Re: Masons and Fnords
Mike Duvos <enoch@zipcon.net> writes: At 2:00 AM -0700 8/9/97, David D.W. Downey wrote:
To show how much this country *was* in fact based upon Christianity, one has only to look at our money. "In *God* we trust.
That slogan was added only fairly recently - I think in the 30's. The reverse of the Great Seal (the pyramid) has been on the dollar bill only since the Roosevelt administration, and was almost unknown to the average citizen before that.
Tim May writes:
Actually, _all_ of the Founders were Masons. Tim Bob says check it out.
Correct. Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and others were Deists, and Masons, and would have laughed hysterically at the absurd notion of the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Nope. While many of the Founders were Masons, by no means all were. In particular, there is no evidence that Jefferson was ever a member. Robert Hettinga <rah@shipwright.com> writes:
Well, Unitarians like to claim Jefferson, because of a nice letter he wrote to Joseph Priestly. Of course, we like to claim *all* the cool people...
The Masons are guilty there too... try reading the entry on Freemasonry on Bierce's "The Devil's Dictionary". John Young wrote:
Tim May wrote:
--Tim May, 34th Degree Mason, former resident of Alexandria, home of the Masonic Temple.
Tim is engaging in his traditional hyperbola here - I can assure you that he is NOT 34th degree, and I strongly doubt that he is a Mason of any shape or form. But:
Now this is modest understatement with regard to this MT, the Godzilla of Masonic Temples, worth a side trip from the Capital of the Freeh World. You won't believe your eyes at this pyramid scheme putting the originals at Giza to shame.
That over-reaching Alexandria Masonic Temple is matched only by the Mormon in Utah and the Buddhist in W.VA and St. Peters and Angor Wat and ... Billy Gates' Xanadu.
Aside from a nit (it's not a temple, but rather a memorial: "The George Washington Masonic National Memorial" to be exact), this is largely correct. It's a really grand, funky piece of architecture, and open to the public, with free guided tours. Over 300 feet tall, and on the highest point in Alexandria, it has a *very* impressive view from the top, taking in all of DC and miles around. There's a website at http://www.georgewashington.org. It overhypes the site's importance to Masonry, but gives you some views of the exterior and interior. If you're in the area with a couple hours to kill, it's definitely worth a visit (it's only a few minutes from National Airport). Don't miss the bookshop/souveneir stand. Those in the Silicon Valley area might also want to visit the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose, a similarly funky building, belonging to an unrelated group. Peter Trei trei@process.com
At 2:16 AM -0700 8/11/97, Peter Trei wrote:
Nope. While many of the Founders were Masons, by no means all were. In particular, there is no evidence that Jefferson was ever a member.
Jefferson laid the foundation stones of the University of Virginia by strict Masonic principles. At this point he was 34th Degree, and hence all records were moved to the inner sanctorium, accessible only to Masonic historians.
Aside from a nit (it's not a temple, but rather a memorial: "The George Washington Masonic National Memorial" to be exact), this is largely correct. It's a really grand, funky piece of architecture, and open to the public, with free guided tours. Over 300 feet tall, and on the highest point in Alexandria, it has a *very* impressive view from the top, taking in all of DC and miles around.
We referred to it by the name others used: the Masonic Temple. (When I was growing up, in the 50s and 60s.). My hunch is that "Masonic National Memorial" came about when legal experts advised the National Park Service that "temple" may not be used in the actual name of any park. Possibly the Papist President did this, to diminish the role of the Masons. All part of the 6,000 year history of the Battle. Oswald was a Mason, of course.
Those in the Silicon Valley area might also want to visit the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose, a similarly funky building, belonging to an unrelated group.
Yes, I was transferred from the Alexandria Chapter, Knights Templars, to the San Jose Chapter, and instructed to find a job which would allow me to live in close proximity to the Sepulchre of the Rosy Cross. This is why I had to work for Intel, located a few thousand cubits away (several miles, for you heathens). My job there was arranged by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, both Masons of course. Praise be to Hiram! --Tim May, OTE, RC, KT There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws. Only one response to the key grabbers is warranted: "Death to Tyrants!" ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^1398269 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."
Those in the Silicon Valley area might also want to visit the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose, a similarly funky building, belonging to an unrelated group.
They've got lots of desicated folks in display cases for you to look at too! Definitely worth seeing. Eric
participants (3)
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Eric Blossom -
Peter Trei -
Tim May