secret societies

[VAE VICTUS]

compass,double headed phoenix,eastern star,cross and crown.secret societies,where do they come from?and whats up with the masons?in kiplings "man who would be king" there is a reference to the local people having the masonic symbol in their temples.so whats up with them?and whats up with only 3 of americas presidents NOT being masons?(kennedy,lincoln,reagon)and are they evil?mwhahahahah!!!!seriously,do 33rd(32nd) degree masons have regard for human life?

[Gregoshi]

My grandfather was a 32nd degree Mason (33 is highest). I don't know what all types of things the Masons did in their lodge across the street from his house in the coal regions of rural Pennsylvania, but I learned at his funeral that he did quite a bit of charity work via the Masons that he never talked about around us. About 10 years ago, when my grandfather saw a picture of my nephew (on wife's side of the family) wearing thick glasses, he immediately offered the Mason's services to have my nephew's eyes checked and any corrective measures taken - at no cost to my sister-in-law. In hindsight, this was the only glimpse of my grandfather's charitable work that I ever witnessed.

When my brother and I were kids, he'd take us over to the lodge and let us shoot pool (billiards) every now and then. He also showed us the meeting hall with the fancy(?) wooden chairs with a velvet padding arranged around the walls of the hall and the throne-like? chair of the head of the lodge. He also gave us a 5 minute talk on who sits where and what some of the symbols mean, but it was a long time ago and I was a kid, so the memories are very vague. I do recall a feeling of mysterious awe in that meeting hall.

When my grandfather died a couple of years ago, the Masons had a 10-15 minute Masonic service before the religious burial service. The family was allowed to stay and witness this Masonic service. It was nothing mysterious, simply expressions of brotherhood and loss with Christian overtones. They did put some sort of Masonic token in his breast pocket I recall and they did explain its significance during the service. Again, the details escape me.

I'm not sure how many members this rural lodge had, but there were maybe 15 or so Masons at the service. The striking thing was that most of them were older. There was only one Mason there that was probably in his 30s. I wonder if this is typical?

Last tidbit, in his later years, the Mason's gave my grandfather a gift in recognition for his service to the Masons. It is a beautiful sculpture entitled "Friend to Friend". It depicted a moment during the aftermath of Pickett's Charge of the Mason and fatally wounded Lewis Armistead being tended to by a Union Mason Captain Bingham. It is a replica of the monument the Pennsylvania Masons dedicated at Gettysburg back in 1993. You can find pictures of this sculpture as well as the background story of the event and the monument here: Friend to Friend

I know the above is completely devoid of facts. Hopefully my rambling, vague personal recollections of my Mason grandfather has a little value. I think it at least answers your last question VAE.

[edyzmedieval]

Wow Gregoshi... Interesting....

BTW, we are a secret society

[The_Doctor]

BTW, we are a secret society

Only if you join the AJC.

I don't know much about masons. There is a building that they own next to my college.

[Gregoshi]

The Masonic membership seems to be dropping fast: Masonic Membership Stats (US)

[Colovion]

I finished reading a history of Secret Societies recently. It covered the Masons, Illumanati, Sufis, Mithra - and many more. I found the book itself rather dry in reading but the information fascinating. Even the scant information known about the societies was enough to be able to draw cross references with all of those included in the book as well as many organised religions of modern times. They all use the same general principles in recruitment and draw from the same portion of people; those looking to belong. All practices involved were also substantially similar to eachother to gain their spiritual euphoria; drums, dancing, physical fatigue, consumption of various concoctions, and fellowship with other people. Not just the ingredients but how they are applied to new recruits which make one stand back in near disbelief.