Free Masons

[gamewell45]

I might add that the Freemasons and the Knights of Columbus have some similarities, but are not really comparable. The Knights, as I understand it, were developed so as to answer the concern of the Masons.

The original Freemasons disallowed blacks and women but recently black males and white feminists have been given the formula for their own masonic type of order and the Freemasons have recently recognized the black males’ order as compatible. The white feminists have a compact with the black males, so in effect, the 3 orders are merged. And of course, the good or bad guy sits in the thrown above it all.

I don’t know where you got your information from, but a lot of it is very inaccurate. The Knights of Columbus is similiar in like the Masons, they have “Degrees” you must complete. Thats where it ends. As I understand it, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic based fraternal organization; Freemasonry is a fraternal organization open to men of all religions and all walks of life.

In most jurisdictions, men of all races are welcomed into Freemasonry if they possess the necessary qualifications. Likewise there are various disciplines in Freemasonry for women and mixed gender lodges. In this instance, the Knights of Columbus discriminate as women are not permitted to join TKC.

As i’ve maintained in earlier threads, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. If you join a lodge to find spirituality, you’ll be very disapointed. The best place to find spirituality is in your respective house of worship.

We are not a so-called “secret society”; as a matter of fact, as it has been stated in this thread elsewhere, all the information regarding our rituals, etc are available on line for those of you who have to know. With the exception of our business meetings, most other meetings are open to the public.

There is no “bad guy who sits in the throne above” in Freemasonry when it comes to the various disciplines. Likewise there is no “merger” of the various disciplines; rather they are independent of each other.

The Roman Catholic Church forbids membership in Freemasonry; we recognize that they have every right to dictate policy to their members. Some members chose not to follow the dictates of the church and as far as we are concerned, thats between them and their church. Many Masonic lodges are heavy in Catholic membership. In my lodge alone, over 40% of the members profess to be of the Catholic faith.

As a sidenote, there is no rancor between Masons and the Knights of Columbus where I live; indeed its not uncommon for both Fraternities to meet and have breakfasts together as a bond of brotherhood. As a rule both organizations tend to get along with each other.

Some think that the Masons are a dying organization; my response to that would be that the Masons have been here for centuries and its probable that we will be here long after all of us mortals have passed on.

 

[workingman]

gamewell45;6016172]I don’t know where you got your information from, but a lot of it is very inaccurate. The Knights of Columbus is similiar in like the Masons, they have “Degrees” you must complete. Thats where it ends. As I understand it, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic based fraternal organization; Freemasonry is a fraternal organization open to men of all religions and all walks of life.

Hello gamewell, Yes the two groups are similar in structure. Yes they have started joint efforts in working together. The K of C was designed to attract Catholic masons away from the lodge though.

In most jurisdictions, men of all races are welcomed into Freemasonry if they possess the necessary qualifications. Likewise there are various disciplines in Freemasonry for women and mixed gender lodges. In this instance, the Knights of Columbus discriminate as women are not permitted to join TKC.

Yes you are correct now. But what I believe what is being referred to is the order of the easter star, prince hall, jobs daughters, rainbow girls, Order of the Amaranth, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ladies Oriental Shrine, Daughters of Mokanna, and Social Order of Beauceant. These are the masonic related bodies that are for women and men of color that I can recall.

The Roman Catholic Church forbids membership in Freemasonry; we recognize that they have every right to dictate policy to their members. Some members chose not to follow the dictates of the church and as far as we are concerned, thats between them and their church. Many Masonic lodges are heavy in Catholic membership. In my lodge alone, over 40% of the members profess to be of the Catholic faith.

That is a discipline matter that the CC will have to take up with those members should they find out. Also something that they will have to reconcile later with.

As a sidenote, there is no rancor between Masons and the Knights of Columbus where I live; indeed its not uncommon for both Fraternities to meet and have breakfasts together as a bond of brotherhood. As a rule both organizations tend to get along with each other.

That I do agree with. Now they do seem to get along and participate in some activities together. Just because one does not condone membership in a organization does not mean that there should not be cooperation between them.

Some think that the Masons are a dying organization; my response to that would be that the Masons have been here for centuries and its probable that we will be here long after all of us mortals have passed on.

I agree with you those who think the masons are dying are only fooling them self. This is a world wide fraternity that is very old. It will not dye in any near future.

 

[twb1621]

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I don’t know where you got your information from, but a lot of it is very inaccurate. The Knights of Columbus is similiar in like the Masons, they have “Degrees” you must complete. Thats where it ends. As I understand it, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic based fraternal organization; Freemasonry is a fraternal organization open to men of all religions and all walks of life.

This is very true. The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization and in order to become a member, the only requirements are a person MUST be Catholic and is to be in good standing with the Catholic Church or as it is worded, “in union with the holy see.” This means abiding by the doctrines of the Faith and the morality as taught through the Church. Of course each person must answer to God for himself in that regard. Race is not an issue.

In most jurisdictions, men of all races are welcomed into Freemasonry if they possess the necessary qualifications. Likewise there are various disciplines in Freemasonry for women and mixed gender lodges. In this instance, the Knights of Columbus discriminate as women are not permitted to join TKC.

Actually, women can belong to the “women’s auxiliary” of the K. OF C. but can not become a knight but based on an understanding of knighthood, that should not be a shocker. As far as I know, a woman cannot be knighted in Britain even today.

As i’ve maintained in earlier threads, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor a substitute for religion. If you join a lodge to find spirituality, you’ll be very disappointed. The best place to find spirituality is in your respective house of worship.

The principles of Freemasonry regarding religious beliefs in God and Christ are not parallel and in fact oppose each other in some cases, which is where the void comes from. The importance of God and strength in the marital and family life is always the number one priority.

We are not a so-called “secret society”; as a matter of fact, as it has been stated in this thread elsewhere, all the information regarding our rituals, etc are available on line for those of you who have to know. With the exception of our business meetings, most other meetings are open to the public.

Yes, with the exception of our business meetings, most other meetings are open to the public also.

There is no “bad guy who sits in the throne above” in Freemasonry when it comes to the various disciplines. Likewise there is no “merger” of the various disciplines; rather they are independent of each other.

The Roman Catholic Church forbids membership in Freemasonry; we recognize that they have every right to dictate policy to their members. Some members chose not to follow the dictates of the church and as far as we are concerned, that’s between them and their church. Many Masonic lodges are heavy in Catholic membership. In my lodge alone, over 40% of the members profess to be of the Catholic faith.

As said earlier, Beliefs in God and Christ are not parallel and in fact oppose each other in some cases, which is where the void comes from. As far as those Catholics who do join the Freemasonry, it is no secret that there are those who unfortunately do not practice their Catholic Faith as they are called to.

As a side note, there is no rancor between Masons and the Knights of Columbus where I live; indeed its not uncommon for both Fraternities to meet and have breakfasts together as a bond of brotherhood. As a rule both organizations tend to get along with each other.

Not to say this is not possible, I myself am not aware of any joint events that have occurred in the areas I have been a member of the K. of C. but those areas where predominantly Catholic areas. I can’t imagine based on some of the individual community charities that may be engaged in, that there could be any objection to assisting or providing support for each other.

 

[gamewell45]

Yes you are correct now. But what I believe what is being referred to is the order of the easter star, prince hall, jobs daughters, rainbow girls, Order of the Amaranth, White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ladies Oriental Shrine, Daughters of Mokanna, and Social Order of Beauceant. These are the masonic related bodies that are for women and men of color that I can recall.

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Thanks for your response.

Actually, there are Co-Masonry groups in the United States that where both male and female are members of the same lodge. The Grand Orient of the United States (GOOFUS) comes to light in this particular case. There are several lodges in the United States under the seal of the GOOFUS although not in the large numbers of mainstream Masonry.

 

[gamewell45]

The principles of Freemasonry regarding religious beliefs in God and Christ are not parallel and in fact oppose each other in some cases, which is where the void comes from. The importance of God and strength in the marital and family life is always the number one priority.

Christ is never mentioned in lodge, only God as not everyone in lodge is Christian; we have many of the Jewish, Islam and Buddhist faiths who are members; hence we are instructed to be steadfast in the faith of our acceptance.

 

[James_S_Saint]

I don’t know where you got your information from, but a lot of it is very inaccurate. The Knights of Columbus is similiar in like the Masons, they have “Degrees” you must complete. Thats where it ends. As I understand it, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic based fraternal organization; Freemasonry is a fraternal organization open to men of all religions and all walks of life.

I got it from a 33rd degree Freemason except for the “good or bad guy above it all”. Was he lying? I doubt it.

In most jurisdictions, men of all races are welcomed into Freemasonry if they possess the necessary qualifications. Likewise there are various disciplines in Freemasonry for women and mixed gender lodges. In this instance, the Knights of Columbus discriminate as women are not permitted to join TKC.

How long has this been the case?

 

[gamewell45]

I got it from a 33rd degree Freemason except for the “good or bad guy above it all”. Was he lying? I doubt it.

How long has this been the case?

33rd degree is not part of Blue Lodge, they are an appendant body, so i cannot comment on what he said.

Disciplines for mixed gender and women have been around for over 100 years; mostly through Grand Orient Masons.

 

[twb1621]

Christ is never mentioned in lodge, only God as not everyone in lodge is Christian; we have many of the Jewish, Islam and Buddhist faiths who are members; hence we are instructed to be steadfast in the faith of our acceptance.

yes, that is the major void as the K. of C. is completely Catholic as a fraternity.

 

[gamewell45]

yes, that is the major void as the K. of C. is completely Catholic as a fraternity.

Agreed; that is a major difference between Freemasonry & the Knights of Columbus.

 

[PeterClatworthy]

Freemasons are generally good people. There are NO Freemasons (even, and especially, at the highest levels) who have some “hidden agenda” to destroy Catholicism or any other religion. This claim is as silly as those who claim that the highest Catholic authorities are really subversive pagans in disguise.

But, as tantum ergo pointed out, Freemasonry is wholly incompatible with any Christian faith. Most Freemasons are Christians, but their Christian faith is really subverted, not enhanced, by the ideas of Freemasonry. The Masons *think *they are enhancing their Christianity, but are really detracting from it. They are misled, but not evil.

The Masons do good works. The Shriners are all Masons, and have established 22 Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in the United States, which treat seriously ill or injured children (regardless of religion or race or relation to any other Masons) completely free of charge. The Shriner’s Hospitals are highly regarded for their quality of care.

And men are sometimes attracted to a Masonic lodge because they seek “brotherhood.” A Mason must not cause harm to another Mason. My father-in-law was a Mason (blue-lodge). My wife remembers that, when she was young, her family was driving along a rural road while on a family vacation. They were pulled over by a policeman for speeding. Her father got out of the car, and briefly spoke with (and shook hands with) the officer. The officer smiled and waved them along, and they proceeded without incident.

Her mother later explained to her that the officer was also a Mason, and her father had demonstrated Masonic signs (maybe by code-words or the handshake). The officer thus did not issue him a citation.

This answer is parochial nonsense and based upon an almost total ignorance of the subject of Freemasonry, per se.

The Moderns form of Freemasonry that was, it is claimed, founded by the Invisible College of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house, London on the 24th June 1717 is a naturalistic religion based upon Baruch Spinoza’s Enlightenment philosophy “Deus sive natura”, which, being a denial of God the Creator and Preserver of all things and also a denial of the immortlaity of the soul, is anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, and anti-Islamic.

The religious Free Masonrie that has existed since time immemorial (pre-Davidic) is WHOLLY compatible with Christianity. In fact it is the very font of Christianity. It is folly to make such sweeping condemnation based upon an entirely false premise that the Moderns form of freemasonry (including the rabidly anti-Catholic Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite), represents Free Masonrie. It doesn’t.

There is NO connection between pure and original religious Anglo-Saxon Free Masonrie and the self-started Moderns form of freemasonry, and to equate them in this cavalier manner is a statement of ignorance rather than a statement of truth based upon knowledge.

"Who will show me the Mother Lodge? Those of London we have discovered to be self-erected in 1716. Ask for their archives. They tell you they were burnt. They have nothing but the wretched sophistication of the Englishman Anderson and the Frenchman Desagulliers. (SOURCE: Freemasonry - Its Pretensions Exposed In Faithful Extracts Of Its Standard Authors, 1828)

 

[masonicinfo]

Mary, your mom is correct. They cherry pick from the ordinary folk in the first degrees and move them up the ladder towards the 33degree.

Ah, yes. Much like when a priest becomes a Cardinal, suddenly he loses all of his piety and is an evil tool of Satan. Why that’s common knowledge too, isn’t it?

You MIGHT want to take a peek at this page on my website - and see if you can refute it, ok?

Have a Blessed Christmas,

Ed King
Webmaster www.masonicinfo.com Anti-Masonry: Points of View

 

[PeterClatworthy]

The Moderns form of freemasonry was founded in London by the Invisible College of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood.

This is a quote from the official history of the Society of Rosicrucians in England. You **have to **be a member of the Moderns United Grand Lodge of England before you are qualified and invited to join this organisation:

The Fama and the Confessio are** fundamental to Rosicrucian thought *as developed within our Society, as they pronounce fundamental truths which are as real today as when they were first written, showing a welding of spiritual and humanist ideas essential to improving man as an individual and society as a whole: the microcosm within the macrososm. They appeared on the European scene at a period when in every sphere new ideas were being propogated, especially within the Christian congregation and, as they expressed views which could be construed as anti-Papal, they caused annoyance within the old order. * (SOURCE: p.2. History of the S.R.I.A. by T.M. Greenshil M.B.E., 1987)

humanism: **non-religious philosophy **based on liberal human values (SOURCE: Oxford English Dictionary)

This is anathema to any Christian let alone the Catholic Church. “A welding of spiritual and humanist ideas”. God forbid.