phillipe of France had them destroyed for this and for the reason that he feared that they could threaten his power base.

When the Holy Land fell to the Muslims, the Templars retreated to Europe - mainly to the new state of France. Prior to that, their mission had been to guard pilgrims and to act as an army under papal approval.

Once returned to France the Order became less of a fighting force and more of a financial institution. Phillipe coveted their wealth and feared their power so he devised a way to destroy them. He placed his own Pope in power and had the KTs condemned for heresy. He then had them rounded up and disbanded the organisation.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that the Knights Templar were trying to subvert the power of the Church. It's ironic that those who try to sell this line are basically swallowing centuries old propaganda that was created by Phillipe so that he could destroy the Order. All of the surviving evidence points to the KTs being a Christian Order working hand in hand with the Vatican until Phillipe subverted the papacy.

There are no masons who know of the entire history of masonry and can give a totally acceptable opinion. There are Lodges of Research where we try to uncover the past and shed some light on Freemasonry's historical roots, but any discovery regarding the Knights Templar has been shrouded in speculation. No verifiable link is likely to occur either. If the Freemasons are descended from the Knights Templar, any hard evidence would have been destroyed as the KTs themselves could not let their existence be known once Phillipe had forced his pope to issue a bull against them and disbanded the Order.

As for the Masons themselves trying to weaken the hold of the Church? Masonic history has the early members of the Order as the main builders of churches and cathedrals throughout medieval Europe. One can hardly subvert a religion by building centres of worship for it.

Originally posted by LTD602
Orgies at every meeting, and strawberry pie afterward.

LTD602, I'm glad you're thinking of joining us, but I must say, someone has grievously minformed you about the quality of food (or "festive board") we get after our meetings

Which brings up an argument presented by myself and MM quite some time ago: If Freemasons control the world, how come we can't get better food? No, it's the chefs who truly control everything.

Hehe . . . agreed.

AlexKennedy at the Lodge:

AK: Uh . . for the next order of business, I move that we substitute "instigating a coup in Paraguay" with "hiring a chef."

Worshipful Master: So do you want me to move "selling a thermonuclear device to Monaco" up or down the list.

Ak: Down.

Worshipful Master: Fine.

AK: Sweet.

Excellent!

Now, I should say, at my Craft Lodge, we do have an excellent chef, Mrs. Blue, who is also known by the vast number of Lodge members as "Mom." Unfortunately, even Mrs. Blue can't always make French Onion Soup and tourtiere. Compare this to the bizzare variety I get in my red Lodge. Here is a list of meals I can remember (each number is a night):

1) Deluxe chicken wings of various flavours -- practically enless supply.

2) A few ham sandwiches.

3) Cake.

4) Steaks, baked potatoes, salad, buns, etc.

Seriously. It's a real roulette wheel there (Actually, we currently have a very wealthy benefactor who's contributing a lot of money so we can eat well).

Scottish Rite is always hot dogs. No matter what we're really having. "Hey, Alex, Let's go downstairs and have some hot dogs," they say... and then I'm suprised to see ice cream and cake. "Where are the hot dogs," say I, and they reply "These are Scottish Rite hot dogs."

Hot dogs??? HA!

Must be a Canadian thing AK. At last weeks lodge we had a bonified feast! Honey-basted-grilled-chicken, macaroni and cheese (the baked kind), sucatash(spelling?), pasta salad, dinner rolls, and lemonade. Ah, delish, how wonderful it was.

Next feast ill eat for the both of us Alex.