JFK's "secret society" speech and the Masons

[KSigMason]

With the recent online release of the digitized Kennedy Archive, we have been able to see some nice photos. Some of the photos include JFK welcoming some Masons and their wives in the Rose Garden on April 10th, 1961.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-View...KN-C17478.aspx
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-View...KN-C17481.aspx

The many Freemasons were in town for the International Council of Supreme Councils (Scottish Rite Masons). The House of Temple located in DC is well known as the HQ for the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. What many don't know is that there are many Supreme Councils located around the globe. This conference that I talked about in the previous post was a International Conference of all those Councils; men who have dedicated a lot of time to the Craft. I would consider them to be high ranking officials within the Scottish Rite. As a Mason, I do laugh at the "high level", "low level" nonsense that so many anti-Masons throw around. I will say however, that a 33rd is somebody who has devoted his life to Freemasonry, particularly to the Scottish Rite. We have some similar degrees/orders and honors in the York Rite.

Here is also a link to the JFK speech that is so often misquoted and used against the Freemasons in an endeavor to label them a "secret society". His speech was about the press and the wanted privacy of the First Family in the White House.

Hell he even says there is a need for secrecy, but that it was a taboo to discuss it as the word was cursed if you will. Nor was he talking about civil organizations. He was talking about balancing personal freedom with freedom of the press and national security versus freedom of the press. This speech was given at a dinner to Bureau of Advertising, American Newspaper Publishers Association.

 

[Bfgrn]

One of my favorite JFK quotes comes from this speech.

"Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed--and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment-- the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution."

Here are a few excerpts.

BTW, the secrecy that is the target of JFK's scorn is the Soviet Union, not Freemasons.

The President and the Press: Address before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, April 27, 1961

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it. Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know.

For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations.

Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed

No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary. I am not asking your newspapers to support the Administration, but I am asking your help in the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people. For I have complete confidence in the response and dedication of our citizens whenever they are fully informed.

I not only could not stifle controversy among your readers--I welcome it. This Administration intends to be candid about its errors; for as a wise man once said: "An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it." We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors; and we expect you to point them out when we miss them.

Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed--and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment-- the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution- -not primarily to amuse and entertain, not to emphasize the trivial and the sentimental, not to simply "give the public what it wants"--but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mold, educate and sometimes even anger public opinion.

This means greater coverage and analysis of international news--for it is no longer far away and foreign but close at hand and local. It means greater attention to improved understanding of the news as well as improved transmission. And it means, finally, that government at all levels, must meet its obligation to provide you with the fullest possible information outside the narrowest limits of national security.

And so it is to the printing press--to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news--that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZk8ronces]YouTube - President John F Kennedy Secret Society Speech version 2[/ame]

 

[strollingbones]

masons are a bunching of aging old farts..what is the average age of masons now...is it below 60 yet?

and you do not have to believe in god to be a mason....only a higher spirit..and what secrets do masons really have?

i am just not impressed.....at best you are a group of uppity pricks who makes people belong to this sillie little cult to have jobs....

basically i see the masons as boy's club for men...with your little not secret handshakes and code words....blah blah fucking blah.....

and dont even get me started on the Winnipeg shriners

 

[strollingbones]

and you know your brothers to the north...make fun of your asses.....they call yall bible thumpers who cant hold their liquor and wear their pants too short

and by north think another country

 

[editec]

I used to have a problem with the Masons, expecially when I was first reading history and discovered their role in the formation of this nation

"Secret" organizations trouble me generally.

Now I'm of the opinion that the Masonic folks are mostly just local burghers who need an excuse to get away from the little woman occassionally.

 

[strollingbones]

bingo ed...they belong to all these societies that meet on different nights lol....and pay hefty dues

but my opinion of them is low

the political infighting in the so called temples is just as immature as any other club

whorshipful master my ass

 

[KSigMason]

Strollingsbones, the average is dropping actually. When I joined I was by far the youngest, but now we're seeing an influx of younger people. FYI, I'm only 26-years-old

and you do not have to believe in god to be a mason....only a higher spirit..and what secrets do masons really have?

Most petitions just ask if you have a belief in a supreme being, they don't define what you consider the supreme being to be though.

One shouldn't join for selfish gain and if he does he is actually lying on his application. If we find out one lied on his application, we can without question expel him or deny him entry into the Lodge. I had a guy lie on his application and when I found out I called and broke the news to him that he will not be allowed to go through the degrees.

I've been in for years and have moved quickly through the ranks, but I have never attempted to use it for career advancement nor have I been treated or rewarded without first earning it.

and you know your brothers to the north...make fun of your asses.....they call yall bible thumpers who cant hold their liquor and wear their pants too short

and by north think another country

In Idaho at least we have a great relationship with the Masons in Canada.

bingo ed...they belong to all these societies that meet on different nights lol....and pay hefty dues

Actually the dues are not that high for the most part. Very few Lodges actually have high dues. My Lodge pays $100 a year and we're pretty average around the area. Not exactly hefty IMO.

whorshipful master my ass

It's actually Worshipful which means one of worthy of respect. It doesn't denote that we worship him. He is the annually elected presiding officer

 

[strollingbones]

i know the correct term...but since i consider most masons a bunch of whore.....i infused it with that....

btw you have a negative rep power of neg 2.....i have a neg rep power of over 500.....

do you really want to see me get 'rude'?

 

[strollingbones]

i know the correct term...but since i consider most masons a bunch of whore.....i infused it with that....

btw you have a negative rep power of neg 2.....i have a neg rep power of over 500.....

do you really want to see me get 'rude'?

 

[KSigMason]

i know the correct term...but since i consider most masons a bunch of whore.....i infused it with that....

btw you have a negative rep power of neg 2.....i have a neg rep power of over 500.....

do you really want to see me get 'rude'?

Why do you consider Freemasons to be whores? What have we done to pick up your anger?

Neg rep power? So what? Are you going to give me a bad rep? Not intimidated. I was just saying you don't need to be rude or hostile. There is no need for the hostility. We can take part in civil discussion even with opposing views.

 

[Douger]

Brainwashed, bathroom trash can hat wearing, pecker heads.
Idaho helps to explain it all.
They say most creatures came out of the sea.
I say most murkins wound up in Idaho.

So supreme Leader ( or daddy) ....whatever the fuck you call him, said JFK was referring to the NYT , CT and WP as secret societies ?
Elvis is alive on Aruba.

Join the Hells Angels. Those guys have class.

 

[strollingbones]

because yall are whores.....that is why.....i am entitled to my opinion arent i?

you are using your rep trying to civilize this board.....lol.....really ?

 

[strollingbones]

you need thicker skin

 

[KSigMason]

Brainwashed, bathroom trash can hat wearing, pecker heads.
Idaho helps to explain it all.
They say most creatures came out of the sea.
I say most murkins wound up in Idaho.

So supreme Leader ( or daddy) ....whatever the fuck you call him, said JFK was referring to the NYT , CT and WP as secret societies ?
Elvis is alive on Aruba.

Join the Hells Angels. Those guys have class.

We're not brainwashed. I've been in for years, but none of my family members have noticed any difference in me other than my weekly meetings. You would think if I was brainwashed someone would have noticed.

Idaho is a great state. I love the outdoors and Idaho is a great state for outdoors-man.

If you actually read his speech, you'd see what he was talking about, but then again anti-Masons are not known for their honesty. Instead JFK's speech is usually hacked at and cut-and-pasted to suit some sinister motive.

 

[KSigMason]

because yall are whores.....that is why.....i am entitled to my opinion arent i?

you are using your rep trying to civilize this board.....lol.....really ?

So I'm guessing no one explained to you that you are not supposed to use the word you are defining in the definition. I was hoping maybe for an example or a reason.

I'm using rep to express my opinion. There is no need to be rude. Its contradictory to civil nature.

 

[Bfgrn]

Brainwashed, bathroom trash can hat wearing, pecker heads.
Idaho helps to explain it all.
They say most creatures came out of the sea.
I say most murkins wound up in Idaho.

So supreme Leader ( or daddy) ....whatever the fuck you call him, said JFK was referring to the NYT , CT and WP as secret societies ?
Elvis is alive on Aruba.

Join the Hells Angels. Those guys have class.

President Kennedy is talking about the Soviet Union:

"For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations.

Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed."

 

[strollingbones]

winnapig shriners...that is an example

 

[iamwhatiseem]

masons are a bunching of aging old farts..what is the average age of masons now...is it below 60 yet?

and you do not have to believe in god to be a mason....only a higher spirit..and what secrets do masons really have?

i am just not impressed.....at best you are a group of uppity pricks who makes people belong to this sillie little cult to have jobs....

basically i see the masons as boy's club for men...with your little not secret handshakes and code words....blah blah fucking blah.....

and dont even get me started on the Winnipeg shriners

Oh it is a lot more than that strolling.
I have been a Mason for...hmmm...15 years I guess.
Masons have a solid creed of NOT publicizing both philanthropic donations, and charitable buildings they donate etc.
You would be very surprised if you knew the extent of both HUUUGE annual monetary donations as well as extensive children's hospitals, burn centers etc. with shriners in concert.
Masons and shriners provide truly magnificent work for charitable organizations, as well as donate extraordinary amounts of money. The shear number of children that has received free surgeries etc. and paid for by these donations are 1,000's and 1,000's every year.

 

[KSigMason]

winnapig shriners...that is an example

Well, that clears it up for all of us. Do they whore themselves out as "private escorts" or are they standing on the corner of 3rd and Main seeing if some "John" is "looking for a good time"?