After Two Centuries, Freemasons Are Going Public

The New York Sun ^ | 02/19/03 | JENNIFER FISHBEIN

[Pokey78]

The nation’s oldest and most fabled secret society, the Freemasons, is going public after more than two centuries, and some of its more traditionalist members are shaking in their sheepskins.

Faced with a dwindling membership, the society — whose past members include 28 of the 40 signers of the Constitution — decided to relax admission standards.

“It’s an insult to the people who are in it,” Jerry Czin, a Mason for 30 years, said. “I don’t believe in going down to a lower denominator.”

“You want to set standards,” Mr. Czin said. “I don’t even like the fact that every kid that plays ball gets a trophy. What’s the point of winning?”

James Bonerbo, a former deputy grand master in Manhattan, said he worries the mass solicitation will bring hoodlums into the fraternity. “My only fear is that we have to be careful as to the quality of people that come in,” he said.

Masons claim spiritual descent from the stoneworkers who built Solomon’s Temple. The fraternity took root in the Middle Ages, when stonemasons across Europe formed guilds.

In tribute to their ancestors, who wore leather aprons for protection, Masons don white lambskin aprons during initiation and are buried with them when they die. The white symbolizes the purity of character that Masons pledge to build.

Until now, becoming a Mason involved an exhaustive series of steps: A potential member had to submit a petition to a Mason, who presented it at a lodge meeting.

An investigative committee then interviewed the recruit — and his family — before members voted. Mason membership is open only to men.

If accepted, candidates went through a series of year-long rituals to earn three consecutive degrees, a process so demanding it gave birth to the expression “third degree.”

The fraternity currently has 67,000 members in New York State, most of whom are in their late 60s. It had 346,000 members in the state in 1929, and 307,000 in the 1950s.

Mason spokesman Ronald Steiner said low membership drove Grand Master Carl Fritje to liberalize the admission rules. “Should we remain an elitist organization or become more inclusive?” he asked.

The recruitment campaign includes ads in newspapers and movie theaters, mailings to 10,000 white-collar professionals, as well as asking members to solicit family, friends, and business acquaintances.

Recruits will take a one-day class to initiate 5,000 Masons on March 29.

Grand Treasurer Neil Bidnick said many Masons have complained that the new inductees won’t retain a sufficient amount of the degree curriculum from a one-day course.

But he said that the course would be so comprehensive that the novices will turn out wiser than their predecessors.

“They’ll probably be more knowledgeable than the people concerned with the tradition breaking,” he said.

Mr. Steiner attributes the decline in membership to changes in men’s leisure habits.

“There’s been a lifestyle change,” he said. “With TV, people are becoming homebodies and they have more means of diversion and recreation available to them.”

Robert Leonard, a Mason spokesperson, blamed the Vietnam War.

“We missed a generation,” he said. “There was a loners’ mentality after Vietnam, people working two jobs.”

The aggressive advertising campaign ran from Thanksgiving through January and included ads in 72 newspapers and 45 movie theaters statewide.

About 3,000 men have already responded, Mr. Steiner said, and he anticipates the quota of 5,000 will easily be filled by March. “We’re very, very pleased,” he said.

The new recruits will join the ranks of past Masons George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Fiorello La Guardia, Harry Houdini, Irving Berlin, and Al Jolson.

Grand Master Fritje said the time commitment required to become a Mason turned off potential candidates, who are now jumping at the opportunity to attain membership quickly.

“Lack of time is the no. 1 reason men don’t join organizations,” he said in a written statement.

Mr. Bidnick said he expects disapproving hardliners to warm up to the changes.

“People have expressed their concern, but they change once they see we’re about to do something special,” he said. “This is a new tradition.”

No matter how desperate they get for young blood, however, the policy of excluding women is one tradition Masons won’t break.

“No,” Mr. Steiner said emphatically. “We are a men’s organization. That has been the historic fact.”

[July 4th]

“No,” Mr. Steiner said emphatically. “We are a men’s organization. That has been the historic fact.”

Just wait until Martha Burk has at them.

[JerseyHighlander]

No matter how desperate they get for young blood, however, the policy of excluding women is one tradition Masons won’t break.

“No,” Mr. Steiner said emphatically. “We are a men’s organization. That has been the historic fact.”

Looks like a scathing Old Grey Lady editorial is due in short time. Calls for EEOC investigations in discriminatory hiring practices of stonecutters nationwide.

[dighton]

See The Man Who Would Be King; The Magic Flute.

[nhoward14]

Just how do you identify a freemason?

[a_Turk]

You don't.

[Centurion2000]

Some will have their symbol somewhere on their body, vehicle or home.

[nunya bidness]

They're easy to spot. They wear a fez and drive midget cars.

[AntiGuv]

Interesting. The supervisor at my first job after college tried to entice me into the freemasons, but I wasn't interested in getting tangled up with a secret society. I've occasionally wondered whether that was an error in judgment. Anyhow, at least it appears I'm not the only one who hasn't felt the commitment worth whatever the benefits.

[willyb_jr]

James Bonerbo, a former deputy grand master in Manhattan, said he worries the mass solicitation will bring hoodlums into the fraternity.

Too late.

[YOMO]

Women are excluded from the base Fraternity because it is a FRATERNITY. It is a group of BROTHERS who share something in common. There are groups within Masonry for women, and male and female children.
The Fraternity is not funded with public money and returns much to the local community in which it is located. Remember also that there are Hospitals and Speach Clinics operated by the Scottish Rite, and don't forget about the 22 Shrine Hospitals in North America who have treated over 670,000 children. The budget for the Shrine Hospitals in 2003 is over $600,000,000.
To me this article shows that they are trying to make changes to compete in a modern world where everyone is competing for membership. All organizations, Service, Veterans, Church, Civic, Sports, etc are trying to attract those of good character to assist their worth while projects.
By the way, if anyone knows of a Child who has Orthopedic, Burns, Spinal Injuries, or metabolic conditions please post here for help. You can view the conditions treated at no cost to the patient, family, insurance, or government at www.shrinershq.org
I hope that helps someone.

[a_Turk]

Those are Shriners. You only spot them if they want you to.

Silence and circumspection is supposed to be practiced. Most do practice that virtue, or maybe less now thanks to what's explained in this article..

Masons are supposed to do their work quietly and without attracting unnecessary attention.

[GATOR NAVY]

On the Navy bases here in Japan you see many cars that have bumper stickers that say "2 B (Masonic symbol) ASK 1" and/or little Masonic badges.

The Navy Philippino population is big into Masons.

[Larry Lucido]

"Calls for EEOC investigations in discriminatory hiring practices of stonecutters nationwide."


The Stonecutters Song

Who controls the British crown?
Who keeps the metric system down?
We do! We do!
Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do!
Who holds back the electric car?
Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?
We do! We do!
Who robs cave fish of their sight?
Who rigs every Oscar night?
We do! We do!

[Robert A Cook PE]

OK - So are the Shriners a part/branch of Free Masonry, or the same as, or just related to them?

Or are the Masons a branch of the Shriners?

[dark_lord]

Women can apply to the Co-Masons.

Some historical stuff about women in masonry.

However - you can get the interesting stuff out of books. Unless you want to be oathbreaker you may not wish to swear the regular masonic oath. (The co-masons may let you get away with not swearing the vile oaths, thus you can avoid being forsworn.)

The Masonry is evil argument (you can find a lot of this material. Not very well researched in general.)

In defense of masonry. You can find several sources for this material as well.

[demosthenes the elder]

< sotto voce >< paranoid whisper >no, no, no, you have been hoodwinked: both the Freemasons and the Shriners are mere camouflage for the truly most secret and ancient society - the Illuminati... < /tinfoilhat >

[nopardons]

You're covered in damnedable tinfoil !

[YOMO]

He must have recognized that you would have been a good fit for the Fraternity. Contrary to popular opinions they are no more a Secret Society than any other Organization. Most Masonic Halls are clearly identified on the outside, many in the Fraternity wear a lapel pin or other such identifying jewerly and Auto Emblems. They encourage each person to practice their own religion in their own manner, and respect their fellow man. Other than signs of recognition as many other groups have that Secret Auora has been gone for some time. To be one you must be of good character like most law abiding citizens.
Just adding food for thought.

[a_Turk]

Careful, most masonic bodies are clandestine, in other words, not recognized by the Free and Accepted Masons who initially obtained their charters from the British monarch of the day.

Once you join a clandestine body you're stuck, you can't visit or join masonic lodges in most other parts of the world.

YOMO?