“Smears? What do you call it when the issue is raised publicly by one of your brothers?”
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You sound less like someone willing to learn than a person who is hellbent on a vendetta against Freemasonry.
I am not a member of the Jesters.
Most Shriners are not Jesters.
Most Freemasons are not Shriners.
Just because some Jesters do something wrong has absolutely nothing to do with Freemasonry as a whole. The Grand Lodges do not control the behavior (good or bad) of other organizations. At best, they can refuse to recognize some of them (such as the Jesters).
I could set up a organization tomorrow and call it the Polygamist Clowns of Pope Francis and limit membership to Knights of Columbus. Doesn’t mean the Knights of Columbus, the Pope, or the Catholic Church endorses the organization or polygamy.
Let go of your hate. It is misplaced.
What’s with the ‘let go of the hate’ mantra? You sound like the leftist counter-demonstrators from years gone by.
Can I make that observation or would it be called a smear?
In my previous post I asked ‘What do you call it when the issue is raised publicly by one of your brothers?’ and you avoided the question.
I’m feeling more respect for Mr. Hodapp than for you right now. The subject didn’t prevent him from facing the harsh truth. He even sounded like a concerned adult while reporting/commenting on the story.
From http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2009/05/federal-probe-of-jesters-expands.html
None of this would be notable as far as Masonry is concerned if the Jesters were not connected to the Shrine, and the Shrine to Freemasonry. Face it. For over a hundred years, the Shrine has been the playground of Masonry, and has reveled in, and encouraged, its public image as a bunch of big-drinking, stripper-slapping, fez-wearing party animals, who engage in such behavior for the good cause of the hospitals. AND THAT’S FINE. The Shrine is what it is. But to tell a man, on the one hand, that the Shrine is one more logical step for a Freemason to take, and then, on the other hand, to bring on the hookers, absolutely flies in the face of Masonic obligations. To fill the Blue Lodge with lofty lectures of morality and virtue, then to guard the door of the Shrine with off-duty cops and tell new candidates, “What happens here stays here,” is the worst kind of hypocrisy. It throws mud on Freemasonry...
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And, imo, it also lends credence to the wariness non-Freemasons have based on hear-say or something they’ve read about the differences of esoteric and exoteric Masonry.
There’s a couple of words that haven’t changed their meaning over the years. And yet, something tells me you’re going to say they’re outdated concepts.
No sweat off my nose. But you should understand that your hyper defensive attitude makes me think that you, unlike Mr. Hodapp, are hiding something you think needs protecting.
Have a pleasant evening.