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.

It’s very odd that posters are projecting their own experience of knowing someone who was a Freemason onto the OP. ‘My DF was absent’, ‘my FIL never helped MIL’, etc.
Would you do the same if this was an AMA about being a catholic, a tennis player, or even a doctor, etc. and your only experience of these people is knowing one who you’re not fond of?

@ScrumpyCrack Thank you for this observation. Yes, it is very odd.

@31weeksgone I have come to the end of my patience with you, an outsider whose only claim to authority is the second-hand information her Freemason DP has chosen to impart to her.

I understand YOU'RE not in the order of the star. That’s not what I meant.

How strange. It seems I just replied to your post which says: " You’re in the order of the eastern sun/star whatever it is . Again, I’m not saying my dp has his own lodges version of lady masonry, I’m saying the order of the eastern sun/star moon for all I care IS the watered down women’s version."

And you are wrong. It's not. If that's what your DP told you, he is not telling you the truth or possibly he just doesn't know what women-only or mixed obediences do.

I have visited men's lodges and taken part in their meetings, initiations, and other ceremonies. There is no difference between what they do and what we do. The rituals are the same. Nothing is watered down.

I was coming into this thread feeling sorry for you, but now I don’t.

You are unbelievable Goodbye 31weeks.

If you would explain why you think Freemasonry has anything to do with Satanism, we can talk about what led to that confusion.

I think the confusion is the established link to groups commonly perceived to be satanic, such as Thelema and The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. As I said.

You say it's not a cult but realistically you must be aware that's what all cults say

Fair point @DieAntword

Would you say how you define a cult so that we can talk about whether Freemasonry can be classed as one?

I would say that a cult has fringe religious beliefs, excessive control over members, financial abuse, and being prevented from leaving the group even if you want to. None of this applies to Freemasonry.

Can I ask if the thread has gone as you expected?

Ignorance, prejudice, incredulity, and downright hostility - more or less as I expected

I was able to give some explanations, answer questions, and correct some misunderstandings so I hope it was worth the hours I have put into it.

Have you read anything that's given you food for thought?

I wasn't the one asking the questions. Should the question not be if you have read something on this thread that has given you food for thought? I hope so.

This is a fascinating thread. Thank you for your eloquent and considered answers.

Pleasure. Thank you for your comment @Moononthehill28

A new question from me: what’s your take on the French Revolution?

Interesting question. I really need to go to bed now but I will come back to it tomorrow.

“Again, I’m not saying my dp has his own lodges version of lady masonry, I’m saying the order of the eastern sun/star moon IS the watered down women’s version."

• uh I clearly say here my dp’s lodge doesn’t have its own personal women’s one and the order of the star is the watered down women’s one which is a consolation prize (not the only one which allows women in it or it seems the one you’re in) which you’ve agreed with up thread??

Literally not sure why you’re saying I’m unbelievable. I feel quite annoyed to be honest. I’ve only been trying to give other views given you didn’t actually explain what Freemasons did in their lodges or tell you what other very high up masons have told me. You can “goodbye” me all you like but you can’t just have half a conversation and end it.

“I’ve visited men’s lodges etc” - So you’ve been and completed rituals with the grand lodge masons? Or just your male/mixed chain of masons? Given you say you’ve done it with males and you’re not missing out on anything, but you can’t know that you’re not missing out when you haven’t been in a grand order lodge if you get me.

If it is a word or phrase from the rituals that lets the judge in court or the arresting policeman or the job interviewer know that you are a Freemason then that would explain the secrecy. It wouldn’t work if phrases were known by lay people. So could explain the need for secrecy.

Thelema etc isn’t satanism. It’s not in any way compatible with Christianity but the same could be said of lots of things. When I was a teenager I was obsessed with Crowley and Osman Spare.

I said COMMONLY PERCEIVED to be satanism.

“I think the confusion is the established link to groups commonly perceived to be satanic, such as Thelema and The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. As I said.”

Ah ok. I took that to mean “commonly, including me” rather than “commonly, excluding me”.

I wasn't the one asking the questions. Should the question not be if you have read something on this thread that has given you food for thought? I hope so

That wasn't what I meant and you know it! But I will answer, then perhaps you will! It's exactly as I could've imagined. Whilst there is a 'branch' that caters for women and that you insist is the same, the Old Grand Order (or whatever it's called) still exists in the same form it did 60 years ago. Time has stood still. That's pretty appalling I think. You might not be 'in' that Order but you are a freemason, so you accept and even condone it. I am so surprised your part of the organisation being women has not branched off and reinvented themselves totally, they haven't, you keep saying how similar it is apart from religion and women (and people of colour of course) So that is the one thing that has surprised me. Time has stood still and even in 2018 organisations like this exist.

This is a difficult thread because there's only so much you can say, and bottom line... because of the secrecy, there is a lot you can't dispute. e.g. the advantages for those who are in it as far as police/magistrates etc. And the networking element which so obviously happens.

And you? Has there been anything on here posted from those married to a Mason or having experience from other family members that has surprised you?

You have answered with patience and very methodically dealt with most questions (You've missed a few of mine but hey ho...) and for that I thank you. When you are so involved in something but hear criticism of it like this, it must be difficult.

I've found this thread interesting OP.

Do you have many ethnic minorities in your Lodge/Order?

OP-really interesting thread!!
I really like how open your branch is, I'm slightly surprised that others are referring to it as not being a 'true' version, there are lots of clubs that are either male or female only, for example there used to be a male only golf club near me, I was part of another golf club -it doesn't mean mine was any 'less'...
For my question, can you give more details on the degrees? Is there certain texts you need to read? Or debates you need to have? Do you need to 'study' for xx amount of hours? Who decides you have passed-is there some kind of exam? Finally, how many degrees is there, are they subject based?
Thanks in advance.

I was part of another golf club -it doesn't mean mine was any 'less'...

I don’t agree. There will always be more exclusive, more powerful, more influential and more highly regarded clubs. The women’s lodge is no more than Ladies Night in the eyes of the boys.

The real not real thing is because it’s not just a club like a golf club. Whatever they say it’s more like a religion (not all religions deal with the supernatural although the UGLE branch of freemasonry does - they as she mentioned require a belief in a “supreme being” and their rituals refer to it as the Great Architect.

So the Grand Orient is to UGLE what the Orthodox are to the Catholics or the Sunni to the Shi’a. So of course one side doesn’t consider the other “real” and the other might but still considers the others “backward”.

31weeksgone "you can’t know that you’re not missing out when you haven’t been in a grand order lodge if you get me." So has your DH practiced as a mason at both? If not, he doesn't know either does he? If he has, what is it that OP is missing out on? What does "watered down" mean specifically?

I was in a sorority at university in the USA and there are some similar elements. You must be invited to join and approved by the sorority as a whole. There is a secret initiation, secret rituals, handshakes, etc. The sorority is supposed to help you be an outstanding young lady - you must keep good grades, do charity work, help the other sisters out. Of course everyone is 18-21 years old and just wants to party really! But it is nice to find a niche of people at a big university when you've just left home for the first time. And 10 years later it is still useful - I found a group of alums from my sorority that meet up in London, for example.

I just wanted to point out though, that there must be an awful lot of secret handshakes out there. Must be a mindfield if people actually try to use them

Fascinating thread.

My dad was a Freemason for a while, didn’t stay for long and never explained why. My ggm was also a mason but dad always said she wasn’t, interesting to read that there are different branches, sounds like dad was pet of the more conservative one so no surprise he didn’t stay

I’m not quite sure how you’ve remained so calm with regards to some posters op!

Hi op, I know this threads taken a turn. But it’s been reallly informative.
I just wondered if you could tell me about masons children, do they automatically get membership? Or do they have to be proposed and voted?

I didn’t mean to make any thread take any turn or offend anyone.

Only saying my DP (who is quite senior) says that the order of the star hasn’t received all of the knowledge there is about masonry, and the original lodge won’t give it to them, also that the lodge that split and accepts females never had all the senior knowledge - but that’s taking their word for it, there will never be any proof either way. If they’ve figured it out themselves all well and good. I’m over talking about the subject, I was just trying to help explain and also tell the op what I’d been told, I’d of wanted to know myself.

Thank you for answering my questions @FreemasonAMA. You have challenged a lot of my assumptions about Freemasonry - this has been really fascinating. I also admire that way you've been so calm and patient in the face of challenging questions and some hostility.

@ 31weeksgone - do you mind if I ask you a question? I am just wondering if your husband tells you everything and shows you the rituals - is this 'allowed' by his Lodge or is he breaking the rules by doing so? Thanks!

It's been quite interesting to hear about the 'other side' of Freemasonry too - it sounds as if your husband is part of the more 'traditional' (sexist) group I had heard about and which is the target of the mistrust and dislike I have seen.

Sorry didn't tag properly. That last message was aimed @31weeksgone