> That may be your experience with your grandparents. Not so with me.
The fact remains that you have no direct experience with Freemasonry: only vicariously thru your relatives. You are not even a Lewis. In fact, the only Freemason you are even remotely related to appears to have been your grandfather. Much as he probably loved you, I am certain that he would not have shared his Freemasonic Secrets with you.
> And no, I was never a Mason, which has nothing to do with the price of tea in China.
But it has everything to do with your credibility when commenting on matters Masonic. In your case, you were never a Mason, never privy to the Masonic Secrets, and thus never in a position to develop an informed opinion. Ergo, you do not have much valuable to add to any discussion about Freemasonry, other than your uninformed opinions.
> If your own recognized authorities are not bold face liars,
...proving the above point: you just don’t get it. There are no recognized “Masonic Authorities.” Not even UGLE has a “recognized Masonic Authority”: nobody speaks on behalf of all Freemasonry.
” then Masonry is downright Satanic in origin. Period.”
There is no general agreement amongst Freemasons as to what our Origins are, as our origins are undoubtedly antient and certainly lost in the mists of time. If we do not know our own origins, how can you, an uninformed non-Mason?
> You don’t have to stand in a pile of cow dung to know that it stinks.
From what you’ve written so far, you would be unable to identify cow dung even if you were standing in it.
> Swearing the oath was anti-Christian. It probably didn’t occur to you, but it was.
And so every President of the United States, every Immigrant to the United States, and every Boy Scout — or indeed anybody who has ever sworn an Oath of Allegiance is also Anti-Christian? And everybody who has ever been required to testify in a Court of Law, too? And everybody who has ever taken a Statutory Declaration or needed the services of a Notary, them too? What Bollix you write! You can’t be serious!
> Beyond that, it does not surprise me that you haven’t been exposed to the worst of the worst yet.
Like UglyBiker, I am constantly amazed how somebody can be a part of an organization for a number of years, rising thru the ranks, experiencing the Secrets first-hand, and still find that “the worst of the worst” still eludes him, when an uninformed outsider like yourself can earnestly assure us that it is yet to come.
> Rather than castigating anyone saying something ill of the group, why don’t you go to your Masonic library and find out if it is true.
Because it isn’t true. Why waste my time? It is more fun and more productive castigating you instead.
> You do not undertstand cult dynamics. That is not to say that Master Masons are holding guns to the head of those who stay. But, after a while, it becomes psychologically difficult to leave the group - and most will not want to.
“Cult Dynamics!” HA! What Bollix you write! Utter cods-wallop! What do you think goes on during Lodge? Do you seriously believe we stand around brain-washing each other? CRIKEY that is Hell-Funny! ‘Strewth! Hilarious!
> Pike. He says
See Posts #71 and #73. Who is Pike, aside from a Brother from the 19th Century who went potty in his dotage and wrote books that, tho’ entertaining and instructive to some Freemasons, certainly bear no official weight nor stamp of authority.
> You are a master and making unsubstantiated assertions.
Rather, it is you who are making unsubstantiated assertions: or in Christian-speak, “bearing false witness against your neighbors.” For shame!
> We can provide links,
Any fool can publish any rubbish they like on the Internet, and many do. And any fool can provide link to that rubbish. As you assert that you can.
> thus far, you have just hurled insults
I’ve done nothing of the sort. I have however demonstrated that you lack Credibility when it comes to discussing matters Masonic. If that insults you then you have a very thin skin.
> and told us we don’t know what we are talking about.
Because you don’t. To paraphrase your own words, you do not need to dress in a clown suit to be recognized as a buffoon. And you do not need to be a pig to be pig-ignorant. There. Does that insult you? How does it feel? And before you start whinging about being insulted, may I point out that you have only been paid back in your own coin.
> If this were a library, we could pull in books that would show you the quotes from your recognized authorities.
See above: there are no recognized Masonic Authorities.
> There are ample sources for you to investigate your own lodge.
Like, for instance, Membership and personal experience — neither of which you have. I can therefore speak with Credibility. You cannot.
> Have you done any such research?
See previous post: the answer is “Yes”.