OK, for a few days there have been threads both here and in the Pit about Catholics and Freemasons. From what I’ve read (and if you’ve followed the threads you’ll know) the Catholics are painted in a much less flattering light than the Masons. Most of the arguments are made by non-Masons and non-Catholics.
Let me say this, lest my words are used out of context (I hope not, but I’ve learned from experience). I have no beef with Masons. I can’t think of anything they’ve done to negatively affect my life nor anyone I know. I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus*, and I understand the fraternal order of like-minded people.
Becoming Catholic is open-source. If you want to join, you can easily find out what is required. (Insert priest joke here, haha. Been done) I’ll say it right here. You won’t read what it takes to become a Mason.
So, while Catholocism and how to join is answerable to anyone, the second of the two groups in the OP get a pass and are almost vehemently defended even though those outside the brotherhood have no knowledge of the system in place.
So to consolidate the various arguments bandied about, and I’m admitting I’m Catholic, why are the Mason’s given a seeming pass while Catholics are held up to tight scrutiny? We’re not the one’s with secrets we can’t divulge. Yeah, a Catholic org that has rituals. But you have to be Catholic to begin with.
Interesting thread. I too am a catholic.My brother-in-law is a Mason…he’s been trying to get me to join. I have resisted, because I really don’t see why anyone would want to be a mason. I have been to several masonic dinners at his lodge, and these are my impressions:
-the Masonic ritual is pretty weird…but its not very secret and not very interesting…although you have to recite an oath to join (which is encoded in some kind of gibberish).
-the masonic ranks are getting thin-I didn’t see many guys under the age of 30 at the lodge. in fact, the place is empty most of the time. Its pretty weird going to the lodge-you see faded photos on the walls (of masonic events in the past -1930’s-50’s). I get the feeling that the glory days for masonism iare long gone.
That said, I’m willing to bet that these lodges have huge amounts of assets-the real estate alone is worth a fortune. Look for future scandals as thisproperty, assets, etc. get stolen when the last old men in these lodges die off.
Heavens to Betsy, there are more than one everything here. We got two people in Saudi Arabia who both own parrots.
I would note that Masons were in great part responsible for the ideals that underlie the United States (and several other Liberal Democracies). I suppose that impacts on most people’s lives.
Scandals in Masonry? We have had a few, we will have more. But compared to the RCC, we got darn little in that league.
Well, to read it just google for “2B1Ask1” and you will find hundreds of links on how to join.
The secrets of the Masons make them vulnerable to FUD-lies about them. But the historical facts about the RCC gives a well founded reason to distrust them. So what you wonder about, is not much of a surprise to me.
eagle had the same idea I did. Besides, who can forget the verifiable fact that a few of the founder of these United States were mason. Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, and George… something. I can’t quite remember his name. He was pretty import I think, though.
I believe you are correct and that it is only a matter of a few years before the Masons join the Oddfellows and Eagles in the dusty files of 18th and 19th century fraternal organizations.
Oh, but the spirit of the organizations will likely go on in some other form, if modified to fit better the more atomized society of the future. Same as with organized religions, I dare say – much to the chagrin of many around here. Something will occupy the niche even if we would have to squint to recognize it.
I am a mason. I am under 30. I know lots of other masons under 30. The numbers are dwindling to be certain, but that does not equal death. A lot of the real estate holdings are already gone.
So here, I am going to give away the “secrets” of masonry. Go buy the book “The Meaning of Masonry” by WL Wilmshurst. I got my copy at a discount in the history section at Barnes and Noble, on a rack dedicated to Masonry. It was $ 6. It made sense to me and explained a lot. If you read it, and you find you STILL don’t understand the secrets, at least you might gain an inkling as to why they are considered “secrets”.
The truth is, there are LOTS AND LOTS of public materials available.
