Freemasonry

Apparently, my grandfather (bless his soul) was a high-ranking Freemason. My uncle also used to be a Freemason until he left the Philippines.

Now, a Freemason building has sprung up rather close to my house.

Educate me. What can you tell me about the Freemasons? And if you have to make a joke, declare it so as not to spoil things. I am actually intrigued by this.

Membership requires that you believe in SOME supreme being. What that means is up to the member, but it has to be some supreme being.

Rumours abound that the organisation has its roots in the Knights Templar.

Membership will get a Catholic excommunicated.

They apparently do a lot of charity work.

You apparently become privy to more secrets the higher up you go in the hierarchy.

One rumour suggests that certain of their rituals make reference to some entity named Ja-Baal-An, an amalgamation of the Judaeo-Christi-Islamic God Jehovah, the Sumerian god Baal, and the Egyptian God Amun-Ra. Whether this is true or merely something they said for teh lulz is unknown.

"I, _________, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this Worshipful Lodge, erected to Him and dedicated to the holy St. John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets, arts, parts, point or points, of the Master Mason's Degree, to any person or persons whomsoever, except that it be a true and lawful brother of this Degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Master Masons, nor unto him, or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself. I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by all laws, rules, and regulations of the Master Masons Degree, and of the Lodge of which I may hereafter become a member, as far as the same shall come to my knowledge; and that I will ever maintain and support the Constitution, laws, and edicts of the Grand Lodge under which the same shall be holden. Further, that I will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summons sent to me from a Master Masons' Lodge, or given me by a brother of that Degree, if within the length of my cable tow. Further, that I will always aid and assist all poor, distressed, worthy Master Masons, their widows and orphans, knowing them to be such, as far as their necessities may require, and my ability permit, without material injury to myself and family. Further, that I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted. Further, that I will not aid, nor be present at, the initiation, passing, or raising of a woman, an old man in his dotage, a young man in his nonage, an atheist, a madman, or fool, knowing them to be such. Further, that I will not sit in a Lodge of Clandestine-made Masons, nor converse on the subject of Masonry with a clandestine-made Mason, nor one who has been expelled or suspended from a Lodge, while under that sentence, knowing him or them to be such. Further, I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a Master Masons' Lodge, nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may ward off all danger. Further, that I will not knowingly strike a brother Master Mason, or otherwise do him personal violence in anger, except in the necessary defense of my family or property. Further, that I will not have illegal carnal intercourse with a Master Mason's wife, his mother, sister, or daughter knowing them to be such, nor suffer the same to be done by others, if in my power to prevent. Further, that I will not give the Grand Masonic word, in any other manner or form than that in which I shall receive it, and then in a low breath. Further, that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of distress except in case of the most imminent danger, in a just and lawful Lodge, or for the benefit of instruction; and if ever I should see it given, or hear the words accompanying it, by a worthy brother in distress, I will fly to his relief, if there is a greater probability of saving his life than losing my own. All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steady resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, myself, under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly, violate this my Master Mason's obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

- Freemason oath

A subtle word of advice from a Freemason: Don't join the Freemasons.

My dad's a free-mason.

=B

Free...mace?
Where? I could use one to help New York.

My grandpa was a freemason, but what the are is pretty difficult to understand. Most explanations are pretty vague.

Originally Posted by Bravo

Membership requires that you believe in SOME supreme being. What that means is up to the member, but it has to be some supreme being.

Over here, the requirement is that you must be a male Christian.

Which is exactly why I won't join, despite planning to do so.

Here are the requirement of joining the Freemasons from Wikipedia.

# Be a man who comes of his own free will.
# Believe in a Supreme Being (the form of which is left to open interpretation by the candidate).
# Be at least the minimum age (from 18–25 years old depending on the jurisdiction).
# Be of good morals, and of good reputation.
# Be of sound mind and body (Lodges had in the past denied membership to a man because of a physical disability; however, now, if a potential candidate says a disability will not cause problems, it will not be held against him).
# Be free-born (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave or bondsman). As with the previous, this is entirely an historical holdover, and can be interpreted in the same manner as it is in the context of being entitled to write a will. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement.
# Be capable of furnishing character references, as well as one or two references from current Masons, depending on jurisdiction.

Originally Posted by Danger

Over here, the requirement is that you must be a male Christian.

Which is exactly why I won't join, despite planning to do so.

You could just pretend to believe in Deism or whatever.

I know that 13 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons, and that several U.S. Presidents were as well.

They also like hiding stuff.

Creepy.

Originally Posted by Catch

I know that 13 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons, and that several U.S. Presidents were as well.

They also like hiding stuff.

Creepy.

Holy ♥♥♥♥, the Freemasons hid that image. They're everywhere.

The Freemasons amaze me. I heard they started with King Solomon, and that was a long ♥♥♥♥ing time ago. I also heard that a lot of presidents were Masons. Abraham Lincoln was not, but John Wilkes Booth was. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by Sailboat

Holy ♥♥♥♥, the Freemasons hid that image. They're everywhere.

The Freemasons amaze me. I heard they started with King Solomon, and that was a long ♥♥♥♥ing time ago. I also heard that a lot of presidents were Masons. Abraham Lincoln was not, but John Wilkes Booth was. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I love the rumor mill. The best comedians and writers in the world don't hold a candle to the comical ♥♥♥♥ you hear by word of mouth.

Originally Posted by John Henry Eden

I love the rumor mill. The best comedians and writers in the world don't hold a candle to the comical ♥♥♥♥ you hear by word of mouth.

To be fair, I'd say the Freemasons spread half of these rumours themselves. Boosts membership if you're all mysterious and cool.

Originally Posted by John Henry Eden

I love the rumor mill. The best comedians and writers in the world don't hold a candle to the comical ♥♥♥♥ you hear by word of mouth.

John Wilkes Booth was a Freemason. (See "Initial List of 33rd Degree Masons)

Lincoln Was Not

Originally Posted by Abraham Lincoln

I am not a Freemason, Dr. Morris, though I have great respect for the institution.

Other Source:

Note:1856-(1865?) John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed Lincoln in 1865. Confirmed 33rd degree Mason.

Another Source:

Abraham Lincoln was not a Freemason. He applied for membership in Tyrian Lodge, Springfield, Ill., shortly after his nomination for the presidency in 1860 but withdrew the application because he felt that his applying for membership at that time might be construed as a political ruse to obtain votes.

I think it was directed more at the "dates back to King Solomon" part.

Originally Posted by Bravo

I think it was directed more at the "dates back to King Solomon" part.

And the idea that the Freemasons had anything to do with the Lincoln assassination. Booth was a Mason, but that's not why he killed Lincoln.

My neighbor is one. There is a building for it 5 miles away from my house.

Washington Dressed in Freemason cloths


Mason spelled out on the back of the dollar


If you want to learn about freemasons you could just watch the history channel documentary on them. Also some beleive that the Masons are behind Jack the Ripper.

Or just watch the first 5 minutes of National Treasure.

Originally Posted by Xeno

A subtle word of advice from a Freemason: Don't join the Freemasons.

1. Why am I not surprised?

2. Know any "secrets"?


And that american dollar thing is scary.