by Podiatrist 12 Replies latest jw friends
I mean seriously, does anyone knows anything about it. I've tried to google it and got some strange site talking about it. http://newsletters.cephasministry.com/jwmasons1.99.html
But I don't know enough about it to see what's true and what's bull ...
Any takers???
I think it's undoubtable that there were Masonic influences on the early WTS, and likely Masons involved in the formative organisation.
Many have accused Russell of having been one, which the evidence does not point to, however he definitely had Masonic supporters.
It must be remembered that these were times in which it was commonplace. There's a negative connotation to it (often in ignorance), these days, that just didn't exist back then.
Disclaimer for Ianone: I'm still not a Freemason
A few links from there: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/32/78491/1.ashx
The founder of the org C. Russell did use Masonic symbols in his publications and the very words watchtower and millenial dawn were masonic buzz words at that time, and next to his grave there are again some of these symbols. He no doubt was quite influenced by masonry but it can not be established 100% that he was a mason. My feeling is that he was one in disguise.
Greendawn:My feeling is that if he was he would have openly confessed he was, when once addressing a gathering of Masons in a Masonic lodge. The fact that he pussy-footed around it would seem to indicate otherwise....
My grandfather was a mason as is one of our employees at the store. Neither seemed/seem to have any trouble talking about being a member. There's certain special, super duper secret stuff that doesn't get discussed with non-members, (why do I keep picturing Fred Flintstone in a buffalo hat?), but there's a certain pride they have in belonging to the organization. Can't imagine Russell not admitting it if he was one....not that I know a great deal about the subject.
Near as I've ever been able to determine he wasn't. The charge is usually made because the crown and cross symbol he used is also used by the Masons. But, then, it was also used by other groups as well, so that in and of itself doesn't prove he was connected with them. I seem to remember the subject coming up on another forum somewhere and a Bible Student posted a quote from CTR in which he denied any invovlement with the Masons.
I've also seen the fact that a Masonic temple now sits on land near CTR's grave used as proof that he was a Mason. However, that temple was built only a few years ago on land that it appears was sold to them by it's former owners, the WTBTS.
Neither seemed/seem to have any trouble talking about being a member. There's certain special, super duper secret stuff that doesn't get discussed with non-members, (why do I keep picturing Fred Flintstone in a buffalo hat?), but there's a certain pride they have in belonging to the organization.
My father is a Mason. Many of their rites are Bible rooted, but I have no idea of any WT ties.
As far as the super duper special secret stuff- I don't what it is, but I know it gets my dad out of tickets!! And being a Mason's son, it's helped me out a time or two also!
i dated a girl who's dad is a 32nd degree freemason. there is definitely some things that go on in the higher levels that more than likely us outside of it don't need to know about.
there are symbols of power all over his home. he has a secret chamber in his house that, according to her, contains an alter. his house is designed and built so that it faces directly to the east and supposedly this has some kind of significance. as soon as he found out she showed me the entrance to the secret chamber-i didn't get to go in because she refused to let me-i never heard from her again after that night. she never answered my calls or emails and never came out to the spots i used to see her in. it was wierd. someone told me she moved to florida to live with her aunt. supposedly the guy is also in the military at some high level, so maybe the secret chamber is some kind of tactical room or redphone to the president or some craziness. i'll never know.
i don't know why i just shared that. has nothing to do with the wts and it's "connection" to freemasonry...
Little Toe you may be right but it's hard to understand why he was so fond of masonic symbols.
As for the speech he gave in the masonic lodge he may conceivably have been engaging in double talk saying words that meant one thing to the masons and another to the non masons.
