reply to post by hmdphantom
Define "all" and "Freemasonry."
Yes, I know "all" about becoming a Free and Accepted Master Mason today. I know "some" about the history. related groups, and clandestine lodges.
I know "very little" about the Illuminati, if it even exists.
I can tell you for certain that other than the awkward handshake in the first photo, everything else is absolutely not related to Freemasonry. We do
not have that as a hand signal, and in fact we only have one overt signal, and it is unmistakeable. Those other photos may or may not be related to
some appendant body, but those appendant bodies are not Freemasonry, they are something else. I am not an expert in every appendant body of
Freemasonry, because it is not important to being a Mason, and in our first 3 degrees we say specifically, "There is no higher honor...." than the
3rd degree. A 33rd degree does not outrank a 3rd degree in any way, shape, or form. I was a 3rd Degree Mason when I was the Worshipful Master of my
Lodge, and I had all the authority despite having several 32nd and 33rd degree Masons in the room. Now, I am a Past Master, and still a 3rd Degree,
and I am still on exactly equal footing to other Past Masters, other 3rd Degrees, and other 33rd Degrees.
If you don't understand the concept, you just don't understand the concept, and you must just accept the facts from those that do. The fact is,
without a doubt, Ron Paul is not a Mason and all those other handsigns are not Masonic either. I know it is a boring answer. Sorry.

