Okiraven@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 97-06-08 08:50:52 EDT, truenorth@sprintmail.com (Andrew Ness) writes:

How is one Mason to know another in the light as in the dark on the internet?

This is THE key question and one I am surprised had not been asked in this thread before.

In our day to day meetings we can be reasonably confident that we are well met if the stranger is able to respond in certain ways. I say "reasonably" because there are no real secrets in Masonry except those that are in our hearts.

All of the words, tokens, grips, passwords ect. that I was taught in open Lodge (and even those only whispered in my ear) have been published. Over the years there have been many books written by people who have violated the Obligations.

This is no great loss to Masons because the real secrets have always been in our hearts. Some are Honor, Truth, Brotherhood, Integrity, the ability to keep the secrets of a brother. In Masonry, I am taught to hold these things high in my life, but I already knew to follow this path before I ever thought to enter a Lodge. If I had not followed this code my petition should have been rejected. We cannot make bad men into good men. We make good men better.

Several months ago there was a thread about who has sat in Lodge with who. This thread played out into the gathering-meeting to be held in D.C. this summer. The original focus of the thread had something to do with the question being asked here. "How does one know if the stranger on the net is a real Mason", the answer, We Do Not!

There is no way to "prove up" on the net, I do not see this as a problem, I just keep it in mind so that I do not reveal anything that would violate my obligations. By not typing improper things on this keyboard I do not protect secrets that have already been revealed. I do protect my honor by keeping my Obligations.

On this list we do not talk Masonry. We talk ABOUT Masonry and the Masonic way of life. We can have these conversations with net members even though we do not KNOW if they are REAL Masons. It does not even matter here what REAL means. I enjoy talking and reading about Masonry with the ladies, PHMs, and seekers who are not yet obligated because I love Masonry.

If this list were to begin to require proof of Masonic affiliation for membership it would fail, we cannot prove those affiliations on the net and it would violate my obligations to try.

These thoughts are from my heart, please set your flame throwers on low before you respond.

Glenn E. Barker 32/PM
Tecumseh, Oklahoma, USA
97-06-08 1200 EDT