Any Demolays on AO?

[cphilip]

Nobody knows who Jack the Ripper is and one thing for certain no knows if he had any Masonic conection or not. It was all a part of a Novel that started that rumor. And only some vauge suggestions nothing more. But no one will ever know who he was.

[shartley]

[1stdeadeye]

Let me clear it up for you!

Originally posted by cphilip
Well is still somewhat confusing to the continued link of Masons to Shriners. I know that Shriners were originaly a group of Masons who took things a step further and developed the apparel and such that they are known for today and mostly it is an American thing it seems to me. But I think distinctly seperate Free Mason groups still exist in Europe and here in the US as well that do not practice the same rituals and such. So how much they remain the same is unclear to me. Free Masons were a social fraternity and so were early Masons who formed the Shriner order and then became Philanthropic much later. They have recently come under some critisism for devoting a bit more of their proceeds to the Social functions than the philanthropic ones but still all and all they seem to do good work. But I have seen Masonic "dress" and it differs vastly from the Fez and such that the Shriners use. And they seem to have seperate Temples and such as well. But yet they do the same things and seem to have the same organizations and contacts just the same as well. So there is a definate direct link but I do not see that they are the same exact thing in every instance of practice. I could be wrong though! But that confuses me.

Let me straighten this out for you.

Free Masonry is the base. It is the foundation. As people become more and more involved in masonry, they may become involved in higher levels or degrees of masonry. These higher levels include Scottish Rite, Almas Temple, and The Shriners to name a few. These advanced levels do have their own rules, buildings, and dress, but to be a member, you must have started in a regular Masonic Lodge.

Free Masonry is a social fraternity as it's core. Throughout the 100s of years of our organizations growth, we have included service as a bigger part. Our philanthropy is world wide and unmatched by any other fraternal organization.

The home or Blue lodge unites all arms and aspects of Free Masonry. I hope that this clears this up for you.

I'll be more then happy to answer any questions about masonry for you.

Maybe I'll ammend this thread:
Any Demolays or Masons on AO?

[shartley]

Re: Let me clear it up for you!

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
I'll be more then happy to answer any questions about masonry for you.

[1stdeadeye]

We will have to disagree here!

Originally posted by shartley

Any group is only as good as it's members. Look at Congress!

First Sam they are called Lodges, not temples. Second although we technically have a "secret" ritual, anyone with a library card can learn all about it. There are a vastly different array of Masons. I may agree with some and disagree with others, but they have the right to run their group the way they want whether or not I agree.

Abuses of power? This is a social fraternity. What power? The most powerful thing to come out of masonry may be networking. It is a Fraternity!

Each state runs their own Grand Lodge which manages masonry in their state. I can only speak for DC, Maryland, and New Jersey Masonry and I have no problems with how we are run!

Finally Demolay is a tremendous organization. It fully involves the whole family. It is completely open. It preaches strong moral and family values.

[1stdeadeye]

Re: Re: Let me clear it up for you!

Originally posted by shartley

Anytime Sam!

The secrecy isn't that big a deal anymore. Go to your local library. You can get many books outlining the whole ritual part. It's not that big a deal.

[cphilip]

Re: Let me clear it up for you!

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye


Let me straighten this out for you.

Free Masonry is the base. It is the foundation. As people become more and more involved in masonry, they may become involved in higher levels or degrees of masonry. These higher levels include Scottish Rite, Almas Temple, and The Shriners to name a few. These advanced levels do have their own rules, buildings, and dress, but to be a member, you must have started in a regular Masonic Lodge.

Free Masonry is a social fraternity as it's core. Throughout the 100s of years of our organizations growth, we have included service as a bigger part. Our philanthropy is world wide and unmatched by any other fraternal organization.

The home or Blue lodge unites all arms and aspects of Free Masonry. I hope that this clears this up for you.

I'll be more then happy to answer any questions about masonry for you.

Maybe I'll ammend this thread:
Any Demolays or Masons on AO?

No thats sort of what I was thinking it was. Seemed to be a lot of lee way in the individual practices but from a common core.

It kind of clears some of it up... all but ones with the funny hats and the little cars...

[Jack_Dubious]

Originally posted by shartley

Yes that is perhaps true. But cant that be said about *all* large organizations? Replace the word "Mason" with "Christians", "Boy Scouts", or "AO Users" ...and your statement still rings true.


JDub

[1stdeadeye]

Re: Re: Let me clear it up for you!

Originally posted by cphilip


No thats sort of what I was thinking it was. Seemed to be a lot of lee way in the individual practices but from a common core.

It kind of clears some of it up... all but ones with the funny hats and the little cars...

Well those hospitals are real expensive to run. Would you make a donation to a group without some value? They need to make you laugh so hard you spill your money!

[shartley]

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
Abuses of power? This is a social fraternity. What power? The most powerful thing to come out of masonry may be networking. It is a Fraternity!

[wyn1370]

does anybody else keep thinking of the episode of the simpsons with the stone cutters? (no offense, but that's what popped into my head)

[1stdeadeye]

Re: Re: We will have to disagree here!

Originally posted by shartley

Huh? Masonry once wielded great influence throughout the world. Many former presidents were masons. But now? The last president who was a mason was Truman. I am Catholic and can't see how religion and a fraternity are the same. How many masons do you see on the news espousing their views. It is a fraternity. I guess all of the college fraternities are similar. I am a Kap Sig by the way. They are networking groups too. They permeate in all aspects of life. Heck we can go a step further and bring the lions and rotarians into this too.

Sam, I think your caught on history here. Where once the masons were powerful beyond imagining, now they are simply another fraternity. I think that the FOP or PBA wields more power then your local masonic lodge.

Networking however I will agree with you is a much more powerful tool. It is not power though. If someone helps me get a job interview, that is networking. If they just give it to me because I am a mason, then that is power. I just don't think it works that way anymore.

Wyn,
That was an episode that made fun of masonry. Do you remember what they changed their name to?

The No Homers?

[shartley]

Actually I have seen it first hand. I am not dealing with "history". I have also talked with many Masons who openly admit that it happens. It should not, no... but it does.

[1stdeadeye]

Agree to disagree

Sam,
Networking and the old It's not what you know, but who you know game are not exclusive to the Masons. It happens with any group. I have helped other brothers in Kappa Sig get jobs in the past. I opened doors and gave references. That is networking. Real power, the power to put people into office and affect public policy, I don't think so.

We will just have to agree to disagree on this Sam. I guess the view on the inside looking out and the outside looking in are not always the same.

[shartley]

This is very true. And just being on the inside looking out does not always mean the view is correct. The same as in reverse.