Freemasons - are you one?

[JazzyComposition]

So what's it all about?

MY DH has stopped asking me to help him learn his lines as I was guffawing so much. Plus my constant stream of questions was putting him off.

So can't be that secret.

Catholics can be Freemasons.

Blimey, I've just realised I already replied on this zombie thread under a different name, have I really been here that long?

Didn't realise it was a zombie thread, don't we usually get a warning before we post?

The person who bumps the zombie thread first gets a warning in big red letters-and yet still they post

I believe it is harmless and freemasons do charitable works etc. but I could not be in a relationship with a man who was into this.

Why not if you think it's harmless? What would you do if he wasn't a FM when you first got together but became one later on?

Deux I helped my DH learn his lines for his first quarter

That is a fair question. I suppose because the idea of rituals, outfits, incantations etc. is so anathema to me I couldn't get past it. I have met a few and to be honest they were nice enough but lacked intellectual rigour whilst considering themselves to be rather clever. That has probably clouded my view.

But that's as narrow minded as saying I've met a few builders and they're all thick as mince!

Ok. But there is still the bit about rituals, dressing up etc. Just my personal feelings. No freemasons are being harmed by my not wanting to be with one.

My granddad, dad and brother were Freemasons. I went to the girls Freemason school in Hertfordshire. Don't know much about it though.

Oh my friend is a female mason and is in a female only Lodge.

Bring- do you feel the same about religious rituals too?

It's funny how people don't view the WI as suspicious

I'm interested btw not having a go

"We have a strong masonic history in my family, it was quite funny when my boss at work once told me (in a boasty manner) the he was a member of a local lodge and I quite innocently asked him what he thought of the temple. He was very junior and hadn't been to temple yet. Oops."

Sorry but that is not possible. "Temple" is where the lodge meets. The initiation happens in the temple as well any subsequent meeting (including the most junior ones) so it is not possible to be a Mason and never to have seen inside his temple.

I'm one. It's complete rubbish.

Haven't read the whole thread so some of what I say may already have been said or my 'facts' may be incorrect.

DH is a Mason. He is due to be Master the year after next, so I will have to host a Ladies' Night. He was dragged in by my father, as were my 2 BILs & a few family friends.

I am not keen. It costs DH around £400 per year for membership, then extra in terms of special 'uniform', a special briefcase, lunch before & drinks after the night (which I don't think are essential but DH apparently does ). It also takes up quite a lot of time - there are 4 meetings of their Lodge per year, each on a Friday night. They have to get there at 3pm, which for most people means leaving work at 2pm, so probably taking an afternoon of annual leave. For each of these meetings there are also 2 practice runs the weeks before, where they practice the words they have to say & the actions they have to do. I often have to help DH & my dad to memorise their words.

A couple of things I have been told: when they are initiated they have to bare their chest to prove they are a man, as females are not admitted. They also have to roll up their trouser leg so that it can be seen that they are not carrying a dagger in their sock.

Women masons are not recognised by Masons. Had an old housemate who was a Mason and when I said I had some work with the Women's Frermasons he promptly replied there was no such thing. And still stands by that to this day. It's a silly boys club thing. My grandad was one but my dad didn't want to join.

"Women masons are not recognised by Masons."

Again: The United Grand Lodge Of England (which only accepts men) is not the only Masonic obedience in the world.

As for the charitable stuff there is the Grand Charity which funds stuff that impacts on Frermasons and then inadvertently has a benefit to the rest of the world if it is medical research, for example, but the benevolence and support for school and Widows etc is only within members. I don't have a problem with that as lots of different groups operate this way, just wanted to point out that it is only the masonic community who generally benefit not the wider public.

The Mason I spoke to was from the Bahamas. I don't really care though so feel free to continue your refusal to accept that the Masonic movement does not recognise female Freemasons.

It is not my "refusal to accept". It is your ignorance.

You think there is only one obedience and one set of Masons. I'm telling you that there are other obediences - one is only for women and several are mixed (men & women). All you can say is some Masons don't recognise women Masons.

I am aware of other groups. I am not denying their existence. I do not care one way or another. I am saying that I have been told by several masons from around during the world who consider themselves true Masons does not consider those other groups to exist.

If you read my first post properly perhaps this pointless discussion would not have happened. But then assuming your ignorance in missing the obvious I suppose it was inevitable.

"I am saying that I have been told by several masons from around during the world who consider themselves true Masons "

True Masons. Oh OK then

Would you say all people with faith are Christian because a Christian told you that his is the only true faith?

If you realise that there are other Masonic obediences than Grand Lodge Of England, you must understand that women Masons do exist and are recognised by many men, as well.