dr150
Diamond Member
- Sep 18, 2003
- 6,570
- 24
- 81
My father is a 32nd degree Master Mason. They're sworn to secrecy and have secret handshakes to identify one another--all this dates to olden times when they used symbolism to identify their beliefs and protect themselves from the murderous Catholic Church of ancient times (i.e. the Inquisition). To this day, they still adhere to those old rituals and practices.
The Vatican hates them (basically politics/power issue) b/c the Masons frowned on their corruption (indulgences, God for money, murder, etc). Masons also espoused ONE God theory and tolerance and equality for all--basically like a Justice League of the righteous. They've been VERY generous over the centuries...always trying to make the world a better place through their power. BTW, the Eye on the back of the dollar bill represents the all-seeing eye of God...."old school" Mason teachings over decades leads you to believe that unity with God can be attained by all...
Today, the Masons are a weaker organization among the young (they attribute this to long work hours among the educated elite, who are basically the ones who usually join up). Though they still have a who's who of society, as they've always had for hundreds of years. It's extremely impressive to see who is/was a Freemason. All that power and money can't be matched by any organization in the world.
Depending on what Lodge you join in the USA, it can be mainly social to HIGHLY serious and prestigious. My Dad's Lodge was a who's who and really represented the powerful Masons of old. Whereas, a lodge I visited in NYC, on the other hand, was like a gathering of WWII veterans--it didn't do it for me as I wanted to belong to a Lodge like the one my Dad belonged to decades ago. In Europe and S. America, Lodges are hard-core "old school".....a very prestigious thing and one that takes much study to gain Masonic degrees (unlike the half-ass watered down Lodges of the US).
If you're looking to join for connections, let me tell you that business soliciting is a no-no and can get you kicked out. It's not like the Rotary Club where people go to drum up business or get job referrals.
The Vatican hates them (basically politics/power issue) b/c the Masons frowned on their corruption (indulgences, God for money, murder, etc). Masons also espoused ONE God theory and tolerance and equality for all--basically like a Justice League of the righteous. They've been VERY generous over the centuries...always trying to make the world a better place through their power. BTW, the Eye on the back of the dollar bill represents the all-seeing eye of God...."old school" Mason teachings over decades leads you to believe that unity with God can be attained by all...
Today, the Masons are a weaker organization among the young (they attribute this to long work hours among the educated elite, who are basically the ones who usually join up). Though they still have a who's who of society, as they've always had for hundreds of years. It's extremely impressive to see who is/was a Freemason. All that power and money can't be matched by any organization in the world.
Depending on what Lodge you join in the USA, it can be mainly social to HIGHLY serious and prestigious. My Dad's Lodge was a who's who and really represented the powerful Masons of old. Whereas, a lodge I visited in NYC, on the other hand, was like a gathering of WWII veterans--it didn't do it for me as I wanted to belong to a Lodge like the one my Dad belonged to decades ago. In Europe and S. America, Lodges are hard-core "old school".....a very prestigious thing and one that takes much study to gain Masonic degrees (unlike the half-ass watered down Lodges of the US).
If you're looking to join for connections, let me tell you that business soliciting is a no-no and can get you kicked out. It's not like the Rotary Club where people go to drum up business or get job referrals.
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