Page 4 | Freemasons - are you one?

Arana · 13/09/2012 04:57

Has nobody ever seen the stonecutters episode of the Simpsons???

KnickersNotPanties · 13/09/2012 05:11

My Dad is a Grand Master. He's always been a freemason.

It's his is most redeeming feature - in every other aspect of his life he is a narcissistic knob.

At least when he's mooning about in his apron and gloves and carrying around an unbelievably naff little bag - practicing his lines (which will be delivered in a hood and cloak??), he has some thought towards charitable work. His lodges have always been heavily into charitable activities and supporting the immediate (aka other freemasons in the lodge) community. I know in the past when a Freemason has died and left a widow with very little, they rallied together and looked after her financially for a few months.

Although women cannot join, I have been inside the temple... and it's weird. My mother had absolutely no time for it - so I have half wondered if something weird/sinister happens behind closed doors...

balotelli · 13/09/2012 06:23

I was invited to join once. Apparently you cant just apply, you have to be invited.

After a bit of research I decided that I just couldnt do the spiritual bit, never have been a big believer in all that stuff. Dont believe in the 'higher being'/god etc. I'm sure they do do a lot of good work for charity but the secrecy puts me off a lot too.

Joined a badminton club instead.

Bonkerz · 13/09/2012 06:25

My old landlord was a mason. I was going through a tough time. Aged 19 I was working three jobs to keep this small attic flat and my landlord asked if I could waitress at a masons function. I was paid very well and received food and invites for Christmas carol service etc and gifts too. At a low point in my life the Freemasons were very helpful

LRDtheFeministDragon · 13/09/2012 06:39

I wonder how you'd know you were in the 'real' freemasons? I mean, I imagine it all happening a bit like MN and Mouldies ... I bet there are groups out there saying 'oh, yeah, that's us, the originals ... ha, ha, don't tell the newbies'. Do you not think? Because if you wanted to join and couldn't, all you'd do is set up a new group and make like the real thing.

It'd explain the different ideas about the silly handshakes.

Btw, I am a freemason and know all about the hay wain, Jacques de Molay, etc. etc. It is all inherited from the Templars and Cathars, which is why we practice the ritual kissing of the arse to awaken the serpent kundalini, who brings wisdom.

McPhee · 13/09/2012 06:48

You have to walk forward with someone holding the point of the sword at your throat. You're blindfolded, so if you rush at them you're a dead-un. Also you have to lean back and trust that you will be caught. Like to see them do that with my 15 stone father

CSIJanner · 13/09/2012 06:52

The old man would really like me to reiterate that there is no kissing involved. His orecise words were "No kissing of a man's snake!"

pigletmania · 13/09/2012 06:52

My dad was one, so was his dad, and my half brother. I sounds like one big boys club. However my friend is a female Mason and they have their own lodge

pigletmania · 13/09/2012 06:55

My dad died when I was little and they paid for me to go to the girls Masonic school and maintenance to my mum. They also supported me through college and uni

LesleyPumpshaft · 13/09/2012 07:01

My great uncles were freemasons and we have some lovely pics of the wearing ahem aprons.

Co (mixed) Masonry, women-only Grand Lodges accept women and there's also the Grand Lodge of Freemason for Men and Women. So there's quite a few.

McPhee · 13/09/2012 07:01

They're very misunderstood

merrymouse · 13/09/2012 07:13

I know McPhee - maybe they could just be completely open about everything they do, have little badges saying "I'm a freemason" and keep a register of members that is open for all to see - job done!

ZonkedOut · 13/09/2012 07:22

It seems to me a bit like a grown up version of young boys setting up a club and putting up a "no girls" sign on the door with a password to get in.

They don't do themselves any favours by being secret, but then I suspect if people knew all the details, we'd just laugh at them!

I suspect the secret rituals are a tedious going through the motions for some and the reason they do it for others.

KateB74 · 13/09/2012 07:26

You don't have to be invited to join any more. You can find contact details on provincial/grand lodge websites and email them, which is how my oh joined (after a work colleague got him interested.)

You don't have to be "affluent"ie they don't check your financial status before letting you in, but lodge membership fees add up and staying to dine after meetings costs on top of that. And in my opinion it gets a bit much when your oh is paying separate fees to be in craft lodge, chapter, knights Templar, rose croix etc, plus the dressing up clothes (cloak sword and silly hat for kt, for example) and the special bags to keep them in... (Do I sound bitter? ) I've had to give up attending the annual knights Templar provincial priory church service as I can't keep a straight face - you've never seen anything so funny as a bunch of grown men in full kt regalia prancing round with swords and banners.

Having typed up a ritual book for my oh (upon joining chapter he was handed a manuscript and told to make his own copy) the lodge proceedings are based on the biblical stories of building/rebuilding Solomon's temple with lots of symbolism and are supposed to teach masons how to live good lives.

None of the Masonic wives/partners I know are involved in the Eastern Star - we prefer to meet up in local pubs while our OH's play their funny games.

ToothbrushThief · 13/09/2012 07:27

I think it would take away some of the fun for the older generation who perhaps enjoyed the exclusivity?

link to freemason website

issimma · 13/09/2012 07:30

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

merrymouse · 13/09/2012 07:31

The problem with the secrecy is that they don't openly declare that they are Freemasons when there is a conflict of interests (e.g. police, judges, local councillors etc.).

Longdistance · 13/09/2012 07:44

We got invited to a Freemasons charity ball do. They were very generous showy offy with their money when it came to digging deep for the charity.
I'm not sure if they wanted my dh to join, but he's more passionate about rugby than funny handshakes.
They call each other bretherin (sp?), and when the head fm stands to make a speech, everyone stands, and is quiet. If you breathe wrong, you get a look.
Most of the people there were in business. My dh was there on an invite through his work, again networking.
We actually had our wedding reception at a Freemasons. We did try to find out what was in the meeting room, it had the Freemasons symbol on it. With no joy.

Doodlekitty · 13/09/2012 08:08

My husband is a mason. He's master next year. He loves it. Women can join, there are ladies lodges and mixed lodges. Threads like this always make me giggle, although it makes a change that this one is not horrifically nasty.
The trouser leg thing is true, its to show you are not shackled and are therefore free. The ritual is quite funny (the bits I'm aware of anyway) but its all about having something in common. As my husband just said, he has a meal with a bin man on one side and a lord on the other but they have this in common and that is enough.

They do Loads for charity and it can get very expensive, especially if you are a keeping up with the joneses type. Which my husband is not, thank the lord.

I believe most royal males are members, it's nothing to do with religious denomination unless you join a specific lodge (eg round here there are a lot of Jewish lodges)

Pinot · 13/09/2012 08:20

My father is a Grand Master at the moment. He is hugely proud of achieving that and paraded around in his apron, gloves and chain thingy. And he practises his book all the damn time - he knows it off by heart.

And there def is a handshake.

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 08:55

Of course there is a handshake!

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 08:59

Pinot did your Aloe stuff arrive yet?

FreudiansGoldSlipper · 13/09/2012 09:13

my great uncles was one, my granddad invited to be one but declined he was not interested he and my uncle shared different values

a neighbour was very high standing when we went to australia he gave some papers to take over we saw him put them together so knew it was nothing illegal but why he could not send them in the post i do not know.

guy i used to work with let off drink driving why we all did wonder but we know he was a mason and it was not the first time. another guy i knew who was one was a well known drug dealer clun owner, went to a family party (knew his son well) it was a very strange mix lots of policemen and many were you guessed it masons. not sure why this guy could ever be considered an upstanding member of society

i know they give lots to charity and support their own but they also support their own when they should not be

Adversecamber · 13/09/2012 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 13/09/2012 09:19

My dad is one, was a Grand Master and now does all the charity stuff. The only thing he really talks about is that he is always looking for gifts and flowers/ fruit for people who are poorly and down on their luck. He says his is quite a 'poor' lodge monetarily / in social standing and that there is one nearby full of wanky solicitors/ businessmen which is like a proper boys club . My dad for example couldn't ever get anyone off the hook with anything and has definitely just got a speeding fine