My grandfather was a Scottish rite Mason. My grandmother, Eastern Star. My great uncle is a Shriner. His nephew was the master of his lodge. We can trace Masonry in our family back to the mid-1800s. All of that said, if you want to be a Mason, be a Mason - but from what I have seen from it, no Christian should ever be a Mason. They are contradictory belief systems.
I believe the vast majority of Masons are wholly ignorant of where it leads. The vast majority are just well-meaning men wanting to belong to a group, wanting to help the community, wanting to network with others. They are merely deceived. Others are willfully misleading others, and theirs is the greater sin and the greater accountability.
Terriergal is trying to sound a warning call to those who are in Freemasonry and don’t realize its ultimate import. You main disdain her for speaking boldly; but, I hope others pursue what she is pointing out and get out of the lodge.
Terriergal,
Some interesting thoughts on this bb: http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=8308&page=3
> My grandfather was a Scottish rite Mason. My grandmother, Eastern Star. My great uncle is a Shriner. His nephew was the master of his lodge. We can trace Masonry in our family back to the mid-1800s.
Yet, interestingly you do not claim to have been a Mason, nor any of your direct relatives. At best then, your viewpoint is one of a casual, distanced observer.
> All of that said, if you want to be a Mason, be a Mason - but from what I have seen from it,
...which is to say, from the outside looking in.
> no Christian should ever be a Mason. They are contradictory belief systems.
I have not found it to be so, and I have looked specifically for any indication that it is. My viewpoint comes from the inside looking in — that is to say, from an informed viewpoint.
> I believe the vast majority of Masons are wholly ignorant of where it leads.
I believe you are wholly ignorant of where it leads.
> The vast majority are just well-meaning men wanting to belong to a group, wanting to help the community, wanting to network with others. They are merely deceived.
That’s a patronizing viewpoint. All Masons are mature adults who are free to leave the Craft anytime they like. Many are highly intelligent and highly successful high achievers in their communities. If there were any deception or “hoodwinking” going on, few would stay.
> Others are willfully misleading others, and theirs is the greater sin and the greater accountability.
Name a few. Here’s your chance!
> Terriergal is trying to sound a warning call to those who are in Freemasonry and don’t realize its ultimate import.
Terriergal (who could never be a Mason) is speaking about something she could never experience and is, at best, ill-informed. Rather like you.
> You main disdain her for speaking boldly;
Disdain isn’t the right word: whatever the right word is, it isn’t for speaking boldly. She speaks out of ignorance, so what she has to say on the subject of Freemasonry is little more than the hysterical flapping of gums and waving of hands from someone who does not have a clue.
> but, I hope others pursue what she is pointing out and get out of the lodge.
I hope that any Mason silly enough to heed to such claptrap gets out of the Lodge, too. Nobody is holding a gun to their heads to make them stay.