I'm a Freemason AMA

[FreemasonAMA]

I will not go into some details, but I will try to answer as many questions as I can.

What is your principal reason for being a Freemason?

Reason for being a Freemason: Admiration for the Freemasons I know, seeing and hearing how they grew as human beings through Freemasonry, and wanting to be part of this world.

Why is your organisation so secretive? What purpose does it serve?

Are you a man?

What is a freemason? I've heard the term and saw a stand at a fete promoting Freemasonry.

Do you take the ceremonial bits seriously or tongue-in-cheek?

My grandad was a Freemason and a very senior grandmaster I wasn't old enough to understand any of it at the time but remember seeing the various chains and went to the lodge several times.

Can you explain what you actually do? Is it part of the power elite (shape shifting reptoids?)

I would not say that it's secretive. You can visit Masonic lodges around the world, we are free to say that we are Freemasons, there are books written on initiations, the degrees, the rituals.

It is an esoteric organisation, though. It is more like a school than a social club. You move up through progressive levels, contemplating and debating different ideas at each. It would just not work if all of it was public knowledge. People would not be affected by the experience in the same way if the journey was known in every detail in advance.

No, I am a woman.

Are you also a member of an organised religion?

If so, would you tell people in your religious community that you are a mason or is it frowned upon?

What is a Freemason? Heard the term but always vaguely thought it was secret handshakes and such.

Getting other Freemasons off in court for speeding tickets etc? Agreeing planning permission etc.

Apologies if I've been offensive not meant to be at all!

What do you value most and least about being a Freemason? And how and when did you get into it?

What purpose does it serve?

The goal is personal development. To become a better, more tolerant, kind, rational, and intellectual person as years go by.

Freemasonry talks about this in terms of the rough stone and a cubic stone. We (you, me, everyone) all start out 'rough' and strive to work on ourselves, to better ourselves in every way. To chisel our own 'stone'.

Lodges also give substantial financial aid to those in need, but that is not the primary purpose of Freemasonry.

What is a freemason?

A Freemason is someone who is a member at a Freemasonry lodge. It sounds like a circular definition but that really is it Your questions would then be "What happens in a lodge?" and I hope this thread will answer that question.

What percentage of Freemasons are women?

The only Freemason I know is an absolute [redacted].

My dad was a Freemason and when he died last year the Mason’s were absolutely wonderful. So kind and helpful, nothing they wouldn’t do to help.

Are you a member of a women’s only lodge? If so can you say where it is? I’d be possibly be interested in joining.

How much time do you give to it in a week/month?

I owe my education to the Freemasons. Thanks for all you do for people like me.

Do you take the ceremonial bits seriously or tongue-in-cheek?

It's all symbolic. Once you know what the symbols are about, you know what the rituals are referring to. It really isn't silly, like you would think after a few minutes on YouTube without knowing the background.

What happens in a lodge?!

But what’s the point of it? Do you really need levels to be a good person?

Do you have to wear silly costumes??

DH's dad is a Freemason, working his way up so not entry level, and to be honest is a bit of a rubbish dad and grandad. Not interested in our DC, has been once to visit us in 3 years etc. Amazingly pleasant in person but clearly apathetic. This seems at odds with what you have described so far. How can the two be reconciled?

Many years ago I met a man who gave me a really weird handshake. Could that have been a secret mason thing or did they just have a really weird handshake?