On the Level - With Rock Star Rick Wakeman (from the band YES and BBCs Watchdog) Part 1

[reddeacon]

Thanks for this, brother.

[annuity100]

Rick is talking about friendship and respecting others. Brotherly love and respect is the same as my friendship with my mates and the respect i show others. We as non masons help each other and respect others in exactly the same way as Rick is describing. It's not some unique thing that only freemasons can possibly do. So i still don't get what's so special about freemasonry.

[restojon1]

Thanks for posting, very interesting indeed. Incidentally I am not exactly loaded and am definitely working class but I've had nothing but a positive experience during my time as a Freemason. I've learnt a lot and enjoyed helping those more unfortunate than myself. Also we have given to many very worthy causes masonic or otherwise, one example is the Cyberknife at Barts Hospital which is in operation right now and saving lives as we speak.

[maqbara]

@neil73

anyone can be a mason - to be one you ask one! there is no class distinction within a Lodge and we are all brothers equal in every aspect. I don't despise myself (poor) and working class!!! - a number of my friends hold high office in commerce and they are friends because we aim to support the community.

[bubblabu]

Incredible talent

[neil73]

Freemasonry claims to be a charitable society, but it only helps those within its own fraternity. They despise the poor and working class - thats why only the wealthy become Masons.

[LewisMasonic]

@neil73 I don't know what you are basing this one. UGLE and indeed ever grand lodge I know have charity reports that show that almost all their charitable efforts go to Non masonic causes. Likewise as masons we believe in the level so class does not exist in our lodges. We are all brothers.

[neil73]

@LewisMasonic After watching this video, and the 2nd part, I have done a websearch upon the subject. It is very difficult to get a clear picture about Freemasonry (although it is obvious to me that it isn't some shady 'underworld' organisation) but it is generally well known that only wealthy folk are allowed into the brotherhood.

I have relatives that are Masons btw.

[brereton1113]

@LewisMasonic Sorry.... Meant to reply to neil73 and not you. My mistake, Brother.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic Ok but what about freemasons in institutions like the Police. Your not telling me they don't "look after their own". The masonic muders through out history, not to mention for all the good freemasonry does, that good could be done in any name or no name at all, in fact most charity and good works are done by people who aren't freemasons and bad people doing bad things can hide behind freemasonry. So for me i don't get it's purpose other than for bad people to hide behind it.

[LewisMasonic]

@annuity100 Freemasonry is about changing your vices into virtues thats far more than being chariable. Its a path of self development.

There are no documented cases of masonic murder!

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic There maybe nothing proved in a court of law as far i know but come on mate what about William Morgan for a start, Roberto Calvi? Ken Noy is a mason and a convicted murderer. He murdered a young man over road rage for gods sake. Stabbed him to death in front of his girlfriend over some minor driving incident. Are you claiming every mason manages to change their vices to virtues? Because that is quite obviously absurd and means going through the degrees doesn't work, clearly.

[LewisMasonic]

@annuity100 even in a field of medicinal plants one finds weeds

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic Forget it. There's no reason for you to be so obtuse. I didn't have a a particular opinion on freemasons before but now i don't like you because you can't answer a few simple questions. If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic Being a freemason obviously hasn't taught you any manners. If someone asks me a question i always answer it to the best of my ability. By the sounds of The Duke of Kent's recent speeches you are struggling anyway having to introduce the mentoring scheme to try and encourage members to bother going to meetings. That is the modern world we live in i'm afraid unless your offering money or shiny things most people aren't interested. If you really do influence society like people say..

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic ...then your not doing a very good job.

[Prenna23]

@annuity100 Did you know that 99% of murderers have slept on a bed at least once in their lives? It's a shocking statistic I know. Next time you visit a friend check the rooms in their house. If you find a bed in any part of the house you should be on your guard.

[annuity100]

@Prenna23 Yeh very funny. I know that maybe you could explain it to your fellow freemasons who seem to be under the impression a brother couldn't possibly commit such an evil deed as murder. Still cherry picking, which of my questions you answer i see and ignoring the others like lewis masonic. I'm not having a go just looking for some answers to some very basic questions. If you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear.

[FrereMacon357]

@annuity100 Ask away...

[Prenna23]

@annuity100 Can you show me where anyone has said that it is not possible for a Freemason to evil deeds? I've been reading up on the subject for years now and have never come across such a claim.

Also what you call cherry picking, I call replying to a question that I could a) understand and b) answer in a way that points out at least some of your logical fallacies.

Oh and making assumptions about my being a Freemason makes and ass of both you and me.

[annuity100]

@Prenna23 And like i was saying to lewis masonic whats the point if by going through the 3 degrees it doesn't change you as a person. If you bad going in your bad coming out. If you good going in your good coming out. At least it's free. If you had to pay for it then it's a scam no better than Scientology with their little aliens.

[Prenna23]

@annuity100 So when you get sick, you only take medicines which you know are 100% effective for 100% of the population? That's not going to give much option. Most effective medicines work for between 60 and 90% of the human population, leaving 10 to 40% of people unchanged/not cured. It would appear to be similar with Freemasonry. Many thousands, possibly millions, of men throughout history seem to have been changed and improved by their involvement in the Brotherhood. A tiny minority, have not.

[FrereMacon357]

@annuity100 I'll tell you something...The Morgan Affair is unfortunately a blemish on our record. Masons can't deny that. However, don't believe the Calvi story. P2 lodge was dismissed by the Italian Grand Lodge & its charter revoked. If a bunch of guys rent a building & call it a Masonic Lodge, there's not much REGULAR freemasonry can do about it. You've pointed out a few bad apples, every organization has 'em. Now consider the positive contributors...

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic And what about my other questions? The symbolism in movies and why you bother going through the whole process? What's the purpose of it all? I'm genuinely interested to know what's so special about being a freemason because i can't see anything out of the ordinary.

[LewisMasonic]

@annuity100 Sorry we are in the middle of a stock take at the moment and i am having a problem keeping up with all my correspondence.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic A path of self development. That's life not freemasonry. Your not giving me anything i don't already engage in as a non freemason. I'm still struggling to understand the why? What's so special about it? I'm not hearing anything i don't strive for in my own life as a non mason.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic In other words i'm sure you are a good guy but you don't have to be a freemason to be a good guy. I'm a good guy i'm just not a freemason. But a bad guy who is a freemason can say "i'm not bad, look i'm a freemason" or his "brothers" can say he's not bad he's one of us. A bad guy who is not a freemason has nothing to hide behind. So like i say i don't see the purpose of it.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic Actually can i ask you and anyone reading this who is a freemason, why do you do it? Why do you bother learning all the degrees and rituals and going through the whole process? Usually men don't go to such lengths without some reward.

[FrereMacon357]

@annuity100 I joined because I like the idea of being with good-honest men. Freemasonry helps give me the tools for introspection. I value the sacrifice the brethren had made before me. i like knowing that I can sit in Lodge with Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews etc & we all meet on the level. Freemasonry focuses on the similarities of the brotherhood of Man, rather than its differences. Name me ONE organization that fosters THAT kind of brotherhood. "Virtue is its own Reward"

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic In my first job i went on an installation with a saleman and after i had installed the machine i left him to do the demo and went outside for a cig. I then waited in his car. I got bored and opened the glovebox, which contained a dictaphone. I pressed play and it was him speaking about a grand high master or something and being struck down once, twice, thrice. I was creeped out i have to say and quickly pressed stop and threw it back in the glove box for fear of him catching me.

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic Plus does the fact that there are bad people who are masons not make a mockery of the whole thing. I mean surely by going through the degrees you are supposed to better yourself, become more enlightened. So if people still turn out bad after that then whats the point? It doesn't work clearly. Look at Ken Lay who lived on the 33rd floor of 2121 Kirby Drive. Why do freemasons but numbers & symbols in things they produce like movies? What's the purpose of it?.......

[annuity100]

@LewisMasonic ...when your sat in the cinema or watching a film at home and you spot some masonic symbolism in the background do you get all giddy like a school boy? What are you saying to each other by putting these symbols in things. At freemasonry dot bcy dot ca slash fiction slash cinema dot html they talk about it but they don't explain why you guys do that.

[neil73]

@brereton1113 I will send you a private message, probably tomorrow. I'm afraid I'm a bit busy to get into a debate just now.

[FulbournMafia]

@neil73 I'm working class - and a member. Ask the Red Cross who their biggest contributor are if you think we don't look after non-masonic causes ... or the Royal College of Surgeons who's research benefits everyone or about the recent donation to Alzheimer support, or the various adult & childrens hospices round the country. I could go on ...

[DeerParkNewsWire]

very good post, very good.

[pearcem]

Great stuff. Thank you.

[understandunderstand]

agreed, thank you for posting. a good and positive reflection of what Freemasonry is actually about, far more accurate than the usual 'imaginative' utube postings :)

[RobertJFreemantle]

Lovely story.

[jimclapperton]

A moving moment. This should be seen by all prospective freemasons and watched by all masons. The depth, meaning and sincererity is obvious and should dispel many of the myths surrounding our wonderful organisation.

Jim Clapperton (Sussex)

[Devlinski]

Very encouraging, Rick is a great communicator and seems to have that "common touch" whenever he speaks... thanks for posting

[etyjon]

Bro Rick, if I may use this reply to ask a personal question. “Are you any relation to Bill Wakeman that used to have the Fruit and Veg stall outside the Windmill on the High Rd, and did you ever live in Brentford?

Also Bro Rick, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your explanation to why you joined Freemasonry, along with your concept of what Freemasonry means to you, which is not dissimilar to my own feelings on Freemasonry.

When do we get part 2

[MartinJFaulks]

When do we get part 2?

[MaestroAntares]

Brother Wakeman would be a most welcome guest at St. Cecile Lodge #568, The Lodge of the Arts, in New York City

[MasonicBooks]

Been a huge Yes fan my entire life! Had no Idea Rick Wakeman was a brother, that's awesome!

[AlunElderBrown]

Excellent! Thanks for posting