Freemasons: Evil secret society or misunderstood nice guys...

veterana wrote:

In the case of my organization. If the Freemason is in a position of hiring and there is a job vacancy and two people apply, with the same qualifications and one is a Freemason, who will you give the job to?

The one who is better suited to the job.

In the case of identical twins who have had absolutely similar life & work experiences and were indistinguishable save that one was a Freemason.. then the Freemason. But equally if they were exactly the same save one went to my school / was in my rugby club / a member of my church / played bridge with my mother.. I'd prefer the one I had a connection with. I think people who are not Freemasons would too.. as they have no other way to distinguish between the candidates. But it's not likely, so the one better suited to the job.

veterana wrote:

It is not only against the craft of the Freemasons is against spiritual principles; and that is serious. I believe.

Sorry Veterana.. I have no idea what you're trying to say there, unless it's that you think it's spiritually unprincipled to prefer a person you know over one you don't?

veterana wrote:

(To work in an organization and help or promote, if you may, only those people that are in your private club, outside the organization) not to mention that it is plain WRONG with a capital "W".

And we've all said the same thing before you made the point.

After reading the wikipedia entry and a few other pieces it looks like an excuse for a bunch of serious men to meet up, play secret club, have a good time, and to do some good while theyre at it. Its got a nice deep history too so I'm sure it gives the members a sense that theyre part of something meaningful and symbolic.

The accusers scare the hell outta me though. Donno if this has been linked already but gaud talk about making someones mind up for them: http://www.godonthe.net/cme/links/masons.htm
I think the stuff about the 12 ft lizards is funny but the fire and brimstone bible belt 'ye be damned' sh1t really depresses me.

We had one in our Masonic Hall in Tuckey Street in Cork, the Mayor visited, and it was also a success. If it's repeated again, and I'm sure it will be, I'll post the details on here too.

Mobalzar wrote: »

No one can disagree with the fact that:

There is a massive majority of people, who beleive there is something dodgy going on with the freemason fraternity. This disscussion proves only one beleif and that is it!


I personally don't beleive there is, but many do, Is it not possible to say, that dodgy people would want to join a dodgy fraternity, therefore making many of its members less than perfect.

p.s. I use the word dodgy as an overall one word description, take is as you will, Evil to just a bit of a sly dog, (I would use the same word to describe most Politicians)

No one can disagree that a lot of people believe there is something dodgy going on with the masonic fraternity. But I disagree that a massive majority of people believe it. And believing something doesn't make it true either.

That many members are less than perfect I'd also accept; but then many members of many organisations are less than perfect, I can't actually think of a single organisation in the whole world composed of perfect people.

To leap from 'dodgy' to 'evil' is quite a distance, and then comparing a professedly apolitical organisation to politicians is a strange association, so I'm not sure what you're really saying?

Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, but if you offer your opinion for debate then surely you can defend it?

You say

Mobalzar wrote: »

I know very little about The Freemasons

Mobalzar wrote: »

Then it most certianly bondaries on being an Evil group of Politicians.
I don't like it

This on the basis that you think al lot of people perceive the organisation to lend money (I'm not sure how this would be evil, but Freemasonry is not a banking organisation anyway), create power (again, not neccesarily evil but Freemasonry is neither an energy provider nor a political power broker) and has a lot of influence (Freemasonry is generally perceived as a 'secret' society, which is not a great way to exert influence on society is it?).

The idea that 'dodgy' people would hear from lots of other people that there's a 'dodgy' group they can join, to do 'dodgy' things, who would then turn the group 'dodgy' by joining it... that's not really a criticism of freemasonry, it's more an expression of paranoia.

I'm happy to answer any questions I can about Freemasonry, as are other Masons who've posted here, so that people can get a greater understanding of who we are and what we're about. So please, if you know very little about the Freemasons, review the thread and join in a discussion!