[littlecat123]

I've seen people wearing rings with the Masonic symbol and I've seen people with a window decal but I never really hear anyone talk about being a Mason.

Are you supposed to keep it a secret that you are a member?

[SageMother]

There are somethings you aren't supposed to share, like the basic rituals. Some of the secrecy might be to avoid persecution.

[littlecat123]

I've never heard of people being persecutory towards freemasons. Can you explain?

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by littlecat123

I've never heard of people being persecutory towards freemasons. Can you explain?

For a while there was a rumor going around that the masons controlled banking or government because of the symbol of the pyramid on the dollar bill. There are some people who find the ritual aspect too pagan or too "foreign" for their tastes. This all depends on where you live, of course. It's not a wide spread, deep seated attitude, but it is out there.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by littlecat123

I've never heard of people being persecutory towards Freemasons. Can you explain?

Hitler believed that Masons and Jews where in league together. He persecuted them along with Jews. In fact, the U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has devoted a section to the Nazi persecution of Freemasonry. Masons had stopped using the famous Square and Compass as a sign in Germany during that period and use the Forget Me Not flower instead.

There are other less extreme examples. I have a friend in Greece who says there is great distrust there of Freemasons.

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by Jason

Hitler believed that Masons and Jews where in league together. He persecuted them along with Jews. In fact, the U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has devoted a section to the Nazi persecution of Freemasonry. Masons had stopped using the famous Square and Compass as a sign in Germany during that period and use the Forget Me Not flower instead.

There are other less extreme examples. I have a friend in Greece who says there is great distrust there of Freemasons.

I hadn't been aware of Hitler's issues with the Freemasons. It seems he had problems with just about everyoneon the face of the earth!

[littlecat123]

I was also unaware that Hitler persecuted Freemasons. I was at the National Holocost Museum this past summer and completely missed the display on the Freemasons. I will have to specifically look for it next time I go.

[ninikins]

It appears to me that there are still many question marks in many zountries around the world when it comes to the freemasons. Hopefully places like this worum will help people to understand the movement better.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by littlecat123

I was also unaware that Hitler persecuted Freemasons. I was at the National Holocost Museum this past summer and completely missed the display on the Freemasons. I will have to specifically look for it next time I go.

You will find it in the Technology and Persecution section. A quote from that section:

As early as 1934, various government bureaus began to compile card catalogs identifying political and racial enemies of the regime, such as Freemasons, Jews, Gypsies, and ‘genetically diseased’ persons.

[SageMother]

Originally Posted by Jason

You will find it in the Technology and Persecution section. A quote from that section:

It's amazing the number of enemies Hitler had to create to justify his actions. It should be a reminder to everyone to think before being led to believe groups of people are to be exterminated.