Hi All,
With a number of other venues having discontinued their fish fry operations for Good Friday, perhaps it would be a good time to come by, get some fish, and take that Temple tour.
Love 'em or not, the Masons are indeed a fascinating and highly misunderstood group of people who have been around for a LONG time. No one, (least of all the Masons themselves!) know exactly when, or how they started! They've been called the world's oldest fraternity and they probably are. Stories that they came out of the disbanded Knights Templars, or the cathedral builders guilds are all plausible but unproven legends. Stories that they go back to King Solomon's day are somewhat less plausible. No one can say for certain!
They have been called a religion by some, but Masons vigorously dispute that. They are better described as being a private religious-respecting fraternity. Where they have gotten in trouble with some churches or governmental institutions (a great many Masons perished in the Holocaust, for example) is with their respect for toleration for all. They insist on their members having a belief in God, but they otherwise allow men of many different faiths in their ranks. Masons understand that sectarian arguments about politics and religion have often turned violent, and have kept people from doing many wonderful things for the world. Masons try instead to focus on what honest well-meaning people of all faiths and political persuasions can do, if they work together to help make a better world. The Shriners for example, was founded by Masons (although an independent organization, all Shriners are Masons) and have their many hospitals for burned and orthopedically challenged children. The first duty of a Shriner is to find a child who needs such help, and thousands of children every year are indeed helped. Masons also sponsor diabetic and eye support, along with numerous other ways to help the community.
The internet has many stories (both supportive, and sometimes untrue) concerning Freemasonry. Being a private organization, (and believing strongly in the right for people to HAVE private associations) the Masons generally do not respond to critics, but rather try to simply let their light shine before men, so that people can see what they are by what they do.
Although women are not Masons, (at least in American Freemasonry) there are Masonic-related women's organizations where the ladies enjoy the same kind of fraternal association and fellowship that their brothers and husbands do.
Many Masons are Christians, and some are not. Masonic organizations will NEVER tell their members what to believe, or how to interpret the information they receive in a meeting! One Masonic organization having a specific Christian connection and heritage is the Masonic Knights Templar organization. Holy Grail Commandery of Knights Templar meets at Lakewood Temple.
Looking forward to seeing you at the fish fry!
Back to the banjo...
