Would You Join a Masonic Lodge?

[risingstar]

Originally Posted by AlphaSigOU

Freemasonry requires only a belief in a Supreme Being in order to become a member. How one worships that Supreme Being is left entirely up to the member.

The majority of Masons in the United States are Christian, so most times you will see the Holy Bible on the Altar. But there are Jewish, Buddhist, and yes, even Muslim members. Our ceremonies are suitably revised to reflect the name of the Volume of Sacred Light on the altar.

Jewish Masons tend to gravitate towards the Scottish Rite rather than the York Rite, as the the Knight Templar orders (the highest degrees of the York Rite) are specifically for those of the Christian faith.

This is 100% correct.

And this one statement sums everything up. There is really nothing else to discuss.

[dzandiloo]

Been thinking about Eastern Star ever since they changed the rules to allow Rainbow Majority Members to join (I used to be ineligible b/c no family connections)...DH has no interest in Masons, so I don't know if I want to do it without him. All my former Rainbow Girl friends who have join OES are in the Dallas area.... Still thinking, but my daughter will be a Rainbow Girl, if they are still around when she is old enough.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
So am I, baptized but not a practicing Roman Catholic. But then I am already at odds with Roman Catholic doctrine by being a Mason anyway, so it doesn't bother me at all.

Perhaps you could help to enlighten me as to why the Church objects to the Masons? They have the Knights of Columbus. To me, the organizations look very similar.

[33girl]

Originally posted by ISUKappa
It is discouraged by our church (the entire Synod of the church, not just my sigular church) to join fraternal organizations such as Masons or Shriners but other charitable orgs such as Lions Club or Kiwanis are okay (I think it has to do with the ritual/heirarchy of the Masons). No one I know personally is a member of a masonic organization. But if it's what you want to do, then, hey, more power to you.

Are you Missouri Synod? Because I'm Lutheran & I've never heard this one before.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Perhaps you could help to enlighten me as to why the Church objects to the Masons? They have the Knights of Columbus. To me, the organizations look very similar.

To me, I think it appears it was a case of the Church not wanting any competition, even though Freemasonry is not a religion.

Back in the 1800s, a papal encyclical by Pope Leo XIII called Humanum Genus denounced Freemasonry as incompatible with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, on pain of excommunication. Over time the penalties have lessened, but Catholics who become Freemasons may not receive Holy Communion.

QUAESITUM EST
Declaration on Masonic Associations
Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church's decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous code.

This sacred congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance is due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.

Therefore, the Church's negative judgment in regard to Masonic associations remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and, therefore, membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful, who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the declaration of this sacred congregation issued Feb. 17,1981. [1]

In an audience granted to the undersigned cardinal prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this sacred congregation.

Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Nov. 26, 1983.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect

Father Jerome Hamer, O. P. Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary

Notes

1. Cf. AAS 73 (1981) pp. 240-241
source: http://showcase.netins.net/web/clearlight/mason.html

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1881 in New Haven, Connecticut. More info on the history of the K of C at http://www.kofc.org/about/history/index.cfm.

To be a member of the K of C, one must be a practical Catholic man, at least 18 years of age. There are three degrees of membership, as well as a fourth degree open to members who have been a third degree Knight for at least a year. Fourth degree members wear the fancy chapeaux and robes.

Members of the K of C enjoy the benefit of a life insurance program. Masons and Knights in many locations work together for the betterment of the community.

[aurora_borealis]

Originally posted by 33girl
Are you Missouri Synod? Because I'm Lutheran & I've never heard this one before.

It is all explained here for the Missouri Synod, andhere for the Wisconsin Synod. I'm ELCA and have never heard of there being a conflict of membership. I know of a Rainbow Girl/OES member that is ELCA here on GC.

Not sure about all the smaller denominations of Lutherans after ELCA, LCMS, and WELS, but I am thinking probably not as open to the Masonic memberships.

[adduncan]

ktsnake--

A very complete answer to your question can be found here:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm

In short, in spite of superficial "appearances" the bottom line difference is the KoC supports the authority of the RCC. The Masons do not.

--add

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by adduncan
ktsnake--

A very complete answer to your question can be found here:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09771a.htm

In short, in spite of superficial "appearances" the bottom line difference is the KoC supports the authority of the RCC. The Masons do not.

--add

Exactly. Masons require a belief in a Supreme Being, otherwise the obligations taken at the altar would not be considered binding.

[PhiGam]

Upon graduation I plan to, I come from a long line of masons.

Originally Posted by catiebug

My grandfather was a 32nd degree Mason, and a member of Scottish Rite. He joined his Blue Lodge while in the Philippines in the 1930s - he said it kept him on the "straight and narrow" and "out of the bars." When he died in 1991, he was buried in his apron and had the Masonic funeral rites at graveside.
My granddad was a 32 degree mason and a shriner ( and belong to scottish rite and york rite as well) and he too was buried with his apron and fez with full masonic ceremony...... it is a beatuiful ceremony that they do

In his honor, I joined the Order of the Eastern Star last year. It is my privilege to sit as Adah this year.
i have been a Job's daughter and rainbow girl (more jobie if anything) and i joined Eastern star at 18 in 1988 and this yr i am serving as Associate Matron here in California....with my yr next yr dedicated to my grand dad for my masonic heritage...BTW my mom is adah this yr too. My dad is my associate patron

My grandmother never joined OES - she said it was full of little old ladies (of which she was certainly not one ). That said, I do bring the average in my chapter down to about 60...

You bring the age down???? i am 38 and they are all over the age of 75 in my chapter hehehe

Originally Posted by pirate00

You grandfather is surely smiling down on you, sweetheart. Welcome to the family! *hugs*

Definitely welcome to the family!!!!!! i love to find other masonic relationships on here as we as sharing our fraternity / sorority affliations too.

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

My grandfather and my uncle were Masons. My grandmother and step mother were Eastern Stars. My dad is a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He has been a Mason for sixty years.

He asked me recently if I would like to become a Mason. I have nothing against the Masons, but one fraternal order is enough for me.

My dad is a past master belonging to york and scottish rite and commandry for well over 40 yrs.

I am very proud to come from a long line of Masons, shriners, eastern stars, amaranth, and daughters of the nile....as well as my masonic youth roots ( demolay, jobs daughters and rainbow)

It is funny someone asked me do you live at the lodge....some days i feel like it....I should have my mail forwarded there LOL

[4est]

I think interest in the masons is slowly dieing, my father is a mason but i have no real interest... the reason religion looks down on the masons is because they hide certain things from the public through rituals and what-not... officially religion also generally looks down on fraternities for the same reason... my dad was a pastor for around 35 years and has a masters in biblical theology and when he retired the first thing he did was become a mason... i was sponsored by the mason to go to all state band camp and i got to take part in some of their meetings and they just don't seem to have anything to offer other than connections which is great but its not offering enough for me to really look into it...

[cantwait08]

I am a member of both rainbow and eastern star they both have found a true place in my heart and cannot imagine what i would do with myself without them. as to the churches not approving one church my family and i attended told us we either had to quit any masonic affiliated organization or we were not welcomed back. lets just say we never went back to that church.
Rainbow Grand Offices:
Grand Page to Grand Love
Grand Page to the State Dad
Grand Representative to Mississippi and Montana
Grand Representative to Texas and California
Grand Nature
Grand Hope
Grand Drill Leader
have been worthy advisor 3 times (so far)
I am also a member of Eastern Star serving as Adah this year and my dad is currently serving as our worthy patron.
Every male member of my family is a mason and every female member of my family was in rainbow and eastern star.
My mom served as Grand Editor for Rainbow and my dad was the west district governor for Demolay.

[pirate00]

Bumping this thread up.

[Psi U MC Vito]

I'm a 32 degree Scottish RIte Mason, just got my orders in the Commandery of Knights Templar, hold a chair in the other two main York Rite Bodies, member of the Shrine and am active in my Blue Lodge where I hold a chair as well.

[tinydancer]

Wow, Vito! That is good work. I'm now in my third term as Worthy Matron in Eastern Star, and will be again in 4 years. I belong to two chapters.