posted November 25, 2002 10:01 PM           

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I used to have a book on Freemasonry but I never ended up reading it and I sold it on eBay. Well I was doing some family tree work a couple weeks ago and found out one of my relatives, Baron von Steuben, was a pretty prominant Freemason way back when. This got me a bit curious about the whole thing. What do they believe? Are they Christians? I know many of the US founding fathers were Freemasons but... again I don't really know what that entails.

Anyone that can shed some light?

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and if your world has turned to ashes, i will leave you never
even when the sun's blown out, i will shine forever..
i caress you with my charms, i'm your best friend, the dream..
i'm the light that guides you through the nights and deepest haze

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Posts: 3193
From: Southern 'Bama
Registered: Aug 2002

posted November 25, 2002 10:05 PM         

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Eh, my Pop was one (is, really - it doesn't seem like they ever actually let you leave), as was/is most of the males on my Mom's side of the family; my Gma's a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, too.
I can't say that I know too terribly much about it, though. The extent of my knowledge is that they have to memorize a bunch of shinola and that they do neat-o things with lambskin at funerals.
I'll see what I can find out for you.

Corri

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posted November 25, 2002 10:07 PM           

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what a quick answer!! Thank you

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Posts: 1434
From: New Orleans, Louisiana
Registered: Feb 2002

posted November 26, 2002 07:18 AM         

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After much snooping in my Dad's literature and belongings (he is a Freemason), they are Christian, do not back the Catholic Church, and have a sprinkling of pagan beliefs in there, too. The female portion is The Eastern Star. My aunt is some big wig in the Eastern Star. Both organizations are benevolent in their actions.....eg., with charities, aiding sick,underpriveledged children, etc. They have secret and very mystic rites in their induction ceremonies, that are repeated in one form or another with each degree that is earned. They have secret hand signals, known only to themselves, that they use when recognizing another Freemason in public, or if they suspect that another Freemason is in their presence. If we, you or I, were to see these signals, we would probably not notice, since they are subtle signals. All in all, it is a very fascinating brotherhood.

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Hugs,LTD ~~The struggle keeps us young~~Daring to make mistakes and knowing there are none.~~DGM

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Posts: 1987
From: King Arthur's Camelot
Registered: Jun 2002

posted August 14, 2003 06:23 PM         

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