Hi Satinka,
Thanks again for posting this thread. I have had a chance to watch the links you took the time to share.
I found it very interesting as over the last few months I had been reading about the masons and this gave me a visualisation of what I have been reading.
I agree with you, If Russell wasn't a Mason then he certainly took a lot of what they have and used it. So you have to ask yourself why? Symbols on early books, ideas, the light getting brighter, the brotherood, the pyramid by the his grave, the locality of his grave. Some might argue that the pyramid was put ther long after his death. But still the question remains why and by who? The watchtower put their name on it so who in there is a Freemason? I know he had some beliefs based on pyramidology, but did that have to include the masonic symbols ie cross and crown?
I really struggle with people thinking all it takes is to call them up or write to them and they are going to disclose to anyone and everyone who all their members are. This is a secret society that from all accounts wants to control the powers in the world, so far they seem to have achieved a lot of what they set out to do.
Strangely the JWs have also taken on board the idea of keepin things secret. Now no one knows who writes anything or who has the final say. Exactly the same way the masons are ruled. Most ground level Masons also havent got a clue. They are mislead into beleaving it is a society that helps people, and really most are just there for what they get out of it. Membership with like minded people, benefits not unlike an insurance policy that others in the society will help them with work or advancing their careers. A lot of this seems so similar to the way the witnessess work its not funny. In a disaster, the witnessess look out for each other (insurance policy), as they grow older they know the congregatation will look out for them, this leaves the families to induldge in their own pursuits (preaching) without having to take responsiblity for their aging parents. Not very christian to me. But a kind of insurance policy none the less.
If it was released the Freemasonry was involved in the development of the JW's how many JW's would stay there? It does not benefit them to admit to this. Conspiracy theory some say. Well maybe so. But I would say, look at what is happening in the world around us and tell me something isn't going on.
How trusting is that? We asked them and they said no. So end of subject. That's all the proof we need, even though there are a lot of things that point to there being some connection. Do we really trust that blindly?
