British B. S.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE: -MacDari was a Mason but his Masonry deplored the British 'alehouse and tavern denizens'. There are many heads or names in the 'octopus' of Freemasonry and we have only touched upon a few of them including the Bilderbergs. Barrett gives us the beginning of a glimpse into the influence of Masons on the founding of America, albeit a misleading one that he could be excused for not knowing in any one specific instance (such as Paine's Druidic involvement) but when taken together seems to be a 'damage control' exercise of the 'stonewalling' nature.

To return to both influences 'on' Freemasonry, and the influence 'of' Freemasonry, Martin Short {Author of a weak but influential early book in the effort to expose what is going on, called 'The Brotherhood'} spends pages showing how much Freemasons had infiltrated nineteenth-century society; it was Masons, for example, who 'succeeded in erecting Cleopatra's Needle' on Victoria Embankment in London in 1878; when its twin was raised in New York in 1880, the celebration was 'a brazenly Masonic affair'; while the Washington monument was dedicated in another dose of fraternal self-congratulation. (3) It may well be that Freemasons had a particular interest in Egyptology at the time, and were involved in the erection of the monuments; but this was more likely because, first, they simply reflected one of the intellectual fascinations of their age and, second, at that time many men of importance were Freemasons - again, a societal reflection. Like many similar critics, however, Short is confusing cause and effect.

The words spoken in 1992 {As he quotes promotional literature and videos put out by Masons he is avoiding details and truth. He is also showing his own 'roots' are not far removed from what he admitted, which we quoted earlier about the British Secret Service and the Masonic 'club' nature of it and the whole establishment there.} by Edgar Darling, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, apply even more strongly to the Masons of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: 'Masons are movers and shakers, dreamers and builders, and above all we are free-thinkers.'? (4)

Other 'free-thinking' religious philosophies strong in the eighteenth century included Unitarianism - related to Arianism - and Universalism, which also doubted the Trinitarian definition of God, and which believed, like the Brethren of the Free Spirit {A 13th century largely female based group called the Beguines and the Cathars are of the 'no hell', 'no sin' or all are saved, and limited priestly interpreters akin, to the 'Shakers' of more recent time.}, that all men will be saved.

Whatever beliefs individual Freemasons today might hold, there is no doubting that from the start Deists and other free-thinkers had a major influence on Freemasonry in Britain, in France, and in North America; among the great luminaries of American history, Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were all Deists, although of these three, only Franklin is known to have been a Freemason. (5)

The need to deal with personalities who are part of the 'Heroes, and Villains' segment of the encyclopedia is now upon us to some degree. Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin were members of the Council of Three which is the highest Masonic 'octopus' degree in any one country although there may well be supranational organizations of higher import. This Council of Three is Rosicrucian and that IS Masonic. True there are some Rosicrucian rogue elements and the like, but in this case make no mistake Barrett knows more than he is saying. Is an error of omission as serious as an error of commission in this instance? Is it a LIE?! You need more proof, you say. If you do then it is coming over the next few pages. If you don't, you can skip these pages that deal with the start of an experiment we are now all governed by - 'The Enlightenment Experiment' known as America.

My experiences include many friends, employees and contacts in the 'octopus' who make me able to say with absolute certainty that this is true and I'm certain Barrett knows the connection from this book and many entries therein. A web piece of literature from a decidedly right wing Christian group gives us the following and it is confirmable in many other places (in the main).

Thomas Paine Thomas Paine, a theist, published his pamphlet 'Common Sense' in January of 1776, which turned the tide of public opinion in favor of declaring independence. Paine's arguments against all forms of monarchy dissolved any lingering attachment to Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence {One of my paternal ancestors, Rufus King, was a Freemason who signed the Constitution as noted in the Masons own web site that uses an 'Anti-Masonry' title which can be viewed at http://www.ncmason.org/book1/ANTI-M~1.HTM .} declaring the colonies free and independent states. Although Paine quoted Scripture to denounce the concept of monarchy, his later work, Age of Reason, is a treatise on the implausibility of the Bible and the irrationality of Christianity. Paine believed in one God, but rejected all religions, saying:

'My own mind is my own church.' He also maintained an interest in Freemasonry {MacDari says was originally 'Phre=Sun'-Masonry and shows the linguistic similarity between 'Ph' and 'F' that we have covered regards the Phoenicians and Finn, the Irish king(s)}. His pamphlet, Origin of Free-Masonry, proposed that Masonry's embodiment of the sun worship of ancient Druidism was a legitimate alternative to Christianity. He notes that Freemasonry's god, '...Osiris and Isis, theologically represented the Supreme Being and universal Nature?' (6)

One doesn't have to know about the Rosicrucian Council of Three to see Paine is part of the 'octopus' in his own written words. It gets more difficult with Jefferson and Adams, though it is well enough known that the Adams family is Druidic. Once I was inclined to write a story about my ancestor Rufus King and Thomas Jefferson that I was going to call 'Tuckahoe Mud'. The other player of significance was to be Frederick Douglas who my research showed was born of a white father on the Randolph estate in Virginia where Thomas Jefferson had spent his youth from ages 2 til 5. Jefferson had retired late in life to this estate and was near Tuckahoe Creek when Douglas' mother bore him into this world. Jefferson died a year or two later. (I have since written this book and I discovered my ancestor was a double or triple agent who probably engaged in many of the rituals Franklin did - including trepanning to get Thalami to eat.)

It was Jefferson's ideas about 'miscegenation' that turned me off the project which was originally going to be called 'The Early Abolitionists'. My ancestor was the first to free his slaves in New York City and went on to England in the ambassadorship Franklin had held before him. The French and Napoleon gave Louisiana and the west to the young 'experiment'; and their pirates played a major role at New Orleans which is part of larger and other later entries in this segment. Rumors surrounded Jefferson about his religion and he had to keep a low profile because of his Bill on the separation of Church and state. Although Barrett credits Jefferson with the writing of the Declaration, Jefferson himself says he drew upon Paine's work mentioned in the above quote.

The book by Fawn Brodie is an excellent beginning for the interested Jeffersonian to understand the complexities of the man and his motivations or psychological flaws. The Jefferson family just allowed their black cousins to the family reunion just a few years ago, and the issue of Sally Hemmings who was 13 when free in France with Thomas and his daughter (who Jefferson controlled in a near, if not actual incestual manner) is now accepted. I suspect the whole Merovingian or Dragon intrigue has been into miscegenation of the races since the dawn of history.

There is another person by the name of Short who played an important part in the esoteric reality of Jefferson's life. He was a professor at William and Mary who introduced and encouraged these things in Jefferson's Newtonian alchemic appreciations. That is the highest accolade that the Rosicrucians know in the realm of esoterics. I know this because my work has been recognized by inner sanctum Rosicrucians as being alchemic. Labels or titles are not my quest anymore and I wouldn't deem to call myself an alchemist even though I may be a hermeticist. Truth is my quest, as it was for Jefferson. So when people want labels for Jefferson and they wonder why he was kin to Masons, that is the reason. But let us see what this article on the web has to say.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, a Deist, wrote the Declaration of Independence, which opens with a statement of rights deriving, not from the God of Holy Scripture, but Nature's God and the Natural Law.

'When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.'

In THE JEFFERSON BIBLE: THE LIFE AND MORALS OF JESUS, Jefferson describes his views of Jesus Christ, the Christian religion, and his own religious beliefs. In a Syllabus which he appended to his Bible, he compared the teachings of Jesus to those of earlier Greek and Roman philosophers, and to the religion of the Jews {Seneca and Pythagoras would join Aristotle in the syncretism of a Jeffersonian erudition.} of Jesus' time. The following excerpt is from a letter discussing the Syllabus. Of significance is his statement, '(Jesus) preaches the efficacy of repentance towards forgiveness of sin; I require counterpoise of good works to redeem it?'

{And Jefferson did enough good work for me to still think of him as a hero despite his foibles and peccadilloes.}

'But while this syllabus is meant to place the character of Jesus in its true and high light, as no imposter Himself, but a great Reformer of the Hebrew code of religion, it is not to be understood that I am with Him in all his doctrines. I am a Materialist; but he takes the side of Spiritualism; he preaches the efficacy of repentance towards forgiveness of sin; I require counterpoise of good works to redeem it, etc., etc. It is the innocence of His character, the purity and sublimity of his moral precepts, the eloquence of His inculcations, the beauty of the apologues in which He conveys them, that I so much admire; sometimes, indeed, needing indulgence to eastern hyperbolism {His correspondence with the younger John Quincy Adams retained even during the falling out with John Sr. was often about Taoist philosophy.}. My eulogies, too, may be founded on a postulate which all may not be ready to grant. Among the sayings and discourses imputed to Him by His biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others, again, of so much ignorance {The Pharisaic Rabbis tell us that Paul and the Romans are the perpetrators of these parts. The 'Father of Biblical Archaeology' W. F. Albright, tells us the Phoenicians are the designers of the beauty.}, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism and imposture, as to pronounce it impossible that such contradictions should have proceeded from the same Being. I separate, therefore, the gold from the dross {A key alchemic principle that Cleopatra, whose alchemic treatises still exist, would like.}; restore to Him the former, and leave the latter to the stupidity of some, and roguery of others of His disciples. Of this band of dupes and imposters, Paul was the great Coryphaeus, and first corruptor of the doctrines of Jesus. These palpable interpolation and falsifications of His doctrines led me to try to sift them apart. I found the work obvious and easy, and that His past composed the most beautiful morsel of morality which has been given to us by man. The syllabus is therefore of His doctrines, not of mine. I read them as I do those of other ancient and modern moralists, with a mixture of approbation and dissent...' (7)

Author of Diverse Druids

Columnist for The ES Press Magazine

Guest 'expert' at World-Mysteries.com

New York Times

Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage New York Times Seven months earlier, they had started laying the groundwork for a major new campaign to combat what they saw as the growing threat to religious liberty, including the legalization of same-sex marriage. But the birth control mandate, issued on Jan. Biden says contraceptives fight can be worked outReuters Catholic TV network sues US over birth control mandatemsnbc.com Republicans Criticize Obama 'Attack' on Religion at MeetingBusinessWeek San Francisco Chronicle -U.S. News & World Report all 3,889 news articles »

Haley Barbour's Unintentional Lesson: Keep Religion and Governance Separate Huffington Post pre-determined who was eligible to be pardoned based upon their professing the adoption of his religion. Follow me on a not-so-hypothetical. Suppose that one felon claimed personal salvation, that he had found Jesus, while another made no such ... and more »

Opposing Views

Evolution Weekend: Protecting Both Religion and Science Huffington Post This coming weekend hundreds of religious congregations from all corners of the globe will take steps to re-focus the political discussion about religion. Their goals are actually as simple as they are important. 1. To protect mainstream religion from ... "Evolution Weekend" Merges Religion & ScienceOpposing Views Responding to Darwinists Who Get Religion on Evolution Sunday: A Collection of ...Discovery Institute all 10 news articles »

ABC News

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Mixing Art and Religion for a Loving Reunion New York Times Jane Shaw, who became the cathedral's dean last year, share a vision of bringing together art and religion, historically-linked pursuits that are sometimes at odds in modern America. While Grace Cathedral has been very involved with art and artists ... and more »

Medina Valley ISD settles prayer suit Houston Chronicle By Guillermo Contreras Settling a controversial prayer lawsuit, the Medina Valley Independent School District has agreed that its teachers, administrators and other employees will not pray with students, elicit prayer, proselytize or display religious ... and more »

Actress Roma Downey on religion, faith (2:19) Washington Post "Touched by an Angel" star Roma Downey discusses her views on religion and faith with The Washington Post's Sally Quinn. (Feb. 9) (/The Washington Post) Correction: Clarification: SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about ... and more »

The New Civil Rights Movement

10 reasons religious conservatives love Rick Santorum Local 10 By Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) -- For all the attention paid to the clout of fiscally focused tea party conservatives and of the primacy of jobs in the 2012 election, Rick Santorum's trifecta victories Tuesday night are a good reminder ... Rick Santorum: President Obama wants to decapitate religion in AmericaExaminer.com Santorum: Obama War On Religion Leads Religious People To The GuillotineThe New Civil Rights Movement My Take: Welcome back, culture wars (and Rick Santorum)CNN (blog) CBS News -ABC News (blog) all 533 news articles »

Obama Contraceptives Mandate Losing Senate Democrats? ABC News (blog) “It's a matter of religious freedom,” Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin told ABC News. The senators' statements follow other Democratic senators who voiced concerns this week. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut who caucuses with ... and more »