Posted on 02/19/2020 6:39:30 PM PST by marshmallow
The fly is righ on your forehead...kill it with that sledge hammer!
many Masons were / are fine upstanding, honest
hard working and charitable men.
I myself couldn't make such an oath and
it just raises doubts in my mind about those that do.
7
“...showing your own personal bias.”
I’m not sure it’s personal bias as much as misinformation.
As I can’t get into ritual, it can be impossible for me to display our intent outside of our requirement of serving a deity and helping man. But I would like to think it does display the roots of our Masonic society. We have always in our history been servants of the church. We, like other Christians or Muslims, or Buddhists, or all religions, believe God is guiding us, answering our prayers, and allowing us to celebrate our charities to man with the success of what they produce. And there is no central religion we profess.
We respect the laws of our chosen country and are patriotic to it just like anyone. We say a prayer at meetings just like congress and the Indianapolis 500 or the Superbowl. Our entire intent is for the good of man.
I believe that the main problems with the Craft are not who we are, but what we are being portrayed as. Seems like every week a number of shows being called secret societies and what may, or may not, have happened hundreds of years ago, are plastered all over the tube and a large majority is false hearsay or, I feel, purposeful twisting to sell their sponsors product with viewers tuning in to the sensationalism. And if anyone believes we hold the key to a hidden treasure worth a number of times the national debt and hid it in a caved vault like in the movie “National Treasure,” maybe they should do a little research about the “tomb” in St. Louis that is controlled by the government. That was portrayed in Raiders of the Lost Ark when they put the ark in storage.
It’s all to sell something, but the Craft doesn’t sell a thing, we give it away. And that includes the opportunity to do service to man and God. That’s all we are.
rwood
My Father-in-law's funeral with full Masonic honors was moving and impressive.
Kipling used his Masonic craft as a magnificent plot device in "The Man Who Would Be King" and John Huston portrayed it effectively in his film. In a sense it seems that some Masons are content to let their secret mysteries ride along with the imaginations of the dumb masses.
This is from Kipling's Wikipedia entry:
According to the English magazine Masonic Illustrated, Kipling became a Freemason in about 1885, before the usual minimum age of 21,[70] being initiated into Hope and Perseverance Lodge No. 782 in Lahore. He later wrote to The Times, "I was Secretary for some years of the Lodge... which included Brethren of at least four creeds. I was entered [as an Apprentice] by a member from Brahmo Somaj, a Hindu, passed [to the degree of Fellow Craft] by a Mohammedan, and raised [to the degree of Master Mason] by an Englishman. Our Tyler was an Indian Jew." Kipling received not only the three degrees of Craft Masonry but also the side degrees of Mark Master Mason and Royal Ark Mariner.[71]Kipling so loved his Masonic experience that he memorialised its ideals in his poem "The Mother Lodge," [70] and used the fraternity and its symbols as vital plot devices in his novella The Man Who Would Be King.[72]
“it just raises doubts in my mind about those that do.”
If I was to tell you there are no bad men in Masonry, I wouldn’t be up front with you. There are all types of men, and through the Order of Eastern Star, the largest dual gender fraternity in the world, many women that ask for the privilege to be a member of both our fraternities so they may:
Matthew 7:12 - “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27 - “...Love your neighbor as yourself...”
But there are not always a good man or woman that enters our fraternities. We try to alleviate that, but some slip through and have to be expelled. It’s always sad when that happens. But it is, again, just like the people in the US......all kinds.
Good part in my experience is that for every one that turns out wrong, there are a hundred that went the way of the Craft and are a shining star among the people of the world. And we’ve been in it for a couple of thousand years, at least, and our membership numbers in over six million men and OES numbers over a million in ten thousand chapters worldwide. Lot of people doing good things. Hope we get bigger. Oh, and there is no Masonic code on Rolling Rock Beer bottles.
rwood
This is how we roll.
There was a change in the Code of Canon Law.
In 1917 it was clear that a Catholic who joined Freemasonry was automatically excommunicated.
In JPII’s 1983 Code, it does not mention excommunication, but that such an action would constitute a grave sin.
So, yes, there was a change...which shouldn’t be a surprise since JPII’s Code includes other departures from the Catholic Faith prior to Vatican II.
I have watched over the last 40 years as the forces of good
gradually lost ground, one victory followed by two defeats.
The tide has now turned and the winds have changed.
Satan is fast losing his iron grip on power and
his entire stronghold is crumbling beneath him.
What has been done in darkness(secret) is rapidly coming to light.
The righteous and just have nothing to fear however
for those guilty of misleading the little ones
it will be quite a different story.
Watch and pray.
7
Really? Give me a concrete example of this.
President Donald J. Trump
That was easy... Next question.
7
LOL. What does Donald Trump have to do with the issues in Rome since Vatican II?
we would instead have her (who shall not be named) for president.
Have a look at my home page under:
I think we’re now(Nov,2017) living in the era of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart and here’s why.
7
“The difference is that 841 is among the paragraphs addressing the Church and non-Christians and it begins with:”
Oh that sounds good, but it doesn’t hold up to someone with basic reading skills. Apparently you have not read ccc 839-841.
“841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims”
Your right about the Jewish and Gentile non believers in ccc 839-840, but sorry 841 is specifically addressing muslims.
841 makes a joining statement for only believers. The wording references the faith of Abraham who adore the “ONE” merciful God mankind’s judge. Then we have the comment “together with us” that us part is the “believers” as you call them.
That faith of Abraham is the faith in the seed which is the Messiah Jesus Christ. I got a news flash islam does NOT accept Jesus Christ as the Savior. Jesus said Himself that the only way to God is through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Judge will be Jesus Christ Himself.
What I find interesting is that only the rc believer and muslim seems to have “the so called faith of Abraham” in 841 not the Jew or Gentile non-believer. Either way the rcc must have a special relationship with the muslim since your popes seem to like to kiss the quran and make covenants with them.
“Masons don’t have a core belief”
So the belief in a “supreme being” isn’t a core belief???
Now that is “nonsensical” and might I add just plain goofy.
“supreme being”
And the “G” in the logo stands for good right?
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