I am saddened by the outright hatred of Freemasons. I belong to the most esoteric of Orders of Freemasonry, the American Co-Masonry. You would think that if ever there would be a strange and arcane group, we would be it. Sorry to burst your bubble. Or maybe nothing can. I will share my views and you can do what you wish with them.
Co-Masonry is esoteric because 1) we admit women as well as men to all our degrees, and 2) we truly do place more emphasis on what Freemasonry was about - improving the morals of mankind.
For the most part masculine Freemasonry is a fragmented organization. Every state in the Union has its own juristiction and rules. American Co-Masonry is united. I know the officers all the way up to the Most Sovereign Grand Commander and the President. If there were any hanky-panky going on in our Lodges, these two people would squash it pretty darned quickly. Two more morally straight people, I have never met.
Masonry is not a religion. We encourage our Brothers (yes, we call both men and women "Brothers") to practice their religions. We just do not discuss religion or politics in Lodge. Instead, we take the moral teachings, which are rather universal, to heart. Yes, we have folks of all different religions meeting together. I believe that there are other organizations (including the UN and Boy Scouts) who do the same thing. We do not admit atheists, at least not in our Lodges. We have very devote Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, and many other faiths in Masonry.
Funny to attack us for being tolerant of religion. Is that all you can tar us with? We are hardly Satanists. I know, you can quote Albert Pike all you wish. Albert Pike does not speak for Freemasonry. He certainly does not speak for Co-Masonry. He was a man who wrote his own interpretations of ceremonies. Freemasons are just that: free. There is no dogma, even though Pike titled one of his books _Morals and Dogma_.
Look at who have been Masons: Washington to Gerald Ford, Simon Bolivar, Layfayette, Ben Franklin, Davy Crockett, and Annie Besant. We are humans who are trying to change the world by changing ourselves. Sometimes foolish, sometimes very wise, and always involved. We practice Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. We collect money for charities (look at the Shriner's Hospitals) and do our part when called upon.
I am proud to be a Freemason, especially to be a Co-Mason. And if you think what we do is bad, I challenge you to get out and do better. Feed the hungry and clothe the poor. The Freemasons are doing that. I know, I am Almoner for my Lodge. Show us how you care more for humanity than the Freemasons. Maybe we can all be better for your example.
And please spare me from the "you don't get to heaven by good works" argument. Go back and read the parable about the Good Samaritan. OK? We are not talking about going to Heaven, we are talking about conduct here on earth.
A Master Mason
American Co-Masonry
Hiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)
Adamant Mark Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)