Does anybody know about the masons?

Question

I am a film student and was watching Kubrick's 2001 space odyssey.

In the post film discussion people were saying Kubrick was a mason, lots of symbols of masons.

What does this all mean can you give me a brief summary please

Answer 1

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 against the backdrop of the building of the Temple of King Solomon, 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][

Answer 2

There are at least three other Freemasons on Yahoo!Answers - or at least three people who know what they're talking about when it comes to Freemasonry. They are greatly outnumbered by the Order of the Tinfoil Hat Brigade, but - as with the Knights Templar - I don't believe these Masons will retreat unless the odds are greater than 3-to-1 against them.

Answer 3

Now that everybody here told you what it means to be a mason, let's analyze Stanley Kubrick's movies (because 2001 may be the best, but there are several underlying symbols in his other movies as well).
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, we see the most essential human function: survival. In essence, that is all that mankind can do. Kubrick and the Masons believe that a higher power exists and has been with us from the beginning and will be with us to the end. Masons generally believe in a God, but are non-denominational as to how you practice your beliefs.
In the beginning of the movie, the monolith could be well-represented by God himself; an outside observer. When He decided to give the primates conscious, the monolith disappears. He was there from the beginning and watched his people grow into a functional society that produced emotion and technology and religions. The Monolith can also represent his apathy towards mankind. Think of the monolith like a mother that doesn't care that she just had a child. The Monolith just observes; it does not help nor harm Its children.
Fast-forward to the end of the movie. The one man, alone in space; possibly the last man ever in existence. He knows it, though. He feels a cosmic energy that gives him peace because he realizes after he dies, that's it. When he first enters the ship after deactivating HAL, he sees himself eating dinner. Himself as an old man, that is, who just survives. Why? Because that is man's basic instinct. There is no other cause but to survive, and that is what he did. The last man in the history of man; what would you do? Seventy some-odd years in solitude with nobody to talk to, and yet, he finds peace with the fact that his imminent death will be part of a greater good.
Towards the end, we see him as an extremely aged man, lying in bed and waiting for death. Enter the Monolith once more. This is God, seeing his creation die. This is God realizing that a 10,000 year reign of supremacy throughout His land is ending. He appears at the very beginning and at the very ending of it, but never in between. Why? Not because of apathy or lethargy, but because interrupting in human affairs would make them less human. If God could join mankind, we would know there's a God and our free will would be useless.
But still, he is there when the old man dies.
Now, the Space Fetus...
When all is said an done, the Space Fetus is God himself. Many people believe that when we die, our souls enter into one consciousness that eventually will be God himself (i.e. God is dead and by living, we rebuild him). The Space Fetus was God being reborn, or in the movie, symbolizing that mankind can go on, no matter what.
The movie is incredible, and the underlying tones of religion and the evolution and eventual destruction of mankind were breathtaking - especially since Kubrick directed. Keep in mind that the Masons are a sect of people that understand that mankind once began, and mankind MUST end.
Hope this helped, and I hope you enjoyed the movie as much as I do, and I REALLY hope you watch it one more time and keep in mind what I said here.

Answer 4

Masons are usually professional men who meet once a month at their lodge, They are a secret society in as much as they do have a secret hand shake and you don`t ask to join them If they want you, they will invite you to join, you have to be proposed by a member and seconded by another member, They do a great deal of charity work and they look after their own. When a member dies, they look after the widow and family of their member. You need to be rich to be a Mason, the costs are high, lodge membership, charity donations, clothes, are the best quality.They have ladies nights, when the wife of a member attends the lodge, the cost of ball-gowns for the ladies and dinner and lounge suits for the men, do not come cheaply. Members do a lot of business to-gether, if they require a new car for example, they will buy it from another member who happens to own a car show rooms business, as opposed to buying one from a company who is a non-mason.They do have a `uniform` which consists of an `apron` held to-gether by coloured metal and gold and silver chains and fasteners and medallions. They wear white gloves and have lodge certificates and manuals. They keep it all in a leather oblong shaped attache case, which of course they carry with them to each lodge meeting. Masons do a lot of good work for the community and are generous financially when it comes to charities.

Answer 5

The reference is probably to the monolith. Part of masonic philosophy is the analogy of the newly cut stone, rough and unfinished, representing the mason's soul at the beginning of his Odyssey through life. Though discipline and self development, the rough-cut block becomes a geometrically perfect cube of stone.
The imagery of the perfectly proporitioned monolith representing the guiding power that shapes human destiny, could at a pinch be seen as prepresenting this motif, but I think that's a bit far-fetched myself. Any the story was by A C Clerck, not Kubrick. Was he a mason?

Answer 6

Freemasonry is a fraternal organization emphasizing the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. It uses symbols, largely drawn from the building professions, to assist in the teaching of its lessons.

The aim of the Order is to help make good men better, to promote the general welfare of mankind, and to practice charity.

The lessons are taught in ceremonies called degrees, and in lectures that follow the degrees.

The secrets of Masonry pertain to ceremonial work, modes of recognition and a few other points. Much of the work is not secret, and can be read by anyone in books called Monitors.

The true secrets are the changes wrought in a man's life who experiences personal growth by being part of this excellent institution.

Answer 7

Many people suggest that the Freemasons are a clandestine group bent on world domination and manipulation. The meanings behind their history, symbols, and rites are often debated. I once wrote an undergraduate thesis on Freemasonry; while conducting my research, I engaged in participatory observation of lodges (the Freemasons' term for the most basic, local division of their organization) near my university. I found no indications of wrong-doing on the local level. Rather, it seemed that those I came into contact with were engaged in benevolent activities within their communities and were proud of their heritage as Freemasons.

Answer 8

Freemasonry is kindness in the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society, earnest in work, pity and concern for the unfortunate, resistance towards evil, help for the weak, forgiveness for the penitent, love for one another and reverence and love for God.
Freemasonry is many things, but above all, Freemasonry is a way of life.

Membership is open to all men of integrity and goodwill, irrespective of colour or creed, on condition that they profess a belief in a Supreme Being. How they choose to worship Him is not of interest to us.
There is evidence that Freemasonry existed in Ireland 500 years ago. The Grand Lodge of Ireland, our governing body, was constituted in 1725 and celebrated its 275th Anniversary in the year 2000, the last year of the 20th century. We are the second oldest Grand Lodge in the World. Freemasonry brings men of goodwill together to enjoy one another’s company and to continue our traditions dating back hundreds of years. It fulfils as great a need to-day as it did then.
Our Lodges are located all over the island of Ireland and in many Countries overseas. It is said that the sun never sets on Irish Freemasonry.

Answer 9

I will strike down upon you all with great vengeance and furious anger for giving away the holy Masonic secrets and you will know I am the mason when I lay my vengeance upon you.:)

Answer 10

Most good jars especially those that have a wide mouth are called Mason jars.

Kiss my mason ring and I'll tell you more.