A plea for objectivity - Masonry, page 2

Originally posted by LTD602
"a lack of proof is not a proof of lack"

Well put, AK.

Fence sitting is not a position, nor is the premise that despite all of the good works, and well documented contributions throughout history by distinguished (and anonymous) members of the "Craft", the possibility of ulterior evil motives hold sway over forming an opinion. The Nazis (yes, Adolph & company) get more credit, and more positive mention in threads here on ATS, than the Freemasons (by non Mason posters).

The patience, and continued diligence displayed by the Brethren here assembled, is above and beyond the call. The slander, disinformation, ignorance, and the outright intent to incite by certain "members" of ATS has accomplished little, those that perpetrate the contentious tone have learned, and gained nothing. The Craft is galvanized in their defense of the good name of Freemasonry; fortuitously the scale tips in favor of those who have interest in the fraternity, therein lies the bounty of working the low vales. I would submit that with regularity, a member posts that they have decided to petition, have petitioned, or has been recently initiated; and is looking forward to the next step in their journey to Light. Those that wish to denigrate the Fraternity do so knowing that they do not have the inherent qualifications that would induce them to solicit such an honor, nor the rectitude of character that would make one eligible for the Degrees of Freemasonry.

It must be a burdensome position to take, opposing such a well established and principled institution; there must be a sense of bravado, a misguided need to controvert a perceived authoritarian institution. In the Sixties, the emerging generation protested governments, wars, corporations, and themselves; and did it face to face with the very institution that they reviled. Sadly, today�s generations accomplishes the rebellion that is part of the coming of age mentality through the internet; agendas, and protests can be tailored to a whim. Anonymity provides a security blanket, neither the harsh wind of libel nor the chill of slander can penetrate the veil of obscurity provided by this form of dissent. The days of having to risk incarceration, the crack of a baton, or a hail of bullets has passed (unless one is unfortunate enough to live in one the MORE enlightened countries that bans Freemasonry). Today one may assail any individual (as AK recently has been), group (the Masonic membership of ATS), or organization (as the various bodies of Freemasonry have continually endured here), without any more risk than being exposed as a fabulist; one of the previously mentioned �members�. This �Rite of Passage� that is seemingly being ventured upon by several �members� concurrently, has little demand of substance. Maligning Freemasonry must hold some intrinsic value those who do so, it merely escapes the ken of those who have eclipsed such trivialities.

We who have received Light are obligated by the oaths we have freely taken, but more importantly by the strength of character, moral fiber, and above all faith, that those balloted favorably upon universally possess, to keep inviolable and sacred the Mysteries of the Order. This �Brotherhood� bestows upon us the confidence to weather any assault, regardless of its crude, and base nature, to rise above the repeated fabrications, and to retire from the fray with the unwavering truth that Freemasonry has, is, and will be the Compass that all other forms of human assemblage will measured against.

As a true �Traveling Man� I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing our accomplishments first hand; the hospitals, retirement homes, charitable kitchens, community services, public endeavors, and private good will; ever absent is a similar legacy demonstrated by those who profess a more �noble� belief. I have must have missed the fine contributions of these upstanding individuals, surely the ivory towers of philanthropic largesse by these �pillars� (forgive me my Brethren) must exist somewhere, a list will be forthcoming? Obviously the request for such a list is made with more than a modicum of contempt, there are no historical edifices for your ilk to hang their hat on, no one has benefited, in this world, or the next.

Your self-indulgent vitriol demonstrates your true nature, some misanthropic, auto-sycophant, bloviating your way to a self aggrandizing delusional state; for only there can your meager perseity be justified. This parody of the human condition has now been played out on a world stage; your infamy established, retire to the mundane from whence you came, consoled in that which you feel you have accomplished, surrounded by those that you formulate, an adoring constituency within the confines of your percipience, an Id of pathosis. This concludes my admonition, it is non-binding, and not intended to curtail your �creative efforts� nor supplant your �free speech�, merely to apprise you of the Crafts �critique of the arts� and the right to �abrogate speech�.

Philosophical Monkeys, not just for the �Wine and Cheese Crowd� anymore�

Edit: For paragraphs, and AK's honor restored, fees paid in full.

[edit on 12/8/2004 by Mirthful Me]