Would You Join a Masonic Lodge? - Page 2

The_Nash · #1 01-20-2004, 03:53 AM

i would like to, it all seems very interesting to me

LXAAlum · #2 01-20-2004, 04:44 PM

I'd like to join - but don't have the time for the commitment - it would be yet ANOTHER fraternal organization for me. But I've always been intrigued by Ritualistic stuff, and Masons have the most "degrees" of any order I can think of.

But, I'm content with LXA and the Loyal Order of Moose that I already belong to - I would only join if I could also guarantee my commitment, which would not be easy with everything else I have in life right now.

My church doesn't frown on Masonic affiliation like other churches do - I think there is still a lot of historic mistrust of the Masons after the satanic accusations from a hundred years ago or so - from what I've seen of their Rituals, I don't believe it to be true.

sigtau305 · #3 01-20-2004, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by russellwarshay
Related to this thread: http://GreekChat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=45382

Would you join the Masons? Why?
If you are a Mason, why did you join?

_________________________________________________

I know very little about the Masons, and no one who I know, that I'm aware of, belongs to the Masons (except for friends who live over a thousand miles away.) I really have no desire to join, especially because it would take away time that spend with friends, and working on fraternity matters.

I have of couple of friends who are masons and they say it 's pretty cool. I'm thinking about joining one.

AlphaSigOU · #4 01-20-2004, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LXAAlum
I'd like to join - but don't have the time for the commitment - it would be yet ANOTHER fraternal organization for me. But I've always been intrigued by Ritualistic stuff, and Masons have the most "degrees" of any order I can think of.

But, I'm content with LXA and the Loyal Order of Moose that I already belong to - I would only join if I could also guarantee my commitment, which would not be easy with everything else I have in life right now.

My church doesn't frown on Masonic affiliation like other churches do - I think there is still a lot of historic mistrust of the Masons after the satanic accusations from a hundred years ago or so - from what I've seen of their Rituals, I don't believe it to be true.

Actually, there's no higher degree than that of Master Mason; all the other side degrees such as the Scottish Rite and York Rite are entirely optional.

Scottish Rite degrees are usually held over the course of a weekend or two; some jurisdictions will conduct the ceremonies in one day by exemplifying the five mandatory degrees (4th, 14th, 18th, 30th, 31st and 32nd) and communicating the degrees in between via a short explanatory lecture.

York Rite degrees are usually held during a weekend.

oldblue · #5 05-10-2007, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaSigOU

Actually, there's no higher degree than that of Master Mason; all the other side degrees such as the Scottish Rite and York Rite are entirely optional.

Scottish Rite degrees are usually held over the course of a weekend or two; some jurisdictions will conduct the ceremonies in one day by exemplifying the five mandatory degrees (4th, 14th, 18th, 30th, 31st and 32nd) and communicating the degrees in between via a short explanatory lecture.

York Rite degrees are usually held during a weekend.

Are you a mason?

JWithers · #6 05-10-2007, 10:08 PM

My father and his father were both York Rite Masons (Christian only) and also lifelong members of the Presbyterian Church USA. So I guess there is not a conflict of interest since PCUSA is pretty cut and dried as to what is biblical and what is not. It's a very liturgical church and there was obviously never an issue.

Cardinal026 · #7 05-11-2007, 01:18 AM

My grandparents are still very involved in Masons/Eastern Star/Job's Daughter's, etc. My parents met through some sort of Demolay (sp?) and Job's Daughter's social. It was something that I was very aware of growing up, seeing lots of pictures of my mom as a Past Honored Queen, etc.

When I was around 11, my grandparents started really pushing me to get involved w/ Job's Daughters. I refused, because I thought it was ridiculous that they had some sort of a secret that no one else could no about, and didn't want to join something without fully knowing what I was getting into.

I really regret that decision now, and keep meaning to start being involved - especially after getting to see one of my 15 year old little sister's open ceremonies, and realizing for the first time that the "secret" is really no different from my sorority's ritual. So yes, I would join a masonic lodge now, if I were male, and do plan on becoming involved one day on the female end.

CutiePie2000 · #8 05-11-2007, 01:27 AM

Translation: we don't want you joining other organizations that might siphon off your money that might have come to the church instead. Therefore, we forbid you from joining these organizations so that you can divert your money to us.

Glitter650 · #9 01-20-2004, 11:20 PM

I would probably join if I was a man... but instead I'm a member of eastern star...

PhiPsiRuss · #10 01-20-2004, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glitter650
I would probably join if I was a man... but instead I'm a member of eastern star...

What is Eastern Star?

AlphaSigOU · #11 01-21-2004, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by russellwarshay
You can always get a sex change!

Believe it or not, there are female Masons. Officially they are not recognized by any of the 'mainstream' Masonic grand lodges. In the United Kingdom, there are two women's Masonic organizations: the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) and the Order of Women Freemasons (OWF). However, these are strictly women's organizations, unlike our Order of the Eastern Star which is co-ed. (British (but not Scottish) Masons are prohibited from joining OES.)

More information on co-ed Freemasonry: http://www.co-masonry.com/ .

AlphaSigOU · #12 01-21-2004, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by russellwarshay
What is Eastern Star?

The Order of the Eastern Star is an organization composed of Master Masons, their wives, widows, mothers and other immediate female relatives. The Order was founded in the mid-1800s by Rob Morris and its ceremonies are based on the heroic feats of five women of Biblical times: Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa.

More information at www.easternstar.org .

I am currently the Chaplain of Plano Chapter #703 OES, Plano, Texas.

KSigkid · #13 01-24-2004, 05:07 PM

I'm seriously considering joining one of the Boston lodges. I've been exploring the topic a bit, not sure if I definitely will or not.

AlphaSigOU · #14 01-24-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
I'm seriously considering joining one of the Boston lodges. I've been exploring the topic a bit, not sure if I definitely will or not.

Massachusetts lodges are quite interesting; lodges have names only, but no numbers; i.e. Boston Lodge, and not Boston Lodge #1. They also have a district in what is now Panama, and once had several lodges in China, before the Commies took over.

Here's the official site for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts: http://www.glmasons-mass.org/ .

If you have any questions about Freemasonry, please feel free to PM me. I'll try and answer it the best I can.

KSigkid · #15 01-24-2004, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Massachusetts lodges are quite interesting; lodges have names only, but no numbers; i.e. Boston Lodge, and not Boston Lodge #1. They also have a district in what is now Panama, and once had several lodges in China, before the Commies took over.

Here's the official site for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts: http://www.glmasons-mass.org/ .

If you have any questions about Freemasonry, please feel free to PM me. I'll try and answer it the best I can.

Yeah, I just realized this - and all the Boston lodges meet in the same building I guess, but on different floors. I'll PM you if I have any questions as I get further in my thought process of whether to do it or not.