Thread: Masonic Lodges

Originally Posted by REFLUX

Sorry I'm not understanding your post.

Are you saying that Masons reflect the social conditions of the country & government it is situated in?
Or are you saying Masons aren't receptive to other cultures & ethnicities because other countries & governments are not receptive to the organization?

Or are you saying that Masons are situated in Western, English speaking countries because Non-Western, Non-English speaking countries are not receptive to the organization?

I'm assuming it is the latter, which is good to know and thank you for addressing that.


As for "How tolerant & accepting are Masons of different cultures & ethnicities?"
Going off Steve's reply, is that to say that since there are Masons in almost every country in the world, there are Masons in Non-Western, Non-English speaking countries too?
Because "Western" culture along with English is extremely widespread and just because there is a group of Masons in a specific culture, doesn't answer the question as to how tolerant and accepting they are of other cultures/ethnicities.

I'm curious to know how they are seen by Communist countries since even religion is so suppressed in those countries too, you'd think that an organization like the Free Masons would attract attention.

I'll chime in here with a few thoughts that may help to answer your questions.

Freemasonry has been suppressed for centuries by authoritarian governments that considered it a threat. Communist countries and Nazi Germany are the most recent examples, along with many (all?) Muslim countries. Masonry is practiced in non-western non-English speaking countries throughout the world, with Asia being a good example. A story is told about a traveling Mason from the U.S. who wished to visit a Lodge in Asia but language barriers prevented the Asian lodge from examining the visitor to determine that he was a bona fide Mason. The problem was resolved by the Asian Masons rearranging the furnishings of the Lodgeroom and the visiting Mason putting them back in their correct places.

Masons believe in God and believe that men should be free to practice any religion that recognizes a supreme being, that choice of religion being a personal matter left to the individual. The Fraternity focuses on what men of good character who believe in God have in common with each other, helps to recognize those principles that can make us better men, and teaches us to assist our Brothers who are in need.

As a group that is comprised of individuals, all Lodges will reflect the culture and values of it's members to some extent since we are only human. I haven't had the opportunity to visit many other Lodges, but as to my own Lodge I can tell you that it is comprised of Caucasion and Hispanic members who enjoy each other's company and have high regard for each other. The "Olde English" forms of speech that are utilized in Masonic ritual in the U.S. are sometimes particularly challenging for ESL members and those individuals are much respected by all for the additional effort they put forth to be able to learn it.

Are individual Masons unreceptive to other cultures & ethnicities? I'm sure there are some, as there likely would be in almost any large group of individuals.

Is Masonry unreceptive to or incompatible with non-western cultures? Only if they exclude a belief in God, or the right of an individual to choose his own form of worship.

Originally Posted by DMS

Freemasonry has been suppressed for centuries by authoritarian governments that considered it a threat. Communist countries and Nazi Germany are the most recent examples, along with many (all?) Muslim countries.

This was my only point and I'm sorry if how I tried to make it was confusing. It is indeed the governments of countries that suppress masonry.

As to other cultures or ethnicities, I personally know of members who are black, buddhist, jewish, muslim, of chinese heritage, etc.. I also know that there are lodges in Japan, India, Korea, and Singapore. There is a saying that almost anywhere in the world a mason goes, if he finds another mason, he has found a friend. This is true regardless of culture, religion, ethnicity, political views, etc. The common and binding thread is the organization.

DMS has also provided a great summary of the Masonic fraternity. Thanks DMS!

I'm not as effective in explaining things as others so I apologize for leaving you with more questions than I tried to answer, Reflux.

DMS: Thanks for that well thought out response!

Steve: No worries, I may have approached this subject with a bit more caution than warranted. I appreciate your efforts though.

It does sound like a good group of guys especially with the "If a mason finds another mason, he has found a friend" saying.


I guess this leads to more questions:
Why do the rituals/ceremonies have to be so...."formal?"
This link was found off a Masonic Forum based in New Zealand:
http://www.totse.com/en/religion/mis...ts/165166.html

Several members who claim they are Masons supported the accuracy of this ritual (and also said it varies somewhat from lodge to lodge)

Being an outsider, it seems a little over the top.
Can anyone clarify the significance and/or purpose of such scripted rituals?

Originally Posted by REFLUX

DMS: Thanks for that well thought out response!

Steve: No worries, I may have approached this subject with a bit more caution than warranted. I appreciate your efforts though.

It does sound like a good group of guys especially with the "If a mason finds another mason, he has found a friend" saying.


I guess this leads to more questions:
Why do the rituals/ceremonies have to be so...."formal?"
This link was found off a Masonic Forum based in New Zealand:
http://www.totse.com/en/religion/mis...ts/165166.html

Several members who claim they are Masons supported the accuracy of this ritual (and also said it varies somewhat from lodge to lodge)

Being an outsider, it seems a little over the top.
Can anyone clarify the significance and/or purpose of such scripted rituals?

Masonic Rituals have evolved and differ somewhat from one Grand Lodge to another, but they are a thread that binds us to each other and to the Brothers that have gone before us in centuries past. I think most Masons appreciate and value the sense of continuity we get from them.

As I understand it, Masonic rituals are formal so that they will be memorable. Traditionally, the moral lessons Masonry teaches were not usually written down. Having a formal ceremony would make it easier to learn. Also, to impress on a candidate the lessons being conveyed, a formal ceremony is more impressive and more likely to be remembered. Many important events are traditionally observed with some form of a formal ceremony and to the person becoming a Mason, it is an important event.

This is not unusual in other aspects of society. For example, we have a formal swearing in of the President of the United States when he takes office, marriages are often conducted in a formal ceremony, religious denominations have various ceremonies.

Remember that Masonry is over 300 years old and began at a time when life was a little more formal anyway. Evidence for this can be found in the writings of many historical figures. If you were to read the writings of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee, you would see a more formal use of the English language than we use today.

In today's society, it may seem a little over the top but Masonry's traditions are deep and cherished.

Steve:
That's a great answer, thank you for breaking it down and putting forward comparisons.

I haven't got any other questions at the moment but thanks again to everyone for taking the time to respond to my questions

Originally Posted by REFLUX

Steve:
That's a great answer, thank you for breaking it down and putting forward comparisons.

I haven't got any other questions at the moment but thanks again to everyone for taking the time to respond to my questions

You're quite welcome.

Sounds like a nice organisation. Too bad belgium doesn't seem to have such fraternities.

Harold,
Check this out:

http://web1.webergeur.com/~glrb/

The Grand Lodge of Belgium - might be a good place if you are interested in finding out more.

they're mighty good at keeping secret.

thx

been reading the site you linked and masonry is pretty elaborate, certainly not something you just sail into.