Freemason ? - whats the criteria?

[Principessa]

UKBBW_Denise, Wow! You couldn't be more wrong. There are some things about which one doesn't joke and where I come from being a Freemason is one of them. They are often the most erudite, successful, and respected members in a locale


My dad and his brother are Freemasons though they have been inactive for years. Being a Mason is kinda like being an Eagle Scout or a Marine. You are never, not a Mason, once you are a member, you are a member for life.


Yes, it is a secretive, male society but they are not warlocks, sex freaks, nor are they a cult bent on world domination. :duh:

Freemasonry - General requirements
Generally, to be a regular Freemason, a candidate must:[21]

• Be a man who comes of his own free will.
• Believe in a Supreme Being (the form of which is left to open interpretation by the candidate).
• Be at least the minimum age (from 18–25 years old depending on the jurisdiction).
• Be of good morals, and of good reputation.
• Be of sound mind and body (Lodges had in the past denied membership to a man because of a physical disability; however, now, if a potential candidate says a disability will not cause problems, it will not be held against him).
• Be free-born (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave or bondsman).[57] As with the previous, this is entirely an historical holdover, and can be interpreted in the same manner as it is in the context of being entitled to write a will. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement.
• Be capable of furnishing character references, as well as one or two references from current Masons, depending on jurisdiction.

Deviation from one or more of these requirements is generally the barometer of Masonic regularity or irregularity. However, an accepted deviation in some regular jurisdictions is to allow a Lewis (the son of a Mason)[58] to be initiated earlier than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction, although no earlier than the age of 18.
Some Grand Lodges in the United States have an additional residence requirement, candidates being expected to have lived within the jurisdiction for a certain period of time, typically six months.[59]

Membership and religion

Freemasonry explicitly and openly states that it is neither a religion nor a substitute for one. "There is no separate Masonic God", nor a separate proper name for a deity in any branch of Freemasonry.[28][60]

Regular Freemasonry requires that its candidates believe in a Supreme Being, but the interpretation of the term is subject to the conscience of the candidate. This means that men from a wide range of faiths, including (but not limited to) Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, etc. can and have become Masons.

Since the early 19th century, in the irregular Continental European tradition (meaning irregular to those Grand Lodges in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England), a very broad interpretation has been given to a (non-dogmatic) Supreme Being; in the tradition of Baruch Spinoza and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – or views of The Ultimate Cosmic Oneness – along with Western atheistic idealism and agnosticism.
Freemasonry in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Rite, on the other hand, accepts only Christians. In addition, some appendant bodies (or portions thereof) may have religious requirements. These have no bearing, however, on what occurs at the lodge level.

 

[Rubenesque]

Why? Why does one not joke about Freemasons?

Seriously, I don't get it... they're above that? they're too important? what?

 

[Principessa]

Why? Why does one not joke about Freemasons? Seriously, I don't get it... they're above that? they're too important? what?

Well yes, as a matter of fact they are above that. It's not like being an Elk or a Moose. In the early days Masons were often of the upper classes.

Famous Masons: A-L
Famous Masons: M-Z

 

[uncutblond34]

Denise, I thank you for clearing up your earlier comment, no offense taken. I wouldn't say that we're above joking about, but as njqt466 has stated, it is an honor to be a member and to serve mankind and one's community. It is a brotherhood of men that traces it's roots to the beginning of recorded history. Some of the "movers and shakers" of the Age of Enlightenment were members, and it's certainly an honor for me, being "plain 'ol me", to be considered equally as important a member as Benjamin Franklin, and quite a few of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of U.S. So, my answer would be that I wouldn't joke about it, but, everyone's entitled to their opinions. I personally choose to live my life as a just and upright man and Mason, with great reverence and respect for the Craft and it's work.

 

[Gnashin Teefe]

It seems that the whole Freemasonry organization (along with other fraternal orders) is dying on the vine. I see Masonic lodges from yesteryear in every small town in America, but they are largely shuttered and unused now. Masons used to have the prestige of membership drawn from society's upper-crust (including U.S. Presidents and British Royalty). But no more. Current membership ranks are quite elderly with seemingly nobody to replace them. I wonder if the Masonic organization will cease to exist in another generation. It's not that Masonic practices or ideals have been rejected - I just don't think people care all that much about things like fraternal orders in today's society. They would rather spend their time in other ways.

A related news article: Saratoga News | Fraternal Organizations

 

[uncutblond34]

I must agree with you, todd.... we're withering on the vine. It's a shame, but it happens. We've died out before,during the middle ages, the Knights Templars were rounded up and disposed of during the inquisition...we had to go underground in Germany during WWII.... but, we WILL survive. There will always be a Craft in some form.

 

[Principessa]

uncutblond34 & bi_toddca,

Do you think the fall in membership has any relationship to the decline in morals and ethics in general? To the best of my knowledge your average Mason is not a ghetto thug, chav, or player. They tend to respect themselves and the people around them without effort.

 

[B_Dustydo]

sorry having issues posting a link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism_and_Freemasonry

 

[uncutblond34]

I think that has alot to do with it. I've got so much I want to write about this subject, but I need to slow down and make it much more concise than it is in my head..LOL... will write more about it tomorrow evening...

 

[uncutblond34]

sorry having issues posting a link.

Catholicism and Freemasonry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The reason the Catholic church "forbids" membership is because, as a Catholic, you are not supposed to keep secrets from your preist. The only "secret" to Masonry is various modes of recognition... handshakes, paswords and signs. You're not supposed to share the signifigance of these with anyone who's not a member.( You wouldn't recognize them unless you're a member anyway ) This includes priests. One must also remember that is was the Catholic church that hunted and exterminated the Knights Templars to gain control of their riches. The Knights Templars originated the banking system we use to this very day, check out the history. This really is a fascinating topic !

 

[Rubenesque]

OK, clearly I'm not buying that they're above jokes... and certainly not because they're of a superior class. I'm British, we like nothing better than making fun of those who think they're a class above, it's part of the culture - quite rightly in most cases.

I have absolute respect for anyone that does charitable work, and for that they should be commended. But... I still think it's just like one of those clubs you want to be in because you can't get in, if that makes sense.

I also have absolutely no doubt that there are corrupt masons, but they're in the minority. Unfortunately though, we're more likely to hear about the bad rather than the good - such is society and media I suppose.

 

[javyn]

So long as you are a man, not black, and not an atheist, you can be a freemason. You just need 3 sponsorships from existing masons.

edit: Women have the Eastern Star,

blacks have their own version of freemasons.

Racist organization? I'd say so yes.

 

[Rubenesque]

I'm almost certain you can be a black freemason... right???

I hope I'm not being a div, but I thought NJQT was black, so assumed her Dad is black too. Guess I could be wrong.

Please someone tell me you can be a black Freemason?!?!

 

[DaveyR]

I'm almost certain you can be a black freemason... right???

I hope I'm not being a div, but I thought NJQT was black, so assumed her Dad is black too. Guess I could be wrong.

Please someone tell me you can be a black Freemason?!?!

There's an interesting recent article in the Guardian here Denise.

I know very little about the organisation myself other than what I have read online and you know how you have to take what you read online with a healthy pinch of sale.

 

[Rubenesque]

Well I would hope that they allow black members, there's a difference between exclusive and exclusion.

 

[Big Don]

The race issue is an unfortunate misconception that needs attention. Allow me to quote njqt466 from earlier in the thread. These are the requirements to petition a lodge:

-Be a man who comes of his own free will.
-Believe in a Supreme Being (the form of which is left to open interpretation by the candidate).
-Be at least the minimum age (from 18–25 years old depending on the jurisdiction).
-Be of good morals, and of good reputation.
-Be of sound mind and body (Lodges had in the past denied membership to a man because of a physical disability; however, now, if a potential candidate says a disability will not cause problems, it will not be held against him).
-Be free-born (or "born free", i.e. not born a slave or bondsman).[57] As with the previous, this is entirely an historical holdover, and can be interpreted in the same manner as it is in the context of being entitled to write a will. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement.
-Be capable of furnishing character references, as well as one or two references from current Masons, depending on jurisdiction.

Does it say "can't be black"? No.

Have members of lodges black-balled candidates because of their race in the past? Without a doubt yes.

However, things are changing. Earlier this summer the Grand Lodge of Ohio held an all-degree class in one day, during which I acted as a mentor for a candidate from my lodge. There were many candidates present who were not white. I love to see this, and I applaud the lodges who were willing to base their votes based on character, not race.

 

[UpwardCurve]

To understand the freemasons, and who they are connected with, you should look at their symbology. It will take me volumes to explain it all, but a lot of it carries sinister connotations. They are involved in some shady stuff too. There are A LOT of kids who are recovering systematic ritual abuse who were able to describe how the higher level masons practiced rituals on them and raped them. (Now of course saying this will get a ton of people here on my ass calling me insane, liar, conspiracy theorist, etc. but i really dont care since they never did their research into freemasonic beliefs practices, and symbology)

But the victims all tell the same story. The lower level masons (1-18; and in somecases 1-29), usually have no knowledge of any of this stuff at all. That is why they are quick to try to refute these claims.

Freemasonry is also a very segregated, racist and sexist organization. They would never let blacks or women into their main branch of masonry, and in order to accomidate them, created the Eastern Star (for women) and Prince Hall (for blacks) lodges, yet the implications of being a member are no less sinister.

My great grandmother (who i am not related to by blood since she adopted my grandfather) was a member of the Eastern Star. The circumstances surrounding it were shady to say the least, even though she was not a member of the main branch. One of her heirlooms of sorts was a ring my mother came into possession of which had a pentagram imprinted on it. People do not realize how vile the higher levels can be. For more info on the subject of ritual abuse, visit websites like RitualAbusetorture.org, and you will see the info and read the accounts from visitors to that site on the guestbook and guestmap. Calling them crazy and/or liars is like calling a rape victim crazy or a liar.

 

[DaveyR]

However, things are changing. Earlier this summer the Grand Lodge of Ohio held an all-degree class in one day, during which I acted as a mentor for a candidate from my lodge. There were many candidates present who were not white. I love to see this, and I applaud the lodges who were willing to base their votes based on character, not race.

Well that's good to hear and from the horses mouth too rather than some speculative website.

I have a question about the "black balling system". Does it take a set number/pecentage to reject someone or does it vary from lodge to lodge?

 

[Big Don]

I'm not sure how it is elsewhere, but in Ohio it just takes one vote against to reject someone.

Now let me qualify that:

If the result of the vote contains one vote "against", another the ballot is held again. This is beacuse someone may have made a mistake when casting their vote. This gives that person a chance to change their vote, or reaffirm their vote.

If the results are the same the second time, then the petitioner is rejected. He may then re-petition again after a set amount of time.

 

[DaveyR]

I'm not sure how it is elsewhere, but in Ohio it just takes one vote against to reject someone.

Now let me qualify that:

If the result of the vote contains one vote "against", another the ballot is held again. This is beacuse someone may have made a mistake when casting their vote. This gives that person a chance to change their vote, or reaffirm their vote.

If the results are the same the second time, then the petitioner is rejected. He may then re-petition again after a set amount of time.

Thanks for your answer. That is pretty tough then. It just takes one racist in a lodge and....................... I presume the votes are secret.