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What Masonry means to people
Their thoughts on the Meaning of Masonry
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Turning The Hiram Key
Find out what Masonry means to Robert by reading his latest book,
Turning The Hiram Key.
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By douglass2000 |
Thank you for opening this forum into the search of Masonry and it's involvement in our society. I was involved in masonry for 25 years. I left recently because I felt I needed to spend more time with my family as I wasn't getting any younger. I went through the York and Scottish Rites. Attended the York Rite College, and studied and participated in many degree's including the ROS and AMD.
I too would like to write a book describing my experiences over the years in my dealings with such a fine band of brothers like the Shriners and what they do to help children. Over the years I have collected much about the good deeds we as masons have done for others even those individuals or groups not associated in the" society".
I would hope that Freemasonry will remain as it always has been, secret thus allowing the quest for light to open as the vails are parted through the many degree's given. I was not in favor of the 3 days to the Scottish Rite or even the York degree's. The splender was in anticipation like those given in the 1st to the 3rd degree. After my study and involvement during many years assoicated with degree work, which lead to my own enlightenment and understanding. I feel that if our secret is exposed to the general public or our society is conducted like say a Rotary Club much harm would surface and much confusion would result, causing additional harm already brought about by groups wanting non other than the breakdown of the "society" as was caused after the Morgan event and the closing many of our local lodges, not to mention the reduction in our membership. |
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By ZEUS |
This site may be of interest:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1637840.htm
In respect of Freemasonary.I am a Freemason and i think that your book should be made available at every Lodge prior to initiation.It might give a insight and source of direction to those new members who are some times perplexed by what they have joined.
You book is long over due and is refreshing material |
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By el rey solomon |
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masonry is for me the npath to the one eternal truth that will if carfully and slowly dispensed will finally put mankind in full service to god and bring them out of the dark and let them bask in the light of eternal truth that when shone on you you have no choice but to except or be erroded to nothingness from futile resistence against the cosmic flow of love and peace and understanding will reign supreme and all will return to the source where we are IN THE ALL AND THE ALL IS IN US ALL IN ALL |
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By EssGee |
I have been a Freemason for 12 years now, initiated in London (Taylor) and adopted in Oslo some 8 years ago. I have reached the “exulted” status of 8th Degree in the Swedish system.
Reading “The Hiram Key” was déjà vu! All my own thoughts and frustrations neatly packed together in the opening chapters!
I have, for a long time given thought to the fact that, here we are, grown men, dressing up in strange costumes, reciting words we hardly, if at all understand, to a story that is/was reputedly fictitious. Likewise I also felt that the story and the rituals could not have been “made up” overnight and that it had to have started somewhere; but why isn’t the Grand Lodge doing more to research into it instead of meditating on it’s own navel?
Should freemasonry be secret? No, I think that the time is right to come out of the closet and encourage membership from both sexes; encourage more and more to put our “funny costumes” and splendour onto the back seat and “live the life” we are so keen on ritualising. In fact proclaim for the roofs (Mathew 10:27) or as you say in The Hiram Key; Ma'at.
The Rituals? Well, they have helped open my eyes and mind to a myriad of human possibilities only to frustrate me about its origins and meanings and my own short comings. My initiation was an experience I will never forget and each time I see it re-enacted a feeling of warmth towards my new brother overwhelms me as I also re-live my own experience.
Perhaps not for all, but for those looking for a purpose in life, I recommend freemasonry. |
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By chad |
I have been a Mason for three years. I belong to a small struggling Logde in Southern Illinois,U.S.A. I hold Masonary dear to my heart. When you look at the rituals that we all perform an outsider would think we are crazy. But when you dig deep into the lectures and pay attention to details of the meanings, it truly makes sense. I truly beleive if wasn't for Free Masons there would not be an United States. Our Forefathers took the lessons and the Morality taught in our lectures and applied them to the building of our Constitution. If every person on earth would live by the level and respect each others differences we would not have the problems we have in the world today. Since becoming a Mason I have learned to better respect those practicing a different faith and accept the person and not judge them on their faith. There are many Christians and Muslims alike who can not accept this. Since reading the Hiram Key I have a better understanding of what we are here to do. Many of the ideas in this book is what I have beleived for a while. Organized religion is corrupt and requires fear among their followers to keep them in the church. Jesus was not like this. He was a simple man and did not like what was being taught to his people, so he changed it. Being a Mason, regardless of your beleifs, you have to keep three ideas alive: respect others based on their person not their beleifs, respect one beleifs, and be true to ones faith.
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By Andy Taylor |
I believe that with all secret societies (soceties with secrets) the secrets permeate the whole structure. Those that support Freemasonary have no idea what they are supporting. Secrets are witheld until they reach this or that degree, then there's more. So how can a master mason say he supports free masonary, there are another 30 degrees at least, probably more, it is probably never ending so he has no idea whaat he supports.
It boils down to the ancient and death inducing idea of gnoticism, I am better than you because I know more but there is always something ahead. Jebulom, Baphomet, angels of light, Lucifer and on and on. Wow what a dead end. Why get into something and you don't know the end, it may be something that is totally against you beliefs and you are sucked down a drain into complete despair. |
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By Jason Dorey |
If you are a Mason, what does Masonic ritual mean to you?
I have been a mason since 2000. I belong to Charity lodge #69 in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Canada. My lodge, which is a very very beautiful lodge indeed, sits across from the town playground.
As a youngster I asked my Grand mother what the buioding was and what masonry was. She hadn't the answers. In fact she told me the peopel who go there wore garbage bags and hit each others with sticks. As a 6 year old it made perfect sense to me. She didnt' ahve any answers. she told me they they were a strange lot and kept to themselves.
Well my 22nd year saw me going to my interview for the lodge. I was happy that we didnt' wear garbage bags was very happy that they only hit you once in the third degree. my 22nd year saw a lto of changes in my life. Everything for the positive. I listened o the worshipful master, Wor. brother George Walker, who was the best Master I have ever served with.
Since then Using the teachings of our craft I have becoem a better person. And why is that?
Well first, it has solidified my faith in religion. And the teachigs of makeing a good man into a better man are always in the back of my mind. NOt only has it helped me with my faith, it has helped mebeing a better friend, a better husband to be, a better employee and a better person.
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By Richard Lamey |
After reading the Hiram Key I was convinced that I wanted to be a Freemason after many years of doubt about the sincerity and seriousness of the instiution and people associated with it.
My only concerns now are how to preserve it and it's history.
My interview is tomorrow!! |
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By LLV |
RL (&CK)
I have just completed the reading of "The Hiram Key". When it first arrived, my wife "confiscated" it and did a "Lysistrata" on me until she had finished reading it. It is something of a compliment to your book that she found that book which was recently involved in the controversy on plagiarism "..lacking in depth.." when compared with "The Key". (We both having read HBHG many years ago).
For my part, I am excited by "The Key". I find it to be an outstanding literary work, supported by painstakingly thorough research and with a well structured presentation. My "excitement" is somewhat due to the fact that your motivation for doing the research and writing the book was prompted by many of the "questions" and the inquisitiveness I had on the origins and substance of Freemasonry, when I first joined the Order over 20 years ago.
For example in the "Fifteen Fellowcrafts" of the 3rd Degree Ceremony, one of the well-known Rituals omits the possessive adjective "their" in ".. as symbols of their innocence". The omission of this word prompted me to speculate on the mind-set of King Solomon at the time of the funeral. Whose INNOCENCE was he symbolising? This led me to research and (desk-top) publish a 22-page booklet on the six possibilities which may have prompted/motivated the King's directive. A copy of this booklet is available free to any Freemason who is interested enough to request it from me through my e-mail protocol.
I still have "questions" on Freemasonry. (Many less, now that I have read "The Hiram Key". Thank you very much, Authors!). For example "Why is the "East" in the East, when we know that the entrance to the Temple was in the East?". And "Why is the Bible so silent on Hiram Abiff after such a (famous) person was the victim of this heinous crime?". I am still reading on these and other questions!!
I shall presently purchase a HC version of "The Key" which I shall arrange to send to you immediaately thereafter. I shall be very honoured if you and Mr. Knight would be gracious enough to sign it for me and my family in posterity. Thank you both again. I am filled with admiration for you both.
FR - LLV |
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By Del |
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I have now been an active Freemason for approx three years in which time i have gradually progressed through office and hope in the future to become Master of my mother lodge. In my time as a freemason so far i have participated in degree work which i thoroughly enjoy and in doing so it has helped me to grow in confidence as a person where i now have the confidence to speak at open forums wheras in the past i would have sat very quietly. If the question must be asked of me if i believe Freemasonry should be secret i would say YES. The reason i give is very simple..it adds to the excitement and mystery behind the craft and i look back with great fondness of my time advancing the degrees and wondering what was going to happen next. Masonic ritual means to me lessons on how to become a better person and i believe anything which promotes this has to be congradulated and not condemned. When i was made a mason i felt very proud as i observed around me the calibre of people already in the craft from ordinary working men to people with Law Degrees, Doctors, high ranking police officers and all these people are my equal. Freemasonry as far as i am concerned has helped me become more tolerant and defineteley become a better person and joining the craft i regard as one of the best things i have done in my life so far!! |
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