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Controversy in Brotherhood
While Freemasonry has attracted many high-profile politicians, professionals and even law enforcement officials,
organization’s admittedly secretive practices have brought about considerable controversy dating as far back as 1826 with murder of Captain William Morgan. Shortly after writing a book exposing practices of Freemasonry, Morgan was informed by colleagues he was to be murdered by members of organization. In most common account of subsequent events, Morgan sought to escape by enter Canada, however he was stopped at border by police, arrested for indebtedness, tried in absence, jailed, then released on bail and drowned by five members in Niagara River.
More recently, William James, a 47-year-old father of five, was shot in face during a Freemason initiation ceremony in March of 2004. According to police, James was participating in an initiation ritual designed to "create a state of anxiety" for applicant when 76-year-old Albert Eid, another member participating in ritual, shot James with a fully-loaded .32-caliber firearm drawn from his left pocket, instead of a .22-caliber firearm loaded with blanks in his right pocket.
Today, Freemasonry continues to play a controversial role under various conditions, as result of indications suggesting organization serves no greater purpose than to act as a safe haven for criminals. Because Freemasons are sworn to protect their fellow members – even to point of committing perjury, under oath – exposing purported criminal activity committed by its participants is a difficult process.
This is not to say that all, or even most, members of organization are inducted with a conscious understanding of their involvement in organization’s less obvious activities. If Freemasonry exists to serve as haven for criminal or immoral behavior, it would benefit those most entrenched in organization to reinforce their cover with participation of innocent parties.
Freemasonry in Hindsight
One of most damning aspects of Freemasonry’s involvement in criminal activity is significant effort by members to defend its activities against those who regard group as a terror organization. Similar fraternal organizations such as Kiwanis are rarely, if ever, are subject to broad, widespread criticism Freemasonry attracts.
Based on psychological foundation of Freemasonry, combined with purported and confirmed involvement in criminal activity and admitted efforts to conceal its membership and practices, Freemasonry could potentially exist to reaffirm actions of a self-categorized group of individuals suffering from a wide spectrum of emotional and social disorders, ranging from low self esteem and co-dependency to distorted perceptions of acceptable social behavior, with some participants exhibiting psychotic tendencies.
In looking forward to ensuring integrity and well-being of our country, we must consider institutions of society that, intentionally or otherwise, sustain and allow inappropriate behavior by those who cannot rise above their own psychological disorders. It is not only responsibility, but obligation of those who identify such individuals to ensure safety of our communities by eradicating accepted criminal behavior through its exposure.
Jim D. Ray is a parapsychologist with a diverse background in multiple subject concentrations, including business, psychology and parapsychology, criminal justice, philosophy, education, internet technology, physics, and vocal performance arts. Jim can be reached by e-mail at: jray@web-presence.net.
