I have not displayed hatred towards masons, I am being inquisitive, I respected my FIL who was 23degree and in no way did I hate him. Anyone can be deceived by a covering.

Still not sure what the masons do based on answers in the thread.

Amway is the commercial version of the Mason's. They can't tell you what the meeting is gonna be about before you attend the meeting.

This is the 4th time I’ve typed this because I’ve deleted it 3 times already. I did so because I’ve never pursued membership so I don’t know the inner workings of the organization. Nearly every man in my family, on both sides have been masons. I chose not to follow their path, along with two of my cousins. One of those cousins wanted to be a mason, like his father, my uncle, but his father blackballed him. His father, my uncle, was the text book definition of a pos. He was a womanizer, a thief, a deadbeat dad, and a useless member of society, and everyone knew it. The only reason his son wanted to be a mason was to try and be closer to his dad, to which his dad didn’t want because it interfered with his lifestyle. To listen to his fellow masons though, you’d have thought he was a saint. I knew then, either wasn’t much to them to cover for him or they were pure dumb a$$es. Either way it wasn’t a group I wanted to hang around. As I mentioned above, they are just like anyone else. Some are good people while some are pieces of crap. I find it interesting though that no one that has commented, and is a member, has agreed with that statement, but instead has only talked about how good and upstanding they are. Just like they did with my uncle.

Petition a lodge and find out. Sometimes answers aren't easily obtained if they are really desired. The truth is there if you want it.

My FIL was all about family and very open to me about his family matters later in his life but I never questioned him about masonry. What is DoA?

Gobble4Me757, Why do you suppose you were not recruited?

DoA is DEADorALIVE, my husband, who has been a member on here longer than myself.

Your experience is not the norm. In fact it is the exception that should of not have happened. I apologize for it occurring.

Those who desire to be Masons are interviewed and normally those things turn up and are caught. Sounds like a lodge came up short. That isn't representative of the practice as a whole but as a tiny subset of the bigger picture.

I agree, any organization that robs openness between man and wife should not be revered.

If I may ask, what degree are you?

Why do you ask? Does it matter as to my opinion? If you are a Mason, then you should hold the same opinion.

Mystery does have intrigue...would not openness be better?

I let my membership lapse a number of years ago due to family and work commitments.

I am a past Master of Mt. Signal Lodge #508 in Rock Run, AL, and a Scottish Rite Mason, 32nd Degree.

There is nothing in Masonry that conflicts with Christianity. Naturally, since the members are human, some are certain to be jerks, but most of the ones that I knew and still know, are good people. Many of the founding fathers were Masons.

I sought membership because of what the lodge meant to my grandfather. When I was made a 3rd Degree Mason, I was presented with his Masonic Bible. It is a standard King James Bible, with some extra pages that depict early Masonic art and relate the history of Masons in the world.

I read part of the Wikipedia article about Freemasons, and it appears to be accurate without giving all the details. Secrecy is one of the reasons that people misinterpret, but it is part of the oath taken when you become a member.