What actually are the Masons?

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And what do they do? Why is it so secretive? I know some men involved, but they never divulge anything. Why? What is the treat?

Anyone?

I really am interested to know

My DF has been a freemason for over 50 years & I still know nothing about it as he won't tell me anything.

It’s got different ‘levels’.
At entry level it’s all dinners and dancing and lots of fun, networking, old boys club stuff.
And then...you rise up the ranks by reciting some litergy and rituals.
At its highest most secretive levels it’s totally satanic with satanic worship.
Of course that is denied and I would be called crazy...

It just seems like an old boys club to me and I guess anything that is secret or unknown sparks conspiracy theories.

Not sure if this is true, but I've heard a lot of top police, politicians, business men etc are masons and there is a handshake or a word you can put in your CV which signifies you're a mason and you're more likely to get the job.

Makes me think we should start the masons for women, maybe something for MNetters 😁

Not conspiracy- my dad was high up until he became a Christian.

I think there is probably something a bit sinister about them and those higher up probably know stuff that most people don't know. Why else be so secretive? At the very least there is a lot of sexism and nepotism going on.

Not conspiracy- my dad was high up until he became a Christian.

That's interesting @twinkletoes do you mean, he left because he didn't agree with something, or he was made to leave?

Why else be so secretive?

Makes them feel special?

What origami said, basically a secretive old boys club as far as I understand. DH had a client who was a Mason and asked him about it and how one would come to be part of it. The client said "exactly through conversations like this" and gave him a look but DH never followed it up. I find it fascinating though.

Is it like the WI for men?

It's Boy Scouts for grown ups. Rituals, dressing up, and badges to be collected.

It is no longer compulsory to be a Christian to be a mason (I believe you're allowed to call, the on any higher power - FIL is one and I've been on a visit to a Lodge where some of the stuff was explained. Obvs not all, they like their secrets

the only person I know is a mason is a woman and not a Christian.

her mum was in the same group. I don't ask her any questions about it but maybe I should!

No, he didn’t have to leave. Where I live the church and the masons are quite interlinked.....
He left because of his own conscious and not being able to reconcile his new faith with it. Since then he has been vocal in his views that most people are unaware of the dark spiritual roots and expression it takes. At the lower levels it’s fun and most people stay there. My dad has the personality that whatever he does he goes full out in which is why he knows what he does.

I think,in the past, it was a secret society that greased the wheels of members while giving an outward show of charity and good work.
In my experience, most men involved have been right wing, misogynistic and racist.
My brother was a member, he was a policeman who would have easily, and quite happily, slipped into the SS.
My deceased FIL was a Mason too.
He was a gentle fool who liked evenings out and happened to play the organ.

When he died there was loads of mouldy plastic blue aprons paraphernalia in the loft and reams of rules, incantations and childish nonsense.
Silly man-boys club.

I remember watching a documentary on it on the BBC a couple of years back

I used to work for someone who was a Freemason. He got kicked out (he never told me why) but he continued to host the annual Christmas party in his hotel. It was a strange affair, very ritual like, loads of money. They’d do a plate collection on each table for charity - over £2k collected from around 80 sit downs; the tip plate would be next and we’d get about £400 between 9 of us. They were good tippers!

They do seem to do a lot of charitable work. Well the neighbour who is a Mason does, and his wife is always off doing good deeds.

Joseph Smith became a Mason two months before he wrote the book of Mormon. You can see many of their Temple rights on YouTube - plagiarised from Mason rituals.

My dad is a Freemason, as is my father in law,
It's effectively Boy Scouts for men. They get together as a like minded group of people who meet and follow some traditional ceremonies and then eat a very fancy dinner and drink.
There is no requirement to be a Christian, it is multi faith. They acknowledge a higher being. They value work and kindness and helping others. Every member donates a monthly amount to a charitable cause. All events and balls have a charitable element.

I don't understand it, but I don't see any harm in it. Dads lodge is full of retired gents aged mostly between 60 and 90. Older men are very at risk of social isolation and I think anything that gets them together to eat and talk is a marvellous thing.

They do a huge amount for charity. I believe they say theyre not a secret society it's a society with secrets.

Exactly what WitBeyondMeasure said.

They are far more open these days - you can go and look round the buildings and can ask questions.
They raise phenomenal amounts for charity.

It’s Boy Scouts with secret handshakes and nepotism.

@Redglitter that's what my dad says too!

I find it fascinating that it's so secretive. For example, no matter how drunk someone is, they still don't spill the beans. What's the harm?

Because if they told you the truth no one would ever ask again if they realised it was the WI with a uniform and handshake

Watching with interest as DF was a mason until recently, he rescinded his membership or whatever.

Can I ask, is there an element of homosexuality about it?

The only thing my dad would mention is a handshake and I occasionally saw him wearing an apron type thing before meetings.

I have to say I respect him less for being part of it, it just seems like such bullshit.