History Channel Decoding the Past of Freemasonry: video

Masonic Lodges

What is a Lodge?
"lodge" means where a group of Masons meet in some place as well as the room or a building in which we meet.  They are sometimes called "temples" because much of the symbolism that is used to teach its lessons comes from the building of King Solomon's Temple in the Holy Land.  The word "lodge" itself comes from the structures which stonemasons built against the sides of the cathedrals during construction. 

• A lodge is the center of Mason activities. It is where we gather to conduct normal business, bring up ideas for charities, offer help to sick and distressed and where we do our rituals for degrees.
• There are some variation in detail from lodge to lodge in different states and countries, but lodge rooms today are set up very similar to the diagram below.

 

 

• Every lodge has several officers. The Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, Senior and Junior Decons, Senior and Junior Stewards, Tiler, Treasurer and a Secretary.  For more info about the duties of each position click HERE

 

• Every lodge also includes an Altar with Volume of Sacred Law surrounded by three lights in the center.  Usually it is the Bible in the U.S., but it can be any religious book desired. 



Scottish Rite Tribute to American Flag

Though politics are never discussed in lodge,  we do have a love of country.  Weather it is America or not, a Mason is encouraged to be a responsible law abiding citizen.  That doesn't mean we can't try to change things, but change must take place in legal ways.
Patriotism is taught more dramatically in Scottish Rite and they made a great tribute to the flag that represents a country that was built with a very strong Masonic influence.

Masonic Poem "We Meet on the Level"

Famous Freemasons: Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain)

 Samuel L. Clemens belonged to Polar Star Lodge No. 79 in St. Louis where he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on July 10, 1861. Before writing some of his most famous novels.  He was considered the "Father of American Literature".  Never afraid to express his mind and go against the grain, he broke the barriers to expose the good and bad of America with his writings. 
History Channel had a great biography summarizing his rich and exciting life.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but really great people make you feel that you too can become great"- Bro. Samuel L. Clemens

Freemasonry in Movies: National Treasure

 

"Ben Gates comes from a family of treasure hunters. Now his grandfather believes that the forefathers' buried a treasure somewhere in the country and have placed clues everywhere but unfortunately the clues are highly cryptic and scaterred all over the place. Now Ben thinks he has found it but it only leads him to another clue which is on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Now one of his associates Ian wants to steal it so that they could get the clue but Ben refuses to do it so he tries to kill Ben. But Ben evades him and tries to warn the authorities about Ian's plans but they don't believe him. So Ben takes it upon himself to steal it in order to protect it. And he does but Abigail Chase the curator of the National Archives, where it is kept, discovers what he has done and tries to stop him but gets caught in the crossfire between Ben and Ian, so Ben takes her with him. While she doesn't believe him, he is determined to prove he is right about the treasure. But it won't be easy cause Ian's always a step behind him and he is being hunted by the FBI."

 

 

I personally really enjoyed this movie even though it is very exaggerated about Freemasonry.  This movie contains a lot of myths and fantasy about the craft, but I still like this movie all the same because it is one of the few movies that has Freemasonry so strongly involved with the story. If you're looking for a movie with some slightly romanticized Freemason storyline, this is a good one.

 

 

 

Hollow brick outside Independence Hall containing a tool for the treasure hunt.  Marked with the Square and Compasses



Conspiracy Theory: New World Order

As a Master Mason, I am now part of the New World Order and can now help with the plans to replace all government and religious leaders with freemasons and rule the world with the rest of the secret elite over an authoritarian world government.........Right after we raise enough money by selling pancakes.

That about sums up the meaning of the New World Order,(NWO).  It's the belief that everything that is happening and has happened, from Jack the Ripper to 9/11, is some incredibly huge plot to have a one world government and put people under it's spell under an elite group, or groups, to keep you as slaves and Freemasonry is a major part (or only part)of it.  Sounds like a Great movie, but most over-the-top stories are.

The Truth?  Sure, we do want to take over the world.  If everyone believed in personal liberty, religious freedom, social responsibly, equality and tolerance we could save our money and tear up our membership cards.  Those are noble and common-sense ideas however, not Masonic and freemasonry can't just sell those ideas in a market.  It can only be used to guide our actions, not control them. 

The only agenda Freemasonry has is to improve the lives of its members and hope that they go on to improve the lives of others and their communities.  It cannot tell you who to vote for, what religion to follow, what to think, how to pray, who to choose as friends etc.......Quite the opposite of totalitarianism.

Nothing is controlling me under the fraternity, it teaches me to do good, but cannot force me....Only I can choose my own path on my own.  I chose to become a Mason on my own free will, and I can choose to leave anytime I want if I ever find that something conflicts with me, my family, my country or my duty to God.  Nothing is keeping me "under it's spell" and there is no threat to harm me or my family if I choose to do so.