As a Mason's "daughter" and a Rainbow girl whenever I see a Masonic symbol a cold chill runs down my spine. Seen the inner sanctum and I was not impressed.

While there are a few good ones more often it symbolizes a "good Old Boy Network" to me that used the secrecy and the expense of participating as a way to keep poorer people down or out of the inner circle.

They would recruit new wealth but it was usually old wealth that kept and iron hand on the so called secret votes of who was in and who was out. Their membership often crossed over to the KKK. For many years it was and openly racist and anti Catholic/Semetic organization. Later it "integrated" wealthy black businessmen where it profits them to do so but still minority Shiner's are unofficially discriminated against.

The masonic rings and symbols on luxury cars was the "bling" that attracted some but it has always been part of getting up the social ladder or staying on it and Shriner's would only do business with other Shriner's. Or give other Shriner's huge discounts and kick backs. For many years a multitude of crimes, greed, and graft, especially in the prison systems and political appointments were closely tied to Shrine. Some of the image was dressed up under the guise of giving to hospitals where many of them profited from employment as over paid administrators or second generation doctors since a Shrine endorsement was very "helpful" to getting into some medical schools that were not Catholic dominated.

Often their rituals and costumes were to mimic royalty when some were little more than common thugs.

The Masonic temples and Shriner's were direct competition for the Catholic church and it's hierarchy and the Knight's of Columbus organization.

The Rainbow for girls and Eastern Star was the snooty beauty contest/country club guise to justify keeping the women out of the inner business circles. But kid you not they wheeled iron fist in evening gloves in smaller communities; so that the rich married richer. And if they did not marry young they went to finishing schools or college sororities that specialized in MRS. degrees.

Shriner's conventions were long known for drunken, destructive, kinky parties and meeting at whore houses. A lot of the so called Shriner charity was often to shut people up or "help" the "whisper" girlfriends and their children that lived in poverty. And while they collected vast sums in donations the "costs" of those fundraising events were obscene.

So no you will not see me encouraging anyone into their behind closed door dealings or being impressed because in some cases they have cleaned up their act and done a few good deeds.

Master Mason here, but under demit. I hear a lot of horror stories, but my local Lodge does a ton for the community, from the annual Easter egg hunt for 12 and under to sponsoring all manner of sports teams. I still support and volunteer at my home Lodge whenever possible.
While I'm not a Shriner, I do know quite a few, and while a few seem a little shady, for the most part they're a pretty good lot. The free hospitals they run have saved many, many children.

Can someone one explain why is it such s secret?

Hi Annie,

It's a secret because no one, from let's say one of these bad organizations would enjoy very much to be exposed of what is going on behind closed doors.
With all of that, part of what they do is pretty much revealed in so many documents, society, religion as well and so on.
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And there is an Oath they have to Take , both, men&women in the org for example:(Freemasons, Shriners) etc.

I don't like secrets
If you can't be open and honest I can't be bothered.

I feel when there is something very secretive then there is cover ups.

What if I had a secret crush on you....would that qualify as deceit and dishonesty????

oh Annie . I am with you on that ., secrets are just another form of deceit and dishonesty . I don't like either !!!!

I only admitted to having a secret crush, would that make me dishonest or deceitful , thats me question?
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I don't believe so

Can someone one explain why is it such s secret?

can't, it's a secret...

Lol come on Moe
I would tell you.
No secrets here

it dates back from the Jesus era, him and his secret society of disciples wanting to change the world... and then, Christianity was born...

get enough powerful people together that think alike, and anything can happen...

but they can't let the cat outa the bag till it's to late

Oh
I can see how it could come from after his death as Christians were being put to death by the Romans.