[BlackElk]

I am a long-term (40+years) member of the Knights of Columbus and I never cease to be amused by the goodwill, sense of humor, and great charitable generosity of the local Shriners zipping around in their "go-karts."

I will obey my Church and never seek admission to the Masonic Order because of the sharp differences between Catholicism and Masonry. I cannot very well admire the details of the 30th Degree ritual or several others.

Nonetheless, I have been privileged to know many individual Masons and to know them as good and decent and patriotic men who give their order a good name by the example of their lives, their camaraderie and their charity. If the Masons are in numerical decline, that cannot be good news for our nation.

[nopardons]

Many thanks for you kind and generous post.

Masons and their family members know that the Knights of Columbus is also a good, charitable, fraternal organization and admire its members for the good it does.