Oldest fraternity

[baby_bruh]

Freemasonry dates back to the days of king Solomon, was established in London, England in 1717 and founded in America in 1784 under the name "Prince Hall" in Boston, Mass.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by baby_bruh

Freemasonry dates back to the days of king Solomon, was established in London, England in 1717 and founded in America in 1784 under the name "Prince Hall" in Boston, Mass.

Ummm. Fremasonry sometimes claims to date back to the days of King Solomon, but any honest masonic historian will tell you that it doesn't really; at most, it dates back to the late middle ages/Renaissance.

And Prince Hall Freemasonry, while certainly important, is but one branch of American Freemasonry, and it was not the first branch established in the US.

[baby_bruh]

Wow... Ok... Well I am a Prince Hall Mason and Prince Hall was and is the only American Masonic Lodge. The others are Scottish and York Rites which originated in Scotland and Yorkshire. And any 'honest' Mason will tell you the truth about where our organization started, which was in the days of King Solomon.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by baby_bruh

Wow... Ok... Well I am a Prince Hall Mason and Prince Hall was and is the only American Masonic Lodge. The others are Scottish and York Rites which originated in Scotland and Yorkshire.

Use that distinction if you want to, but

• There were numerous lodges in America -- including quite a few Grand Lodges -- before Prince Hall Freemasonry was etablished.

• The York Rite did not originate in Yorkshire -- it is a collection of degrees and rites that originated in a number of different places. It was called the York Rite after the tradition that the first masonic meetings in England were held in York.

• Your distinction between Scottish Rite, York Rite and what you call the "American" Rite is somewhat misplaced. Both the Scottish Rite and the York Rite are appendant bodies to the Freemasonry, not separate forms of Freemasonry as such. There is no such thing as a Scottish Rite or a York Rite lodge.

And any 'honest' Mason will tell you the truth about where our organization started, which was in the days of King Solomon.

Believe what you want to. Just know, however, that defending that belief does not enhance your credibility.

[wptw]

Damn you, MC! You always beat me to the retort. I have a theory that you're actually me, 5 minutes from now.

Anyway, I was going to kindly suggest you change the word "honest" to "intelligent". I figured that'd clear this right up in a coupla days.

My observation is these misconceptions are spawned (and sustained) more from simple naïveté rather than willful... dishonesté.

Some minds really struggle with the concept of parable and allegory, just throws a big ol' monkey wrench in there.

Speaking of... did you notice how I stayed quiet when the Bologna thing came up? I'm working on being more sensitive in the face of absurdity. One day at a time!

best,
wptw

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by wptw

Damn you, MC! You always beat me to the retort. I have a theory that you're actually me, 5 minutes from now.

It's a circular thing, since my aspiration is to be you 5 minutes from now.

Anyway, I was going to kindly suggest you change the word "honest" to "intelligent". I figured that'd clear this right up in a coupla days.

And it's just that kind of insight that to which I aspire -- 5 minutes from now. Yes, intelligent would have been a better choice of words.

Speaking of... did you notice how I stayed quiet when the Bologna thing came up? I'm working on being more sensitive in the face of absurdity. One day at a time!

I did notice that. I was both impressed and a tad disappointed -- not so much because of a desire to rehash that again, but because I always like anything that will coax you out from hiding. Of course, that was in a 2001 post in this recently resurrected thread. Nevertheless, I applaud your attempt at Serenity Now.

Don't be a stranger!

Originally Posted by wptw

Damn you, MC! You always beat me to the retort. I have a theory that you're actually me, 5 minutes from now.

Anyway, I was going to kindly suggest you change the word "honest" to "intelligent". I figured that'd clear this right up in a coupla days.

My observation is these misconceptions are spawned (and sustained) more from simple naïveté rather than willful... dishonesté.

Some minds really struggle with the concept of parable and allegory, just throws a big ol' monkey wrench in there.

Speaking of... did you notice how I stayed quiet when the Bologna thing came up? I'm working on being more sensitive in the face of absurdity. One day at a time!

best,
wptw

Glad to see you posting, wptw!