Hello Brethren,

I am sure you have ran into anti-freemasonry type persons who call us the illuminati and such other rantings and ravings. I am also sure you have seen all the lies spread about our fraternity online. I was wondering if you have had any close encounters with these types on confused people and what you have done about it?

I have seen a few in masonic chats and forums and they tried to tell me all sorts of nonsence but I just say to them. "I wont argue with someone who is that confused in life, have a nice day" and then I ignore them until they have something meaningful to speak about

How about you all? Any tips for new masons that run into these situations?

I often here us called "A Secret Society", but we are not as anyone respectable can join. The best thing to tell them is that we are not a secret society we are a society with secrets.

I often say we are a private organization and we have our right to privacy, then when they argue that, i say "then if we must share our privacy, then all people must share their privacy and let the government stick cameras in their homes, etc." then the person arguing with me pretty much shuts up LOL cause they remember how the right to privacy has been important through out tradition

The majority of Anti’s are uneducated about Freemasonry.
The information they get hold of is from unofficial sources and gets passed around and ends up like Chinese whispers.

I f you ask a member of the public to describe in one word what they define Freemasonry as, it would be secrecy. This has always been the case but things are slowly changing with the new technology of finding out information on the Internet.

There are no secrets in Masonry you can find out anything you like by searching the web.

I always tell people that the only things we can not reveal are the grips and passwords which are confidential to us. These are so that we can visit and enter other Lodges and recognise a Brother by night as well as by day.
These grips and tokens are used in every day life in different circumstances by everyone. You ask a non Mason who asks you “whats the secret handshake then?”

This may be of interest. I have also added it to the links page.

http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/a...y_faq.html

Some are simply misguided and when reveled to the Light they see things differently. Others have an agenda. These unfortunately are beyond help, living in perpetual darkness and are best avoided.

You can not explain colours to a blind man.

good points, even tho the internet is such a great tool of life, it makes me sad to see people out there gossiping and babbling about us an then telling ou traditions...it would be different tho if we told their secret live or personal life... then its invation of privacy

I found this site to be a great place for info and to disspell anti-info

http://www.masonicinfo.com/

ive read on that site...they are not too bad with anti-babble

There are some interesting sites around that explain about anti Masonry. As for Anti Masonry sites themselves I try and give them a wide berth and avoid them all together.