Masonry.

[Light Samurai]

Are any of you on this forum Freemasons, or have ever visited a Lodge?
Peace.
PS. I am not a Mason or a Freemason, just curious.

[louisvandalen]

They wouldn't tell you here.

Best regards,

Louis

[nikolaj]

is it strange that I don't know what a freemason is?
(because I really don't ^^°)

[projectnavi]

yes its strange, i suggest you read about them.

and i would tend to go with the opinion above yours saying they wouldn't show up here to comment...its much more "underground" than that.

i trust Bouddha more. much more.

[nikolaj]

ooooh, I just did some googling, I know what masonry is, it's just an entirely different word in English...
(well, in Dutch we also translate it literally but I didn't know what a mason was...)

So know that I know what we're talking about, I'd also be surprised if someone showed up claiming to be one...

[bullet08]

used to hang around with shriners when i was younger. i wasn't a member. they had bagpipe band, and i played in that band. nice bunch of folks. drinks like whale. mostly old folks who just likes to help people and hang around at the lodge a lot.

pete

[Theodore]

Are any of you on this forum Freemasons, or have ever visited a Lodge?
Peace.
PS. I am not a Mason or a Freemason, just curious.

Not a Freemason but I laid bricks in college....not fun. Made me appreciate my medical education that's for sure.

[projectnavi]

used to hang around with shriners when i was younger. i wasn't a member. they had bagpipe band, and i played in that band. nice bunch of folks. drinks like whale. mostly old folks who just likes to help people and hang around at the lodge a lot.

pete

yeah, thats what they want you to think!

:wink:

[drizzt]

my great grandfather was free mason. im considering it but not shure.

I would certainly like to know what huge problem some of you have with them....

[Tato]

Well, they said about themselves that they are not secret, just discreet (is this the right word in English?), that means that they won't tell you here.

Got a couple of friends who are, personally I'm not attracted at all, but you have to admit that they tend to be intellectually sound people.

Besides, historically they have played a key role in some critical moments in history, occidental culture owes them much.

D.

[kendomushi]

My uncle was one. I went to several functions of theirs when I was young. Never saw anything overtly strange about them. Well, the induction ceremony for some higher than average position my uncle held seemed like some kind of fantasy role playing game being played by men in suits and tuxedo's....... but other than that it seemed pretty stale and harmless.

[louisvandalen]

Their secrecy is not that much of an item anymore, it comes from the old days where anyone denying the existence of a catholic god/church would be prosecuted and burned on a pile of wood. They have another philosophy on life that tends more to the scientific approach as to believe in certain dogmas that followers of the catholic (or other churches) need to swallow. Seeking alternatives for ultimate power has always brought them in danger (they where hunted by the nazi's in WWII also). You can now find them in your local phonebook probably as most cities have a lodge (or more) but they still try to remain discreet.

Basically: Everyone is considered a rough stone that needs polishing to build the perfect wall, this completed and perfect wall forms "heaven" or paradise on earth. They use lot's of symbology that relates to this "master build plan" (again because straight forward references in that time denying the power of the church would be very dangerous). So their secrecy was mainly keeping them alive. Ofcourse where there are rumours there are stories that tend to get exagerated and in this case the use of symbology which could (mostly) only be understood by insiders and their oppostition to the current beliefs and morals blew some of them up to mythological proportions.

Looking at the scientific approach you will not find it strange that many famous masons where architects (many of them involved in building cathedrals all over the world, oh sweet irony) scientist, artist, philosophers and leaders (industrial/countries). Their symbols can be found everywhere, from the US dollar notes (the all seeying eye) to ancient churches and in tradingcentres all over the world. Very interesting one is Rosslyn chapel in Scotland. The mason originated from the templers knights (also called the crusaders i think) which where also the founders of what we see as our modern banking system (you could cash checks of the templers all over the world instead of carrying arround a big box with gold). Probably another reason why so many famous people where brought in relation with the masons (money is still the easiest way to get famous). I mentioned Rosslyn chapel because one of the legends tell that the templers found salomons mines or maybe even the holy grale and that's why they became so powerfull (Dan Brown ;)). There seems to be some connection with Rosslyn chapel, ground scans proved that there is a very large room right under the building but the owners of the chapel (yes, the templers knights still) don't allow escavations or further research. Inside the chapel there are lot's of symbols that seem to form a code and a $$$ price has been rewarded to the one that breaks it. So in the end you never know, they could be holding the key to the universe also :)

What do you believe????

[louisvandalen]

Well, the induction ceremony for some higher than average position my uncle held seemed like some kind of fantasy role playing game being played by men in suits and tuxedo's....... but other than that it seemed pretty stale and harmless.

After a pretty long selection process (not everyone can become a mason) and a national referal (all lodges in the country will get to know your name) there will be a ceremony that installs you with the masons. It's pretty ancient so being blindfolded in a temple and some guy waving a sword arround with men dressed up in apron's does look a bit outdated. (sorry I forgot, on Kendo World it's pretty much the usual :)) Then again, students that get installed do funny stuff, new recruits in the army have to go trough it and so on, the initiation ritual is something thats done worldwide in all kinds of forms. Mostly funny.....

[JSchmidt]

There seems to be some connection with Rosslyn chapel, ground scans proved that there is a very large room right under the building

You mean, conspiracy-nuts believe that ground scans etc etc..

Jakob

[Anjin-san]

yeah, don't take davinci code too seriously...

[Anjin-san]

sorry for the double post, just googled and found this... http://www.grandlodge-england.org/ugle/intro.htm

[Commander]

My papa was a Mason.

I know theres alot of secret talk n stuff.

[projectnavi]

yeah, don't take davinci code too seriously...

well, the vatican went strongly against the book...there must be something hidden in there for sure !

:wink:

[Anjin-san]

They were probably a bit miffed about one of the baddies being in Opus Dei which he makes out to be really evil in the book.

[projectnavi]

They were probably a bit miffed about one of the baddies being in Opus Dei which he makes out to be really evil in the book.


i trust you. i'm not about to read it.

(not cause i follow the pope's advice, mind you :wink: )

[El Gringo]

I thought that they weren't too happy about the idea that Jesus wasnt single, in fact doesnt the book say that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, who herself was actually one of the apostles?

(I know this is definitely one of the conspiracy theories surrounding the bible but im not totally sure whether or not it is actually in the Davinci Code.)

[Phil-co]

I like the Stone Cutters more! Of course, nowadays they consist of one man and a bunch of monkeys.

[Gregory]

my great grandfather was free mason. im considering it but not shure.

I would certainly like to know what huge problem some of you have with them....

They have problems with them because the only info they have about them are gotten from pulp fiction like the Davinci Code and websites like "conspiracy.com" and "anarchy.org"

And tato, they did not tape the moon landing in the back of a parking lot or cause the war in Iraq. ;)

[Gregory]

well, the vatican went strongly against the book...there must be something hidden in there for sure !

:wink:


You are joking right? :)
The Vatican was against the book beacause it made it seem like they were out to make the world explode (HAVE YOU GUYS READ ANGELS AND DEMONS!?!?)


I just heard that in his next book, Brown uncovered the truth about how Bill Gates and Matel are making high powered rifles to kill the ceo of kleenex!!!!

RUN AND HIDE!!

[Gregory]

Their secrecy is not that much of an item anymore, it comes from the old days where anyone denying the existence of a catholic god/church would be prosecuted and burned on a pile of wood. They have another philosophy on life that tends more to the scientific approach as to believe in certain dogmas that followers of the catholic (or other churches) need to swallow. Seeking alternatives for ultimate power has always brought them in danger (they where hunted by the nazi's in WWII also). You can now find them in your local phonebook probably as most cities have a lodge (or more) but they still try to remain discreet.

Basically: Everyone is considered a rough stone that needs polishing to build the perfect wall, this completed and perfect wall forms "heaven" or paradise on earth. They use lot's of symbology that relates to this "master build plan" (again because straight forward references in that time denying the power of the church would be very dangerous). So their secrecy was mainly keeping them alive. Ofcourse where there are rumours there are stories that tend to get exagerated and in this case the use of symbology which could (mostly) only be understood by insiders and their oppostition to the current beliefs and morals blew some of them up to mythological proportions.

Looking at the scientific approach you will not find it strange that many famous masons where architects (many of them involved in building cathedrals all over the world, oh sweet irony) scientist, artist, philosophers and leaders (industrial/countries). Their symbols can be found everywhere, from the US dollar notes (the all seeying eye) to ancient churches and in tradingcentres all over the world. Very interesting one is Rosslyn chapel in Scotland. The mason originated from the templers knights (also called the crusaders i think) which where also the founders of what we see as our modern banking system (you could cash checks of the templers all over the world instead of carrying arround a big box with gold). Probably another reason why so many famous people where brought in relation with the masons (money is still the easiest way to get famous). I mentioned Rosslyn chapel because one of the legends tell that the templers found salomons mines or maybe even the holy grale and that's why they became so powerfull (Dan Brown ;)). There seems to be some connection with Rosslyn chapel, ground scans proved that there is a very large room right under the building but the owners of the chapel (yes, the templers knights still) don't allow escavations or further research. Inside the chapel there are lot's of symbols that seem to form a code and a $$$ price has been rewarded to the one that breaks it. So in the end you never know, they could be holding the key to the universe also :)

What do you believe????


See my above post drizzt :)

[Gregory]

You mean, conspiracy-nuts believe that ground scans etc etc..

Jakob

yeah, don't take davinci code too seriously...



THANK YOU!!

[Gregory]

I thought that they weren't too happy about the idea that Jesus wasnt single, in fact doesnt the book say that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, who herself was actually one of the apostles?

(I know this is definitely one of the conspiracy theories surrounding the bible but im not totally sure whether or not it is actually in the Davinci Code.)

In the book, (the code not bible) Mary and jesus were married, the louvre was used by the illuminati and freemasons (who own the world) to hide documents that proved that Mary and Jesus had kids. Albino assassins killed old museum caretakers with granddaughters in cryptography and leonardo da vinci spent all his time putting secrets in his paintings and making inventions that destroyed paper.

:)

[Lloromannic]

I think one of the main problems with the DaVinci Code (aside from crappy writing and being more predictable than He-Man) was that many people took it as fact. And that made the Vatican disapprove of it, then again the Varican is also against Harry Potter and Pokemon.

Z0MG!!!!! This book which I bought in the fiction section tells me that Jesus was married and the Opus Dei is 3vil!!! It contains jolly factual errors like saying Aristotle was condemned by the Church when in fact they supported him, therefore the book must be the truth!!!!!!

[Gregory]

I loved the first page that said

THIS BOOK IS FACT!!!


and had a list of all the fake factual info it had

[Lloromannic]

For example: The Opus Dei does not have monks.

[drizzt]

See my above post drizzt :)

wait it sbeen to long since this came up, what were we arguing?

[Chusan]

Are any of you on this forum Freemasons...?
Yes. Here I am. Joined Masonry in 1983.
No secret, no conspiracies, sorry... :disapp:

[Lloromannic]

Yes. Here I am. Joined Masonry in 1983.
No secret, no conspiracies, sorry... :disapp:

AHA!!! That's what you want us to believe and one day we'll wake up and you will be King of the World. :D

[Chusan]

Hm. Am working on this. No success, yet... :)

[louisvandalen]

Yes. Here I am. Joined Masonry in 1983.
No secret, no conspiracies, sorry... :disapp:

Then you must be aware that different lodges hold different people. This not only area based but also comes down to status. There's a grand lodge in the UK oposite to Buckingham palace. Some of these people actually have enough power to "change" things. Isn't anything that's being agreed upon behind closed doors and which affects others some kind of conspiracy? G7/G8 like?

Don't take away our fantasies :)

[Lil' Kenshi]

Yes. Here I am. Joined Masonry in 1983.
No secret, no conspiracies, sorry... :disapp:
Neither my dad nor my grandpa tell me anything that isn't vague when I ask simple questions. You have any idea why?

[Stealth]

Neither my dad nor my grandpa tell me anything that isn't vague when I ask simple questions. You have any idea why?

I guess the younger you are the more difficult it is to understand some things. And vice versa.