What is a free Mason? What is the structure of their beliefs?

Answer 1

I will not give you a Wikipedia answer. I figure you can get that yourself. First, I am a Freemason of the esoteric side of the aisle, American Co-Masonry. I will tell you what may be enough for you or may spur you to look deeper. Your choice, of course.

Masculine rite Freemasonry is truly a fraternity, men only, that does laudable work. It has rituals and rites that are mostly committed to memory. It has a women's auxiliary called Eastern Star. I am not of the masculine rite so I shall leave that to others.

Co-Masonry started in the 1870s, an era when the right of women to vote was a major issue in France, Britain, and the US. It also confronted the issue of racism rampant throughout the world. Many of the early promoters of it were very spiritual and esoteric in their beliefs.

Since that time Co-Masonry has spread throughout the world. Co-Masonry has sought to preserve the structure and rituals of traditional Freemasonry (whose rites have been "edited for easier access" by well-meaning men in the past) We have also done our best to allow the freedom of conscience of all our members to find their way to The Supreme Being.

Co-Masonry admits women and men of all races, of good repute, over the age of 21 (in some cases 18), who believe in a Supreme Being, who are tolerant, who wish to improve the world by improving themselves. We hold to the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. We try to deal with the world and each other in an upright manner.

Our beliefs (in short) are that it is possible to mold character if the desire in oneself is strong enough, it is possible to be a part of a larger enterprise to help mankind, it is possible to become a worthy vessel for The Ineffable Light of God.

If I can be of more assistance, feel free to write me. Click on the link below for more good research on Freemasonry and Co-Masonry.

A Master Mason
American Co-Masonry

Hiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)
Adamant Mark Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)

Answer 2

Freemasons, or more commonly, just Masons, are members of a fraternal order that is dedicated to the improvement of the human condition. All adult men of good character who believe in a Supreme Being are eligible for membership.

Masonry is dedicated the the Brotherhood of Man, under the Fatherhood of God. It is not a religion, though it is religious. The lessons are taught in beautiful ceremonies called the degrees.

Masonry is also very active in charitable works. Shriners (who must be Masons first) support hospitals for crippled children and burn victims, and there are many other Masonic charities.

The best of men of all generations have been members.

Answer 3

there are many web sites which the Freemason Fraternity have and if you want to join there are many sites who have addresses of the Grand Lodge in the area in which you live. you must be in most states over the age of 18 without a felony and be of good moral conduct with a Belief in a Supreme Being. there are 3 basic degrees in the Blue Lodge which are the Entered Apprentice - the Fellow craft and Master Mason. no matter how many other degrees are taken the Blue ( or Symbolic ) Lodge membership must be maintained. ask any Mason who knows you well enough to sign your petition as a prospective member must have 2 members sign the petition along with the initiation fee made payable to the local Lodge.

Answer 4

Free Masonry also has a dimension of being a religous world view, allot has been written on it partly because the Mormons srtated in Mason Lodge and are structured the same... same mnames for many offices in fact

It has an occultic side and pressents a human effort, works oriented apporach to salvation and is a gospel substitute. People in the Mason Lodge are not supposed to use the name Christ for example and it therefore suppresses other views.

Christians shoud steer clear

Answer 5

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization whose membership is held together by shared moral and metaphysical ideals and—in most of its branches—by a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.[1]

The fraternity of Freemasonry uses the allegorical metaphors of operative stonemasons' tools and implements, to convey what is most generally defined as: A peculiar (some say particular or beautiful) system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.[2] This is illustrated in the 1991 English Emulation Ritual.[3]

It is an esoteric society only in that certain aspects are private;[4] Freemasons have stated that Freemasonry has, in the 21st century, become less a secret society and more of a "society with secrets."[5][6][7] Dr. Dieter Anton Binder,[8] a historian (and not a Freemason) who is a professor at the University of Graz (Austria) describes Freemasonry as a "confidential" society in contrast to a secret society in his book Die diskrete Gesellschaft.[9] Most modern Freemasons regard the traditional concern over secrecy as a demonstration of their ability to keep a promise[10] and a concern over the privacy of their own affairs.[11] "Lodge meetings, like meetings of many other social and professional associations, are private occasions open only to members."[12][13] The private aspects of modern Freemasonry deal with the modes of recognition amongst members and elements within the ritual.[3][7]

While there have been many disclosures and exposés dating as far back as the eighteenth century, Freemasons caution that these often lack the proper context for true understanding, may be outdated for various reasons,[14] or could be outright hoaxes on the part of the author.[12] In reality, Freemasons are proud of their true heritage and happy to share it, offering spokesmen, briefings for the media, and providing talks to interested groups upon request.[12]

Answer 6

I don't know a whole lot about them, but I did play piano before one of their meetings once. It's very secretive. When I walked in the door, I felt shivers down my spine and I felt this strange presence that made me want to run away, but I went in anyway because I was getting paid to play piano for them. So I go in the door and right away there was a guy who escorted me around the entire time because there are places and things they don't want you to see. I ate dinner with them. The atmosphere was very awkward because I wanted to ask questions, but didn't want to get into trouble and nobody talked about their religion at all, they just talked about the weather. So then I played piano for them and I had set my purse down next to the piano. When I was done, the guy escorted me out the door and paid me. As I was walking to my van, I realized that I left my purse by the piano, so I walked back in on my own to get my purse and the guy saw me and was like "What are you doing in here?" and he told me to stay where I was and he went and got my purse for me because the meeting had started and apparently there was something I wasn't supposed to see. Really creepy. All the women (the Eastern Stars) wore these dresses completely covered in sequins and beads and they wore very gaudy jewelry.

Anyway, I heard some things from other people as well. A friend of the family had been at the Masonic Lodge for a wedding and he went into a room he wasn't supposed to be in and he saw this entire room full of pornography. Another friend of the family told me someone she knew was a Mason and she read the masonic "bible" once and it's very Satanic. There's also a group for young girls called Job's daughters and supposedly there's some sort of sexual ritual involved with becoming a Job's Daughter.

No wonder I wanted to run away that night.

Answer 7

I want to know too. I never figure out what they are, and there is a temple down the road from my house.

Do they believe in God? Is it an actuall religion or what?

Answer 8

this forum does not provide adequate space to fully answer your question..