Any Freemasons on this board?

[Krangthebrain]

I was reading something earlier today and wanted to see if anyone on this board would admit to being a freemason. Both my dad and my grandfather are/were freemasons...

[Brian in Mesa]

I never even knew what they were about until I saw your thread and looked them up on Google.

For a Fraternity steeped in over four hundred years of tradition, you might think it is difficult to become a Mason.

It is. There is one major hurdle each candidate must pass.

They must ask.

Freemasonry in California accepts no one for membership unless they come of their own free will and accord, having already obtained a favorable impression of our Fraternity.

There are few other requirements. You must:

* Be a man, over the age of eighteen.
* Believe in a Supreme Being.
* Live an ethical and moral life.
* Have a strong interest in the Fraternity and desire to participate in its charities and its activities.

We believe that men are first made Masons in their hearts, then they ask to join our Fraternity. Freemasonry will take these men — good men in their communities — and help them become better men.

Each man brings something different into the Fraternity, as different as the types of men that become Masons. But each shares a common core of beliefs and of dreams; each believes that, in a small way, by their actions they help make their world, their communities, and themselves better.

The leader of a community group goes by the title of "his worshipfullness" and they gather at Masonic Temples.

Sounds like a freakish cult.

Nice roots.

[Krangthebrain]

Freakish cult????

Ever heard of Shriners? They're the older (as in age of participants) branch of masons. Many American political leaders have been masons. Masoners and shriners do a lot of charity work, and build hospitals for children.

Never heard of the masons? Strange.

[Cardinals.Ken]

I've anted to join the Free Masons for years now. All you need is two members to sponsor you...

I can only ever find one at any one time willing to give me the in...

hmm...

[Krangthebrain]

My dad has hasn't participated in like 20 years or so, but he still pays his monthly dues...

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Ever heard of Shriners?

I've seen Shriners in many parades and knew that they did charity/hospital work.

And I said I did not know what the Masons were about, not that I had never heard of them.

They sound like almost-Christians.

[Krangthebrain]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
I've seen Shriners in many parades and knew that they did charity/hospital work.

And I said I did not know what the Masons were about, not that I had never heard of them.

They sound like almost-Christians.

Oh sorry, I misunderstood you.

Masons are Christians.

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Oh sorry, I misunderstood you.

Masons are Christians.

Not necessarily. Maybe there are Christians that are Masons, but it's not a blanket statement like you said.

A Christian is much more than a person who believes in "a Supreme being," which is the Mason requirement.

Nowhere does the list of requirements say that "you believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down to Earth and died for your sins, and that he will come again to judge the living and the dead."

[Krangthebrain]

List of Famous Masons Throughout History

There have been many influential men who have been Masons. Masonry is an organization dedicated towards making a difference in the world. For example, thirteen of the signers of the Constitution were Masons, as well as nine of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Following is but a small list of those Brothers who have left their marks upon our world.

Abbott, Sir John J.C. - Prime Minister of Canada 1891-92
Aldrin, Edwin E. - American Astronaut.
Armstrong, Louis - Jazz Musician.
Armstrong, Neil - American Astronaut.
Arnold, General Henry "Hap" - Only 5 Star General in the American Air Force.
Austin, Stephen F. - "Father" of Texas.
Autry, Gene - Actor.
Bach, Jahann Christian - Composer.
Baldwin, Henry - Supreme Court Justice.
Balfour, Lloyd - Jewelry Designer.
Bartholdi, Frederic A. - Designed the Statue of Liberty.
Bassie, William "Count" - Orchestra Leader and Composer.
Baylor, Robert E. B. - Founder Baylor University.
Beard, Daniel Carter - Founder Boy Scouts.
Bell, Lawrence - Founder of the Bell Aircraft Corporation.
Bennett, Viscount R.B. - Prime Minister of Canada 1930-35.
Berlin, Irving - Entertainer.
Black, Hugo L. - Supreme Court Justice 1937-1971.
Blair, Jr., John - Supreme Court Justice.
Blatchford, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice.
Borden, Sir Robert L. - Prime Minister of Canada 1911-1920.
Borglum, Gutzon & Lincoln - Father and Son who carved Mt. Rushmore.
Borgnine, Ernest - Actor.
Bowell, Sir Mackenzie - Prime Minister of Canada 1894-96.
Bowie, James - Texas Patriot at the Battle of the Alamo.
Bradley, Omar N. - American Military leader during World War II.
Brant, Joseph - Chief of the Mohawks 1742 - 1807.
BuBois, W.E.B. - Educator and Scholar.
Buchanan, James - Fifteenth President of the United States.
Burnett, David G. - First President of the Republic of Texas.
Burns, Robert - The National Poet of Scotland.
Burton, Harold H. - Supreme Court Justice 1945-1958.
Byrd, Admiral Richard E. - First Person to Fly over the North Pole (Besides
Santa Claus, who is also a Mason).
Byrnes, James F. - Supreme Court Justice 1941 and Secretary of State 1945.
Calvo, Father Francisco - Catholic Priest who started Freemasonry in Costa
Rica 1865.
Carson, Christopher "Kit" - American Frontiersman and Explorer.
Casanova - Italian Adventurer, Writer and Entertainer.
Catton, John - Supreme Court Justice.
Ceceri, Robert J. - Famous New Jersey Artist, Creator of the 1st Masonic
Virtual Lodge
Chrysler, Walter P. - American Automotive Manufacturer.
Churchill, Winston - British Prime Minister During World War II.
Citroen, Andre - French Engineer and Automotive Manufacturer.
Clark, Roy - Country Western Star.
Clark, Thomas C. - Supreme Court Justice.
Clark, William - Explorer.
Clarke, John H. - Supreme Court Justice 1949-1967.
Clemens, Samuel L. - a.k.a. Mark Twain, American Author.
Cobb, Ty - Baseball Player.
Cody, "Buffalo Bill" William - Indian Fighter and Founder of the Wild West
Show.
Cohan, George M. - Broadway star.
Cole, Nat 'King' - Great Ballad singer.
Collodi, Carlo - Author of Pinocchio.
Colt, Samuel - Firearms Inventor.
Combs, Earle Bryan - Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Crockett, David - Texas Patriot at the Battle of the Alamo.
Cushing, William - Supreme Court Justice.
Dempsey, Jack - Pugilist.
Desaguliers, John Theophilus - Inventor of the Planetarium.
Devanter, Willis Van - Supreme Court Justice.
Diefenbaker, John G. - Prime Minister of Canada 1957-63.
Doolittle, General James - Famous American Air Force Pilot.
Douglas, William O. - Supreme Court Justice 1939-1975.
Dow, William H. - American Chemist.
Doyle, Sir Author Conan - Author of "Sherlock Holmes."
Drake, Edwin L - American Pioneer of the Oil industry.
Dunant, Jean Henri - Founder of the Red Cross.
Edward VII - King of England 1936.
Edward VIII - King of England who abdicated the throne in less than 1 year
Ellington, Duke - Composer, Arranger and Stylist
Ellsworth, Oliver - Supreme Court Justice 1796-1799.
Ervin Jr, Samual J. - Headed "Watergate" Committee.
Faber, Eberhard - Founded Eberhard Fabor Pencil Company.
Fairbanks, Douglas - Silent Film Actor.
Field, Stephen J. - Supreme Court Justice 1863-1897.
Fields, W.C. - Actor.
Fisher, Geoffrey - Archbishop of Canterbury 1945 - 1961.
Fitch, John - Inventor of the Steamboat.
Fleming, Sir Alexander - Invented Penicillin.
Ford, Gerald R. - Thirty-eighth President of the U.S.
Ford, Henry - Pioneer Automobile Manufacturer.
Franklin, Benjamin - American Revolutionary, Philosopher, Diplomat and
Inventor. 1 of 13 Masonic signers of Constitution of the U.S.
Gable, Clark - Actor.
Garfield, James A. - President of the U.S.
Gatling, Richard J. - Inventor of the "Gatling Gun"
George VI - King of England during W.W. II.
Gibbon, Edward - Author- Wrote "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.".
Gilbert, Sir William S. - Was the librettis for "Pirates of Penzance"
Gillett, King C. - Founder of the Gillett Razor Co.
Glenn, John H. - First American Astronaut to Orbit the Earth in a Space
Craft.
Godfrey, Arthur - Actor.
Gray, Harold Lincoln - Creator of "Little Orphan Annie"
Grissom, Virgil - Astronaut.
Grock - Swiss Circus Clown.
Guillotin, Joseph Ignace - Inventor of the "Guillotin"
Hancock, John - 1 of 9 Masonic signers of Declaration of Independence.
Harding, Warren G. - Twenty-ninth President of the United States.
Hardy, Oliver - Actor and Comedian.
Harlan, John M. - Supreme Court Justice 1877-1911.
Hedges, Cornelius - "Father" of Yellowstone National Park.
Henry, Patrick - Patriot.
Henson, Josiah - Inspired the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Hilton, Charles C. - American Hotelier.
Hoban, James - Architect for the United State's Capital Building.
Hoe, Richard M. - Inventor the Rotary Newspaper Press.
Hoover, J. Edgar - Director of FBI.
Hope, Bob - Comedian.
Hornsby, Rogers - An Original Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Houdini, Harry - Magician.
Houston, Sam - Second and Fourth President of the Republic of Texas.
Jackson, Andrew - Seventh President of the United States.
Jackson, Reverend Jesse - Minister.
Jackson, Robert H. - Supreme Court Justice 1941-1945.
Jenner, Edward - Inventor of the Vaccination.
Johnson, Andrew - Seventeenth President of the United States.
Jolson, Al - Actor- Appeared in the First Talking Picture, "The Jazz Singer."
Jones, Anson - Fifth President of the Republic of Texas.
Jones, John Paul - American Naval Commander.
Jones, Melvin - Cofounder of the Lions International.
Key, Francis Scott - Wrote the American National Anthem.
Khan III, Aga - Indian Statesman.
Kipling, Rudyard - Author.
La Guardia, Fiorella H. - Mayor of New York in the 1930's and 40's.
Lafayette, Marquis de - French Supporter of American Freedom.
Lake, Simon - Built the First Successful Submarine.
Lamar, Joseph E. - Supreme Court Justice.
Lamar, Mirabeau B. - Third President of the Republic of Texas.
Land, Frank S. - Founder of the Order of the DeMolay.
Lewis, Meriwether - Explorer.
Lincoln, Elmo - First Actor to Play "Tarzan of the Apes," (1918).
Lindbergh, Charles - Aviator.
Lipton, Sir Thomas - Founder of the Lipton Tea Company.
Livingston, Robert - CO-Negotiator for the Purchase of the Louisiana
Territory.
Lloyd, Harold C. - Entertainer.
MacArthur, General Douglas - American Commander in World War II.
McClellan, General George B. - Two term Governor of New Jersey.
MacDonald, Sir John A. - Prime Minister of Canada 1867-73, 1878-91.
Marshall, James W. - Discovered Gold at Sutter's Mill, California 1848.
Marshall, John - Chief Justice of The United State's Supreme Court 1801 -
1835.
Marshall, Thurgood - Supreme Court Justice.
Mathews, Stanley - Supreme Court Justice.
Mayer, Louis B. - Film producer who merged to form Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
Mayo, Dr. William and Charles - Founded the Mayo Clinic.
Maytag, Fredrick - Founder of the Maytag Company.
McKinley, William - Twenty-fifth President of the United States.
Mecherle, George Jacob - Founder of the State Farm Insurance Company.
Menninger, Karl A. - Psychiatrist.
Mesmer, Franz Anton - Practiced Mesmerism, a forerunner of Hypnotism in 1882.
Michelson, Albert Abraham - Successfully Measured the Speed of Light.
Minton, Sherman - Supreme Court Justice.
Mix, Tom - United States Marshal turned Actor. Starred in over 400 Western
Films.
Monroe, James - Fifth President of the United States.
Montgolfier, Jacques Etienne - CO-developer of the First Hot-air Balloon.
Moody, William H. - Supreme Court Justice.
Morris, Dr. Robert - Poet and Founder of the Order of Eastern Star.
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Composer.
Murphy, Audie - Most Decorated American Soldier of World War II.
Naismith, James - Inventor of Basketball.
Nelson, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice.
New, Harry S. - Postmaster General who Established Airmail.
Newton, Joseph Fort - Christian Minister.
Nunn, Sam - United States Senator.
Olds, Ransom E. - American Automobile Pioneer.
Otis, James - Coined the Phrase, "Taxation without Representation is
Tyranny."
Palmer, Arnold - Golf Pro.
Papst, Charles F. - Coined the term 'Athletes Foot.'
Paterson, William - Supreme Court Justice.
Peale, Norman Vincent - Founder of "Guidepost" and Minister
Peary, Robert E. - First Man to Reach the North Pole (1909).
Penny, James C. - Retailer.
Pershing, John Joseph - Decorated American Soldier in World War II.
Pike, Zebulon - Discovered 'Pike's Peak.'
Pitney, Mahlon - Supreme Court Justice.
Poinsett, Joel R. - United States Minister to Mexico who also developed the
flower Poinsettia.
Polk, James Knox - Eleventh President of the United States.
Pullman, George - Built the First Locomotive Sleeping car.
Pushkin, Aleksander - Russian Poet.
Reed, Stanley F. - Supreme Court Justice 1938-1957.
Revere, Paul - American Patriot.
Rickenbacker, Eddie - Great American Air Force Ace.
Ringling Brothers - Circus Owners, All the 7 brothers and Father were Masons.
Robinson, Sugar Ray - Pugilist.
Rogers, Roy - American Cowboy and Actor.
Rogers, Will - Actor.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. - Thirty-second President of the United States.
Roosevelt, Theodore - Twenty-sixth President of the United States.
Rutledge, Wiley B. - Supreme Court Justice.
Salten, Felix - Creator of 'Bambi'
Santa Anna, General, Presidente, Dictator, Inventor of Chewing Gum - Mexico 1840
Sarnoff, David - 'Father' of Television.
Sax, Antoine Joseph - Inventor of the Saxophone (1846).
Schoonover, George - Founder of "The Builder"
Scott, Sir Walter - Author.
Sellers, Peter - Actor.
Sexson, Mark - Minister & Founder of the International Order of Rainbow for
Girls.
Shakespeare, William - Author.
Sibelius, Jean - Composer (Finland).
Skelton, Red - Entertainer.
Smith, John Stafford - Wrote the music for the American National Anthem.
Sousa, John Philip - Conductor for the United State's Marine Band from 1880
- 1892.
Stanford, Leland - Drove the Gold Spike Linking the Intercontinental
Railroad.
Stanford, Leland - Founder of Stanford University.
Stewart, Potter - Supreme Court Justice 1958-1981.
Still, Andrew T. - American Physician Who Started the Treatment of
Osteopathy.
Stratton, Charles "Tom Thumb" - Entertainer.
Swayne, Noah H. - Supreme Court Justice
Swift, Johathan - Author of "Gulliver's Travels."
Taft, William Howard - Twenty-seventh President of the United States.
Teets, John W. - Chairman and Presiden of Dial Corporation.
Thomas, Danny - Actor and Entertainer.
Thomas, Dave - Founder of Wendys Restaurant.
Thomas, Lowell - Reporter Who Brought 'Lawrence of Arabia' to Public Notice.
Thurston, Howard - Vaudeville Magician.
Tillis, Mel - Country Singer.
Tirpitz, Alfred Von - German Naval officer responsible for submarine warfare
Todd, Thomas - Supreme Court Justice.
Travis, Colonel William B. - Texas Patriot at the Battle of the Alamo.
Trimble, Robert - Supreme Court Justice.
Truman, Harry S. - Thirty-third President of the United States.
Vinson, Frederick M. - Supreme Court Justice 1946-1953.
Voltaire - French Writer and Philosopher.
Wadlow, Robert Pershing - Tallest human on record, 9 feet tall.
Wallace, George C. - Presidential Candidate who was the Target of an
Assassination Attempt.
Wallace, Lewis - Wrote "Ben Hur"
Warner, Jack - Founder of Warner Brothers.
Warren, Earl - Supreme Court Justice 1969-1986.
Washington, Booker T - Educator and Author.
Washington, George - First President of the United States.
Wayne, John - Actor.
Webb, Matthew - First Man to Swim the English Channel (1875).
Whiteman, Paul - "King of Jazz"
Wilde, Oscar - Author.
Woodbury, Levi - Supreme Court Justice.
Woods, William B. - Supreme Court Justice.
Wootton MD, Percy - President American Medical Association (1997-).
Wyler, William - Director of "Ben Hur"
Young, Cy - American Baseball Player.
Zanuck, Darryl F. - Co-founder of 20th Century Productions in 1933.
Ziegfeld, Florenz - His Ziegfeld's Follies began in 1907

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Papst, Charles F. - Coined the term 'Athletes Foot.'

What a legacy.

Seriously - nice list.

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Masons are Christians.

Not necessarily. The only requirement is a belief in God. One can be Christian, Buddist, Mulim, Jewish, or Dutch!

[Renz]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
Sounds like a freakish cult.

Nice roots.

Careful there, Brian. Everyone knows that this country is really run by the Freemasons.

Watch your back, man!

[Krangthebrain]

Originally posted by Renz
Careful there, Brian. Everyone knows that this country is really run by the Freemasons.

Watch your back, man!

I've talked to my dad numerous times about the masons, and all he will say is that society needs a group of outstanding, moral men to take care of things...

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain


I've talked to my dad numerous times about the masons, and all he will say is that society needs a group of outstanding, moral men to take care of things...

No mention of their affiliation with The Illuminati?

fnord!

[Audrey19]

My grandpa was. He would have never joined a "freakish cult" so I take offense to that.