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What actually are the Masons?

113 replies

raincloud3 · 14/03/2019 21:20

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?

OP posts:
BeGoodTanya · 15/03/2019 14:29

What a lovely idea, Snowflakes. Grin

thetwinkletoescollective · 15/03/2019 16:20

It’s all fun as long as you have no issue with the men at the top worshiping Satan and who knows what that involves??,,..I for one don’t want to know...and to the person who asked about personal experience of that - not me, but my dad.

Redglitter · 15/03/2019 16:23

and if you are a Catholic you can’t be one either

Ive got a friend who's Catholic & held various offices in the Masons. His brother is also a member as is his Dad & his Grandfather before him

mbosnz · 15/03/2019 16:27

Husband was one, as was my father, and my grandfather.

I used to help him learn the rituals.

There are different constitutions, some allow women, some don't.

Basically, he'd get all gussied up in his tux once a month, with his apron etc, they'd go and do the rituals, then they'd all argue about how everyone else was doing it wrong, and then tuck into a supper of sausie rolls and whisky. A lovelier bunch of old fellas I never did meet.

They do an awful lot of charitable funding, but don't advertise it. They tend to look after the widows and orphans of freemasons, if they need financial help.

My husband is neither right wing, nor misogynistic. Neither Christian, nor Satanic. A (rabid) Atheist if anything.

I know an awful lot of people who have never had anything to do with freemasonry who are convinced they know a hell of a lot more about it, than those that have been in it, and had generations of their family in it, and nothing will have them think otherwise.

WillGymForPizza · 15/03/2019 16:59

The Masons tried to recruit my DF a while back. He's a tradesman and runs a fairly successful business. They seemed quite keen to get him involved but he said, and I quote, that they were ' a bunch of weirdos' and refused point blank to get involved with them.

Make of that what you will. DM was gutted as she loved the idea of all the balls etc they would have been invited to.

listsandbudgets · 15/03/2019 17:13

Its a bit like North Korea isn't it the more secretive they are the more we want to know about them.

The few Masons I've ever met have been very community orientated, quite well off and friendly individuals. DP has been asked to join loads of times but has always refused as he worries about their true purpose among other things. I've been told they'd love to ask me but Im a woman Hmm

I believe they run some schools for children of their members and that these started off as charitable organisations to house and educate poor children. I read somewhere somethng along the lines of that the girls were expected to parade before the men at a dinner every year - forget the exact wording but it left me deeply uncomfortable

listsandbudgets · 15/03/2019 17:18

By the way before someone gets upset, I am not comparing the Masons to the North Korean regime - I have no reason to believe they go about murdering, disappearing people or shutting them up in prison camps

AgentCooper · 15/03/2019 17:19

DH’s line manager is a mason and has told him that for the initiation you have to put a bag on your head and get hit with sticks.

listsandbudgets · 15/03/2019 17:21

According to the Lodge of Happiness

What does a Freemason Do? A Freemason is taught moral lessons and self-knowledge by a series of ritual dramas – a progression of allegorical plays performed within each Lodge. These rituals follow ancient forms, using stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides.

So now we know Grin

mbosnz · 15/03/2019 17:27

Lol, bag over the head, you are very carefully led around by somebody who makes sure you don't trip over your feet, yes. Not beaten with sticks, however.

bumblenbean · 15/03/2019 17:29

What on Earth is the apron all about? The mind boggles!

Roomba · 15/03/2019 17:33

I know two masons - one female in her 60s who is currently the Worshipful Master of her ladies Lodge. She's also Catholic, which confuses me a lot. She won't tell me much about it but spends lunch breaks trying to memorise long printouts of rituals.

The other is male, laughed at the idea that lady masons were in any way real masons, and says that at his low level it's just a networking/social club with rldaft rituals, like scouts with funny aprons. He specifically joined to try and make business contacts.

Tinyteatime · 15/03/2019 17:33

They used to hold a lot of ‘influence’ in the police force. I think it’s been cracked down on a bit now, st least I’d like to think so.

jellymaker · 15/03/2019 17:36

Its misogyny at its finest and morally reprehensible. My husband is a journalist and it has been at the root of a lot of injustices. Hills borough being the most notable. Just google it. People being promoted beyond their skill set, being let off crimes by police and judges who are also Freemasons, deals being done between people to the detriment of competitors etc. The best expose is by Martin Short called Inside the Brotherhood. It is far from being a benign organisation.

justasking111 · 15/03/2019 17:38

There are a few lodges around our way, they do have a pecking order, some lodges are third class, some second class, and some first class from what I can make out. When an uncle died and we were clearing out the house we found his gear, his brother had no idea and did not approve.

They do raise a lot of money, they have a magnificent residential home and do look after their families in hard times.

I believe there are some dubious lodges in the higher echelons, but most of them are social clubs with fringe benefits business wise.

Harebel · 15/03/2019 17:39

Yeah what's with the aprons? Confused

justasking111 · 15/03/2019 17:43

A bit like Karate the apron denotes how high up the ladder you are, you start with a white one.

Aprons may be the best-known symbol of Freemasons. When the fraternity was established in the 1700s in England and America, its founders looked to the traditions and tools of actual stonemasons to develop their rituals and philosophy. Masonic aprons evolved from the protective work aprons that stonemasons wore during the 1600s and 1700s. When he joins the lodge, each Freemason receives a white lambskin apron, to symbolize innocence. James Russell wore the one shown here during the 1810s. As the candidate moves through the degrees of Freemasonry, he wears aprons with different symbols and colors to signify rank and responsibilities.

Petalflowers · 15/03/2019 17:49

My FIL wS a mason. He left due to his Christaian beliefs. He felt the two were not compatible.

PrivacyOne · 15/03/2019 17:54

Oooohhhh, this is really weird. I met a couple of Knights Templar this week BUT the week before that a man at Mass gave me a really odd handshake during the Peace! He sort of pressed my second knuckle with his thumb whilst at the same time giving my hand a tug. I’ve never had that before and thought Opus Dei Grin. Anyone in the know about funny Catholic handshakes? Are there women KTs now? I’ve obviously been completely oblivious to secret societies for 50 years and am now intrigued...

MulticolourMophead · 15/03/2019 18:18

The Knights Templar officially ceased to exist after the Pope cracked down in 1307

MulticolourMophead · 15/03/2019 18:19

Pressed send too soon...

Anyone claiming to be a Templar today is a bit deluded.

SquatBetty · 15/03/2019 18:40

Oh yeah, that charitable giving ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10661581/Freemasons-millions-arent-true-charity-rules-judge.html

DaffydownClock · 15/03/2019 18:42

My DF was a Freemason, his uncle introduced him to it when he was in his twenties and at one point DF was Worshipful Master of the Lodge.
I went to a Ladies Night, very formal and interesting, lovely food and wine and each lady received a generous gift.
My DF stopped going when he was in his 60's. I know the Lodge raised hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years he was there.

CallMeRachel · 15/03/2019 18:51

They used to hold a lot of ‘influence’ in the police force. I think it’s been cracked down on a bit now, st least I’d like to think so.

This ^

And...

Its misogyny at its finest and morally reprehensible. My husband is a journalist and it has been at the root of a lot of injustices. Hills borough being the most notable. Just google it. People being promoted beyond their skill set, being let off crimes by police and judges who are also Freemasons, deals being done between people to the detriment of competitors etc. The best expose is by Martin Short called Inside the Brotherhood. It is far from being a benign organisation.

This ^

Madeleine McCann's father Gerry is a high ranking Mason, so is former PM Gordon Brown. Lots of money and influential power within certain groups.

I cannot believe it is entirely innocent grown up Boy Scout stuff. Not one bit.

justasking111 · 15/03/2019 18:55

SquatBetty Fri 15-Mar-19 18:40:22
Oh yeah, that charitable giving ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10661581/Freemasons-millions-arent-true-charity-rules-judge.html

.......................................................

Well that is 82 million the state do not have to find

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