Not to long ago I noticed a discreet building connected to an upholstry store. As it turns out, it’s a Masonic Temple :eek: . I peer through their closed blinds, all I see is a picture of Benjamin Franklin (quite comically) in an apron bearing a masonis symbol. Who knows what could be going on in there? Could they be plotting world domination in a Dr. Stranglove style underground war room? Or perhaps they’re just betting on football games, that would explain why they have the names of teams and their odds posted outside their doorway. But, at any rate, that still isn’t good enough to find out what goes on inside. Does anyone out there know:
1)what Free Masons do
2)how members join
3)any rumors regarding their plans for world domination
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternal organization. It has been in existence since well before 1717, when written records began in a big way.
Ben Franklin, George Washington and millions of other men of all nations have been Masons.
In the United States, and elsewhere, it does important charitable work. An important example is by beloved Shrine Hospitals for Sick Children.
You local Lodge hall is the place where local Masons meet once or more a month. Most likely the names and numbers you see inside the front door are the names and meeting times of local Lodges.
If you desire more information, do a Google on the Grand Lodge of (Your State). Even better ask a Mason. We love to talk about our Craft.
My grandfather on one side is a Mason. If he’s out to dominate the world, he’s doing it by sitting in his chair and watching television…
The Masons are clandistine group that use there “Fraternal Brotherhood” gig, as well as various charity organizations(these front operations being operated by special Masoniac agents know as * Shriners * as a front to hide their secret control of many of the worlds governments, in conjunction with the Illuminati, The Artic Nazi’s,the Trilateral Commision, the Gray Aliens, some of the Great Old Ones, The World Zionist Conspiracy, and Amway.
Note that they are opposed by the Reptaloid Aliens (of which the Queen of England is actually one of in diguse.) , the Catholic Church, The International Union of Mad Scientists, Sanrio, Majestic-12, and some other Great Old Ones, including myself. Stay away from them if you can.
Cecil sez:
Generally, if the Catholics and the Southern Baptists are against something (like Freemasonry) then i’m all for it.
Between the Shriners Hospitals for Burn Victims, and the ones for orthopedic problems in kids (AKA Hospital for Crippled Children) I don’t care if the run around wearing fezzes and driving tiny cars in parades forever. They will get my support when nobody else does.
That said, I used to work for a woman who’s husband was big into Freemasonry. The flower shop was just down the street from the Temple, and at least once a year, they’d have one of us come to a meeting/dinner where the wives were present to talk about flowers and floral design. When it was my turn, I had them make their own centerpiece, folowing the methods I wrote up for design classes at Houston Community College. They were thrilled, and really had fun. About 8 months later, I fell and messed up my wrist badly (cracked and splintered bones), but not at work. With no insurance, I was doomed to bad care, if any.
The Shriners took “children” a little liberally and had me treated at their orthopedic hospital. The first (ER) doctor I saw predicted about 35% usage of the joint. The guy THEY had me see (14 times, plus 9 casts and 40 hours of physical therapy) got me 95% mobility and 100% practical usage.
And in Houston, they sponsor a circus. That’s fun, and they give away thousand of tickets to poor families.
It’s a very worthwhile organization, and the word domination thing is only the Yale grads and their cohorts… It’s hard to dominate the world when you’re wearing a fez and drizing a tiny car. (The motorcycle Shriners may be a bit tougher, but there’s still the fez thing.)
DRIVING a tiny car…
Too many z’s, or considering the time, not enough zzzzz’s.
Where do you think they broadcast their mind-control rays from? :dubious: Of course, they already got you, when you went to their “hospital” for “treatment”. Though they do have top notch doctors for normal medical treatments(such as fixing your wrist); hiding their conspiracy under yet another layer of diguse.
Hey, better them in charge than the Mel Gibson Fan Club, the Trilateral Commision, the Baptist Church or the Yale Alumni Club.
I’d prefer that Pinky and the Brain take over, but there’s the anti-rodent crowd to contend with.
Actually, I STILL wanna be Queen of the World and Empress of the Universe, but the hours suck.
I don’t know about the Masons but I got invited to a initiation ceremony once by a Jobs daughter (Funny they name them that considering what happened to them in the bible) at a Masons temple. It was pretty ritualistic & the women have to do special walks perfectly.
The Catholics also have their own version of Masonry, Knights of Columbus, of which my father is a member, although not really an active one, per se.
Most all the greatest men I have know were Masons.
There are several GIANT imposing lodges of Masons and others (Scotish Rites? what’s that?) in my area (Dupont Circle Washington, DC). I never see any activity going on. I wish they’d just sell the properties or let the city collect taxes on them. I guess only nonprofits or foreign governments would be them. The Oddfellows (an old black fraternal lodge) have a building near me, too. Oh well, at least they are well kept. Kinda spooky buildings though. Pseudo-religious designs on some. I’m sure if freaks Louis Farrakanh out.
You have to be invited to join the Freemasons, you can’t just fill out an application form as you would a lot of other organisations.
I warn you it can be an expensive ‘hobby’
}}}gives secret handshake and shuffles off{{{
So, the Free Masons aren’t free?
Next you’ll bre telling me they don’t build stone walls. :dubious: 
That doesn’t appear to be the case, according to my previous link:
I’m fairly sure this subject has come up on the board before… I remember an appalling train-wreck of a thread that hinged on the issue of whether or not Masons were allowed to recruit (the answer, as far as I can make out, is they’re not allowed to say “Come and join the Freemasons!”, but they can drop heavy hints along the lines of “I’m sure if a fine upstanding person like you applied to join the Lodge, you wouldn’t be turned down”.)
Basically, they have the same virtues and vices of any clique or in-group - members help each other out, but they can also make life unpleasant for outsiders, if they’re influential enough in a given area.
Some hard-line Christian groups have a down on the Masons because the Masonic view of God (the “Great Architect of the Universe”) is technically non-Christian in its historical origins … it’s an abstruse theological point which most Masons wouldn’t even think about in practice.
A fairly good source of information, from a non-judgmental outsider’s perspective, is Stephen Knight’s book The Brotherhood. It’s an interesting read, and pretty soundly researched.
2B1ASK1 is what the license plates say
If the common characteristic is “fratrenal society,” then yes, the Knights of Columbus are a Catholic version of the Masons.
However, there are significant differences in tone. The Knights are a strongly religious organization; to join them, you MUST be a practical Catholic in union with the Holy See. The Masons do not have a specific religious requirement. The Knights are generally parish-centered, and much of a local council’s activities and work revolve around the parish or parishes they support. Priests are immediately designated honorary lifetime members upon joining the Knights, and are not required to pay dues.
Both organizations do considerable good in their communities. The Knights are famous for many things, but perhaps most of all for the support given to the mentally challenged and our sponsorship of Special Olympics. The Masons are known for many things, perhaps the top being the hospitals for children sponsored by the Shriners, a Masonic organization.
I’m very active in the Knights.
- SK Rick, PGK, PFN, FDD