I've heard that they are a group of men who come together under goodness and truth, but on the flip side i've heard they are a satanic cult. What is the truth ? And how does one join ?
2006-11-23 22:04:14 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
The freemasons is the oldest Fraternity thought to exist. Many believe that it stems from the masonic guilds (trade unions just like our present day UMWA and other trade unions) that were the builders of King Solomons Temple in Jeruselum (1 Kings KJV). Just like our present day trade unions there was three levels of experience; Entered Apprentice (Apprentice), Fellow Craftsman (Journeyman), and Master Mason (Master).
Back in those times they didn't have the fancy ID cards or Time clocks that we have today, so they had to come up with a way to tell an Entered Apprentice from a Fellow Craftsman, and so forth. To do this they developed Handshakes (or grips) and passwords. This assured that an Entered Apprentice received the pay that was deserving for his level of training, and so forth. They kept these secret among their respective levels, so that an undeserving lower level would not be able to receive higher wages, or travel to other jobs, that he did not qualify for.
As this Masonic Guild transformed over the years to being more of a Fraternity than a labor union, they continued with many of the traditions that were in place from the beginning.
It is not a secret society....it is a society with secrets. This meaning that they do not meet in secret...the lodges are usually well marked, and their meeting nights and times are made public in most local newspapers. Most masons wear rings or emblems that shows that they are masons. What is secret is the different things of each level, just as it was in the beginning. They are not a religion, but one must profess a belief, and a trust, in a Supreme Being, which to most is God.
They are not discriminating as to religous beliefs meaning that if your name for God is Allah or Jehova then that is OK. As long as you believe that this is the ONLY God, and creator of the Universe.
Once you receive the 3rd degree and become a Master Mason you are all on the level with all other Master Masons, meaning there is no higher degree as for as rank. There are however higher degrees of Learning and is divided into 2 paths.
The first being the Scottish Rite which goes to the 32nd degree....again a degree in learning not rank. Then their is the York Rite which leads through what is known as the Chapter and leads to the Commandry, or Knights Templer. The main difference between the 2 is that Scottish Rite continues with the religous tolerance so any denomination can proceed in this path...Jews, Catholics, Baptist, so forth and so on. However in the York Rite it is more structured towards Christianity, with those chosing to go to Commandry must profess a believe in Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
Then there is the Shriners which is known as the fun lodge, and even better known for their support to Hospitals that treat crippled children. Also there is the Order of the Eastern Star which is basically the womens auxillary, since the Blue Lodge (the main Lodge) is a fraternity it only accepts a man, free born, of lawful age (21 in most states, some are 18) and vouched for (your petition must be signed by 2 masons and they will visit with you and your family to ask and answer questions and report back to the lodge). There are some lodges that has began to accept women which is actually quite cool.
What is also very cool is that the same thing that I went through to become a mason is the same as what many before me has done. This includes Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
So with all this said I will leave it to you to decide if you believe that we are a bunch of Satanist, or not.
Also to be a mason you must ask a mason to join....they can show you the way :D
2006-11-24 03:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by trauma_force 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would certainly say that the Fremasons are not Satanic. They do have 'rituals', but these are just things passed on through the ages, that they kep to stick to their origins. I believe the words are actually prayers in Latin. My grandfather was a Freemason, and I wish to join in his footsteps someday. I've seen his book, which is just an oversized Bible, King James version, with history about some thing built here in America by the Freemasons. It's easy to join also, all you have to do is ask. I have heard also that Freemasons are Satanic, and I would guess that at one point in time there may have been a Freemason who was also apart of a satanic group, so the blame was shifted elsewhere. I've yet to see or hear any real evidence to that, and My grandfather was no Satainist.
2006-11-25 09:18:32 · answer #2 · answered by Phillip W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The truth is, that becoming a Freemason requires your need to search out the truth. Freemasonry literally requires this as the initial invitation comes only by asking a Freemason how to join.
Freemasonry is a fraternity that teaches men a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. There are many organizations that are appendent to Freemasonry and can be joined after going through the three degrees. The third degree, the pinnacle of all Freemasonry, is the common ground shared between all Masons whether they choose to join none, one, or all the different bodies.
There are different requirements for each jurisdiction but are general as follows: being a man, being of good character, being of lawful age, with a belief in a Supreme Being, and the desire to become a Mason.
As Masons, we try to let our actions in our lives show that we are quality men.
2006-11-26 16:46:05 · answer #3 · answered by Clint S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing to the other side
A group men of mature age (voting age so varies from place tomplace)
Free born (a slave would be oblgated to tell his master what work was to be done)
Under the toungue of good report. (a good man known not to have a questionable past)
Masons have built many hosipitals where the wouldn,t have been able to aford one all Shriners are Masons We contribute to women shelters etc. All work and donations are secret
2006-11-23 22:13:51 · answer #4 · answered by Sid B 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Www.freemasons.com
2016-12-18 06:17:59 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any group which requires its members to make oaths of secrecy has many things hideous things to hide. Don't join. They threaten to pull out your tongue from its root if you told their secrets. Too dangerous.
2006-11-23 22:15:13 · answer #6 · answered by St Lusakan 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
check......www.freemasons.com....you shall get a lot of information about them
2006-11-23 22:10:13 · answer #7 · answered by garfield 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋