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I'm thinking of becoming a Freemason.

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posted on Jul, 26 2011 @ 05:22 PM
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Originally posted by MasterGemini
FYI another irregular Mason Dr. Conrad Murray (RIP M.J.)
Fixed that for you.
If he's not under the Grand Lodge of Texas, or the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, yet claims to be a Mason in Texas, then in my opinion he doesn't have the credentials to be called a Mason.



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 12:02 AM
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Originally posted by Saurus
I think the problem is that Masons are no longer in the government and therefore can no longer control all the rubbish that's been happening over the last few years..



Ha!
Got to agree there, something to be said for having a congress that beleives in virtue. I read somewhere that in the 30's something like 80% of Congress were masons. Today I doubt if it's 3%. Compare their record with todays. Compare their budget surpluses with our deficits.

I think of the majority of Americans really understood Freemasonry, even if not interested in joining they'd prefer to see masons in leadership. Masons choose to live by a stricter moral code, when the majority of our society has chosen to despense with morals. Even immoral people tend to prefer moraled leaders. Masons make good husbands too, our wives know we have no extra time to cheat on them! We also can not drink in the Blue Lodge, York or Scottish.



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 09:59 AM
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reply to post by MasterGemini
 

Well, depends on which part of the founders you are talking about. Only 16% of the Declaration signers were Masons and 33% of the signers of the Constitution were Masons. Many were former soldiers/officers, many were Chrstians, some were doctors, some were farmers, some were lawyers, and so on.

reply to post by MasterGemini
 

The all-seeing eye is used by many groups, Freemasonry is just one of them, but the pyramid is not used in our rituals. Alas though, no symbol has exclusive, singular meaning or definition.



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 10:18 AM
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Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by MasterGemini
 

Well, depends on which part of the founders you are talking about. Only 16% of the Declaration signers were Masons and 33% of the signers of the Constitution were Masons. Many were former soldiers/officers, many were Chrstians, some were doctors, some were farmers, some were lawyers, and so on.

reply to post by MasterGemini
 

The all-seeing eye is used by many groups, Freemasonry is just one of them, but the pyramid is not used in our rituals. Alas though, no symbol has exclusive, singular meaning or definition.


Sweet, I was too lazy to bother to go clarify that. Thanks.

Many of the rituals come from old "ritual magik." It is not so much the symbolism as the meaning and intent while the actions/rituals( w/e) are being performed, whether the participants are aware or not does not really matter. I was pointing out that many of the processes are adapted form old hermetic/gnostic/mystic practices aimed at elevating one's self.
edit on 27-7-2011 by MasterGemini because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 10:40 AM
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Originally posted by MasterGemini
Many of the rituals come from old "ritual magik."


Could you cite the relevant rituals?



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 11:28 AM
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reply to post by MasterGemini
 

Masonic rituals come from ritual magik [sic]? Exactly what part of our symbols denote "magic"? And what is necessarily wrong with the rituals?



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 12:25 PM
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Originally posted by fordrew
reply to post by jbarr
 


welcome to ATS! Us masons up north are enjoying our nice cold beers. I hope you are enjoying your sweet tea though
.

One word of advice, don't get too sucked in to debating the crazies here in this particular board because they will never change their thoughts and they often omit certain information in articles or just have plain horrible sources.
Enjoy the other boards on this site too!


Thanks for the welcome. Likely, I WILL get sucked in, but I've been on enough anti-Masonic forums to know that it's a losing battle. Better to just be myself and model who and what a Freemason is all about.



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 12:27 PM
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Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by jbarr
 


Well that's a hell of a way to jump into ATS! Nice post!


Thanks!


Here is the Introduction Forum where you can start a thread introducing yourself. You won't be able to start any other threads until you have at least 20 posts.


Thanks for the info. I did just that and posted here.


Here is an Index of Important ATS Related Technical threads.


Excellent information!



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 12:39 PM
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Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by MasterGemini
 

Masonic rituals come from ritual magik [sic]? Exactly what part of our symbols denote "magic"? And what is necessarily wrong with the rituals?


I'd love to see some real evidence as well.

While I it could be argued that Masonic rituals have roots in the ancient mystery schools, I've yet to see any connection with "magik" (and I'm taking "magik" to likely refer to the likes of Wicca, Paganism, and possibly Satanism.)

The Blue Lodge rituals are based upon and filled with scriptural references directly from the Old Testament of the Bible. A simple study of the history, mythology, and legends of Freemasonry reveal pretty clear evidence that there is no such connection. The Scottish Rite does contain many rituals in its degrees that are certainly not Judeo-Christian, however this is merely illustrative of its comparative religion focus. The York Rite, on the other hand, is decidedly Judeo-Christian, and I see no evidence of anything connecting it to "magik".



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 02:08 PM
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Originally posted by jbarr

While I it could be argued that Masonic rituals have roots in the ancient mystery schools, I've yet to see any connection with "magik" (and I'm taking "magik" to likely refer to the likes of Wicca, Paganism, and possibly Satanism.)


Wicca actually plagiarized some elements of Masonic symbolism and ritual, similar to what the Mormons did. Pike says on p. 839 of Morals and Dogma that:

THE Occult Science of the Ancient Magi was concealed under the shadows of the Ancient Mysteries: it was imperfectly revealed or rather disfigured by the Gnostics: it is guessed at under the obscurities that cover the pretended crimes of the Templars; and it is found enveloped in enigmas that seem impenetrable, in the Rites of the Highest Masonry.

He then elaborates on Magic a few pages later, defining it as the "Science of the Ancient Magi". His version of the 32nd degree ritual details how he believed that modern Freemasonry came into possession of the ancient Magian symbolism via Pythagoras.

Interestingly, a good deal of Morals and Dogma, including the abovementioned section, was lifted verbatim from Eliphas Levi's "Transcendental Magic".


The York Rite, on the other hand, is decidedly Judeo-Christian, and I see no evidence of anything connecting it to "magik".


Much of the York Rite does contain Kabalistic symbolism, however, which could be described as the "philosophy of magic" (Pike mentions this in the AASR 26th degree as well). Aleister Crowley and John Yarker co-authored an interesting essay on the Kabalistic symbolism of the Royal Arch and Mark Master degrees. Furthermore, even in the SC Ahiman Rezon, Mackey tips his hat to the Kabalah as the foundation of Blue Lodge symbolism.
edit on 27-7-2011 by Masonic Light because: (no reason given)



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 08:03 PM
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reply to post by jbarr
 


welcome and I look forward to seeing your input here. As you can see, I am from the North. (It's hot here too) Send me a U2U and let me know your lodge if you wish. I would love to meet fellow ATSers in real life. I have a brother in Myrtle Beach in intend to look up on a visit, and while I may not be ready for it, I would love to meet Masonic Light in person. Take your time learning all the in's and out's here. There are many. And from the sound of your journey, it's much like mine. Discussing the Anti perspective has taught me much more about the craft than I could have learned in a more subdued environment.



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 09:13 PM
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Originally posted by network dude
I have a brother in Myrtle Beach in intend to look up on a visit, and while I may not be ready for it, I would love to meet Masonic Light in person.


Hell, nobody's ready for it!



posted on Jul, 27 2011 @ 09:16 PM
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Originally posted by network dude
reply to post by jbarr
 

welcome and I look forward to seeing your input here. As you can see, I am from the North. (It's hot here too)


I'm originally from the Chicago area, but I now live in South Carolina's Upstate. I'm very settled, but still miss Chicago food!


Send me a U2U and let me know your lodge if you wish.


As soon as I get past the first 20 posts!


I would love to meet fellow ATSers in real life. I have a brother in Myrtle Beach in intend to look up on a visit, and while I may not be ready for it, I would love to meet Masonic Light in person.


I'm still trying to figure out who he is. I tried to U2U him but can't until I make 20 posts. Patience, Jim...


Take your time learning all the in's and out's here. There are many. And from the sound of your journey, it's much like mine. Discussing the Anti perspective has taught me much more about the craft than I could have learned in a more subdued environment.


No kidding. People challenging my beliefs send me into overdrive learning more so that I can be better equipped. One of the things that intrigues me about Freemasonry and its teaching is that it encourages you to really dig and search. And it's so rewarding. Give someone all the knowledge they need up front, and they'll likely ignore most of it and take it for granted. Present it incrementally, make someone work for it, present challenges to overcome, and it drives you to learn more.

Sorry if this got off-topic...



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 05:51 AM
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a reply to: Rob37n

I am a Freemason in the UK and im not an alcoholic, you don't have to drink lol.



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 07:57 AM
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originally posted by: masonicmike
I am a Freemason...and im not an alcoholic...


Well, that makes one of us.



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 10:48 AM
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a reply to: masonicmike
I know plenty of Freemasons who don't even drink.



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 10:52 AM
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originally posted by: KSigMason
I know plenty of Freemasons who don't even drink.


Me too!!!!

    You
    Networkdude
    Masonic Light
    Josh Norton
    Rockpuck
    everyone else posting on this forum



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 11:01 AM
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originally posted by: KSigMason
I know plenty of Freemasons who don't even drink.



originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
Me too!!!!

    You
    Networkdude
    Masonic Light
    Josh Norton
    Rockpuck
    everyone else posting on this forum




I follow the Benjamin Franklin model of Freemasonry when it comes to the creature...



We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.


en.wikiquote.org...

I've always been a wine guy...

Thanks for remembering me...



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 11:19 AM
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originally posted by: Mirthful MeI've always been a wine guy...

Thanks for remembering me...


Good to see you around.

If you make it to the NYC area I have a bottle of Chateau Margaux with your name on it.



posted on Apr, 22 2014 @ 12:09 PM
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a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

There is a difference between having the occasional beer and having a tube installed straight from the keg to the senior deacon's chair. (as is the case in Jersey lodges apparently)




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