Would have been friggin' INTENSE. MOVEMENT OF JAH PEOPLE!
Bear in mind that I'm hypercaffeinated at the moment, which I'll use as an excuse for my shotgun-logic approach, but I believe the relationship between Masonry and the formation of the States is much more symbiotic than conspiratorial, as the Lodge, as it were, was a collective of like-minded individuals who wanted to build a secular state, as opposed to an evil Cabal of Dark Lords, building an Evil Empire, and served as a convenient rallying mechanism against folk like General Gage and other Tories. That said, it seems more than coincidental that a seal that referenced a history that the Lodge was trying desparately to associate themselves with, would be completely uninfluenced by Lodge leitmotifs. I do believe, though, that the real connections between the Lodge and the States' founders are better explored by means of military connections between the two than by the symbology of either grouping.
Truth is, I know very little about the Masons and any connection they may or may not have had in the formation of the United States. But one of my many little obsessions is currency. Consequently, I just happen to know about that one aspect of the story.[ Parent ]
In the modern USA, Masonry itself is still pretty shy and retiring. It's most public face is the Shriners, who are a subordinate group. As a group, it's main purpose is to have meetings and raise money for charity. Masons give tons of money to charity (10 years ago, it was estimated at more than 1 million per day, I assume it's higher now). There is no "national" masonic order - each state's fraternity is independent of the others and, as an artifact of history, while there are no racial criteria on joining the masons, there is an independent branch of freemasonry that is focused on minority members.
Interestingly enough, while I have promised not to discuss what masonic rituals are actually like, I can cheerfully tell you that the initiations for groups like the Moose, the Lions and the 4H are all strikingly similar - making me wonder if those other groups weren't derived from the Masons in some way.
What is highly speculative: the roots of the Masons apparently go back much deeper but they really were a secret society at that point which means THEY DIDN'T WRITE STUFF DOWN. There is no 14th century document signing transfering ownership of Templar naval fleets to the Grand Lodge of Scotland or anything like that. Thus, any information from before 1700 or so pretty much comes from doing linguistic archeology of masonic rituals - which means it's about as scientifically valid as last week's Learning Channel episode on the Bermuda Triangle. But, it's still fun to ponder. My personal opinion is that it has always been a society for people who held "unpopular" ideas - religious heretics, anti-royalists, etc.. The doctor said it was the worst case of cookie-blindness he'd ever seen.[ Parent ]
This is going to throw my 5-year plan to retirement into complete disarray.[ Parent ]
a Masonic symbol, or more a Rosicrucian symbol of successful alchemical transformation of one form of matter to another? If so, your plans are all set, proceed full steam ahead!
I have studied the cards closely and there is no truth to the theory that Bush the Younger is actually the Magician reborn.1
1 I will admit, however, that Cheney bears a striking resemblance to the Hierophant. The doctor said it was the worst case of cookie-blindness he'd ever seen.[ Parent ]
Lest he be found where the tide comes but once a day, with stones in his pockets!
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