I wanted to ask if any of you have had any run-ins with people who think Masonry is either a great fraternal organization, or people who think Masonry is {insert whatever term you want}?

A few months ago I brought to work the book called “American Freemasons - 3 Centuries of Building Communities” by Mark Tabbert, and would read it during my lunch break here in the big military computer operations center.  The comments from co-workers ran through the whole spectrum:

—Hey, that’s really cool!  Are you a Mason?  My dad was a 32* Mason.  He always wanted me to join, but I never had time.  Masons are great people.  You’ll enjoy it!
Butch: Thanks…  The guys in the lodge welcomed me, and I quickly found them to be among the most nicest group of guys I have ever met.  It is a great organization that does so much good work.

—What are you reading there, Butch?  Oh… American Freemasons…  So, when you’re done with that book, you could tell me where the lost city of gold is, right?  Ha ha!  I might read that book as I have a minor in history back in college.
Butch: That’s cool… But I don’t know about any gold.  I think you’re referring to that National Treasure movie about the Knights Templar or something.  If you want, you can borrow the book when I done with it.  It is really good.

—American Freemasons?  Are you seriously looking at joining those guys?  You know they are a secret society right?  They do all sorts of weird things from what I heard.  My uncle was a Mason and tried to get my dad and myself into it for years.  I just never could get past the “God” part of it.
Butch: Um, I don’t see anything wrong with the Masons.  They don’t do “weird things” or whatever you said.  They are a great group of guys, and I think you’re not giving them the credit they deserve.

—Hey, what’s the book? {shocked expression}  Freemasons?  Oh no…  Please Lord no…  Butch, do yourself a favor and back away now!  Get away from those people!  They are satanic!  They go against everything Christianity stands for!
Butch: Say what? {has an equally shocked expression - but am wise enough to know not to get involved in a heated debate or argument.}  Um, a friend of mine is a Mason, so I just wanted to read up on it and see what it’s all about.

Out of these 4 comments from various co-workers, the 4th one really boggled my mind and caught me off guard.  The co-worker is deeply religious and is a deacon or lay reader or something like that in his church.  He’s a nice enough guy, but, WOW! the things he said about Masonry!  What is the best way to handle someone like that?

Sadly, there are many people who are convinced that Masonry is right out of the pit of hell. Masons are Satanists, the Shrine set up the hospitals so that they could have access to the children for sexual abuse and pedophilia. The Rainbow Girls serve as concubines for the Masons. The Shriners have orgies. Masons are out to destroy the Christian church, and set up a one world government. etc. etc. I have studied anti-Masonry for years. (See http://www.emjf.org).

Masonry has traditionally “turned the other cheek” with respect to these morons, and let them be happy in their ignorance. There is no right way to handle these morons, they have their mind made up.

Whenever I get the comment “My grandfather (or father, or uncle, etc.) was a 32d degree Mason”, I always reply- “Why aren’t you?”, and “I can help you get a petition, if you wish to follow that tradition”.

Hey Butch,

I have been thinking a lot about this topic recently. My wife ordered me a fleece with the square and compass on it as a gift and it arrived yesterday. Its arrival along with some of the more recent posts about the wearing of rings etc. got me thinking about the public perception of Freemasonry. My Lodge required that I furnish them with ten references as part of my petition. I had to think long and hard about who to ask as I was not sure what religious denomination they were. I did not want to create a difficult working environment by asking a co-worker to stand as a reference if their Church had strong anti-Masonic feelings. I was surprised when many of them responded with great enthusiasm. Not only out of friendship to me but because their Father or Grandfather had been a Mason. One guys grandparents had been in the Order of the Eastern star and still another made a point of bringing in his grandfathers Blue Lodge and AASR rings for me to see.

One of the funniest responses I have received was from a good friend of mine, a Chinese Canadian that I met while I was living in Tokyo if you can believe that. I asked him if I could include him as a references and he answered “So your finally making your bid for world domination…..will you tell me the secret hand shake?”

My Mother in law is pretty funny about it. Her husband, my Father in law is a Knight of Columbus and he, as is proper, refuses to tell her anything about their ritual. As a result she is adamant that I at the very least show her the “secret handshake”. Of course I have no intention of doing so but I do struggle everyday with the temptation of making up a ridiculous handshake for her. So far I am winning the struggle, the character building power of Freemasonry already beginning to work. :)

Charles, thank you.  That site www.emfj.org is, uh, really interesting.  There are some rather bizarre and twisted viewpoints on that site.  WOW!

Martin, I know what you mean.  Some people are very low key and keep Masonry to themselves.  Nobody will know they are a Mason, unless they ask.  Others are more open and enthusiastic about it, and have rings, decals, bumperstickers, hats, etc…  I am most likely going to be somewhere in the middle, as I have ordered my ring from www.jemsbyjem.com and will get a lightweight sport t-shirt made up with the square & compasses on it (for when I go jogging on my days off).  But that’s about all I’d want to get.  I have a few other co-workers that tease me (all in good natured fun) about the secrets and handshakes too.  I always just reply, “well in order to find out, you have to join!”.

If your state has an official Masonic license plate, I suggest that you get one. If your state does not yet have a masonic plate, then get your grand lodge to request one!

Virginia has Masonic license plates.  I might really consider getting one on my truck!
http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/images/plates/mason.gif

Virginia has a bunch of customized license plates…
http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/exec/vehicle/splates/category.asp?category=S

I have just taken a quick scan of the site Charles posted.

I may be mistaken but I believe these are the same people who have the secrets of freemasonry revealed videos on Youtube. i sat and watched those videos with my wife and really failed to be impacted by them.

I guess the bottom line is that there is a wealth of Anti-Masonry material out there. Ultimately a man must make his own determination if Freemasonry is right for him or not. We all must follow the dictates of our conscience. Mine tells me there is nothing in Freemasonry that stands in contradiction to my Christian beliefs. A lot of the arguments I have encountered against the compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity use for the basis of their argument the assertion that Freemasonry is non-Christian. They often use this synonymously with Anti-Christian. This is a vitally important distinction I feel. Freemasonry is NOT A RELIGION. It is NON-CHRISTIAN by virtue of the fact that it stresses the universal brotherhood of man and so welcomes all creeds as long as the man profess a belief in a Supreme Being. This is not the same as being ANTI-CHRISTIAN. All of the arguments I have seen against Freemasonry begin from a false premise…that being that Freemasonry is a religion. When I first walked though the door of the Lodge the Worshipful Master was one of the three brothers that met with me, and right out of the gate he told me that Freemasonry is not a religion, it won’t show me how to get to heaven but it will help me to become a better man and a better husband. Sold!