Thread: I'm considering joining the ranks of FreeMasonry...

Originally Posted by Jeff777

They've been letting blacks and females into FreeMasonry for decades Sandform.

Really? Hmm. I always assumed that kind of thing was a boy's club. I unfortunately couldn't be serious and actually join since I have to swear to believe in a supreme being.


Did you say your family members were 33 degrees? Wiki says there are only three degrees.

Wiki also is lieing to me about women damn it.
Since the adoption of Anderson's constitution in 1723, it has been accepted as fact by regular Masons that only men can be made Masons. Most Grand Lodges do not admit women because they believe it would violate the ancient Landmarks. While a few women, such as Elizabeth Aldworth, were initiated into British speculative lodges prior to 1723,[59] officially regular Freemasonry remains exclusive to men.

Apparently there are lots of groups calling themselves freemasons though.

Originally Posted by Sandform

Really? Hmm. I always assumed that kind of thing was a boy's club. I unfortunately couldn't be serious and actually join since I have to swear to believe in a supreme being.


Did you say your family members were 33 degrees? Wiki says there are only three degrees.

Wiki also is lieing to me about women damn it.
Since the adoption of Anderson's constitution in 1723, it has been accepted as fact by regular Masons that only men can be made Masons. Most Grand Lodges do not admit women because they believe it would violate the ancient Landmarks. While a few women, such as Elizabeth Aldworth, were initiated into British speculative lodges prior to 1723,[59] officially regular Freemasonry remains exclusive to men.

Apparently there are lots of groups calling themselves freemasons though.

They have a woman's sect, Sandform. I have family members who are also free masons. Next time I talk to my grandmother I'll be sure to ask her what exactly the name of it was.

I'm considering joining too ya know.

Originally Posted by Man of Shred

I'm considering joining too ya know.

Hell, so am I. I've got generations of free masons behind me. I might as well hop on the wagon (if only temporarily) and see what crazy stuff they've got to offer.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Jeff777

Probably the Order of the Eastern Star sect. The point down pentagram is their symbol. Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girl's are also branches of Masonry.

Yes, that's it! The Order of the Eastern Star.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Hell, so am I. I've got generations of free masons behind me. I might as well hop on the wagon (if only temporarily) and see what crazy stuff they've got to offer.

2B1 Ask1. Masons are forbidden from extending invitations into the brotherhood to others. Those interested in joining must willingly (on their own accord) ask to be one. And once you're in...you're in. Know any fraternity's that just "casually" let people in? Also, the secret ballot can be mentally strenuous. If there are 30 members present at the lodge you are wanting to join and 29 vote "Yes" on you and one votes "No"...you would be prohibited from joining on that sole vote alone. All the currently present Mason's in said lodge must be on one accord when accepting a new brother into the order.

Originally Posted by Jeff777

2B1 Ask1. Masons are forbidden from extending invitations into the brotherhood to others. Those interested in joining must willingly (on their own accord) ask to be one. And once you're in...you're in. Know any fraternity's that just "casually" let people in? Also, the secret ballot can be mentally strenuous. If there are 30 members present at the lodge you are wanting to join and 29 vote "Yes" on you and one votes "No"...you would be prohibited from joining on that sole vote alone. All the currently present Mason's in said lodge must be on one accord when accepting a new brother into the order.

Indeed. So all I have to do is charm my way into it. What are they going to do if I don't want to participate anymore? But of course if I do join, a change of heart probably wouldn't occur.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Indeed. So all I have to do is charm my way into it. What are they going to do if I don't want to participate anymore?

See: JFK

See: Lincoln

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

Yes, that's it! The Order of the Eastern Star.

makes sense. The eastern star. Or the light in the eastern sky, is Venus. That's why men are from venus and women are from mars. Darn Masons and their play on words! I really wanna join now.

Originally Posted by Man of Shred

makes sense. The eastern star. Or the light in the eastern sky, is Venus. That's why men are from venus and women are from mars. Darn Masons and their play on words! I really wanna join now.

They just tell you that symbols like the pentagram are gateways to other dimensions which allow other beings access to our world.

I'm going to die in 5 minutes and 23 seconds. Goodbye dreamviews.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

They have a woman's sect, Sandform. I have family members who are also free masons. Next time I talk to my grandmother I'll be sure to ask her what exactly the name of it was.

Probably the Order of the Eastern Star sect. The point down pentagram is their symbol. Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girl's are also branches of Masonry.

Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

They have a woman's sect, Sandform. I have family members who are also free masons. Next time I talk to my grandmother I'll be sure to ask her what exactly the name of it was.

The particular section that has the closest ties to the original order though still doesn't permit women to join, though I think they don't care about race any more. At least that is what the Internet says. I don't understand the point of a secret club when the club isn't a secret anymore. The fact that one sect might let you in doesn't mean that the majority of the sects don't let you in. The catholics believe in limbo but you can't say that Christianity itself does. Women's sects are to freemasonry as Catholicism is to Christianity. Though the discussion of women and etc. isn't really that important. I'm sure all the different groups of Freemasons tell each other the same things. I'm sure like most organizations their social norms are dictated by the social norms of whatever society they are in. I wish the mainstream people would let women in by now though, but they think it would dishonor their old rules or something.

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

In my opinion I think it is a good thing that some people got together and decided not admitting women was bull shit, but on the other hand it seems there are now groups that only admit women. Though it isn't that bad for one of the smaller abundant forms of the club to exclude a gender, I think it is pretty pathetic that the ones considered to be the head honchos are excluding a gender.

I don't understand why so many of you are interested in joining. I think you'll be disappointed if you join and you find out it isn't that special.

As for the degrees and such. The 33rd degree Jeff mentioned earlier, I've learned after some net surfing, only because I was interested in what they meant, is actually not a degree of masonhood (there are only three of those degrees), but instead just a degree beyond something called the scottish rite system. This would be an extension past the third degree but not above the third degree. The 33rd degree itself is an honorary degree. the 4th through 32nd degree are purchased, while the 33rd degree is honorary and only given to those who have shown considerable dedication to the brotherhood.

Originally Posted by http://www.masonicinfo.com/33rdsrule.htm

Scottish Rite - a concordant organization which is part of the 'Masonic family' - has an degree system consisting of thirty-two degrees. The first three of those are only conferred by 'Scottish Rite Craft Lodges' of which there are very, very few worldwide - with most unrecognized.1 The 4th through the 32nd degrees (all of which have names that vary from Scottish Rite Jurisdiction to Scottish Rite Jurisdiction) are conferred upon those who make application AND PAY TO RECEIVE THEM!

Apparently being 33rd means nothing really, many 33rds would be equal to number 3s.

You can probably find any of these "secrets" you think they are harboring floating around in a book or on the Internet. However, since many of you say you have family members in the club, why not just goad the secrets out of them?