Masonic Organizations & Hazing
 

Is anyone a member of a Masonic organization? My friend told me that they 'pledged him', and at various points while getting deeper and deeper into it, he was hazed. Any comments? I am wondering if this is for me. I like the community service projects they do ....

Your best bet is to probably dig a little deeper with your friend who is already a in the organization. If I were you, I would probably trust the info I got from him, as opposed to strangers on this board who don't know you, and who realy don't have your best interest at heart. (Not trying to be funny), but that's really what I would do. You know this person, and while there is only so much he will tell you, he would probably be your best source of info.

Peace

MN

"And yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid"

NO COMMENT ON FREEMASONRY, BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE FORUM TOPIC. THIS MESSAGE BOARD IS FOR GREEK ORGANIZATIONS PERIOD. DIRECT YOUR CONCERNS THROUGH PERSONS IN THE PHYSICAL WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE LODGE THAT YOU ARE INTERSETED IN.

Didn't you just get through talking about Masonry in the 'BGLO Origins' topic?

It IS an appropriate topic because there are many people who are involved in both. I am sure that there may be someone who has a comment on this subject. If you do not agree or like the topic, wouldn't it just be easier to click to the next topic and not reply. Have a BLESSED DAY!

The founders of many fraternities were Masons, and parts of some of our Rituals came from Free Masonry. It seems to me to be a decent topic for discussion.

Fraternally,
DeltAlum

Regardless of whether there are Masons in fraternities or not, the question is specifically about Free Masonry, not something like "which did you become a member of first, how were you received by the other org, etc." The information he seeks will DEFINETLY NOT be given here, they do not operate like that. FreeMasonery, If you'd really like to know, I strongly suggest you discuss this further with your friend.

But, to answer your question instead of badgering you about it, I am also a Mason, find it very rewarding and was never hazed. I recommend it to all who are interested.

Hi AEK -- whatever,

Your screen name is a lot like the VIN on my car.

Thanks for the information. My father, uncle and grandfather are/were Masons, but I never had an interest.

I believe that since many of the founders of Greek organizations were Masons, and they passed along many of their customs through our rituals, it is educational to get some amount of insight -- without giving away any secrets.

I think it's generally helpful to know as much as you can about your heritage, so I think it is a reasonable question for this forum.

Fraternally,
DeltAlum

JUT AN FYI,
I AM A CATHOLIC AND FORBIDDEN TO JOIN THE MASONS. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE AN EVIL GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT RIGHT IN THEIR BEILEIFS. (MY PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF)I AM CURIOUS TO FIND OUT HOW WE COULD TRACE WHAT SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES TO THE MASONS??

Alphabebe,

I don't think you will trace any GLO's directly to the Masonic movement.

The point is that some founders of many fraternal organizations were also Masons so some of their ritual, etc. tends to be copied.

This does NOT mean that Masonsic movement has or had anything to do with the governance of those other organizations.

DeltAlum

I think that Acacia Fraternity was somehow associated with Masonry, to what degree I'm unsure. But that was a looooong time ago.

alphabebe - I thought that the "Catholics can't join the Masons" doctrine went out with Vatican II?

hey AEKDB5DGMXX, can I ask you a few questions in the Kappa Sigma forum?

yes, there were changes with vatican II, however it does not rule out the masons. the function oftheir secret oath is to get rid of organized religion (all religion) and live in a natural state without any form of law whether it be religious or governed. the only reason we know this is from people who left the order. they do have many beneficial practices within their order, however their basis is quite different from a sorority or fraternity. thanks for asking!!!

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY IN FACT BE HARD TO SWALLOW,BUT I TOO ALSO KNOW THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO BE A FACT! I HAVE FAMILY FRIENDS TO BE MASONS AND ALTHOUGH THEY ARE FRIENDS WE DIFFER IN THE LIFE CHOICES WE MAKE. NOT A BIG DEAL!! I DO KNOW THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE VERSED IN THEIR BEIELFS AND FIND THE ORGANIZATION HARMELESS, HOWEVER THROUGH THE I GUESS, SO CALLED INITIATION PROCESS THINGS ARE REVEALED. MY POINT WAS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES IN COMPARISON TO THE MASONS. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS A MASON THAT DOES NOT MAKE THEM A BAD PERSON. THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY AND IF THAT IS WHAT YOU PERCEIVED THEN, I APOLOGIZE. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW. THANKS FOR LISTENING AND ASKING!

Alphabebe,

I know nothing about the Masons ritual, etc. However, I find what you say hard to believe knowing the Masons I've met -- including my Dad, his late brother and my late Grandfather. I have never had an interest or been a member myself, by the way.

I would simply suggest that you be absolutely sure of your information (which may be true, I suppose). It's awfully easy for a disgruntled former member (or even someone who has never been part of an organization), to spread rumors -- which then take on a life of their own.

Best regards,
DeltAlum

Rainbow Girls is an association for girls 10-18 (I believe that's the age range) for girls who are related to Master Masons or are friends of these girls. (My dad is a Mason can you tell?) I think there is another association called Job's Daughters where your dad has to be a member of the Shrine.

I never got involved, I think because my mom was in Eastern Star for 2.5 seconds and hated it.

I believe the Rainbow Girls can be in the organization from 11 up to the age of 20, and unmarried, if I'm not mistaken. One of my sorority sisters belonged to a northern California chapter of Rainbow (Novato) and I believe she held the office of Grand Confidential Observer for the state of California. They have their own offices, similar to GLOs. Her chapter had their rituals and secret things and of course she couldn't fill me in on everything, but she did show me tapes of "Revelation" at their Grand Assembly, where the current year's officers pass down gifts to their successors for the next year. In addition to that, each assembly has a different mascot for each year.

While the Order of the Rainbow Girls is sponsored by the Masonic Lodges, they are not required to have membership in a Masonic affiliation to be a part of Rainbow.



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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

No biggie BlueReign - actually I think she only went to a few "introductory" meetings. I think it was because we lived in a small town and a lot of the ladies looked on Eastern Star as a jewel in their social crown, somthing to act "snooty" about, and not an opportunity to help others. My mom wasn't the joiner type, she was more into politics or reading a good book. (Part of the reason why when I said I was joining a sorority she kinda went "huh???")

There is a group called the Kiwanas, which is a community service orfanization. I'm not sure if it's related to the Masons

Heidi

Hi. I hope you don't mind this question -- why did your Mom hate being an Eastern Star?

BillyMac,

Thanks for the post. That's much more in line with how I've viewed the Masons as an outsider.

It's just too easy for a disgruntled member, or even someone with no real knowledge of an organization to to say things with no basis in fact. And it only takes one person to believe what he/she hears and pass it on as "fact."

Add to that the fact that my Mason grandfather was a very religious man, and I just found some of the stuff above very hard to believe.

Thanks again for helping set the record straight.

DeltAlum

I recently found an old Life magazine my mom must have saved from around 1954 or so. It had an article about Masonry and outlined the two different rites, the organizations affiliated with Masonry, etc. It was really thorough. If you're in a library that has the volumes of Life bound, look for it.

Delt, thanks for the repost, be proud of your father and all your family members. The Masons are a fraternity, although I am a younger member, I enjoy going to lodge and learning life lessons from men who have been there and done that. If you are ever interested approach your father about it.

I don't know too much about it, but both of grandfathers were/are masons. I think they different rituals though.

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Just because and idea is stupid doesn't mean it won't work.

I am a member of Kappa Alpha Order and I am also a Master Mason. Just to dispell the mthys, we do not pledge or rush men. A man MUST approach a Master Mason and REQUEST to become a member of our lodge. NO, we do not teach men to get rid of religion in their lives. In fact, they must believe in a supreme being (of their choice) to be admitted. We also do not haze in any way. The Masonic Order is a proud group, with a history thousands of years old, there were Masons during the time of the building of King Solomons temple. I am proud of the girl that said her father was a Mason. She knew about the Master Mason. It shows that shes pays attention. Those of you that have friends or parents that are Masons, you should be VERY VERY proud of their affiliation with it. It is very respected worldwide.

I must disagree. I have taken the Masonic oath, and since memorized it. The oath makes no reference or inference to"get rid of organized religion (all religion) and live in a natural state without any form of law whether it be religious or governed."


I have thuroughly enjoyed the organization and it's members. Also, I know of no policy that forbids the initiation of Catholics.

My brothers saif it best "Caution" is the first lesson you must learn in life. If you do not know the person never reveal information in this type of manner. Some mistakes can be fatal.

My father was a Master Mason and a member of the Shrine. All of the men that I met through my participation in Rainbow Girls and Eastern Star were decent, upstanding, Christian and Jewish leaders of the community. They expected, nor settled for nothing less. I don't know of any other religions that were involved, but there probably are, these days.

No other organization, besides the Shriners, does more for children in this country. The burn and orthopedic hospitals that they fund are the best in the world. No child ever gets turned away-and that includes some college aged people, too. You have to be a Mason, before you can join the Shriners.



[This message has been edited by pledgetrainer2 (edited February 11, 2001).]

I've been wondering this forever ...WHAT IS A MASON??????

Well-a Mason is a member of the Masonic Lodge. It's not associated with a college, but independant of schools. Mostly, older men belong to it.

If you are asking what a mason is-they are builders of buildings, kind of like bricklayers, I think. I know that their symbol has tools of the trade for builders on it.

If I was to guess what they are about, it would be that they are builders of something good in society, because they put a lot of emphasis on family and God, from what I can tell. My dad is not alive for me to ask him any questions about it, so I have to go on memory, from when he was a member.

Free and Accepted Masons are a Fraternity (an Order actually)
Yes the Masons are mostly older men, but some young ones, like me, are in it. Most fraternity founders were Masons, and alot of fraternity symbolism stems from teachings from Masons. The Masonic organizations is thousands of years old. In the times of King Solomon Masons were just that, Masons. They were builders. Now the principles of the builders are taught to those who enter the lodge.

There are 3 degrees in the blue lodge, then after intiation you can join the York or Scottish rite, and recieve more degrees and Masonic teaching. Upon completeing this, you may enter the Shrine (Shriners as they are called).

Interesting fact- as far as philanthropy goes, the masonic organizations combined contribute 3 million dollars a DAY to philanthropy's. Not bad huh?

There are actully several orders of Masons. I know that there are two who are just called Masons, and they were founded as one, but one found or wrote a different rite (Ancient Accepted Scotish Rite). Then there are other orders you can join such as Shriners, Knights Templar, etc. Some you have to be a Master Mason to join, or be in another order, and some you can join right away.

Silly Question...can a girl be a mason? This thread is very informative in that this is the first Ive ever heard of the Masons and ive learned alot so far! Thanks to everyone for all the input!

No, but you can Join Eastern Star. Or another female Masonic group. But the Free Masons are all male.

As far as women being masons, generally not in Europe or America, but I saw a website where there was a Canadian lodge that had both men and women in it.

Genreally, though women are OES and other houses associated with freemasonry.

As a Star, I get really TIRED of the "rumors" about lawlessness and satanic backgrounds and anti-religious fervor attributed to my order. How do people not even remotely associated with the Order know? And the Catholic thing cracked me up!! And my square family knows why this is so funny. Man, it's urban legends taken to another level!!

Whee, I guess it's good for me to vent. Thanks!

Hey I dont know if anyone is still posting here, but I was a Rainbow Girl (a younger version of Eastern Star, which is the female version of the Masons) and I was not hazed in anyway... if that helps!

First of all,
I AM A ACTIVE, DUES PAYING, GRAND CHAPTER CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE EASTERN STAR
Second of all,
YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ORDER OR MASONARY YOU NEED TO DIRECT THOSE QUESTIONS TO ACTIVE MASONS AND EASTERN STARS.

Third of all,
RAINBOW GIRLS, YOU NEED TO ASK A EATSERN STAR ABOUT THAT.

SECRETS OF THE RITUAL SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN OUT. JUST LIKE YOUR SORORITY OR FRATERNITY INFORMSATION. OR DO YOU TELL THOSE SECRETS OVER THE NET.


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"The Regulator"
#14
Toledo Alumnae Chapter

My family has a very strong masonic tradition (basically, I'm a legacy, many time over). Althought today there are no direct ties between greek and masons, many people are members of both groups. Many Job's daughters, Rainbow girls and Demolay choose to rush when they enter college. For clarification, Job's Daughters MUST be related to a Master Mason. Rainbow Girls require a recommendation, but not a direct relation. Demolay is a similar organization for young men. These organizations are very similar to greek organizations, based on sisterhood/brotherhood, service, and socializing. They teach many wonderful lessons, and provide many useful skills. And in my case, 9 years of involvement in Job's Daughters sparked my intrest in Sororities, because when I went away for college, I felt I needed to find an organization which fufilled a similar purpose. If anyone has any questions, I'd be hapy to help!

freemasons
 

Interesting thread. Some good info and some very weird and very wrong info. The Masons are an ancient fraternity who require an absolute belief in God and who encourage you to serve your God according to your beliefs. Lots of info available on the Web. The primary difficulty between the Masons and the Catholic Church was based on a misunderstanding which came about during the French Revolution. Certain French lodges rejected belief in the Deity and actively sought the destruction of the Church during and after the revolution. Regular (legit) Masons rejected this approach and the Grand Master of Masons in England condemned these outlaw masons. The rest of the regular Masonic world followed suit and cut off communication with this irregular branch, known as the Grand Orient of France. Needless to say the Catholic Church was not too happy about a group trying to eliminate religion in France. Ofer the years Catholics were forbidden to join the Masons based on the belief that the Masons were their sworn enemies. During the 1960's a number of senior Masons began talking with a number of Cardinals and the Masons discovered that the Church was not opposed to them in principle but was under the impression that there was a deep animosity between the two. The Cardinals began to realize that while some Masons may not have particularly liked Catholics there was nothing in Masonry that conflicted with the Church, if fact there was rather a lot that both groups held in mutual high regard. This led to a meeting between the Duke of Kent, the Grand Master of Masons in England and Pope Paul VI. They found that they were in close agreement, that they both rejected the outlaw masons position, and that there was no real difficulty. Pope Paul VI then lifted the ban on Catholics joining the Masons and the Masons stated officialy that there was no objection to Catholics joining the Masons. The current Pope, John Paul II issued a pastoral letter about ten years ago reaffirming that there was no reason why Catholic laymen could not be Masons if they joined legitimate lodges and avoided the lodges that main stream Masons condemned as well. These outfits are certain French lodges, some other politically active european lodges, and some South American anti-clerical lodges.
My Grandfather was a Mason and a Catholic and assured me that there was nothing in Masonry that any one could find offensive to his religious beliefs. He also pointed out that Greek letter fraternities are directly decended from the Masons and that any fraternity man would recognize this immediately upon going through the degrees of Masonry. I have since been initiated into my grandfather's lodge in England, have become a Master Mason, and have gone through the York Rite degrees in the USA and have been received in Chapter in the United Kingdom. Wow, I saw what he meant. Would any other masonic greeks please join in and help set straight a lot of misunderstandings? While some things are private, mostly recognition issues and ritual specifics, there is a lot that Masons can, and are encouraged to, discuss openly. I think it is a very appropriate subject because the link between the Masonic world and the Greek world is rather like father and son.