re: All Freemasons, Shriners Check In Thread

The conspiracy theories mentioned thus far are over my head. I have been a Mason for almost 50 years. Never once have I heard anyone at any meeting (I've attended dozens and dozens of Lodges) speak about politics, a particular religion, beheading anyone, burning crosses, churches, synagogues, or mosques.

I've never known of any Mason to do any of the things mentioned that might have happened many years ago. Perhaps they happened.

I do know this. The Lodge and appendant bodies I belong to spend all their time doing good for others, usually anonymously. Hospital work (Shriners of which I am not a member), scholarships for kids in need, helping victims of house fires or other bad luck, and on and on.

I can trace Masons throughout several generations on my side, my wife's side, and my mother, wife and daughters are all Eastern Star members (appendant body of Masonry).
Uncles, great-uncles, many cousins and both of my brothers, all Masons.

If anyone has a problem with the Masonic Lodge, more power to them. But please don't knock Masons as a whole based on what someone else tells you or might have happened centuries ago. That ain't us.

As far as Catholics, I am sure at one time there was quite a rub, according to my late father. My mother was Catholic by the way. But I have sat in Lodge with numerous Catholics, all who told me their church came first and that they had talked it over with their priest before joining. Church is supposed to come first, by the way.