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Post by Greg C. on Aug 13, 2007 9:47:51 GMT -5
here's a fascinating subject. hoping to get an in-depth discussion going on this...
Freemasonry is a fraternal organization. Arising from obscure origins (theorized to be anywhere from the time of the building of King Solomon's Temple to the mid-1600s), it now exists in various forms all over the world, and claims millions of members. All of these various forms share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include in most cases a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.
The fraternity is administratively organized into Grand Lodges (or sometimes Orients) that each govern their own jurisdiction, which consists of subordinate (or constituent) Lodges. There can be hundreds or thousands of subordinate Lodges in a jurisdiction, but only one recognized Grand Lodge. Grand Lodges recognize each other through a process of landmarks and regularity. There are also appendant bodies, which are organizations related to the main branch of Freemasonry, but with their own independent administration.
Freemasonry uses the metaphors of operative stonemasons' tools and implements, against the allegorical backdrop of the building of King Solomon's Temple, to convey what is most generally defined as "a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."
List of well-known free masons...
Crockett
Bowie
Travis
Houston
Austin
more to come!
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Post by seguin on Aug 13, 2007 16:40:04 GMT -5
I believe the masons are divided up into 11 ranks. Is that correct?
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Post by Greg C. on Aug 13, 2007 18:51:25 GMT -5
I'm not sure about ranks. But I know there are degress with the highest being 33. John Wayne was a 3 degree mason I beleive.
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Post by seguin on Aug 13, 2007 20:10:46 GMT -5
I'm not sure about ranks. But I know there are degress with the highest being 33. John Wayne was a 3 degree mason I beleive. Well, maybe it´s called degrees and not ranks. 33? - Wow, that´s a lot! Btw, It reminds me. Should´nt I be a Lt. General after 201 posts? That´s what the forum ranks rules say, but I´m still only a Colonel...sob...sob...  |
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Post by Greg C. on Aug 13, 2007 21:36:43 GMT -5
I'm not sure about ranks. But I know there are degress with the highest being 33. John Wayne was a 3 degree mason I beleive. Well, maybe it´s called degrees and not ranks. 33? - Wow, that´s a lot! Btw, It reminds me. Should´nt I be a Lt. General after 201 posts? That´s what the forum ranks rules say, but I´m still only a Colonel...sob...sob... the ranks were changed a while ago. i just havent updated the thread. dont worry, you wont get the chance to become a lt general becuase i'll make you a mod after 300 posts. |
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Post by seguin on Aug 13, 2007 22:06:13 GMT -5
Well, maybe it´s called degrees and not ranks. 33? - Wow, that´s a lot! Btw, It reminds me. Should´nt I be a Lt. General after 201 posts? That´s what the forum ranks rules say, but I´m still only a Colonel...sob...sob... the ranks were changed a while ago. i just havent updated the thread. dont worry, you wont get the chance to become a lt general becuase i'll make you a mod after 300 posts. Ok, thanks! I´ll be a Lt. mod then...  |
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 13, 2007 18:05:15 GMT -5
I am a Free Mason and there are actually 32 degrees but the first three are whats important, all others are honorary. (and costs alot of money to obtain)
I'm a third degree master mason AF & AM.
Goerge Washington
Ben Franklin
Robert E Lee
U. S. S Grant
Lord Cornwallace
Just to name a few.
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Post by seguin on Oct 13, 2007 18:19:53 GMT -5
I am a Free Mason and there are actually 32 degrees but the first three are whats important, all others are honorary. (and costs alot of money to obtain) Why do they cost money to obtain? |
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 13, 2007 19:39:33 GMT -5
Mike, are you really a master mason? Can you post a pic of your masonic apron? If not here, then in a PM?
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 19, 2007 17:32:43 GMT -5
I am a Free Mason and there are actually 32 degrees but the first three are whats important, all others are honorary. (and costs alot of money to obtain) Why do they cost money to obtain? Anything above third degree is merely simbolic so it's like the old british system of buying your rank (just for bragging rights), i'm not sure how much each degree costs but the first three, it was $20.00 each and a yearly dues of $25.00 Also as a branch of the masons are the Knights Templar, Shriners, Scottish right, the York right and some say the Cross and Bones but i can't confirm that. |
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 19, 2007 17:34:59 GMT -5
Mike, are you really a master mason? Can you post a pic of your masonic apron? If not here, then in a PM? All of our aprons are left at the lodge but i can take a photo of my master mason apron that i keep at home and it's not to be used except for on my casket (god forbid) |
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 19, 2007 17:45:38 GMT -5
Any pics would be greatly appreciated. Its cool knowing a master mason. Can a Cathlic be a mason? i heard that it was against the religion but the masons themself only have to believe in a supreme being to be allowed in. and what are the meetings like?
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Post by neferetus on Oct 19, 2007 23:00:50 GMT -5
They would probably let you in, Greg. Heck, they let Danny Dravot and Peacy Callahan in. (Sean Connery and Michael Caine in THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.
"We meet upon the level and we part upon the square."
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 20, 2007 10:48:33 GMT -5
I would love to join it but I know of no lodges in NJ. Also, you have to be sponsored in with someone. No masons live near me. (or atleast I think)
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 20, 2007 13:54:31 GMT -5
Any pics would be greatly appreciated. Its cool knowing a master mason. Can a Cathlic be a mason? i heard that it was against the religion but the masons themself only have to believe in a supreme being to be allowed in. and what are the meetings like? Greg, i'm a catholic and there is no problem joining. All thats required is that you aren't a felon and you believe in a supreme being, (Any religion) Buddah, hindu, muslem, christian it doesn't matter. And you hear about our secrets, yes about 100 years ago it was very secret but now we are pretty much open, the only secrets now is the Opening and closing of the lodge and the "Secret Hand shake" and the "Secret word" I have been a Master Mason since 1992 and have been master of my Lodge Three times. Parion Lodge 207 AF & AM At Blue lodge (a master mason meeting) there is ceremony for the opening and closing but a meeting is more or less like any other, we vote on giving scholarships to the students at the local high school, have craft shows and discuss how we can improve masonry. It's very educational and there is alot of stuff to learn. |
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 20, 2007 14:07:53 GMT -5
Now all I have to do is find a sponsor when I turn 18...
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 20, 2007 17:51:06 GMT -5
Here is some information for you Greg. Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM State of New Jersey 180-192 Irvine Turner Blvd Newark, NJ 07108 (973) 824-6457 www.mwphglnj.orgAnd here are the names of "PHONEY LODGES" in New Jersey These lodges are not recognized by the Grand Lodges AF & AM and F & AM through out the world so keep away from these.. 104. Oriental Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) 105. St. John's Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) (NY) 106. King Hiram Grand Lodge AF&AM, Inc., Scottish Rite (its constitution styles it as "William Hiram Pilgrim") (NJ) 107. King David Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) 108. D.U.B.F.K.S. and K.M.T. Grand Lodge No. 1, AF&AM (NJ) 109. King William Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) 110. King Solomon Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) 111. York Grand Lodge (NJ) 112. Union Grand Lodge AF&AM (NJ) 113. Most Worshipful New Birth Grand Lodge (Break-off from the United Masonic Brotherhood) (NJ) 114. Most Worshipful Garden State Grand Lodge (Break-off from Oriental G.L.) (NJ) 115. United Masonic Brotherhood (NJ) The Black Community in the United States, more than any other group it seems, has been beset by the shams of 'fraudulent' Masonry. The material below will be more understandable by Americans who know the racial divide of their country than by those where men of all colors and creeds have always stood together as Masons. We believe that there's a reasonable and rational explanation for this calumny in America. Black men have been involved with Freemasonry since Colonial times. Prince Hall, a 'Negro', became a Mason during the Revolutionary War and despite the segregation then rampant in a supposedly 'free' country, lodges of Black men grew and prospered. They were 'pillars of the community': business and political leaders amongst their segregated and oppressed people. Masonry was a uniting force in the community and helped develop new generations of leadership. (Additional information here.) As invariable happens, hucksters and opportunists observed the respect with which the Black community held up Freemasonry - and they determined to gain as a result. Gain they did, through the formation of 'make-believe' Masonic groups - created out of thin air, sometimes by disgruntled or overly ambitious ex-Masons and sometimes by those looking to make a quick buck. Legitimacy of origin is a matter of particular concern to Freemasonry and no one is entitled to simply go off and start their own Masonic group. Within the Black community, however, this prohibition was regularly ignored. As we expanded our section on 'Fake Freemasonry', we asked the permission of Bro. Ralph L. McNeal, Jr., FPS, Director of the Phylaxis Society's Commission on Bogus Practices, an unofficial but highly respected group, to use their listing of pseudo-Masonic groups so that you might see how many will attempt to use Freemasonry for their own, usually selfish, ends. While these groups purport to be "Masonic", they have no legitimacy outside of their own VERY small circle. Should you choose to join one of these groups, you'll find that no one will accept you as a Mason (except the group itself) and that your hope of sharing friendship and fraternity worldwide will, instead, most likely result in ostracism and embarrassment. The entire Masonic community appreciates the efforts of Bro. McNeal and the Commission in trying to eliminate the confusion which make-believe groups cause. You can find several of the Commission's reports right here and if you're interested in the sordid details of Bogus Freemasonry, you should definitely not miss their material! |
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 20, 2007 17:54:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the link Mike! Lots of good reading I have to do...
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Post by Greg C. on Oct 21, 2007 9:34:59 GMT -5
Its not like the Free-masons are supernatural in anyway, but I just wanted to move this thread to the new "Unexplained" section.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Oct 21, 2007 10:22:17 GMT -5
Here is some trivia for you, the Boston Tea party was comitted by Free Masons..  |
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