[DigitalDevil]

Much interested in the masonic order, I wanted to know a bit more about their principles, customs, how members do interact with one another and what binds them. As far as I understand it, free masons have the common goal of bettering their own personality and are ready to support one another in tough times. This is a short summary of course but I would love to see if masonic GAFfers would like to discuss their role in the order, recent achievements made possible directly/indirectly by their affiliation and simply answer questions. My first question is: how did you get in touch with the masons, first ? Also, and why were you willing to join them ? What convinced you ? Thanks !

Going by your local lodge is certainly an option, they will probably ask you a few questions and maybe give you a petition. The steps involved in actually becoming a member vary from state to state, but most will require the signature of at least one mason who has known you for a period of time. For that reason alone it can take some (me included) a significant amount of time to get in. A good lodge will be picky about who they bring in.

As for what happens in a lodge, we can't discuss it. It is a fraternal order, but it is VERY different from a fraternity. Also, the devil worship crap is bullshit. Don't listen to that mess.

Good luck!

[Freshmaker]

So you're under the assumption that certain GAFers are. in fact, legitimate free masons?

My great grandfather was...

The weird thing is the rumors the Knights of Columbus I've met tend to come up with.

"Give away their secrets, and they'll saw you in half!"

[DigitalDevil]

Do you guys have to pay some fee to the fraternity/lodge?

Yes there are annual dues but they are inconsequential. Like, you could it afford it working at mcdonald's.

[DigitalDevil]

My great grandfather was... The weird thing is the rumors the Knights of Columbus I've met tend to come up with. "Give away their secrets, and they'll saw you in half!"

Hmm...

[5amshift]

Awesome to see this topic pop up on GAF! I'm going to be chatting with a mason next week over lunch and I have some questions to ask face to face. I was invited to dinner, but I was afraid of going alone after not knowing what would happen or what they'd do to me. I'd just feel more comfortable going with another mason.

I know you have to be voted in and there are some initiation fees to pay once you're in. But I'm so fucking ready. One mason did tell me something last Summer, but i'm not sure how true it is.

[DGRE]

Awesome to see this topic pop up on GAF! I'm going to be chatting with a mason next week over lunch and I have some questions to ask face to face. I was invited to dinner, but I was afraid of going alone after not knowing what would happen or what they'd do to me. I'd just feel more comfortable going with another mason. I know you have to be voted in and there are some initiation fees to pay once you're in. But I'm so fucking ready. One mason did tell me something last Summer, but i'm not sure how true it is.

And what did he tell you?

[alphaNoid]

My wife is an Eastern Star and I'm petitioning with my local Mason lodge as we speak. Lots of masons in my family, Scottish Rite, Eastern Stars and my wife is a direct descendent of Aaron Burr.

Hoping it all helps.

[LaserBuddha]

As for what happens in a lodge, we can't discuss it.

Honestly, what actually happens isn't intriguing or exciting in the least, is it?

[Fusebox]

My grandpa was a mason, my dad's a lapsed one, and my great uncle still goes to meetings on occasion. He wound up giving me a card and giving me the awesomely ominous advice that I should call the number on it if I'm ever in trouble - The man clearly has connections.

That'll come in handy if you ever accidentally kill a hooker.

[5amshift]

Well since I'm not a mason I don't see why I can't share it. I honestly don't think I'd want to post it unless there are similar things around other lodges that exist to members. If a member can PM me so I can ask, it would be appreciated. I can fill you guys in next week on what goes down when I meet a high level mason and ask him questions about joinin and what to do, I'm sure I'll have a lot to write about.

I know stuff like, when you're in, and let's just say you need new windows put in your house, you'd see if anyone in your lodge owns a business that can hook you up with insanely cheap or free windows for the house. Same with plumbing and stuff.

[Chiggs]

I was offered a spot in a Masonic lodge (you apparently need a sponsor to get in), but ended up declining because one of the members told me "don't join if you're just looking for clout or networking, because we will root you out. If you want that nonsense, then join the Chamber of Commerce."

I thanked the lodge for dinner and ended up leaving, no fuss or muss.

Except for the part when they made me take my clothes off in front of a masked man.

A friends father is in a pretty high up position, but it seems like he's almost exclusively focused on the community side of things.

This right here explains modern day Masonry. They've become the Shriners.

[bunbun777]

You all know what the 1st third political party was in the United States' right?

William Morgan told about the first 3 levels, was a Mason, and broke the blood oaths.

So many famous freemasons. It is a lot of things to a lot of people, but something to consider is that fraternal ties take precedent over law of the land. Enlightened freemasons consider the profane to be uninitiated to the ancient secrets that enable them to operate and exist by symbology and sacred ritual.

Would any freemasons here care to share, say, your Easter Sunday ritual?

[Poimandres]

The way I understand it, the further one gets entrenched in the mystical side of life (that is, experiential and philosophical understanding of great universal truths) the less likely they are to speak about it openly. Most people don't react well to these things.

[tearsofash]

This right here explains modern day Masonry. They've become the Shriners.

Don't you have to be a mason to be a Shriner?

[dentoomw]

A friend of mine is a Mason. As far as I can tell it's similar to say, the Rotary Club. They do charitable events as well as provide funds for local and municipal projects and such.

Yes it has it's secrets and rituals but in that sense it's more like a Fraternity where there are certain traditions and norms that are always carried out.

Dan Brown did a lot to romanticize the Masons. Their origins may have been esoteric, but in the current iteration I don't see think there is anything mystical or forbidden about it.

[East Lake]

The way I understand it, the further one gets entrenched in the mystical side of life (that is, experiential and philosophical understanding of great universal truths) the less likely they are to speak about it openly. Most people don't react well to these things.

Come back here son I'll show you the real bible.

[DigitalDevil]

Don't you have to be a mason to be a Shriner?

Yes

[DigitalDevil]

Honestly, what actually happens isn't intriguing or exciting in the least, is it?

For many it is a life changing experience.

[Aadil]

I've always been curious about freemasonry. I'm in the Ordo Templi Orientis, and we have our roots as an Academica Masonica. I'm interested in its symbolism and ties to King Solomon and that sort of thing.

I dont know of all the different types of masonry, so what is Ordo Templi Orientis if you could tell me?
The ties to King Solomon, from what I have read, heard, and studied, is related to the Knights Templar, aka the Knights of the Temple of King Solomon. They took base in there during the Crusades and stayed for a while. After a while they were accused of straying from the practices of Christianity and were alleged to have indulged in the black arts. It led them to go underground and where they ended up was Scotland at the time of Robert the Bruce, who was fighting off the English but with not much luck. The Knights were obviously brilliant soldiers after going through with the Crusades, and as they needed a place to well, stay but openly, they joined forces and toppled the Monarchy to create the United Kingdom, well what was to come of it.
That maybe 'Dan Browny' or whatever bullshit, but the roots are supposedly far deeper than that, and besides, fiction comes from fact.
As to the Black Arts bit and the reason for them being driven underground (the latter fact, the former alleged) - the story behind Solomon is that he had knowledge of the arts until they were used against him, and so decided to hide them away under his throne, in a mythical legendary storybook sort of sense. That's a subjective issue.
The symbolism involved in the whole little one eye thing is that the all seeing eye, the third eye within is what will complete the world, there are LOTS of different theories on this.
Theres also apparently lots of different degrees to masonry, whether said mason chooses to advance or not, see below for further details.
Besides all that, anyone whispering in a fine grand building is in my opinion, scheming, I dont like schemeres.

I did a documentary on the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Santa Fe for a film school project back in 2002/2003. It was a pretty great experience. They let us interview several members and film inside their temple, and they even let us attend/film one of their dinners. I remember they had this big dark empty room in the basement that had nothing in it but a gurney in the center of the room and it scared the hell out of me. They seemed like cool people though, and they had some pretty interesting stories to share.

I've heard two things from two people who were semi involved with masonry. The first was a guy from Kenya whose family was masonic, ie his father to grandfather to great grandfather. He didnt tell me much, apart from that he was interested in it and contemplating joining the group. When I asked him if he had ever encountered anything masonic, he replied in the positive, and here is what he said.

He was invited to the lodge with a friend, another prospective member, in a big dark room similar to what you describe, told to strip down to underwear while blindfolded in a room filled with old guys, and he said that was it. Now maybe its not like that everywhere, I mean Kenya's pretty far away from us so undoubtedly will have differing practices.


The second story was from a very close friend of mine, one who would do anything it takes to achieve power and wealth. He's from South London, and a snidy little bastard, although still a good friend. Lets just say he wouldnt fit in with the suits. Anyway, while we were in Manchester during the uni days, he decided to drop down to the masonic lodge, on ironically, mason st. SO they appointed him a meeting day with a top ranking dude.
The man he met, unfortunately I dont know his name, was I think, the 2nd or 3rd top ranking mason in England. He showed him around the lodge.
At this point I guess I have to say that we used to read up and study this shit quite alot so he was expecting to know things, yet he didnt. There were no checkered floors, only in one room...haha.

So yeah, the most distinct thing I recall my friend telling me about this experience was that he walked into one room with 2 big ass rocks. He asked what they were all for, and the reply was the only insight he gained into the order. The rock close to the entrance was where a mason starts, where they are born, and where they are nothing, as they progress, the person becomes something, hence the two rocks, one for when you are nothing, one where you are something, someone.
The guy showing him around also told him that they get all sorts of people joining, like everyone, but they can not discuss what happens in the Lodge or in their masonic life. He also told him that there are progressive stages, and at each stage of progression or promotion a new secret shall be revealed...sounds odd yeah, but I dont doubt it.

My mate was then invited to have dinner with the guys... at some sort of ceremony (I imagine a big orgy) - but I dont know what happened. Like someone above said, the guy just strayed off...we took alot of piss out of him for thinking of joining, so maybe he kept it lowkey or just completely blanked it off and never joined. He's selling false land in Brazil now so I doubt he joined.

[Omegasquash]

OP, all you need to do is hit the web. Ask a Freemason exists to do exactly what you're looking for. You'll be contacted pretty quickly (depending on where you are, but still pretty quickly). It's been a good experience for me, being able to chat with a Pearl Harbor vet on the regular, connecting with people and building my network, volunteering more and so forth. If it's something you like, feel free to pursue it.

[Giard]

My grandmother's boyfriend is a Knight of Columbus, but he doesn't really talk about it all that often. Says they do charity work, and that's pretty much it.

[Truant]

It's a christian order here in Norway. Is that common?

My dad is a doctor, and they're constantly asking him to join. His best friend is a member. One of my friends (27) just became a member. They never talk about it, though. I don't care that much, but I know there are benefits.

[Guhnmystro]

My dad has been a member for 6 years, and its a pretty well known fact that a lot of undergraduate fraternity organizations are heavily influenced by the freemasons ideals and rituals, my fraternity (kappa sigma) included. There's nothing scary about it, anyone bringing up satanic rituals and the like should probably not get their info from the history channel. :/ interestingly enough, my dad mentioned that everything that he's seen mentioned on history channel aren't considered secrets in the organization, just the history channel trying to get ratings.

[DigitalDevil]

It's a christian order here in Norway. Is that common? My dad is a doctor, and they're constantly asking him to join. His best friend is a member. One of my friends (27) just became a member. They never talk about it, though. I don't care that much, but I know there are benefits.

It's an order that requires the belief in a higher power, and despite the rumors of devil worship, a true atheist/agnostic/satanist would feel really out of place in a lodge.

[half a moon]

Going by your local lodge is certainly an option, they will probably ask you a few questions and maybe give you a petition. The steps involved in actually becoming a member vary from state to state, but most will require the signature of at least one mason who has known you for a period of time. For that reason alone it can take some (me included) a significant amount of time to get in. A good lodge will be picky about who they bring in. As for what happens in a lodge, we can't discuss it. It is a fraternal order, but it is VERY different from a fraternity. Also, the devil worship crap is bullshit. Don't listen to that mess. Good luck!

"The Devil worship crap is bullshit.

-DigitalDevil"

[Poimandres]

So no one wants to talk about the mystical side of being a Freemason? I'm probably going to join one of these societies, but I want one that allows someone to go deeply into these things and not just have it as trimming.

[Ermac]

My question is: Why did you make Washington DC a pentagram?

hey i live in this pentagram

[Ermac]

[mt1200]

I've read that you'll never know anything unless you get to the top levels of their hyerarchies.

[Fancy Corndog]

I dont know of all the different types of masonry, so what is Ordo Templi Orientis if you could tell me? The ties to King Solomon, from what I have read, heard, and studied saw in some bogus 'documentary' on the History Channel and then watched more shit of on YouTube, is related to the Knights Templar, aka the Knights of the Temple of King Solomon. They took base in there during the Crusades and stayed for a while. After a while they were accused of straying from the practices of Christianity and were alleged to have indulged in the black arts. It led them to go underground and where they ended up was Scotland at the time of Robert the Bruce, who was fighting off the English but with not much luck. The Knights were obviously brilliant soldiers after going through with the Crusades, and as they needed a place to well, stay but openly, they joined forces and toppled the Monarchy to create the United Kingdom, well what was to come of it. That maybe 'Dan Browny' or whatever bullshit, but the roots are supposedly far deeper than that, and besides, fiction comes from fact. As to the Black Arts bit and the reason for them being driven underground (the latter fact, the former alleged) - the story behind Solomon is that he had knowledge of the arts until they were used against him, and so decided to hide them away under his throne, in a mythical legendary storybook sort of sense. That's a subjective issue. The symbolism involved in the whole little one eye thing is that the all seeing eye, the third eye within is what will complete the world, there are LOTS of different theories on this. Theres also apparently lots of different degrees to masonry, whether said mason chooses to advance or not, see below for further details. Besides all that, anyone whispering in a fine grand building is in my opinion, scheming, I dont like schemeres.

Seems a lot more accurate.

[The_Hitcher89]

I read The Lost Symbol (I know) and Dan Brown's attempt to make them seem like a friendly fraternity of kindness and charity had the opposite effect, making me think of them (in the book) as a bunch of condescending man-children who think they're better than everyone else, and believe that wearing a ring gives you unearned authority over matters that are best left to commitee.

[mt1200]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbRmRkZxYk0

Don't know if it's a fake

[DiatribeEQ]

My dad was a Mason & my granddad was a Shriner. Both start in the same area of things, but at some point, they diverge from there into different areas.

[ReBurn]

Is it like Eyes Wide Shut?

[Jroderton]

I doubt GAF has any regulars who are legit freemasons.

Sure

[EYEL1NER]

After learning that a mason can tell another just by their handshake, I would ask to shake my stepdad's hand all the time.
Never noticed anything weird about it though. Felt like a normal handshake. It made me all the more curious.

[5amshift]

After learning that a mason can tell another just by their handshake, I would ask to shake my stepdad's hand all the time. Never noticed anything weird about it though. Felt like a normal handshake. It made me all the more curious.

Dat thumb positioning.

[Jroderton]

After learning that a mason can tell another just by their handshake, I would ask to shake my stepdad's hand all the time. Never noticed anything weird about it though. Felt like a normal handshake. It made me all the more curious.

Wut?

[Previous]

My question is: Why did you make Washington DC a pentagram?

Needs more traffic circles

[msdstc]

After learning that a mason can tell another just by their handshake, I would ask to shake my stepdad's hand all the time. Never noticed anything weird about it though. Felt like a normal handshake. It made me all the more curious.

A friend was showing me a guide online. I wonder if they would be able to tell apart the people who are faking it.... hmmm.

[ronito]

For you masons if you wanna freak out a mormon when you meet a devout one take out one of those secret handshakes.

A mason did this to me once, freaked me the hell out.

[DigitalDevil]

"The Devil worship crap is bullshit. -DigitalDevil"

lol, it's an SMT reference, not a declaration of faith.

[ThisWreckage]

Is it like Eyes Wide Shut?

From what I understand, yes. There is Masonic imagery throughout the entire movie. I think Kubrick wasn't particularly addressing just the Masons, however. I think he melded secret society tradition and ritual together.

[Bornstellar]

For you masons if you wanna freak out a mormon when you meet a devout one take out one of those secret handshakes. A mason did this to me once, freaked me the hell out.

:0

[replicashooter]

I see Georgy Boy's got his now and later gators on.

Now

Later

[ConfusingJazz]

So no one wants to talk about the mystical side of being a Freemason? I'm probably going to join one of these societies, but I want one that allows someone to go deeply into these things and not just have it as trimming.

Then become a Mormon.

Otherwise, you are mostly just going to find a frat with older dudes.

[half a moon]

lol, it's an SMT reference, not a declaration of faith.

Likely story, dual meaning.

[DigitalDevil]

For you masons if you wanna freak out a mormon when you meet a devout one take out one of those secret handshakes. A mason did this to me once, freaked me the hell out.

What do you think you are seeing here?

[Megalodactyl]

Once when me and my friends were hanging out drinking/smoking at Huntington park in SF, a mason came up and gave me a half a joint. Then he left with his friends to go to the Masonic Temple. Only interaction I've ever had.

[Canis lupus]

Member of the Da'ath, we're even older than the masons.