Worthy Deputy Grand Knight MarkBsnr,
Vivat Jesus!
"The focus is substantially different between the two groups of organizations."
I'd be interested in any elaboration you might provide.
Thanks,
DGK sitetest, PGK
(we're an environmentally-friendly Council - we recycle our Grand Knights)
In the organizations that I have been part of, the focus seemed very different.
The Masonic focus was very inward - much emphasis placed on the secrecy and on the performance of the rites. The degrees and even the lodge opening and closing ceremonies had a tremendous emphasis. The welfare of the members was certainly of great importance. But there wasn't as much external focus as there is in the Knights.
Certainly the Shriners' Hospitals are a wonderful gift to humanity, but I never got the concern for the public, for the community, for individuals outside the Masonic world.
The Councils that I have been in (and headed) spend the majority of their time and business meetings in discussing, planning and carrying out good works both within the parish and without.
Now, nobody in the Masonic world ever approached me or showed me or implied that it or they was anti Catholic - a lot of them were actually fairly religious - normally a center or left Protestant denomination and I met a lot of very good and decent people. I don't want to be attacking them or implying that there is a great anti Catholic conspiracy to bring down the Vatican that is being perpetrated by these good folks. I've just never put it all together before.
I suppose I ought to spend some more time on the Vatican.va website.
Oh, and I've been Sir Knight for about 5 years now... :)