Was Walt a Freemason?

[aeillill]

Ohh.. Then I must have read somewhere that a suspect was a freemason... Guess nothing ever came of that.

In the movie From Hell starring Heather Graham and Johnny Depp, and the Graphic Novel of the same name Jack the Ripper was a Freemason, so maybe that's where you're getting the idea from?

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Walt was never a actual Mason, just given the "honorary" title. I was part of DeMolay as a teenager and that was his only venture into the Masonic world. I even wrote to Dave Smith and he wrote back with the chapter he was part of. There is at least 1 DeMolay Chapter named after Walt, the one I know of is in Anaheim, but I am sure there are more.

J

My dad and both of my grandpas were masons. Its really not this big ole scary society. Its more like the Water Buffalos in the Flintstones!

Here in Michigan, I believe the Northville chapter of DeMolay is named after Walt Disney.

 

[AngryEyes]

AngryEyes thinks Mr. Pickles is harmless and funny.

 

[WDWSwashbuckler]

The DaVinci Code talks about Walt Disney being a member of the Priory of Sion, which is a different organization, rumored to be the protectors of the Holy Grail. Whether or not Walt was truly a member, who knows?

Yes, well the DaVinci Code says alot of things that are either historically inaccurate or completely false, so I don't depend on it much as a textbook.

I remember getting very interested in the Masons soon after the release of National Treasure and read a few books on them. It's a wonderfully interesting organization.

 

[disney_nutter]

one thing i have never really understood is how in the states freemasons can say what they are but in the uk it is still a more sercret socitey i was once big into the whole masons are evil etc but i grew out of it. they are just a group of men who like to spend time together

 

[Jekyll Baker]

As for people being a freemason, to my knowledge its a very secret society, SECRET being the principle word here. My opinion is I highly doubt anyone has any real knowledge about these things, and if they do chances are they know how to keep a SECRET!!!

As a Mason from a family of Masons (father, brother, uncles, grandfather) , let me say that Freemasons (as well as its sub-organizations, such as deMolay, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners, Order of the Eastern Star, and many more) are not a secret society, but a fraternal organization with secrets. The "secrets" are mostly rituals and forms of recognition. If they were a secret society, they would not be as public or charitable as they are - ever hear of Scottish Rite Children's Hospitals, Masonic Children's Homes, Shriner Burn Centers, etc. However, Masonry is more secret in some countries around the world because of religious laws and views, especially in Muslim countries.

As far as Walt being a 33rd degree Freemason, it could be possible even if he wasn't a Mason. The 33rd is an honorary degree of the Scottish Rite, whose actual ritual work and learning ends with the 32nd degree.

 

[Rayray]

If any of you have read the fictional thriller The Da Vinci Code, you know that Walt is mentioned in the story for being a member of the Free Masons and of the Priory Sion. I imagine that Dan Brown got the idea for this from Walt's actual involvement with the Masons (of course, the Priory Sion portion of the story is totally fictional as far as The Da Vinci Code is concerned).