But if any of you could put in a word for me I’d love to be a mason. Masonry opens doors. I’d be very quiet, I was a bit on edge just now but if I were a mason I’d sit at the back and not get in anyone’s way.
So why weren’t you accepted at Hendon? 
(yes, folks, it’s a Monty Python reference. Sorry. If you aren’t among the chosen, you won’t get it.)
And that’s not an answer. What do you think you know about the Free Masons?
Thank you for the links to Wikipedia. Unfortunately, I don’t know that I find them helpful. Freemasonry is a private society that has rituals and ceremonies not open to the public and that the public isn’t supposed to know about. That’s what a secret society is…a society where its members take an oath of secrecy about its practices.
My dad was a 32nd degree Mason. Mom was in Eastern Star.
I know there’s a lot of stuff to memorize. Mom spent a lot of time helping my dad.
They both drifted away from Masonry after we moved. They didn’t like the new lodge.
I never joined. Mainly because I didn’t know any of the people in the lodge.
A Møøse once bit my sister… No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: “The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist”, “Fillings of Passion”, “The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink”…
(Well, we already had one Python reference so … )
Well, of course the public isn’t supposed to know about them. What about that is inconsistent with all of the details being up on Wikipedia?
Depends on where Wikipedia is getting the details … someone just raising their hand and saying “I’m a Mason, here’s one of our secrets” isn’t supposed to be used, that’s original research … the information in the article should be based on published material … and if this published material is under copyright protection, then Wikipedia is limited to “fair use” … and in every way, posting secrets is never fair use …
Argo … posting Masonic secrets is never allowed on Wikipedia … ||
Having visited the Masonic tower outside of DC, I became more curious about Masonry. They claim they are not a secret society but a society with secrets. A book from the local library written by a member who left the order revealed the basic secrets. One of the rituals does involve the member being promoted standing in his underpants. Some of the secret signs involve motions related to slitting one’s throat and disemboweling oneself. This was to symbolize the “If I told you, I’d have to kill myself” ethic.
My dad had a Masonic ring, but he never talked about it and had quit going to meetings by the time I was old enough to remember anything. The Masons do perform a ritual at members’ funerals, but my dad instructed my mom that he didn’t want it done at his.
Nothing. I’m really not sure what you’re trying to say here? I’m saying the Masons are a secret society because it’s a society with rituals that the public isn’t supposed to know. I don’t see how that’s inconsistent with there being a wikipedia article about the Masons. The Scientologists have stuff that the public isn’t supposed to know, but there’s a wiki article about them. The Mormons have stuff the public isn’t supposed to know, but there’s a wiki article about them. The CIA has stuff the public isn’t supposed to know, but there’s a wiki article about them. So I’m not entirely understanding it.
The hey have an insanely cool building in London.
They have even been televised!
There have also been re-enactments, where people who have gone through the rituals peached, and described the rituals, so TV shows can show what they’re like, but there have actually been formal televised coverage of actual rituals.
This is the information age: all the secrets are right out there to be found. Google “Masonic Secrets” and then…take your choice. Some of what you’ll find is actually true, and some is dreary hogwash.
(I remember when the Scientologists sued to try to keep their secrets. Sorry, lads, it just doesn’t work that way any more!)
(But, say, ya wanna know about “Rosebud?”)
I think most of the Free Mason members don’t know the upper-level secrets of the organization. That’s what I think.
As far as what I know that is hard to answer. Perhaps more than most non-members is the best answer.
The Free Masons have done a solid job protecting their upper-level secrets/disclosures.
-
Not that you did’t start off early in this thread, but this post is well into CT territory.
-
Freemason. One word.
- Nutballs. One word too!
Just what nature of “secrets” do you think the high level Freemasonry is hiding?
The handshake, the passwords, certain odd doctrinal ideas regarding the names of the masons who built Solomon’s temple, etc. Fiddly little stuff, of little real interest, and, in any case, by now almost entirely leaked.
Also, they keep the metric system down…
A.F. & A.M. Ancient Free and Accepted Mason: That’s me.
F. & A.M. Free and Accepted Mason: That was my father.
What’s the difference? I don’t know and neither did my father.
I was taught that a “free” mason, back in the feudal days was not tied to a local ruler but was allowed to freely travel from one jurisdiction to another because of his knowledge of architecture and building practices. Such men were invaluable in the construction of churches and cathedrals.
Masons are not members of a secret society—they are members of a fraternal organization that has secrets; primarily the methods used by masons to identify themselves to other masons.
LouisB Past Master of St. Johns Lodge #1 Yankton, South Dakota
They do. I’ve even been inside it (although I am not a Mason). It’s verra nice.
The exterior gets used a lot for television shows (most notably Spooks/MI-5).