Forums.officer.com: Freemasons Thread (Started 04-15-2006)

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Thread: Freemasons

04-14-2006, 03:53 PM #1

Hogboy
Join Date:Oct 2005
Location:Virginia
Posts:296

Freemasons

How much influence do the Freemasons have on your department and city/county/state government ?

All the chiefs in the history of my doepartent have been Freemasons. When I came on 25 years ago, the chief was actually insulted if you did not try to join a Masonic lodge. Almost all the supervisors, detectives, narcotics and traffic bureau people were Freemasons, and the "profane" were expected to trudge along as patrolmen for their entire careers. It seemed like about half the traffic stops you made, someone would be tappong a compass ring on the door as you approached

Things have changed since then. Although the present chief if a mason, there are many people in high and desirable positions who are not, and I don't think anybody careas about that any more. I dont know if it is that the department has changed in that regard, or in society in general

Are there any other organzations, etc, who have alot of influence in your department?

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04-14-2006, 04:03 PM
#2

fahrenheit
Forum Member
2002
Location:Chicago area
Posts:405

Tap that compass ring on the door all you want. Unless there's a badge and ID in that hand, too, we're still having a nice little chat.

More on topic, I'm unaware of anyone in my department who has any connection to the Masons. It sure as hell doesn't play any role in promotions (we have enough politics as it is without throwing that stuff in).

"The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep." -Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

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04-14-2006, 04:14 PM
#3
Hogboy
Join Date:Oct 2005
Location:Virginia
Posts:296

Quote Originally Posted by fahrenheit

Tap that compass ring on the door all you want. Unless there's a badge and ID in that hand, too, we're still having a nice little chat.

More on topic, I'm unaware of anyone in my department who has any connection to the Masons. It sure as hell doesn't play any role in promotions (we have enough politics as it is without throwing that stuff in).

Quote Originally Posted by Hogboy

I had a guy who as I was cuffing him said "I am a Mason and a Shriner, and you can;t do this to me"

Well, I am not a mson and i did do it to him. I was expecting a phone call on it, but I never got it. He pleaded guilty

The masons are not big in Catholic cities like Chicago, NYC, etc, so I am not surprised they have no influence by you

Quote Originally Posted by 1042 Trooper

Elks do the same thing. ****es me off just as much. Suddenly you're supposed to be best friends? Press hard, you're making five copies.

Quote Originally Posted by RedRaider911

Let me start by stating that I am a Mason. Now that that is out of the way...if I was to stop someone and they began to claim they were a mason to try to get out of the ticket, I would find out their lodge number and talk to them to get info on their lodge. THEN...they would get treated just like everyone else. If I would normally write the ticket then guess what, you are getting it to. Maybe if I was in another part of the country I would approach it differently, but around here we have had many instances of people claiming to be masons for personal gain. Some of these people have turned out to not be masons, just jerks who were trying to take advantage of the lodges natural inclinations towards charity. That doesn't sit well with me. I have no problem helping a brother when he is in financial straights, or having personal problems, but when it comes to the law they should follow it just like everyone else. The simple fact that they are a Mason means; to me, that they should hold themselves to a higher standard anyways. I became a mason because I appriciated the lodges morals and values, the mosonic lodge and scottish rite provided hospital care for my brother when we were young. If it wasn't for the work of the lodges and scottish rite my parents would have been in great debt due to my brothers surgerys (he has cerebral paulsy). I have never appriciated someone who tries to join the Masonic lodge thinking it will help their status, and every new member committee I have been on has not recommended someone if they act like that is the reason they are joining.

Quote Originally Posted by VA Dutch

Some quick searching turned up the web sites shown below. I neither condone nor oppose any view represented by any of them, but merely have listed them so that forum viewers can read the contents for themselves and develop their own opinions regarding this topic.

{How is that for a generic, politically correct disclaimer?}

http://www.freemason.org (Web Site for a California Lodge)

http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous.htm (Famous Freemasons)

http://www.freedomdomain.com/freemason.html (Read for Yourself!)

http://freemasonrywatch.org/ (Anti-Masonic Site)

http://skepdic.com/freemasons.html (Skeptic Website)

http://www.bilderberg.org/masons.htm (Another anti-masonic site)

ENJOY!!

Quote Originally Posted by RedRaider911

As a mason myself, I find the anti-mason sites to be halarious. Most of the stuff on those sites are so far off base that it is amussing.

Quote Originally Posted by VA Dutch

Hogboy,

I have seen those "2B1ASK1" stickers on license plate frames, but never knew what they meant. I thought it was something about wanting to be a skier. Sheesh! I learn something new every day, I guess.

My uncle also told me that the masonic organizations never "recruit" and don't plan to do so anytime soon.......although they are supposed to create an environment where aspiring members might happen to stumble into finding interest in it on their own. Maybe that is why they run the risk of dying out as their members pass on. Perhaps being a mason is not as prestigious as it once was. Not to besmirch the fine men who may be members of a particular lodge, but today we live in a different time.

Anyway, just be the best person you can be - regardless of any fraternal affiliation. I was a fraternity brother in college and I did learn a lot of things from it - although it really doesn't mean diddly squat once you are out in the "real world" and chugging along. Perhaps networking and 'referrals' are a big part of it. I know masons do tend to "look out for each other," and most will freely admit it; but they're no different from any other 'club' in that regard.

Hey, I remember some kids were in Demolay (sp?) when I was in high school. A few tried to get me to join, but they wanted me to pay money to sign up before they'd tell me what it was all about. Sorry, but no dice on that one. Mabye Demolay was a younger offshoot of adult freemasons. I don't know.

Quote Originally Posted by VA Dutch

Hogboy, they are no longer 'segregated' by their charters or bylaws - at least according to my uncle. It used to be that way at one time, and the black masons did form their own lodges - many of which remain today. However, they are now integrated in many places. My uncle said that there are black men in his lodge (Ohio) and even some guys who are Jewish. While freemasons are predominately Christian, they only require a belief in a higher power/supreme being. I've never heard of a Jewish masonic-type outfit, aside from B'nai B'rith.

Maybe it is just a matter of black men being more comfortable among their own, I don't know. You'd have to ask one to be sure. Maybe it is kind of like going to church. We have overcome segregation in schools, universities, government and the workplace.....yet Sunday morning still finds people voluntarily segregating themselves.

Quote Originally Posted by mainedawg

Elks and Masons in my part of the country.

Quote Originally Posted by Hogboy

Yes, Demolay is a club for baby Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star is for the wives.

On a side note, the "Prince Hall" Lodges are for Blacks because the "AF&AM" (white) lodges are segregated. MLK, Jesse Jackson, Medggar Evers, etc are/were all "Prince Hall" Masons, yet they never complain about the segregation there. I have been told by members of the White Lodge that they do not consider the Black Masons to be authentic. That is wrong

Quote Originally Posted by RedRaider911

I agree that it is wrong. It is something that most of the younger members are trying to get changed, but in an organization as old as this change comes very slow. It makes me very sad to see that many older members still defend this practice. While not codified it is an understood practice in many lodges. As I said, many of the younger members are trying to get higher positions in the organization to bring change about.

Craftyness

The F.�.W.�. 'Tyler'