The Free Masons

Asok · 01-08-2004 12:13AM

Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs the cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscars night?
We do! We do!

Sorry but someone had to do it.

Sarky · 01-08-2004 12:18AM

I was tempted, but I managed to control myself.

Gillo · 01-08-2004 04:49PM

Sorry if I get the names wrong, I learnt this a while ago, but you'll get the meaning anyway. The reason for secret society goes back to middle ages, when the mosonic guild was effectively teh "trade union" of the day of Masons (free because they were master masons, and did not have to work under anyone else, so the were "free masons"). Unlike most trades of the day mason had to travel because of the lack of work in one particular area (not a lot of castles, cathedrals or stone buildings to be built). As a result it was very easy to pass oneself off as a master mason since you could easily say you qualified in someother town.

The Guild of Master Mason's, introduced a secret hand shake and "code word" for travel masons, so that if you arrived in town you coudl easily be identified by a local master mason as been genuine or not.

Since masons also worked closely with the the church (building monastaries and Cathedrals were a large proportion of their work) they were generally a religious bunch of people.

Over time people became intriged with the mystry which followed them and in time ordingary folk wanted to join them, for some reason they eventually let a none-mason (in the craft sense) join them, this is well documented in numerous books. Over time more and more people joined them; and as it became more of a secret society than a crafts guild with a secret code of identity less craft masons joined, and in teh space of a few hundred years it turned into what we now have today.

It's also worth pointing out that The Grand Lodge Of Freemasons does not consider itself to be a secret society, but a society with secrets, they have secret handshakes (although they are relatively well known), and do not publish the rite's and rituals which they practice (which again are relatively easy to find out about). Most masons will admit to been a mason but do bot publish the fact because of the reaction from most people. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons in England has also admited that, the secrecy involved has to a certain degree given them a bad name and that is why they are now alot more public.

As for saying that they rule "everthing", I think you are going down the bilderberg line there. Alot of freemasons are high up people in society, but alot of them are also joe soaps, liek you or me. People seem to be attracted to join them because of the secrecy and the rituals which go on and to be hosest that is why I would love to join them myself.

ShriekingSheet · 01-08-2004 05:00PM

gillo wrote:

Sorry if I get the names wrong, I learnt this a while ago, but you'll get the meaning anyway. The reason for secret society goes back to middle ages, when the mosonic guild was effectively teh "trade union" of the day of Masons (free because they were master masons, and did not have to work under anyone else, so the were "free masons"). Unlike most trades of the day mason had to travel because of the lack of work in one particular area (not a lot of castles, cathedrals or stone buildings to be built). As a result it was very easy to pass oneself off as a master mason since you could easily say you qualified in someother town.

The Guild of Master Mason's, introduced a secret hand shake and "code word" for travel masons, so that if you arrived in town you coudl easily be identified by a local master mason as been genuine or not.

Since masons also worked closely with the the church (building monastaries and Cathedrals were a large proportion of their work) they were generally a religious bunch of people.

Over time people became intriged with the mystry which followed them and in time ordingary folk wanted to join them, for some reason they eventually let a none-mason (in the craft sense) join them, this is well documented in numerous books. Over time more and more people joined them; and as it became more of a secret society than a crafts guild with a secret code of identity less craft masons joined, and in teh space of a few hundred years it turned into what we now have today.

It's also worth pointing out that The Grand Lodge Of Freemasons does not consider itself to be a secret society, but a society with secrets, they have secret handshakes (although they are relatively well known), and do not publish the rite's and rituals which they practice (which again are relatively easy to find out about). Most masons will admit to been a mason but do bot publish the fact because of the reaction from most people. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons in England has also admited that, the secrecy involved has to a certain degree given them a bad name and that is why they are now alot more public.

As for saying that they rule "everthing", I think you are going down the bilderberg line there. Alot of freemasons are high up people in society, but alot of them are also joe soaps, liek you or me. People seem to be attracted to join them because of the secrecy and the rituals which go on and to be hosest that is why I would love to join them myself.

Very informative - thanks a mil!

keu · 01-08-2004 05:23PM

the pillars of the earth is a fictional novel by ken follet. It's based during the middle ages and tells the story of a master mason, building cathederals.(canterbury) The story is set out over three generations and depicts the type of heirarchy involved in both the guilds and society under the monarchy during that time (crusades).
It's fairly descriptive in a masonic sense.

Raphael · 01-08-2004 05:46PM

This is an interesting thread, first I ever heard of the masons was in "Angels and Demons" a prequel to the DaVinci code, but that mainly discussed the infiltration the illuminati had inside them

One interesting thing relating to the masons, IMHO, is the great seal on the dollar bill

"Novus Ordo Seclorum"

ShriekingSheet · 01-08-2004 05:51PM

Raphael wrote:

This is an interesting thread, first I ever heard of the masons was in "Angels and Demons" a prequel to the DaVinci code, but that mainly discussed the infiltration the illuminati had inside them

One interesting thing relating to the masons, IMHO, is the great seal on the dollar bill

"Novus Ordo Seclorum"

?????
care to elaborate?!

keu · 01-08-2004 05:57PM

this one?
(symbol of the order of the illuminati)

Raphael · 01-08-2004 07:43PM

Novus Ordo Seclorum translates to "New Secular Order"

It was put on the dollar bill, right next to "In god we trust" by roosevelt, who believed it meant "New Deal"

Why did he believe this? He was told by a fellow Mason, his VP, Henry Wallace , who was also an Illuminatus

Gillo · 02-08-2004 10:35PM

Shreikign Sheet, if you want to find out more, a good book to read is "The Brotherhood" by Stephen Knight, it's published by Harper Collins, effectively it's got a slightly anti-masonic side to it, but it provides a wealth of information and is easy enough to follow, once you read it with an open mind.

krattapopov · 02-08-2004 10:54PM

Raphael wrote:

This is an interesting thread, first I ever heard of the masons was in "Angels and Demons" a prequel to the DaVinci code, but that mainly discussed the infiltration the illuminati had inside them

One interesting thing relating to the masons, IMHO, is the great seal on the dollar bill

"Novus Ordo Seclorum"

i have just finished reading that book, couldnt put it down

DeVore · 04-08-2004 02:40PM

The Novus Ordo Seclorum thing is interesting... The masons werent the only ones to use the All Seeing Eye symbol. Raphael makes an interesting point but if you read the masons own website they require a belief in a supreme being of some kind. Which kinda knocks the stuffing out of that argument

To be clear, I'll probably apply to join in a while... I've had a good look around and a chat to many of them and find them very sound blokes by and large. Their charitable endeavours suit my point of view.
That would be funny wouldnt it, if Boards suddenly was in the control of the Freemasons. Oh my, the conspiracy theorists will have a *field day*. Hahaha...

DeV.

BEAT · 04-08-2004 03:23PM

it's a shame really that it is for men only, I am so interested in these types of things and would love to get inside to find out the history and what goes on.

It is a shame women do not have something like this, although The Priory of Sion did have women members...I understand there is still an organiztion of the Priory (though changed) but I would never get to question anyone since the secrecy keeps the members well hidden.

keu · 04-08-2004 03:42PM

they do have "sisterhoods", the order of the eastern star (afaik)
but tbh I've had my fill of masons, like DeV said, they are good blokes and women, I'm just not interested in organised religions/institutions.

RossFixxxed · 04-08-2004 03:50PM

I've actually been trying to join myself. I had a meeting with the head here in Dublin and got a free tour of their building. He was very helpful on all my questions and kept me chatting for the best part of on hour.

Not 100% clear on what they do tbh, but all I've heard makes me want to join. If there's any members out there can you PM me please and help me out in some way? It would be a big help to have someone refer me on to them, since I'm submitting myself at the moment which doesn't help.

Ross

elivsvonchiaing · 04-08-2004 11:08PM

RossFixxxed wrote:

I've actually been trying to join myself. I had a meeting with the head here in Dublin and got a free tour of their building. He was very helpful on all my questions and kept me chatting for the best part of on hour.

Not 100% clear on what they do tbh, but all I've heard makes me want to join. If there's any members out there can you PM me please and help me out in some way? It would be a big help to have someone refer me on to them, since I'm submitting myself at the moment which doesn't help.

Ross

I've read most of your posts and have decided to black-ball you!

- nah just kidding - saw it on only fools & horses :-)

MiCr0 · 05-08-2004 09:34AM

i'd suggest that any one who's interested should go and get a tour, they are very open and friendly....

jill_valentine · 05-08-2004 11:06AM

Would they provide said tour to a girl...? Just curious, the whole thing does fascinate me. Maybe we should organise a Boards.ie School Tour?

The DaVinci Code was a great book as a conspiracy theory, but sucked as a novel.

RossFixxxed · 05-08-2004 11:13AM

The tour is open to the public afaik.

Don't black ball me, I'm a lovely human being. *whine* :P

*sniff sniff* My emails won't go thorough, think that's a sign of something?

Ross

Gillo · 05-08-2004 01:25PM

Looks like we are headign for some confusion, the freemasons do provide a guided tour of the Grand Lodge in Dublin as a toursit attraction. If you inquire about joining such as Rossfixxed chances are they will give you a seperate less tourist oriented to tour to help you make up your mind.

Gillo · 05-08-2004 01:27PM

What I would like to know myself is there seems to be alot of lodges in teh metropolitian (Dublin) area. Can anyone tell me what is the difference between them?
Are they different lodges for different reasons?
Do different lodges have particular interest's?
Why join one lodge over another?

Sleepy · 05-08-2004 02:11PM

DeVore wrote:

That would be funny wouldnt it, if Boards suddenly was in the control of the Freemasons. Oh my, the conspiracy theorists will have a *field day*.

Think about it. How different are we from Freemasons? Granted we don't have the centuries of traditions etc. But boards.ie has fulfilled many of the roles I've heard the Freemasons credited with.

The Santa Strike Force this year, the Knights of Comeonbanus, the in-jokes, the support group (i.e. Personal Issues), the boards beers etc. etc. etc.

Think about it, we're all part of a very similar organisation, however instead of the pre-requisite of believing in a higher being there's the pre-requisite that you're computer literate, can find boards.ie and (to an arguable extent able to write English).

Gillo · 06-08-2004 10:52AM

Does anyone know is there any difference between the various lodges or why you would choose to join one over the other??

DeVore · 06-08-2004 05:30PM

There are differences between lodges the same way there are differences between forums here. Some are more charity focused, some are active, some are about meeting up for friendship, some are about exploring philosophy. All of them are about ALL of those things but in very different proportions I've found. My mates lodge is all about a few pints and doing some charity stuff for example and tend to avoid any of the philosophical stuff.

They dont really seem to *do* a whole lot but all the same a fair bit gets *done*. I can understand why they stress the whole charity stuff to anyone who will listen... imagine you're a 500 year old charitable fraternity and last year you bought ambulances for the Arthritis Foundation and some bitch ass punk on the internet is spreading rumours that you screw goats in your spare time. dunno about you guys but I'd be hoppin' mad to set the record straight!

The hospitals they were referrring to are run by these guys:
http://www.shrinershq.org/
You have to be a FM to join but if they run 22 hospitals for sick kids without charging anyone a penny, well you can imagine that that gets them some plus points in my book.

I dont doubt that there are men who abuse their positions in FM and people who join for greed etc but then I could say that about your local golf club. From what I've seen of them they're a bunch of decent skins who do bits of charity work and have a night out a month with the lads and are sick to the back teeth of being Hollywoods favourite bad guys...

DeV.

keu · 06-08-2004 11:08PM

imagine you're a 500 year old charitable fraternity and last year you bought ambulances for the Arthritis Foundation and some bitch ass punk on the internet is spreading rumours that you screw goats in your spare time. dunno about you guys but I'd be hoppin' mad to set the record straight!

heh...funny..
The reason why I personally wasn't inclined to empathise with the NyGM and the stories about charity and hospitals, was because the guy I was referring to spends most of his time (along with many others) slagging off the catholic church (who run way more than 22 hospitals globally, not to mention the education systems they provided for years and years) for being goat shaggers...and other things.

..people are just inclined to slagg off the church more readily because we know the truth of it.
I see no difference really.

The Free Masons

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