The Masonic Myth

jason

Seanchaí
Staff member
My favorite thing is going to flea markets where Scientologists are doing their "free audits using their patented E-Meter" and showing them my Masonic Belt buckle and saying "We know who you are, we know what you are doing, and you will not succeed. E Pluribus Unum." It freaks them out so badly, and I just about die laughing every time I do it.
Come down here where I am. Clearwater is they HQ's. They are everywhere. My brother is a fire fighter there. They have to be escorted at all times when in their buildings. However, my brother does like them because they are buying old buildings and bring them up to code and beyond, and have their own fire fighters on staff. But boy do they keep security tight.
 

Windrider

Plus-sized tuxedo model
Many years ago, L. Ron Hubbard was building his career as a SciFi writer. He was interviewed and asked, "How could a writer make a lot of money?" His answer was, "Start your own religion." He took his own advice and started Scientology producing such role models as actors jumping on couches on TV.

A friend of mine got heavily involved with Scientology many years ago and asked me to come along with him to be "cleared". What I found was a strange mix of primitive skin galvanometers that reacted to changes in the conductivity of the user's skin showing stress level and apparently caring people operating them. This was used to find "engrams" that needed to be "cleared" by the practitioner for a price, of course. My overall impression of them was that if they worshiped anything it was the almighty dollar. How seemingly intelligent people could be taken in by this hokus-pokus was beyond me.

Now, I see some of the attraction. Most of the practitioners were attractive young people and people always seemed to be assigned to someone of the opposite sex. They focussed their attention on me alone for the time we spent together while I was supposed to expose my deepest secrets. Empathy abounded. For a lonely young man, it doesn't get much better and might be worth paying for. Thankfully, I was not so insecure that I couldn't find companionship in more normal and healthy ways. I lasted one day as a Scientologist and didn't open my wallet once. For years, they supplied an endless source of campfire staring paper, though.

Gadgets and pop psychology can be a dangerous combination. I was hopeful that Scientology would end up fulfilling the definition of a cult and not last longer than the lifetime of its founder but I underestimated the earning potential of the organization. I haven't kept track of them recently but last I heard they were losing their tax-exempt status because they were considered a profit-making business rather than a "church".
 

steven_tyler

New Member
http://www.***************.com/cookies/37/b/happy.gif

I could, of course, just say “yes” and that would be it, but it wouldn’t be fair, would it? So, let me be fair and present a more systematic answer.

We have 113 manuscripts which we call “Old Charges”, the oldest being “Regius”, dated 1390 followed by Cooke MS dated 1410. All these MSS contain two important parts, which are the center of this presentation. They contain a legendary history, which is the story of the Creation (in capital C!) of Masonry. Interwoven in this story there are rules and regulations which govern the behavior of the operative masons both viz a viz their employers as well as between themselves. These rules are called “Charges” and are summarized in the following part of the MSS. I will try to prove that the legendary history contains figures which create a Masonic mythology.

In order to do so, we have to start by admitting that the terms ‘legend” and “myth” are very close. Let us start with 2 definitions of “myth” in the Webster dictionary:

- A usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world-view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomena.

- A popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone; especially one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or a segment of society.

I share the view of those masonic researchers who consider the “Old Charges” MSS as containing the traditions and regulations prevalent among the operative masons in their lodges. These traditions and regulations spread all over England because the journeying masons went from one site to another and were, so to speak, the ‘carriers of the disease’. If this conclusion is correct, then the MSS fit perfectly both definitions I quoted from the Webster dictionary.

The Legendary History

The story begins at times with Adam but more often with Nimrod, who is connected to the Tower of Babylon. Then Lamech enters the scene with his 4 children who are said to have discovered the seven ‘Liberal Arts’. The fifth of them is Geometry, which is defined as synonymous with Masonry. Knowing that God will take vengeance for man’s sins, they wrote their findings on two columns. Noah appears now and after the deluge the columns are found and Abraham brings the knowledge of masonry and the masons’ Charges to the Promised Land. Because of the famine, Abraham goes to Egypt where he taught Euclid. The craft and the Charges are taught to Hermes Trismegistus, who in turn passes them on to the Princes of Egypt. The Israelites bring the knowledge back to the Promised Land and here the biggest achievement is reached in the building of Solomon’s Temple. From here, the story tells us, a curious man passes on the art of masonry and the Mason’s Charges to France, to Charles Martel. From France, the knowledge is taken to England, to St. Alban and the climax is reached in an assembly of all Master Masons of the Realm in York in 926, where they codified the Charges of Masons. Rather abruptly, the legendary history stops here.

Is It a Myth?

The real question is whether we continue accepting it as a legend or, following the definitions I quoted from the Webster dictionary, should we regard it as a myth?Our first definition was: “A traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world-view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomena”. According to this, my answer must be: YES, it is a myth.
Now let’s turn to the latter part of the second definition: “…especially one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or a segment of society”. I claim that the regulations (Charges) are embodying the ideals and institutions of the operative journeying masons, so again it is a myth. Let us, now, examine the Biblical and other figures mentioned in our story.
 

Winter

I've been here before
Steven tyler,

You're entire post is copied from Pietre Stones Review of Freemasonry. Are you, in fact, R. W. Bro. Daniel Doron? The actual author of the work you have posted here. I'm guessing not. Such a Brother would have conformed to our usual customs here and posted the requisite introductions.

Please explain yourself.
 

Ashlar2006

Masonic Mafia
Will not get anything by Bro. Winter . Good catch !

If someone wants to use someone's writings , it is only proper to give the original authors their due credit by citing who had written the piece .

People , CITE YOUR SOURCES !
 

Rough Ashlar

New Member
Yeah, but I don't actually believe any of the nonsense written in the Necronomicon. I actually found it amusing. I kind of have a hobby of mocking groups that call themselves religions. For example, the "religion" called Scientology is something I find rather amusing. The Cult of Cthulu makes me laugh, as does the "Christian" hate group, the Westboro Baptist Church. I find the literature of Freemasonry not funny, but rich and deep. It entertains me. Eh, I am 19 years old, I shouldn't have the interest in lit that I do. Most guys my age are out going to 18+ night clubs, are in college, are going to frat parties, and doing all kinds of reckless things. Me, I like to engage in intellectual conversation, and read books and watch movies my friends have never heard of. I am so abnormal.
Brother, if I understand correctly, are we not to practice tolerance and respect? I hate Westboro Baptist as much as anybody, but I don't "mock" them as a religion. Rather, the source of my disdain comes from being a Soldier, and knowing other Soldiers who have to put up with their crap. But are we not taught to respect them, at least? Especially not for our own "entertainment." What sort of example are you setting, and was set for you?
 
Rough... I agree in general...but I would say we are to accept...not respect other religions. I do not respect Westboro in the slightest. I do accept that is what they call "religion".
 

Rough Ashlar

New Member
I don't know. I can't Masonically justify mocking a group based off of their religious affiliation. To wit: I won't mock WBC because of their religion. Something about "mocking" and "religion" in the same sentence doesn't seem Masonic to me.
 
I don't know. I can't Masonically justify mocking a group based off of their religious affiliation. To wit: I won't mock WBC because of their religion. Something about "mocking" and "religion" in the same sentence doesn't seem Masonic to me.
Agreed.... I dont mock any religion... respect...well thats a different story.
 

Windrider

Plus-sized tuxedo model
Agreed.... I dont mock any religion... respect...well thats a different story.
The WBC is not a Religion. They are a group of lawyers that are actually mostly part of one family. They stage their "protests" simply to cause others to violate their so called civil rights so they can sue them. They take no donations and completely fund their activities from the proceeds of these lawsuits. They use the law to make money and that's the only reason they are a "church" at all, for the tax exemption. They are despicable people who don't deserve to breathe the same air as the Soldiers who protect our way of life.

Maybe some day I'll tell you how I really feel about them ;)
 

FamilyMan

Fidelis ad Mortem
The WBC is not a Religion. They are a group of lawyers that are actually mostly part of one family. They stage their "protests" simply to cause others to violate their so called civil rights so they can sue them. They take no donations and completely fund their activities from the proceeds of these lawsuits. They use the law to make money and that's the only reason they are a "church" at all, for the tax exemption. They are despicable people who don't deserve to breathe the same air as the Soldiers who protect our way of life.

Maybe some day I'll tell you how I really feel about them ;)
WBC are nothing but terrorists. Just because they add the word church in their name does not make them a church. If I call myself a guitar, it doesn't make me a guitar.
 

leah

New Member
I remember the first time I had been told about Freemasons... Of course like many, I'm sure, I was told by a non freemason and someone who is actually not favorable of the fraternity. What I remeber most was being quite frightened because I was told that masons were murderers, I very much trust the person where this "information" came from so I told myself that if I was to ever be introduced to someone and find out that they were indeed a part of masonry that I would keep away. I have known my boyfriend (a freemason) for about 8 years. When I first met him we had completely different lives he was my sisters boss and not a part of the fraternity at all. After some family issues he moved a couple hours away to start his new life, my sister and i remained close to him and his children. He was introduced to some men in the fraternity and soon was asked to apply (if I am using the correct term), shortly becoming a mason himself. He had informed my sister who had informed me and it was a bit of a shock due to my "knowledge" of masonry. I decided, since knowing him and what a great guy he is to trust that masonry is something bigger and better than I had anticipated. Now being his significant other, I am seeing masonry in a great light but what leaves me wondering is...

if anyone knows why this "freemasons are murderers" thing is even out there? I was wondering if some story somewhere got twisted into something else?


I apologize if this is a thread I should not be looking through because I am female and obviously not a mason.
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
If you can read/see it you can get involved.

FM has a bad reputation due to the level of secrecy that the Brothers of previous generations held. The church took offense to that and so it goes. There is a supposed murder but there is no proof that he was killed or just ran off.

Various religions have similar judgements about each other. Christians were considered a Jewish cult for a long time & the Jews killed Jesus. The pagans sacrificed humans, etc, etc.
 
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