My husband wants to become a Mason & I'm having a hard time convincing him otherwise. My problem is, if it's such a great, charitable group, why does it have to be so secretive or exclusive? Why can't it be open to everybody? Or if my husband is so interested in volenteering or getting involved with a tight knit group of guys, why won't he become more involved with his buddies or help out at Habitat for Humanity or something? I just have this gut feeling that it's not something he should be getting into. Anything you know, good or bad, would be very helpful. Thanks!
my brother in law is a Mason and his wife (my sis) is involved too so you can be involved in come of the meetings and events! i forget what the wives are called but they are included. ask him about it! this way you are somewhat involved as well and you don't feel so left out!
I think there's lots of guys out there that are Mason's and you just don't know it.
The secretive part is like all fraternal groups... or sororities... they have their "thing" that makes them special and only those in it get to know. Besides, if you can't be trusted with keeping some silly handshake secret, then who would want you in their group?
Your husband needs his own interests even if you don't like them, and if it takes away from a little of family time, that's okay. If it is going to change the direction of the family goals, take a majority of his time or interfere with your relationship, then it's a problem.
I know they do a lot of good charitable things such as the Scottish Rite Children's hospitals (they're the founders) and anything related to the Shriners. I think a lot of it is steeped in tradition therefore the allure. I can think of a lot worse things he could be doing (as I'm sure you could too).
Was/is his dad or grandfather a free mason? If this is a family thing, he may be doing this to be closer to his family. My husband's family are free masons. My (and now my husband's) religion, LCMS, forbids being in the free mason as they do get into religion at later levels (husband's grandfather was 32nd level so there are many many levels before you really reach this) so obviously my husband has not joined. I remember they also called the house and were interested in getting my husband to join because they are really seeking 'young blood'.
This website has some info:http://www.masonicinfo.com/member.htm
if you go to higher level degree free masons funeral, you will see some weird rites and this is what makes me uneasy.
Contrary to popular belief, the free masons do not rule the world--or so my husband's family tell me ;)
There could be alot of worse things than him wanting to be a mason. The secretiveness of it is nothing more than tradtion. And in worse times in the world, during world wars and stuff that secretive stuff created a bond across oceans and provided safe havens.
I completely understand what you mean about the secretive thing. If it is an honorable and reputable fraternity, why is so much of what they do secret?
My grandfather was a mason and wanted my dad to be a part of it as well. My dad grew up around masons and over-hearing so much of what they talked about in refernce to the things they did. This was during a time when kids really were seen and not heard so he got to witness more than he probably should have. He never said that masons were bad or immoral or anything like that. Basically, all he every said about them was "Why would I want to be around a bunch of jacka**es? Just so I can say I am one of the jacka**es? No thanks."
I remember seeing pictures of my grandfather and his fellow masons. Why on earth would one crown and robe a chimp and call him a brother is still beyond me. Maybe they drink a lot at the meetings. LOL
I would not encourage one to become a mason or an eastern star. However, that is because I do not know enough about them. Since they are so secretive, how does one find out if they even want to be a mason when they do not know anything about them and cannot find out without becoming one. Hmm...
I think I will see if I can find that book mentioned in a previous reply. I bet it will be enlightening.
There is a book "Freemasonry" written by Jack Harris which was a former "Worshipful Master" of a Masonic lodge. The book really points to how some of the beliefs of the Masons are in contrast with the truth of the Bible.
I agree with you....secretive is never good. Follow your gut.
My father is a Mason. They are secretive because they can be..kwim. Not everything is everyones business. That is why it is a fraternal organization. Like a fraturnity in college but for grown men. Some people think everything they cannot know everything about must be some sort of cult. It is not. They do so much for so many. I would encorage him to join. My siblings and I grew up going to tons of mason related things and we all have fond memories!!!
They are very family-oriented men who truly give to the community. They are not out doing raunchy stuff, but are instead funding free medical care for kids. If anyone could get in and it wasn't so secretive, lots of people would do it just as a resume bullet.
Masonry is rooted in traditions and secrecy is a major part of that tradition. My grandfather was a Mason and also a Christian. Nothing he did contradicted his Christian beliefs. I also grew up around Eastern Stars which are deeply rooted in Christianity. There was nothing negative that came out of it as far as I could see.
Many of our country's forefathers were Masons. It's a brotherhood simply put.
