Any Freemasons on this forum..?

[Newboomer]

No! One year and four months later I am just now seeing this. With all my moves over some forty years I have always kept my membership back in Augusta.

Good for you. Keep it up and stay active. There is so much to do and learn in a lodge and it is never too late to get into the line. If all goes as planned I will receive my 50 year pin in March 2026.

 

[Certus]

What even is it, is it worth doing?

 

[Pondoro]

What even is it, is it worth doing?

Yes..freemasonry makes good men better..

 

[Certus]

Yes..freemasonry makes good men better..

And the first part of the question?
And how does it do this?

 

[Pondoro]

It is kind of a lifelong education...on politeness, chivalry and respect for your fellow man. It is also, as I see it, an intelligent way to close up to religious questions..

This will be thought via the degrees and discussions among the brethren..different freemason societies have different degrees but it is really always about the things I mention.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What even is it, is it worth doing?

Mostly it's about guys getting together and enjoying each other's company in a polite and organized manner. The memory work involved in the ceremony is a fun challenge. And it's a way for us to keep in touch and look after each other. Some guys join to try to further their career or advance their business by meeting new clients or prospective employers. Those "brothers" are usually self evident and usually get short shrift, from me anyway. We've all seen them. Don't join if that's your objective.

 

[Newboomer]

Mostly it's about guys getting together and enjoying each other's company in a polite and organized manner. The memory work involved in the ceremony is a fun challenge. And it's a way for us to keep in touch and look after each other. Some guys join to try to further their career or advance their business by meeting new clients or prospective employers. Those "brothers" are usually self evident and usually get short shrift, from me anyway. We've all seen them. Don't join if that's your objective.

We all work together to benefit our lodges. Freemasonry is not an ego trip. As one progresses up the line toward Worshipful Master of his lodge the responsibilities increase proportionately. It is similar to a position in a company. In Masonic lodges, however, we do not rest on the laurels of our current position. We do what has to be done. For instance, if I were # 2 in my home lodge and there was a vacancy down in the #5 spot in a neighboring lodge I happened to be visiting, I would not hesitate to fill in for that meeting. There is no "That's not my job." As the old saying goes, "One for all and all for one."

 

[Foxi]

I read this with great interest.
George Washington, the founder of your state (mostly Americans here) was also a Freemason.
The very first foreign head of state to recognize the USA was the Prussian King Frederick the Great.
Also a Freemason.
Coincidence?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

How do Christians reconcile Christianity with freemasonry?

 

[wesheltonj]

How do Christians reconcile Christianity with freemasonry?

That's it's a depends question. You just have to believe in a Supreme Being until Knights Templar, which does require you to be a Christian. I never joined much to my father disappointment. My religion, Lutheran - the Missouri Synod does not allow it's members to be Free Masons. The other Lutheran Synods in the USA have no problem with Freemasonry. My father was very involved he went through all the "chairs" in the York Rite and stayed active until he was 95. At his funeral this past November, after the religious service was complete, his "Blue Lodge" also had a ceremony inside the church.

 

[Considering Africa]

Lapsed dues here, apron still pristine.

 

[rigbymauser]

How do Christians reconcile Christianity with freemasonry?

Often it don’t.

Christians believe Jesus is the son of God who was crucified on the cross to save any who believed in him. Believe and you will be saved. No required rituals.
When Jesus walked among men he said” I have spoken openly to the world. I taught in synagoges and in the temple where the jews meet. In secrecy have I said nothing”. John 18:20

 

[Philip Glass]

I was entered, passed and raised in Covina Lodge 334 in 1976, entered the Valley of Long Beach Scottish Rite in 1978 and Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles in 1992. I held those memberships until we moved to NV. I demitted shortly afterward and joined Douglas Lodge # 12. I went through the chairs and was Master in 2016 and 2022.

Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternity. Once you become a 3d Degree Master Mason you are welcome in any lodge anywhere in the world. There are several appendant bodies such as Jobs Daughters and Rainbow Girls for young girls. The Order of DeMolay is a boy's group. These orders teach young people honor, discipline, community service and leadership skills. There are groups for adult women who wish to participate alongside their spouses.

Shriners Hospitals care for ill and injured children free of charge. Masonic homes offer living quarters for elderly Masons who can no longer live alone or have no family.

We also sponsor athletic teams, have blood drives, car shows and participate in any number of civic functions. Freemasonry is open to any man 18 years or older, regardless of color, creed, religion, ethnicity or political beliefs. One just has to believe in a Supreme Being.

There is a saying in Freemasonry,"We take good men and make them better." It is an excellent path to learn, participate and become better in one's daily life. Just ask one. We are more than happy to talk with you.

Which supreme being would that be? There is more than one.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Often it don’t.

Christians believe Jesus is the son of God who was crucified on the cross to save any who believed in him. Believe and you will be saved. No required rituals.
When Jesus walked among men he said” I have spoken openly to the world. I taught in synagoges and in the temple where the jews meet. In secrecy have I said nothing”. John 18:20

Which supreme being would that be? There is more than one.

And thus the problem with Christians engaging in freemasonry. The titles they give themselves should automatically disqualify a Christian from engaging in it.

 

[dogcat1]

There is one and only THE ONE Supreme being. He is the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, everlasting God. There is only one.

 

[deewayne2003]

Which supreme being would that be? There is more than one.

God

To be a mason you must believe in god, so atheists need not apply.

It is a Masonic offense to discuss religion or politics in an open lodge of master masons.

I have sat in lodge with Masons of every flavor of Christian as well as Muslim, Jew, Hindu and Buddhist.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Intellectual gymnastics and semantics aside, how can a Christian Freemason justify calling a mere mortal “Worshipful Master”? There is only One who is worthy of worship. It’s pretty cut and dry

 

[Newboomer]

Intellectual gymnastics and semantics aside, how can a Christian Freemason justify calling a mere mortal “Worshipful Master”? There is only One who is worthy of worship. It’s pretty cut and dry

The term does not mean that the Master is worshipped. It implies that the Master worships God.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

The term does not mean that the Master is worshipped. It implies that the Master worships God.

Does it? I’m no English teacher but it seems that the title is describing the master as being worshipful not that the master as exhibiting a worshipful attitude.

Either way I’ll correct my previous statement and say that a I don’t believe that a Christian should be a Freemason. Period.

Also, which god is that? The one true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who says he is the only one there is? See how incongruous Christianity and Freemasonry are?

What if you have a worshipful master from a false religion? If the title means he “worships God” but he believes in a false one how’s a Christian supposed to take that? You can’t give equal credence to that so called “Worshipful Master’s” belief.

Hypothetical scenario. A “worshipful master” is from some false religion and he lives by its moral code which is different from Christianity’s moral code. This code he follows influences everything about him. He makes his decisions based upon it. Is a Christian Freemason supposed to respect him for his morality according to his religion? Or is does the Christian Freemason rightly observe his morality as incorrect? How’s that work in a hierarchical sense?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Does it? I’m no English teacher but it seems that the title is describing the master as being worshipful not that the master as exhibiting a worshipful attitude.

Either way I’ll correct my previous statement and say that a I don’t believe that a Christian should be a Freemason. Period.

Also, which god is that? The one true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who says he is the only one there is? See how incongruous Christianity and Freemasonry are?

What if you have a worshipful master from a false religion? If the title means he “worships God” but he believes in a false one how’s a Christian supposed to take that? You can’t give equal credence to that so called “Worshipful Master’s” belief.

Hypothetical scenario. A “worshipful master” is from some false religion and he lives by its moral code which is different from Christianity’s moral code. This code he follows influences everything about him. He makes his decisions based upon it. Is a Christian Freemason supposed to respect him for his morality according to his religion? Or is does the Christian Freemason rightly observe his morality as incorrect? How’s that work in a hierarchical sense?

Does it expressly require belief in “God” or a “supreme being”? If the latter then a person could worship Satan as their supreme being and then you’ve really got a problem as a Christian Freemason… That’s already in addition to the fact that all false religions come from the evil one in the first place…

Actually I guess he’d be their god anyway so in theory there could be satanic Freemasons.