Freemasons

The definition of Masonic is having an affiliation with the Freemasons.

Depends on what part of the world you live in.

My estimation is that "crippled" is no longer an acceptable word to use (e.g., like "expired" instead of "dead").

YES

Masonic pins are not usually worn on the apron but rather on the lapel. If it is not possible to put them on his lapel (in case of cremation, for example), the pins might be placed beside the apron.

No. Freemasonry did not spread to France until after Racine's death.

From the related link, the Shrine was founded on September 26, 1872, in the New York City Masonic Hall.

Sure, the only difference is that the masonic bible has a section in the front for a Mason to document his journey through the craft and some reference material concerning masonry,

To determine which Freemason is turning on the lights in your house, please take the following steps:

1. Determine whether a Freemason is living with you in your house. Do this by asking them the following encoded question: "Are you a Freemason?".

2. Make an inventory of the Freemasons who are not residents of your house, but to whom you've given keys. This would be a good place to start, as Freemasons are expressly forbidden to commit the felony of breaking and entering a person's home. Just as a vampire must be invited into your home, a Freemason cannot enter unless you've given them permission to do so.

3. Examine your bank account to determine whether you have withdrawn monies and sent them to a Lodge of Freemasons. If you see such regular activity you've likely paid what Freemasons secretly refer to as "dues", and therefore you yourself may be the Freemason who is turning on the lights in your house.

This is a pointless question because no answer can be posted here. If you want to know something that only 33rd Degree Masons know, and you are not a 33rd degree Mason yourself, then the moment you learn it, it is no longer something that only 33rd degree Masons know.

This is like asking someone to post an answer that never has and never will be posted on WikiAnswers.com.

Unless the person specifically states that he is a member of the Freemasons, it is hard to know for sure.

If so, he has kept very quiet about it. Neither he nor any masonic lodge have made the connection, which makes it unlikely.

That is explained in the ceremony.

Ask him. If he chooses not to answer, it is none of your business.

It's entirely up to the individual. Freemasonry isn't a religion. It's purpose is to promote equality among people of every religion, race and culture.

It depends on what you consider the "brotherhood of freemasonry" to be. What is properly considered to be "Mainstream" or "regular" Freemasonry consists of the United Grand Lodge of England and those Grand Jurisdictions in affinity with the UGLE. This is the oldest and largest group of Freemasonry in the world. There are, however, other groups who call themselves Freemasons but do not follow the same traditions and tenants of "regular" Freemasonry, and so are not recognized by the UGLE and other Grand Lodges in affinity with the UGL. The RGLE is part of this latter group, and is therefore considered to be "clandestine," or "irregular," so that the majority of Masons throughout the world may not have Masonic communication with them.

Despite what the following answer tries to claim, there is no single Worldwide body that has jurisdiction of regular Freemasonry. The following answer is, in effect, a fallacy as the so called "Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the World" has no legitimacy in Freemasonry outside of its own, small, jurisdiction. It has set itself apart from, and in enmity with, both the UGLE and, therefore, the more than 3 million members of regular Freemasonry throughout the world.

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The Regular Grand Lodge of England is recognized by the Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the world, Grand Lodges all over the Globe are Federated into the Masonic High Council.

The Regular Grand Lodge of England is one of such Grand Lodges as is fully recognized by the Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the World. The Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the World does not entertain masonic irregular organizations which do not comply either Ritualistic or Administratively with the Precepts of Ancient English Craft Freemasonry.

One of such organizations which fails to meet the required standards of recognition by the Board of Regularity and Masonic Jurisprudence of the Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the World is the so called United Grand Lodge of England which has departed from the precepts of Craft Freemasonry in December of 1813.

The Masonic High Council the Mother High Council of the World established on the 25th of January 2005 has the task to reform the Craft. Preserving the original Tradition of Craft Freemasonry and to amend what has happen amiss, and to hold a yearly communication and General Assembly of Masons.

As far as I can tell, there are 2 Grand Lodges in the UK; the UGLE and Scotland. The Masters of these two jurisdictions would be equal in rank.

There is evidence that Tocqueville may have been a Freemason, but no concrete proof.

Apparently, yes. He became a Mason in 1825 or 1828 (sources differ) and served as Grand Chaplain in the Grand Lodge of Texas three times. I have not discovered which Lodge he was initiated in but he helped found Baylor Lodge No. 125 at Gay Hill in 1853.

They wink and nod

There are hundreds of thousands of Masons in the US. They could not all be named here even if the records were publicly available.

An excellent answer is given in the pamphlet "What has Freemasonry done for the World?" written by Oklahoma Mason Jim Tresner. It is available at the Masonic Service Association's website or from many Lodges or Grand Lodges. In the summary of the pamphlet the MSANA site says this:

"The societal innovations influenced by Masonry include Individualism, Democracy, Human Rights, the Rights of Workers, the Arts and Architecture, Public Education, Health, and Personal Development and Fulfillment."

Quite a lot, in other words.

Considering that our first parents chose the god of this world, the serpent:

"...called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world..." (Rev.12:9) above their Creator [breaking the first Commandment]... doubting His word and all the things He told them, and believing the lies of the serpent --

all the generations of deceived mankind, in the Judgment, will be floored when they learn the Truth and discover the real god the majority of them worshiped over the six millennia of man's rule on earth.

God has been calling out of each generation a certain number of His "elect," to whom He is revealing His Truth during this allotted time. These will Christ gather unto Himself upon His return to rule the Kingdom on earth with Him for a thousand years.

That means that more men throughout the generations have worshiped the WRONG God... more than the RIGHT One.

To say that this group of men or that group is worshiping Lucifer above any other of the children of Adam and Eve isn't prudent. The Truth of God says that THE WHOLE WORLD IS DECEIVED by him.

That means that even God's elect [who also are in the world] are also deceived in some way or other. Else, the scripture is a lie and God's Word isn't Truth.

The Bible reveals the criteria for His saints. If you wish to hazard to make an assessment among men as to who may be God's Child and who isn't:

"...here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and THE FAITH OF JESUS." (Rev.14:12)

Odds are probably favorable that you'll find a Child of God in the strangest places... coming to a knowledge of His Truth in the midst of vast numbers of deceived families... groups, cults, societies... and whole nations.

God's "intimate" love, wisdom, knowledge and understanding is revealed to individuals... not en mass to cliques and clubs of men.

I'm not a Freemason. I don't know what their beliefs are. If they don't keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus... they have the wrong god. But, if they don't... there still may be some among them to whom God is calling and revealing Himself.

It's God's call to make... not ours. He can see our spriits and knows our hearts... we possess no such discernment. We have to make our assessments according to the fruit we and others bear.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt.7:20)

Unless the person specifically states that he is a member of the Freemasons, it is hard to know for sure.

Freemasons are free, not slaves. Nobody owns them. Freemasonry is a concept, and cannot be owned.