What can anyone tell me about the Freemasons? Anyones parents in, you in? Feel free to PM if needed.

12/14/2006 7:24:03 PM

they can't say

and if they do, they're not the cool kind

12/14/2006 7:27:01 PM

They control weather and the value of the yen.

PM salisburyboy for more

12/14/2006 7:27:22 PM

You can learn everything you need to know about the freemasons from studying the one dollar bill....

12/14/2006 7:28:28 PM

Actually, all you have to do is ask, but I don't think tww would be the correct way to go about this.

12/14/2006 7:34:12 PM

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

12/14/2006 7:37:07 PM

^^i am trying to find out if I want to ask.

12/14/2006 7:39:47 PM

HELLO, I JUST GAVE YOU LIKE 20 FUCKING PAGES OF READING MATERIAL ASS

12/14/2006 7:40:20 PM

They were important way back when - "to get a young man started in business" - but their population is aging, because the connection that they provided isn't really relevant anymore, unless you're in local politics. My dad and grandfather were both members, but dad tells me that it's pointless to join anymore.

12/14/2006 7:46:05 PM

obviously you have never seen "national treasure"

12/14/2006 7:46:15 PM

My greatgrandfather was a Past Master of a lodge in PA. A good friend of mine is a freemason and is trying to get me to join. As someone else said most freemasons are old and the young population isn't joining at the rate they used to. Ive thought about it but I don't have the time to do it right now.

12/14/2006 7:53:29 PM

Quote :

"it's pointless to join anymore."

If any current Masons could comment on this, I'd be very appreciative. I've pondered joining several times, but everytime I'm about ready to follow my friend to a lodge somebody chimes in with this. I'm sick of the speculation. Is it really true?

12/14/2006 9:27:03 PM

If you read what I wrote, my father is a current mason, and those were his words, verbatim.

12/14/2006 9:32:09 PM

ok say you do join. how would it hurt you?


if you wanna do it, then do it. it seems as though the only reason it has crossed your mind is because you will gain something somehow.

i would research it thoroughly if you are actually interested.


and not TWW research

[Edited on December 14, 2006 at 9:39 PM. Reason : sadf]

12/14/2006 9:39:18 PM

I qualify (Eastern Star) and so does my husband, but neither of us are members.

I know there are a lot of cult-like traditions. Kinda reminds me of Druids. I've never seen these events but I know some people - uncles and such - who were pretty involved. They're very secretive about their inner circle, so I can't help you on that.

12/14/2006 10:36:54 PM

Im assuming you're still in Raleigh, if so, you need to go to the lodge on Gleenwood Ave, and ask questions, always someone there to help you.

12/14/2006 10:45:34 PM

My dad never goes but pays his dues every year


It seems like its a good social thing but most of the guys are well over our age.

12/14/2006 11:24:14 PM

my dad is, and he's advanced several degrees. he's still pretty active with all that stuff, but i don't really bother asking him much about it. i only asked what it took to become a member, and he basically said you need to get a sponsor first. he's shown me some pictures of him at various functions and whatnot. nothing crazy though. only other thing i know about his involvement is that he was initiated at a lodge overseas.

those saying "it's not really worth it" are probably people in the lower tiers of freemasonry, but that's just pure speculation on my part since i'm not a member and don't know those people. and as the cliche goes, "you get what you give". you're not going to get anything of value out of such organizations if you don't invest much into them, and are only seeking materialistic things.

the history channel had a series of documentaries about freemasons, the knights templar, illuminati, and other similar organizations back when the "davinci code" movie came out. shit blew my mind.

[Edited on December 15, 2006 at 4:07 AM. Reason : ]

12/15/2006 4:04:08 AM

Most of my family were/are master masons, you can never get an info out of um.....just basics

I would have to agree that the perks are not quite what they were. They are still really secretive and I have heard stories about them doing crazy shit to people who attempted to listen in on meetingsor left the masons and talked about the inside stuff.....or could be lies to keep the interest

I would conisder joining, someone will have to keep it going

[Edited on December 15, 2006 at 4:14 AM. Reason : .]

12/15/2006 4:09:08 AM

You gotta stomp on a pope hat during initiation.

Anyhow, if you want to ask some Mason's questions, go to a parade and stop a shriner. Those are all super-masons.

12/15/2006 8:15:20 AM

hope you like bathing in goat blood

12/15/2006 9:25:53 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-cCfZrkCFI


Who keeps the martians under wraps?
Who holds back the electric car?
Who rigs every Oscar night?

WE DO, WE DO ....

12/15/2006 9:35:15 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSDXBMiTiLs&NR

Totally unrelated, but one of the clips on the same page as your Simpson's link may be quite possibly the funniest thing in the universe.

12/15/2006 9:46:11 AM

didnt they find the National Treasure ??

12/15/2006 9:51:30 AM

in my family, every living male not of my generation is a mason...i don't know much about it, myself

12/15/2006 9:56:35 AM

^^ yeah, the movie was a documentary

12/15/2006 10:29:27 AM

my godmothers father was a freemason. Its even published in a book.

12/15/2006 10:39:39 AM

Several people I despise are in it. Dirty local politics.

12/15/2006 10:45:20 AM

theres bad people in everything....

12/15/2006 11:14:16 AM

You have to ask them to be in

12/15/2006 11:41:19 AM

to be 1 ask 1

2/24/2007 4:16:04 AM

My dad is a master mason, my mother a past worthy matron of eastern star (soon to be taking a state office). My sister and I are both members of Eastern Star, and the girls organization, the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. If you have questions, I can help you to a degree or direct you to a member of our lodge or a local one if you would like more than I can share. I have a great deal of love for the organization, as i practically grew up in a lodge (dad joined when I was 6mths old, been there ever since). I have been a member or the Masonic family for well over 10 years now and I wouldn't trade a minute of it. For me its been a big family and brought a lot of friends and fun times. also taught me a great deal. Like I said, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me

[Edited on February 24, 2007 at 4:22 PM. Reason : yeah I can't type]

2/24/2007 4:21:05 PM

i have a question


What's the point?


[Edited on February 24, 2007 at 4:25 PM. Reason : serious question, btw]

2/24/2007 4:24:44 PM

^I would guess networking, community, and service.

[Edited on February 24, 2007 at 4:32 PM. Reason : .]

2/24/2007 4:31:42 PM

you can have plenty of connections and be involved with the community through a variety of organizations that aren't as secretive and exclusive as the Freemasons, so there must be something else.

or is secrecy and exclusiveness the main draw?

just wondering

[Edited on February 24, 2007 at 4:43 PM. Reason : .]

2/24/2007 4:41:18 PM

my last name is Mason



that shit aint special

2/24/2007 5:08:37 PM

do the Masons do any kind of FBI background check?

because if they do, I'm out.

2/24/2007 7:03:01 PM

so is it like a fraternity for adults or something?
I had never heard of any of these groups until I saw National Treasure

2/24/2007 7:41:04 PM

as I said in another thread, I am a Master Mason and Shriner. If you have any specific questions, PM me and I will help any way I can.

(FYI, both the Masonic lodge and the Shrine do a lot of charity work which is, imho, the main reason to join.)

2/25/2007 5:15:20 PM

do all masons have to drink Rolling Rock?

because if that's the case, count me out.

2/25/2007 6:08:57 PM

see: national treasure.

cc: DaVinci Code

2/25/2007 9:41:03 PM

I talked to a friend's dad about it a while back. I asked him straight up if he thought that being a mason helped him get to his position in life and he told me it was the best thing he ever did.

You can question their relevance in today's society, but I can see how it could be helpful to meet older people with experience in business or politics regardless of whether they hook you up with anything other than some knowledge.

2/25/2007 10:02:46 PM

Quote :

"I can see how it could be helpful to meet older people with experience in business or politics regardless of whether they hook you up with anything other than some knowledge"

that's what has me thinking about it

2/25/2007 10:08:39 PM

You will definitely meet some interesting people and it can be a great way to network.

2/25/2007 10:19:25 PM

Soon to be father-in-law is one of the higher-up's in the Masons. I've met a bunch of their folks, and plan to join once things calm down some on my end a little bit.

2/26/2007 8:47:09 AM

i think its great, i mean i've met a lot of people all over the world and its taught me skills that i can transfer to my professional life. as well as how to have manner and to speak correctly in a public setting. also brought me a lot of friends and a large family i can count on if things get down. my dad says he would never change his decision to join, some of his best friends are member he met through joining and the men at our lodge have always been like dad's to me and my sister. and i dont know one kid in our lodge who feels any differently

2/27/2007 12:19:02 AM

i want to become a mason, but I have no idea on how to do it.

2/27/2007 7:44:49 AM

Masons are old school though you'll see the same variation of society in them. You have to have a family member that is in it, or three people vouch for you (that's hard to get). And that's just to get to the initiation. Some of the "weaker" groups just let you in anyway. But they aren't generally accepted into the tight knit group that are the powerful people.

I used to be in DeMolay which is the younger version of Masons. Same structure but much smaller. I became the Master Councilor (top dog) and I went to several events that I'm not entirely sure I should been at with the Masons. I'll be straight with you, if you join the REAL masonic groups it's very ritualistic and sometimes very odd. Nothing wack like you hear in the news. Everything has very powerful meaning and you'll spend a lot of time memorizing things at first.

However, there's a lot of payoff. You almost immediately get into the trust of many very influencial people. But you have to join a "real" lodge, meaning one that's accepted in the main group. Raleigh Masonic Lodge off of Glenwood is one of the good ones. Chuck Rouse would be someone to start talking to but they are not easy to get into. You REALLY have to show time and dedication to them.

The reason for the secrecy and ritual is to make sure each mason knows when someone else who claims to be a mason is or isn't. If I had the time I would still be in it but I'm one of those individuals who hates doing things half assed and that's what it would wind up being. But for those that are political in nature... you will not find anything more valuable to you.

2/27/2007 8:12:53 AM

Quote :

"I'll be straight with you, if you join the REAL masonic groups it's very ritualistic and sometimes very odd. Nothing wack like you hear in the news. Everything has very powerful meaning and you'll spend a lot of time memorizing things at first."

I was raised mormon. I know about weird rituals. My sister-in-laws dad is a shriner, so I could probably go trough him.

2/27/2007 8:18:30 AM

Quote :

"Masons are old school though you'll see the same variation of society in them. You have to have a family member that is in it, or three people vouch for you (that's hard to get)."

That's not really true. Having a family member in would certainly be the easiest way (simply because you will already know someone), but it is very possible to join the masonic lodge without having a family member in there. To join the lodge, you just need to get an application, have 2 active members sign it (recommend you) and then go through a review process. It really isn't as bad as you think.

If you are serious about wanting to join the lodge, what you should do is either go to the Grand Lodge (on Glenwood Ave.) or any of the local lodges and speak to someone.

2/27/2007 8:39:47 AM