• We have updated the guidelines regarding posting political content: please see the stickied thread on Website Issues.

Freemasons & Freemasonry

ramonmercado

CyberPunk
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
58,108
Location
Eblana
Yes, Russian Masons, actually getting up to the skulduggery they are usually wrongfully accused of.

Masonic spin doctor ‘hijacks’ Navalny’s party name
http://rt.com/politics/navalny-people-a ... party-771/
Published time: December 05, 2013 14:58

Democratic Party of Russia chairman Andrei Bogdanov at a State Duma meeting.(RIA Novosti / Vladimir Fedorenko)

The Russian Justice Ministry has re-registered the Rodnaya Strana (Native Country) party under the name People’s Alliance. That name had been unsuccessfully registered by the supporters of anti-corruption activist Aleksey Navalny.

Native Country was founded by professional political consultant and the Grand Master of Russia’s Great Masonic Lodge Andrey Bogdanov in June 2012, a month after Russia introduced a law allowing the creation of new political parties.

On November 1 this year Bogdanov announced that he was changing the name of his party to People’s Alliance – despite the fact that the name was already used by supporters of Aleksey Navalny. Back then, Bogdanov told the press that he did not intend to act against Navalny or anybody else, and on the contrary his move helped the popular anti-corruption blogger to get an already registered organization. Navalny’s supporters had failed to register a party in two years of trying.

Navalny’s party had been denied registration twice – the first time because Justice Ministry inspectors discovered errors in the submitted documents, and the other when the already existing group ‘Alliance of the Greens – People’s Party’ complained that the People’s Alliance was using words from their official name. Russian law forbids a political party from using other parties’ names, even in part, and the Greens threatened to sue the Justice Ministry if the registration procedure continued.

Opposition politician Alexei Navalny at the founding congress of the People's Alliance party formed by his supporters, in Moscow.(RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich)Opposition politician Alexei Navalny at the founding congress of the People's Alliance party formed by his supporters, in Moscow.(RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich)

When Navalny’s supporters learned about Bogdanov’s initiative to rename his party they protested and claimed that they held a foundation congress on November 17 and Native Country submitted the renaming request on November 21.

In his Twitter feed Navalny called the news a “miracle” and Bogdanov’s party a “fake”.

Bogdanov insisted that the papers were submitted on November 18 and the fact that a day earlier Navalny’s team made some decisions between themselves had little official weight.

“The fact that they have held a foundation congress does not give them the 'prima nocta' rights and that staked the name for them,” Russia’s top freemason told the Kommersant Daily newspaper.

Navalny’s supporters then filed a lawsuit seeking an official order to cancel the renaming of Bogdanov’s party. The Alliance of the Greens has also turned to court seeking the cancellation of the Native Country renaming.

However, on December 5, while the case was still in process the Justice Ministry published the official registration of Bogdanov’s project under the disputed name.

Edit to amend title.
 
Antrim freemasons challenge suspension in court
court
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25936502

The case is being heard in the Commercial Court in Belfast

Representatives from the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Ireland have appeared in court to defend suspending two of their members.

Brian Hood, 48, and his father Stewart Hood, 67, from Randalstown are suing the Grand Lodge in Ireland after they were suspended.

It followed a row over a disputed proposal to sell its Northern Ireland headquarters in Belfast.

The men were suspended on a charge of "unmasonic conduct".

They are seeking to have the sanction declared void, which could then see them reinstated at their lodge in Templepatrick, County Antrim.

Disciplinary action to suspend the Hoods was first taken in 2009.

The father and son argue that rather than going to the Dublin-based Grand Lodge of Masons in Ireland, the matter should have been dealt with at provincial level in Antrim.

The Commercial Court in Belfast was told the Hoods were part of a "retention" team set up within the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim prior to 2009, to look at alternatives to selling the historic building in Rosemary Street.

Brian Hood claimed in court he was "effectively gagged" after forming part of the retention team.

The building, on Rosemary Street, features a mural by renowned Irish artist John Luke.

Brian Hood told the court he had been a member of the Masons from the age of 21, drawing "great comradeship" from an order that would provide security for his family in the event of any illness or death.

He claimed, however, that a dispute then developed between the retention team and others in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim.

It was allegedly based on a board of general purpose deciding to endorse the alternative to selling-off the Rosemary Street headquarters.

"The Provincial Grand Master said we were not to give a report, we were effectively gagged and from that point on things went from bad to worse," Mr Hood told the court.

Questioned by his barrister, he said seven members of the Provincial Grand Lodge were involved in the "unmasonic conduct" charge.

Brian Hood attended a disciplinary hearing in Dublin, but claimed it was the wrong forum.

"The charges should have been heard under the Provincial Grand Lodge Board of General Purpose in Antrim," he said.

The judge was told an investigation into the alleged conduct is ongoing.

The court also heard that although anyone no longer suspended is regarded as being of "good masonic standing" they would still have to apply again for membership.

Grand Secretary of Masons in Ireland, Barry Lyons, also gave evidence during the hearing.

He told counsel for the respondents in the case that a decision to process the charges was taken after consultation.

Mr Lyons added that the action was in response to "disharmony" within the organisation's Antrim province.

There are more than 20,000 Freemasons on the island of Ireland and the biggest Provincial Grand Lodge is in County Antrim.

Brian Hood is a fourth generation Freemason at St Paul's Lodge in Templepatrick and up until he was suspended was also an officer in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim.

He added he attended dozens of meetings and his father was a trustee of a masonic charity.

Judgment in the case was reserved.
 
Navalny caves in to freemasons, renames party
Published time: February 10, 2014 09:52
Edited time: February 10, 2014 12:11
http://rt.com/politics/navalny-party-pr ... ename-332/

Alexey Navalny (RIA Novosti / Ilya Pitalev)

Aleksey Navalny has decided to stop a seemingly-endless court battle with Greens and freemasons by giving his future party a new name, chosen at a secret meeting. It will now be called ‘Party of Progress’.

Navalny personally announced the news on his Twitter feed, adding that the rebranding was a forced move after competitors, to whom the popular blogger referred as “Kremlin crooks,” “stole and registered” the original name ‘People’s Alliance’. The blogger added that the new name was invented just a day earlier in strict confidence so that the enemies could not steal it as well and rename “one of their parties.”

The incident mentioned by Navalny took place in December last year. Then, the Justice Ministry re-registered the Rodnaya Strana (Native Country) party - founded by professional political consultant and the Grand Master of Russia’s Great Masonic Lodge Andrey Bogdanov - under the name People’s Alliance. Prior to that, the ministry had rejected applications from Navalny’s supporters for procedural reasons and various minor violations.

Bogdanov himself described the renaming as a friendly move, saying that he simply wanted to help the popular anti-corruption blogger by having an already-registered organization. Navalny, however, has rejected the possibility of such cooperation and called Bogdanov’s party a fake.

Another of Navalny’s unsuccessful registration attempts was also connected with the name of the project. In May 2013, the existing group ‘Alliance of the Greens – People’s Party’ complained that the People’s Alliance was using words from its official name. Russian law forbids a political party from using other parties’ names, even in part, and the Greens threatened to sue the Justice Ministry if the registration procedure continued.

Aleksey Navalny has gained significant popularity because of his anti-corruption blog and his role in creation of a web-based crowd funded anti-corruption project RosPil. Navalny is extremely critical of the authorities, blaming officials for creating and maintaining the system that allows for tremendous corruption schemes. His primary target is the parliamentary majority party United Russia.

In 2013, he ran for Moscow mayor and came second with over 27 percent of the votes. After the poll Navalny said he has enough public support to officially associate with the party of his supporters. Up to then he preferred informal cooperation, claiming that otherwise the authorities would apply pressure to a young project.

Despite the staunch anti-corruption rhetoric, Navalny himself has become a suspect in several criminal cases involving graft and embezzlement. One case has already ended in a conviction – in mid-July last year Navalny was sentenced to five years behind bars for his role in the large-scale embezzlement at a state owned timber company. The sentenced was commuted as suspended after an appeal by prosecutors.
 
It's often linked to sponsorship and advertising - content prohibited in the UK is allowed to partake of both.
 
Answers to the 13 questions you always wanted to ask a Freemason
By maxc73 | Posted: April 15, 2017
Video: 1m 25s.

A new five part documentary promises to lift the lid on the secret world of the Freemasonry.
Inside The Freemasons starts on April 17 on Sky 1, and the broadcaster says the series "seeks to discover the truth behind the ancient rituals and closely-guarded practices of the world's oldest social network, taking viewers exclusively behind the scenes in the run up to its 300th anniversary in 2017."

Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular, fraternal societies. It can trace its origins to a series of documents produced in the 15th century, while the first Grand Lodge - which is the name given to local Masonic meeting places - was founded in England in 1717.

The organisation has since spread across the world, with lodges dotted across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

But despite being heavily involved in charity work - second only to the National Lottery in terms of donations made - the Freemasons are continually dogged by wild rumours and public misconceptions.

Is there a secret handshake? Do they worship the Devil? Did Freemasons fake the Apollo moon landings? Was Jack the Ripper a mason? Are they connected to the Illuminati?
Herald reporter Alex Wood spoke to Clive Eden, the Province of Devonshire press officer and freemason of 25 years, to find out what really goes on behind closes doors.

etc...

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/lif...f-freemasons/story-30272986-detail/story.html
 
My dad was a mason once. He got up to the 19th or 20th order (IIRC) before drifting away. He taught me the handshake and how to read all their secret codes. I never got interested. I still have a large box with all his masonry paraphernalia, books, and things.
I thought all the secret rites and writings were all a bit silly.
 
I bet if they could hold their meetings in a treehouse they would.
 
I have posted this extraordinary link before but some may have missed it!

It is a catalogue of the kind of things US Masons got up to when they were not rolling up their trousers and sniffing the slipper . . .

Riding the Goat, the Electric Chair, Drinking the Goat's Blood etc etc.

:evil:
Even the most trivial of searches would have shown that this is a major peice of anti-mason progaganda that has been discredited numerous times since. In the C19, there was even an anti-mason party.
 
Even the most trivial of searches would have shown that this is a major peice of anti-mason progaganda that has been discredited numerous times since.

The DeMoulin Catalogue is an authentic publication.

The Phoenix Masonry site is pro-Masonic not anti. The burlesque stuff was not part of the serious rituals of the Craft, for sure. Did your "most trivial of searches" throw up evidence of a hoax? :huh:
 
The DeMoulin Catalogue is an authentic publication.

The Phoenix Masonry site is pro-Masonic not anti. The burlesque stuff was not part of the serious rituals of the Craft, for sure. Did your "most trivial of searches" throw up evidence of a hoax? :huh:
CS: They are props, devices, gags and gadgets designed to assist fraternal orders on creating dramatic, pseudo-esoteric initiation (or hazing) dramas.
Somewhere between the Enlightenment and the modern day, Freemasonry got really boring.
 
Female Freemasons! I wondered where my GF goes on Thursday nights.

Female Freemasons have been gathering for more than 100 years - conducting initiations, ceremonies and rituals like their male counterparts. Now, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has been given unique access to their secret societies.

"What is freemasonry?" asks a master at the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons.

"A peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols," replies Dialazaza Nkela.

She is taking part in a ceremony to reach the rank of the "second degree".

It celebrates her rise in standing within the society.

The "first degree" was previously marked by her initiation, which involved her baring her "right arm, left breast and knee" while a noose was placed around her neck.

Each of these elements, it is said, has a symbolic meaning - though we are not told anything more.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41804543
 
Female Freemasons! I wondered where my GF goes on Thursday nights.

Female Freemasons have been gathering for more than 100 years - conducting initiations, ceremonies and rituals like their male counterparts. Now, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has been given unique access to their secret societies.

"What is freemasonry?" asks a master at the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons.

"A peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols," replies Dialazaza Nkela.

She is taking part in a ceremony to reach the rank of the "second degree".

It celebrates her rise in standing within the society.

The "first degree" was previously marked by her initiation, which involved her baring her "right arm, left breast and knee" while a noose was placed around her neck.

Each of these elements, it is said, has a symbolic meaning - though we are not told anything more.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41804543

I was a female Freemason... jacked it in after a couple of years because it was just like the WI with funny handshakes :roll:
 
Unfraternal behaviour.

A former senior member of the Freemasons has been jailed for a year after he admitted stealing over £120,000 from his own lodge.

William Murphy, of Broomhill Park, Magheralin, will serve a further year on supervised licence.

The judge at Belfast Crown Court told Murphy he found "no exceptional circumstances" that would allow him to suspend his 12 months in prison.

In May, the 63-year-old pleaded not guilty to a total of 15 charges.

But three months later, the bankrupt County Down accountant was re-arraigned on all charges, and pleaded guilty to:

  • One charge of fraud by abuse of position
  • Fourteen counts of stealing a total of £121,504 from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim
The fraud took place over a five-year period from 2006-2011.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-42341926
 
Strewth!

BRISBANE FREEMASON FOUND NAKED INSIDE MILLION-DOLLAR PIPE ORGAN
The 51-year-old has been unable to offer an explanation for his behaviour, stating “things just got a little loose”.

by Justine Nguyen on February 22, 2018
FacebookTwitterEmail|5,305
Freemason Glenn Langford, 51, has been granted bail after being accused of damaging a pipe organ at Brisbane’s Masonic Memorial Centre on Wednesday night. Authorities discovered him lying inside the sizable instrument, drunk and naked. He had with him a remote controlled police car and toy gun, and was arrested on the scene.

Langford allegedly broke into and flooded the premises by turning on taps, which set off a fire alarm alerting the police to his presence. He stands accused of damaging the pipe organ and a decorative wall. Insured for over a million dollars and installed in 1930, the organ’s damage is believed to be irreparable, according to the building’s caretaker.

Langford’s lawyer told the court yesterday that his client had drunk a bottle of Johnnie Walker and had entered the building with every intention of distributing food to the homeless.

https://www.limelightmagazine.com.a...found-naked-inside-million-dollar-pipe-organ/
 
I'm a mason. All the stuff you've read about us worshipping Baal and conspiring to bring about a new world order are TRUE. We are doing it via a bunch of retirees from Worthing and golf club bores with alcohol addiction and a love of plum duff.
Because..that's all I've ever seen at my lodge.
 
I'm a mason. All the stuff you've read about us worshipping Baal and conspiring to bring about a new world order are TRUE. We are doing it via a bunch of retirees from Worthing and golf club bores with alcohol addiction and a love of plum duff.
Because..that's all I've ever seen at my lodge.
Mwuhahaha, that's what "they" want you to think!
 
Yes, there are Freemasons in Haiti.

Picturing Haiti’s Freemasons
Joshua Jelly-Schapiro

gordon-freemason5.jpg


Leah Gordon: Loge L’Amitié des Frères Réunis #1, Port-au-Prince, 2015

Haiti, good historians agree, is where the Enlightenment came home to roost. France may have been where Rousseau penned The Rights of Man, but it was in France’s most brutal and lucrative plantation colony—the Caribbean sugar island of Saint-Domingue—that a half million enslaved Africans rose up in 1791 to kill their masters and ask the West: How universal, really, is your idea of universal rights?

Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) was transformed, by Toussaint L’Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, into a free black nation that France saddled with unpayable debts and whose sovereignty the United States didn’t recognize for decades. But the celebrated “Black Jacobin” revolutionaries were not the whole story of how Haiti came to be. Rousseau’s ideas were not the only influences to shape a society built from the ashes of its old plantations. And among the more mysterious facets of Enlightenment culture to leave their mark here was the secret society that the British artist and documentarian Leah Gordon explores, with several collaborators, in a marvelous exhibition about Haiti’s Masonic tradition, “Vernacular Universalism: Freemasonry in Haiti and Beyond,” now at the Clemente Center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Leah Gordon has spent over twenty-five years documenting Haiti’s cultural riches—her photographs of the famous carnival in the southern city of Jacmel are touchstones. Gordon is also a co-founder of the Ghetto Biennale, a gathering of Haitian and international artists that since 2009 has centered around the outdoor studio and atelier of the prolific sculptor André Eugène, just off the bustling Grand-Rue in downtown Port-au-Prince. ...

https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2018/...wsletter&utm_term=Picturing Haitis Freemasons
 
At the weekend we were out on the bikes and when we stopped for ice cream a load of people in identical teeshirts strode purposefully past.

I jumped up and followed them round the corner to read the lettering on them. They were Masonry families, presumably on a guided walk.

Went back to tell Techy by ostentatiously rolling up a shorts leg and offering a funny handshake. He wasn't amused and neither were the drivers of the support cars that pulled up beside us. :D


That's us blacklisted then. Gutted.
 
Watch out for young Aussies giving secret handshakes.

The historically "secret society" of the Freemasons has been mired in conspiracy theories and controversy for years, but young Australians are looking past that and choosing to become part of the fraternity.

In the past, the Freemasons' initiation process was highly secretive. Members had to be approached to join, had to meet certain criteria, and a guard stood outside lodge meetings to ensure only male members could attend.

Freemason Alec Ayling, in South Australia's Riverland, said it had been daunting attending his first meeting. "If you were to join, you were blindfolded before you came in and you're conducted around certain areas and had things explained, and then you're sort of brought to light," he said.

Since declining membership has led to fraternities closing, rules around membership have evolved from being secret and at times discriminatory to being advertised as welcoming people from all walks of life. ...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11...ng-freemasons-connect-changing-world/10508708
 
Hmm. I wonder if it's Rynner?

A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery outside a Masonic lodge of what is believed to be have been a home-made bomb.

The suspicious device was found outside Penryn Masonic Club, New Street, in Cornwall, on Tuesday. A Penryn man was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson with intent to endanger life, Devon and Cornwall Police said. He was bailed until 29 June pending further inquiries. Officers are appealing for CCTV footage in the area of New Street and the B3292.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-52947718
 
Back
Top