My husband joined Freemasons, I'm having a tough time

My husband and I have been married for a long time, he recently joined the Freemasons. We have been very open and honest in our marriage, I feel like him joining a "secret society" is going to tear us apart. We've talked, I'm trying to be okay with it. He is truly excited about this organization, and I want to be excited for him. I just can't make myself. I was raised that this is not for Christians, which we are. I don't feel comfortable with something that I can't possibly understand! Please can you tell me what I can read, research, or do to be more accepting? Also could you tell me what the pentagram has to do with Masons?

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Apr 30, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Troible
by: Fred

Hello,
Thank you for submitting your question. Freemasons are members of a fraternity. Nothing more nothing less. Like most fraternities, it has within it information that is known to members exclusively. Handshakes, words, sumbols, all are methods of on Freemason identifying another. It is NOT a religion, each member MUST believe in a supreme being, but how he worships that Supreme Being, is his personal business. Freemasonry encourages family particpation in many events, and from the blue lodge to the Shriners, take in Millions of dollars daily for charity. When your husband petitioned the lodge, a committee should have come to your house to interview your husband, we encourage wives to be there, and ask questions. If you have any more questions, please refer to this site, and the Mason's who answer posts. We're here to help.

Fred :.
Apr 30, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Not to worry
by: Lant

I am most sorry to hear of your concerns, but permit me to say that I am impressed with a woman who is obviously committed both to her religion and her marriage.

As a Christian myself, I have seen nothing in Masonry which conflicts in any way with Christianity. Indeed, I think is has made my faith that much more secure.

One can - forgive the phrase - 'cherrypick' from the Bible to find verses which might be used to condemn Freemasonry, but in that wonderful, complex book, one can pick and choose phrases which seem to condemn - or praise - virtually anything. So many of the standard Biblical antiMasonic arguments to me seem to be used out of context. For instance, Matthew VI:24 says no man can serve two masters and that is frequently used against a group whose head is entitled 'Worshipful Master'. Yet in context, it is clear that Jesus was warning against monetary greed.

Many Masonic terms are very old and people misunderstand the language. 'Master' simply refers to the head of the group - like a bandmaster, a choirmaster or a scoutmaster. And 'worshipful' has nothing to do with religion; it is simply an archaic term meaning 'honourable'. One addresses a judge or a mayor as 'Your Honour'; in the same way, in parts of the UK and Canada, some civic officials are still addressed as 'Your Worship." Don't take my word for it; check it out in a good dictionary.

No sacrifices, no Satanism and no idols, either. To become a Mason, a man must profess belief in a Divine Being. We do not ask a man to define or identify that Being, feeling that such things are between he and Him. It is not our place to judge or challenge a man's beliefs. Now, we certainly do say prayers at opening and closing, but they are as ecumenical, as nondenominational as those said at the opening of a town council meeting. When we say those prayers, each man is praying to the Almighty as he views Him. We do not expect a Mason to adopt anyone else's religion; rather, we encourage him to attend that church he was already attending. Discussion of religion is forbidden in a lodge, so nobody is going to try to convert your husband, either.

Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for religion. We do not have a stated holy book, do not promise salvation nor offer sacraments. If anything, we are a philosophical way of helping a man become more moral - again, a reinforcement for one's religious beliefs, not a challenge to them.

There are very few real secrets in the Craft. About the only strong ones are the ways to recognize other Masons.

I could go on at (still greater) length, but let's see if that helps. I would be happy to take it further or answer any further questions you may have.

As to the pentagram, let's step back to the Middle Ages. The pentagram and pentangle (a pentagram inside a circle) were seen as very positive, very Christian symbols - five points were equated to the five wounds of Christ. One of the earliest bits of English literature dates from the 1300s and is called Sir Gwain and the Green Knight. The hero, King Arthur's nephew, is described as a very good man - brave, honest and devout. He has a pentangle on his shield, which is described as having been devised by King Solomon to represent goodness. Churches frequently had pentagrams in their windows (right-side-up and inverted). Remember that this was a a time when everybody was terrified of Satanism and witches - do you think the Church would have overlooked pentagrams and pentangles if they were really the sign of Satan? Hardly. Pentangles were painted on barns until quit recently in a superstitious hope they would keep evil away. Again, please feel free to check this all out.

So why are some people convinced that they are Satanic? Oddly enough, we know exactly where this started. A French occultist by the name of Eliphas Levi wrote a book in about 1860 about black magic. In it was an drawing I think most of us have seen, featuring a horned and seated goat-like Satan. On it forehead was a pentagram. Levi came up with this obscenity out of the dark delusions of his own mind, but the pentagram has been seen by some as Satanic ever since. Check that one out, too.

In reality, a symbol means whatever the viewer wants it to mean. If somebody wants to see a cross as a symbol for a horrible instrument of torture, you and I cannot stop them, even though to us it is a sign of glory, of hope and of salvation. We cannot convince some people otherwise.

So what does a star or pentagram mean to a Mason? It's up to the individual. Personally, I think it refers not only to the stars that adorn God's heavens, bit also to brotherhood. It's certainly not held as Satanic by us.

Hope that helps. God bless.
Jun 13, 2016
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starstarstar 		Being a Freemasons
by: Dr George Allan

As the lady states "she was brought up to believe ' - someone in her upbringing told her misinformation about the Freemasons and she has believed without checking the facts. I suggest she tries to find the truth.
I have been a committed catholic Christian all my life and I am comfortable with the true position as I see it as an insider mason - it is a fraternity for men who are honest, true, law-abiding citizens and believe in God. Ladies do have their own organisation which exactly parallels the male fraternity.

I hope this helps
Dr George Allan - New Zealand Freemason

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