Amway is the commercial version of the Mason's. They can't tell you what the meeting is gonna be about before you attend the meeting.

My granddad was a mason for over 50yrs. My mom and step dad are very devout Christians. I never really heard anything but negative about masons but like others here, I know several and are very good friends of mine. The lodge my grandad was part of held him a little shin-dig for his 50yrs and to receive his pin. I was the only person in the whole family that would go with him to the dinner etc. I have to admit it was a little weird and I felt completely out of place there but on the flip side it was a memory with my grandad that I will always have and he appreciated me going. They did try to recruit me to join, study or whatever and I declined. They were respectful and didn't pressure me. My other friends who are masons also have asked me about interest and I would respectfully say that I wasn't interested and they have never asked or pressured me to do so. I will withhold my opinion on the freemasons as a whole but i do have one of many fond memories with my grandad because of my invitation to their lodge.

I would at least want to know the goat's name before the initiation.

The only thing my buddy at work would tell me about them is they all shoot the 6.5 Creedmore.

I read the preface to the masonic bible and it basically stated that they should worship the light bearer...hence illuminati, having the knowledge of truth.

I doubt that.....

Come worship the goat...how many new members could one get?

Also saw where they don’t allow woman, but if you have a sex change while your already a member you can stay.

My Grandfather was a 32 degree. I have his books and they are somewhat different. He never spoke about it much, but he went to the meetings from time to time and told me to be sure his sheep skin apron was in his casket and it is.

What does that mean if you don't mind me asking. How are his books different? How do you perceive your grandfather's sheepskin apron?

I don't know, time could be relative to your specific inquiry...I would speculate the you referenced could stay if mum's the word.

You have to be a mason to be a Shriner. It is, as I have always understood, I higher level of the Masonic temple. My brother and I are the first generation of my family not to be masons and Shriners. I grew up going to the Shriners country club when it was in homewood where the palisades and a bunch of apartments are now. But, I never had any desire to join and my dad was not active by the time we were old enough, so he never pushed us in that direction.

Sounds like the masonic order is dying out.....a relic of the past if it's not generational.

DoA has a couple of cousins in Florida who have become Masons in the past five years or so and most people I have been around perceive being a Mason as something to revere. However, the whole notion of a limited member society promoting secrecy from your spouse just seems wrong to me. It certainly doesn't seem like it would support and be in favor of marriage. That is just my opinion based on what limited information I have gotten about it, though.

The books are over 100 years old. They don't seem to be written in todays English. I find them hard to read. One is a dictionary that explains things in the other book. I don't understand the significance of the apron. I guess it meant something him if he wanted to be buried with it.

My FIL was all about family and very open to me about his family matters later in his life but I never questioned him about masonry. What is DoA?

Your bias and hatred towards a society that you don't even know about because everyone who is a member is sworn to secrecy. Your negative views are only based upon a very limited number of people's opinions who happen to be jerks that are freemasons. You are pretty much attacking every single comment that doesn't have a negative connotation towards the Freemasons. All I am saying is that my grandfather was a preacher and a good man, and my dad is strong in his walk with Christ and is a great father and man as well. Yes I am biased, but I don't think it's right to judge and organization or secrete society without knowing what they are about and do.

The sheepskin has a meaning in historical christianity...meaning a cover of sin and more relating to servitude.

I have not displayed hatred towards masons, I am being inquisitive, I respected my FIL who was 23degree and in no way did I hate him. Anyone can be deceived by a covering.

this, for your consideration: http://www.formermasons.org/issues/the_masonic_view_of_God.php