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Manchu - "But so what? The Bible also says the flood destroyed the world. You only need an allegorical boat to tackle an allegorical flood."
Shespits "Anything i see with YOLO has half naked eleventeen year olds Girls. And of course booze and drugs and more half naked elventeen yearolds Girls. O how i wish to YOLO again!"
Rubiksnoob "Next you'll say driving a stick with a Scandinavian supermodel on your lap while ripping a bong impairs your driving. And you know what, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP, YOU FILTHY COMMUNIST"
Bullockist wrote: They are an evil conspiracy designed by communists to destablise the US , there, I got in before anyone else could don their tinfoil hat.
aclive wrote: I am a Brother as well. Feel free to ask any questions!
I won't ask about rituals and all that, cuz I know you wont give an answer, but I do have this one serious question:
As a person who has often thought about joining, what could I expect to "gain" out of joining the Freemasons?
I've not long entered having only been to 2 meetings, though one thing I can guarantee is how good you'll feel about yourself after doing so.
I've had a rough time in various stages of life and had got used to there always being a couple of ass holes in the room that were ready to bring you down, though I've found that in masonry the opposite is true as everyone is there to help and support you as a person. I can honestly say that the masons I've met are the most genuinely lovely people I have ever crossed paths with & can't recommend it enough if you want to join.
aclive wrote: I am a Brother as well. Feel free to ask any questions!
I won't ask about rituals and all that, cuz I know you wont give an answer, but I do have this one serious question:
As a person who has often thought about joining, what could I expect to "gain" out of joining the Freemasons?
I've not long entered having only been to 2 meetings, though one thing I can guarantee is how good you'll feel about yourself after doing so.
I've had a rough time in various stages of life and had got used to there always being a couple of ass holes in the room that were ready to bring you down, though I've found that in masonry the opposite is true as everyone is there to help and support you as a person. I can honestly say that the masons I've met are the most genuinely lovely people I have ever crossed paths with & can't recommend it enough if you want to join.
How difficult is it to actually join the Freemasons? For that matter, how would one actually go about joining? What kinds of fees are involved (as I imagine you couldn't do this kind of organization without some kind of fees)?
The free masons are a fraternal order supposedly an offshoot from the Knights Templar (no, seriously). Basically they're the longest running club in existence. Members tend to use the club to network, thus the tendency of members to gravitate toward positions of authority outside the club, because they had help from their pals inside the club. It used to be a lot more exclusive than it is today, membership at one point being hereditary. They're subject to rumor at a rate only exceeded by the Catholic Church, because much of the highest ranks is still cloaked in ritual and secrecy, and tends to be were the wealthiest members can be found.
Stop by your local Masonic Temple and look for yourself, most of the ones in my area are largely open to the public.
Fate is in heaven, armor is on the chest, accomplishment is in the feet. - Nagao Kagetora
It is a group of people that get together and talk about things, and it is not a political party or a business. It is also a secret society meaning that they don't tell outsiders what they talk about. It is the last part that gets some people, as often times people assume if you are being secretive that must mean you are up to no good. It also happens to be a very old group, which just adds fuel to the fire for the imaginative.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Ahtman has the right of it. It is just a networking group that gets together to discuss the community they live in. They have a great deal of secrecy only as a way to attract members.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 90% of the time we just talk about how we allocate charity dollars and how we can grow our group
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/08/02 04:42:45
Blokus wrote: Ahtman has the right of it. It is just a networking group that gets together to discuss the community they live in. They have a great deal of secrecy only as a way to attract members.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 90% of the time we just talk about how we allocate charity dollars and how we can grow our group
I am really unimpressed with the reality of freemasonry Now back to talking about men in aprons and how they managed to get their iconography on US money, and how the great architect is satan, and about how they cast spells, and about how they rule the world, and ....probably something about jews as well.
Manchu - "But so what? The Bible also says the flood destroyed the world. You only need an allegorical boat to tackle an allegorical flood."
Shespits "Anything i see with YOLO has half naked eleventeen year olds Girls. And of course booze and drugs and more half naked elventeen yearolds Girls. O how i wish to YOLO again!"
Rubiksnoob "Next you'll say driving a stick with a Scandinavian supermodel on your lap while ripping a bong impairs your driving. And you know what, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP, YOU FILTHY COMMUNIST"
Blokus wrote: Ahtman has the right of it. It is just a networking group that gets together to discuss the community they live in. They have a great deal of secrecy only as a way to attract members.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 90% of the time we just talk about how we allocate charity dollars and how we can grow our group
I am really unimpressed with the reality of freemasonry Now back to talking about men in aprons and how they managed to get their iconography on US money, and how the great architect is satan, and about how they cast spells, and about how they rule the world, and ....probably something about jews as well.
Erm... do you think they know who are the Shamans who's going to herald The Emporer when he reveals himself?
My Grandad was the Grand Poobah or whatever it was called. It was a silly name but basically meant he headed up the branch for our state.
From what he described, it was basically a charitable foundation, using member donations and society assets to do good works in the community. I asked about networking once and he said that if you were connected enough to get in to a real position in the organisation, then you weren't going to get any more connected, and people who join just to get connected don't last long before the good works get tiring.
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
Blokus wrote: Ahtman has the right of it. It is just a networking group that gets together to discuss the community they live in. They have a great deal of secrecy only as a way to attract members.
Automatically Appended Next Post: 90% of the time we just talk about how we allocate charity dollars and how we can grow our group
I am really unimpressed with the reality of freemasonry Now back to talking about men in aprons and how they managed to get their iconography on US money, and how the great architect is satan, and about how they cast spells, and about how they rule the world, and ....probably something about jews as well.
Erm... do you think they know who are the Shamans who's going to herald The Emporer when he reveals himself?
Or is it the Scientology crew?
I'm not sure, Zoroastrianism might be your best bet.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
sebster wrote: My Grandad was the Grand Poobah or whatever it was called. It was a silly name but basically meant he headed up the branch for our state.
From what he described, it was basically a charitable foundation, using member donations and society assets to do good works in the community. I asked about networking once and he said that if you were connected enough to get in to a real position in the organisation, then you weren't going to get any more connected, and people who join just to get connected don't last long before the good works get tiring.
I don't want to get connected Sebster , I want to wear an apron whilst casting spells that bring down the US govt. Do you think I have a chance of making Great Poobah?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/08/02 05:16:58
Manchu - "But so what? The Bible also says the flood destroyed the world. You only need an allegorical boat to tackle an allegorical flood."
Shespits "Anything i see with YOLO has half naked eleventeen year olds Girls. And of course booze and drugs and more half naked elventeen yearolds Girls. O how i wish to YOLO again!"
Rubiksnoob "Next you'll say driving a stick with a Scandinavian supermodel on your lap while ripping a bong impairs your driving. And you know what, I'M NOT GOING TO STOP, YOU FILTHY COMMUNIST"
That's it? Then is there some kind of initiation or test of some sort? I doubt specifics can be detailed, but I mean just in general.
Yes. There are more requirements than simply knowing a mason, of course. In the U.S. at least you are required to believe in a supreme being of some kind.
Anything that would be discussed here could have just as easily been found on wikipedia, but I guess we need to get our post counts up somehow.
aclive wrote: I am a Brother as well. Feel free to ask any questions!
I won't ask about rituals and all that, cuz I know you wont give an answer, but I do have this one serious question:
As a person who has often thought about joining, what could I expect to "gain" out of joining the Freemasons?
I've not long entered having only been to 2 meetings, though one thing I can guarantee is how good you'll feel about yourself after doing so.
I've had a rough time in various stages of life and had got used to there always being a couple of ass holes in the room that were ready to bring you down, though I've found that in masonry the opposite is true as everyone is there to help and support you as a person. I can honestly say that the masons I've met are the most genuinely lovely people I have ever crossed paths with & can't recommend it enough if you want to join.
How difficult is it to actually join the Freemasons? For that matter, how would one actually go about joining? What kinds of fees are involved (as I imagine you couldn't do this kind of organization without some kind of fees)?
It's not difficult, it's just a long process, though I guess it's down to whether you know anyone personally or if you have to introduce yourself anonymously. For me, my best mates one so he introduced me. I don't honestly know how "easy" it would be to get in if you don't know one directly. As for fees, there are annual subs though I don't know if they vary by location / country. Best to ask your local lodge. If you want to join, I'd recommend contacting your Grand Lodge (for the uk the site is http://www.ugle.org.uk/) and ask where your local lodge is. From there, make a phone call and ask to meet them. If however you know one already, speak to them.
Bullockist wrote: I don't want to get connected Sebster , I want to wear an apron whilst casting spells that bring down the US govt. Do you think I have a chance of making Great Poobah?
Ah well I wouldn't know anything about that. I learnt all my spells through Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.
“We may observe that the government in a civilized country is much more expensive than in a barbarous one; and when we say that one government is more expensive than another, it is the same as if we said that that one country is farther advanced in improvement than another. To say that the government is expensive and the people not oppressed is to say that the people are rich.”
Adam Smith, who must have been some kind of leftie or something.
Essentially the body of Freemasonry exists to give men of good character who believe in some form of higher
power an opportunity to study certain ancient, esoteric principles. Masons believe these principles constitute a '
hidden science' that explains the fundamentals of pretty much everything. These principles are transmitted to
the mason by means of a process called 'inititation.'
Much of the information is explained by means of symbolism. As an example, the well known masonic symbol
of the square and compass with the G in the middle is a pretty straightforward representation of one of masonry's
central esoteric teachings: sacred geometry. The G stands for God/Grand Architect or Geometry, interchangeably.
Here is a high-level mason, Randall Carlson, talking about the principles of sacred geometry:
The charity thing is really just a way of justifying their existence to people who get too curious. They're not some scary,
power-hungry order bent on world domination, but they're also not just a club for old rich guys.
So a bunch of cloud cuckoo landers? Meh, if they're not up to anything terrible and their members are decent people then I don't see an issue. I mean the ideas of the organisation may be a tad silly, but plenty of good people are into crazy things too. =P
Hey, and at least they're into exclusivity and not shoveling their message down other's throats.
4th company
The Screaming Beagles of Helicia V
Hive Fleet Jumanji
Now back to talking about men in aprons and how they managed to get their iconography on US money, and how the great architect is satan, and about how they cast spells, and about how they rule the world, and ....probably something about jews as well.
