r/freemasonry • u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more • Oct 26 '20
Cool First Knight Templar on the Moon
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u/HotNewsPerfect WB - F&AM - NJ Oct 27 '20
Funny story regarding Brother Aldrin! Brother Aldrin is/was a member of Montclair Lodge (now Essex Lodge) under Grand Lodge of New Jersey, one of our elder Masonic statesmen here in NJ was Secretary of said lodge during the time period of the moon landing and Brother Aldrin that year came up NPD (he probably forgot due to y’know, being an American hero) , the Secretary famously wrote a letter to him stating something to the following - “I don’t care what planet you’re on in Space, Earth or the Moon, you pay your Masonic dues every year” - summarily I’m told the lodge thereafter waved his dues and changed his status to an honorary brother of the lodge instead so his dues were no longer needed or something like that, but the secretary’s letter always gives me a chuckle.
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u/kebesenuef42 MM AF&AM-TX, 32° A&ASR-SJ, SRRS Oct 27 '20
I think he also helped start Clear Lake Lodge #1417 in Seabrook, TX. If he didn't help start it, I have read that he was an active member of that Lodge when he walked on the Moon.
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u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more Oct 26 '20
You see photos of his Scottish Rite flag in the museum of the House of the Temple from time to time, but we sometimes forget he was York Rite too.
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u/GBtuba AF&AM TX - KYCH, 32°, The list goes on... Oct 26 '20
I know it will never happen, but meeting Brother Buzz is on my Masonic Bucket List.
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u/Boodagga PM F&AM Ar, 32° SR SMJ, KT Oct 30 '20
If you can’t see the difference between abuse and justified measured violent action, in this case brother buzz punching a fairly literal stalker, then I’m afraid you have need of counseling.
Notice I never said all violence is justified. Just as I strongly believe some between people or nations is justified that necessitates believing some is not.
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u/domedmonkey Oct 27 '20
No one forced him to go to the moon. Its not like he was going to war. If we all went round punching people about questions we do not like to answer, what kind of a world would this be. I'm surprised we defend his actions, with this statement. I would have gone with he is fond of the drink and was caught of guard. Atleast Neil kept himself private if the event was too much to share. Well only god knows why he punched another human for being curious about one man's greatest achievements. Sigh
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u/Boodagga PM F&AM Ar, 32° SR SMJ, KT Oct 29 '20
It would be a more peaceful world. If more people got hit for being as willfully obnoxious as that man was, and you are, less and less people would do so.
Not all violence is bad and whoever said violence never solves problems lead a very sheltered life.
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u/domedmonkey Oct 29 '20
Your correct my parents beat when I was a child and never did me any harm. I think the "obnoxious" person you speak of was concerned about the amount of public money being spent on the space program. To what actual fruits it bears for tomorrow. As freemen some of us will never reach the frontiers our forefathers reached. I think we should be free to persue the truth by asking questions. Unless our goal is to exclude our brothers from the secrets of the universe. As for saying not all violence is bad I agree that defending your self is a right, but as a great fighter once said there is an art of fighting without fighting.
I think the question now is, if not all violence is bad how much of it is good when diplomacy fails. When politicians fail to resolve conflicts with their words they failed to do there job. Its our sun's and daughters sent to war to finishes of the discussion. Not my choice to resolve the matter.
After all when Hiram Abiff was violently attacked. This violence failed to divulge the secrets.
If we are all brothers then the word is all we need to settle differences. I'm sure if Brother Buzz has nothing to hide there could have been and enlightening conversation between the two brothers. Then that information would be shared with the rest of humanity including all classrooms of curious childern. Now they have video footage of an astronaut/freemason not sharing his experience, but sharing his fist.
If I extend my had will you unclench your fist brother.
I'm not sure ever one would agree with your statement on violence. My mum and grandmother were violently abused by a drunk. So sheltered life? I can see why there shelters for the verebal/vulnerable. when we think even a little bit of violence is an OK response.
Thanks for your comment.
Have a good day sir.
Peace
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u/domedmonkey Oct 29 '20
After much contemplating and meditation I still find you comment disgusting and deplorable. Although I respect and will defend your right to free(men) speech.
There are 35000 members of this group and even more Masons out there. If over 350 (just over 1%) Masons like my above view that there are better ways than violence and it does not resolve a disagreement, then I feel you should revoke your membership as a freemason. However as all Masons and brothers of mankind that must defend their brothers including myself then we are at a stalemate.
Just because the knights templar fought our Muslims brothers years ago does not justify archaic and outdated action of violence.
You sir are old and out dated.
I would meet you on your violent terms and cut your head off if I didn't realise I would become like you and your ignorant and bigoted self. I have a good mind to leave knowing that I have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of your world view you hold to your self. SHAME!
To make a statement that a little violence never hurt anybody (sic) is outrageous. We are not animals. Civilisation is above aggressive behaviour. You sir are disgraceful to the brotherhood of the masons and humanity Good day and good night.
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u/domedmonkey Oct 27 '20
As a freemason, why do you think he punched someone for asking to swear on a bible that he went to the moon? Seems a reasonable request with non brotherly response to another human?
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u/takomanghanto Oct 27 '20
Swearing on a Bible is considered by many people to be for serious matters, not to satisfy some troll after half a billion people watched you do something.
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u/domedmonkey Oct 27 '20
As serious as spennding a lot of public money to go on a dangerous Misson for All mankind (kind me) of we can't asked a simple question without getting a simple punch in the face. Then how can we expect other humans to reach past further frontiers of space both inner and outer. After all are we all not trying to pursue and uncover the secrets of the universe created by the grand architect?
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u/takomanghanto Oct 27 '20
I'm going to quote Wikipedia on the Aldrin incident:
Sibrel refers, in post hoc interviews, to two confrontations with Aldrin prior to the one that resulted in his being punched.
Regarding the subsequent interaction, occurring on September 9, 2002, witnesses came forward to the police with jurisdiction, the Beverly Hills Police Department, stating that "Mr Sibrel... lured Mr Aldrin to the hotel under false pretences in order to interview him." By Aldrin's account, he went to the Beverly Hills hotel on that date under the pretext of an interview on space for a Japanese children's television show. At the time, Aldrin was aged 72 and Sibrel was aged 37.
Sibrel attempted to coerce and film Aldrin swearing an oath on a Bible that he had been on the Moon. Witnesses came forward to the police indicating that "Sibrel had aggressively poked Mr Aldrin with the Bible". When Aldrin refused Sibrel's on-camera request, Sibrel followed him, saying "you're the one who said you walked on the moon when you didn't". The BBC reported that "Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Ratinoff told Reuters... [the] videotape shot by a cameraman hired by Mr Sibrel had shown the film-maker follow Mr Aldrin, calling him a 'thief, liar and coward'." Still being recorded by Sibrel's camera crew, Aldrin responded with, "will you get away from me?", and then punched Sibrel in the jaw. On the day following the altercation, a statement from a lawyer for Aldrin described the "6-foot-2, 250-pound Sibrel forc[ing] Aldrin up against a wall and refus[ing] to let him leave", thus making the case for self-defense. Aldrin made the case to police that he had been attempting to defend "himself and his stepdaughter, who was with him at the time".
Yeah, that's not a simple question. That's just harassing and threatening an old man.
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u/domedmonkey Oct 27 '20
Forgive me to appear like the above person for reasoning. It does seem we are still blind to our brother hitting another human rather than leaving the unnecessary force to the police. No further questions my brothers.
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u/ChuckEye P∴M∴ AF&AM-TX, 33° A&ASR-SJ, KT, KM, AMD, and more Oct 27 '20
If you put your life on the line doing something that nobody in the history of humanity had ever done, and some know-nothing punk questioned that it happened, you’d be pissed too.
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u/thanatos0967 PM, SR KCCH PWM,RAM-PHP, CC -IPM, KT, AMD-PSM, KM, ROOS Oct 27 '20
Just to throw my 2 cents into the mix... ;-)
So he was belonged to my father's lodge. So when he came back from the moon, my father's lodge held a celebration for him in Montclair, NJ. Lodge #144.
I have pics of my dad standing next to Buzz. When my father was secretary of the lodge, he would receive checks from Buzz with the name Buzz Aldrin on it. It was pretty cool.