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?

My best friends dads one. He is the most arrogant flashy gobshite. He loves the dressing up and dinners, ladies night etc...
Everyone knows him as the local billy bullshit. Not everyone knows he's got a sinister side and has abused him wife for years.

@Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis no, just a useless bit of info floating round in my head.
Although I'm guessing from that you don't think much of his ideas and philosophies? My son was Steiner educated - I've never met a kinder, more down to earth bunch of people.

@PrayingandHoping yes - they have one in the town I live in and do lots for past members and widows, the families of their members.

I suspect it is probably much duller than everyone suspects but because some aspects are shrouded in secrecy, people think it is wildly exciting and naughty.

There was an AMA thread a while ago from a female freemason. It was very interesting, I don't know how you search for old ones though,

ex h's father was a mason and he blatantly (to me, as I was watching him and the judge) got the tosser a much reduced prison sentence by doing a funny sign.

There is some darker stuff going on at the higher levels, and there have been rumours, theories and books about the Freemasons being formed from the Knights Templar, although this is officially denied. Freemasons go back centuries.

I work in one of the masons care homes. We also have a nursing wing. I know nothing about what they do

@Moondancer73 Steiner has very unpalatable views on race and disability, so no, I’m not a fan. I guess if your family are white and able it may have been a happy experience for you, but we probably have different ideas about what a kinder, more down to earth bunch of people. look like.

What darker stuff though? Paedophilia? What?

That would be my first guess. Devil worship coming a close second.

I work in one of the masons care homes. We also have a nursing wing. I know nothing about what they do

You say that, Porpentina, but I'm sure if you think carefully, you will remember all those times on a night shift when you discovered a room full of men with one trouser leg rolled , exposing one nipple and wearing aprons, chanting in a circle to raise Beelzebub.

@Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis possibly in the past but not now. I never heard anyone discrimination and disabled children attended the school.
My son had two severely autistic boys in his class and staff, parents and children were all amazing with him. Steiner children build a bond unlike any mainstream child - and yes, I've seen and experienced that because my eldest was totally educated in that system and my youngest was until the age of 11.
I think the trouble with Steiner is that people are scared by what they don't know or understand and, sadly, believe what they read in the media.

Just asked my husband what he likes about it, the secrecy and being part of something and the ceremony all form part of it.
I suppose if we think about it most cultures have rituals /ceremonies of some kind.

As for crime and pedophilia cover ups he doesn't know of any and would be out of the door like lighting if he was asked to cover something up that doesn't mean it doesn't go on though, I suspect it does as with any organisation an element will be bad.

It’s like scouts crossed with the chamber of commerce, isn’t it?

My dad is one. From what I can tell there's a big difference between the quite formal and wealthy London lodges and then the provincial lodges (df is the latter). I'm pretty sure they're not the Illuminati though as you'd expect them to be a bit glamorous whereas df drives a Kia and buys his jeans in Tesco. To be fair, since he took up badminton he hasn't been as much.

soulrunner

Do all the people saying higher up masons are into dark stuff - paedophilia and devil worship have any evidence or experience of that, except heresay. No. Thought not. Tin foil hat alert. Next you'll be saying the queen is a lizard.

ken I don't think London lodges are different in that way (I think it's pretty unsinister) - but I think the "network" is more important at that level than where I'm from where knowing a Mason might get you a slightly better trade in on your Ford but that's about it.

I'm pretty sure they're not the Illuminati though as you'd expect them to be a bit glamorous whereas df drives a Kia and buys his jeans in Tesco. To be fair, since he took up badminton he hasn't been as much.

That cheered me up in the middle of some academic gruntwork.

Though maybe the whole point of the Illuminati is that they are naff badminton-playing wearers of Tesco dad-jeans, and relying on our assumption that people plotting a new world order and pulling all possible strings would have loftier sources of fun than fork suppers with the local masonic lodge, and ambling around garden centres in an anorak?

As @WitBeyondMeasure says, it's boy scouts for older men. My DH is a member. It isn't really secret, it's just that they have a lot of slightly silly rituals. They do a lot of charity work, especially for schools and older members or other people is distress. Membership is very varied and not only policemen! There are even Ladies chapters now (although I'm not sure I see the point).

On the whole, it's a good thing.

possibly in the past but not now. I never heard anyone discrimination and disabled children attended the school. No, not possibly . Though I think blurring the truth is fairly mainstream to Steiner thinking. I have heard of discrimination against children with sen and know a few ex-Steiner pupils. The little cal Steiner school was recently shut as a result of of appalling ofsted inspection.

It's bizarre grown men take part in such rituals. I can't understand why it is all taken so seriously .

I went to one of their open days Many years ago as an old family member was a member. Like something out of Henry the 8th time. Never allowed to questions. This family member turned out to be a not so nice person.

Is it still men only? Can one identify as a male and go?