to think that Freemasonry should not be allowed to exist?

[StickMeToTheMan]

... or that members should declare their membership - especially those in positions of power - police, SS, politicians etc?

I am just flabbergasted that this is allowed in this day and age. Take a look at the JS scandal and the potential involvement of the masons, and surely no-one can dispute that this old boy network is dangerously shady.

Can anyone explain to me what it is really for, and if membership to any secret society is justifiable in this day and age?

AIBU?

(Namechanged as have been discussing on FB)

[SaurenLaurensonsMum]

Why are the masons predominately white protestant?

Was Jimmy Saville a Grand Master?

[StickMeToTheMan]

Come one One More Chap, you offered us answers!

[Spuddybean]

No i was never contacted. Dp just had an informal chat. They did ask if he had a family and what i thought of the them. As i said earlier DP just said i had a dim view and thought this was one of those tree house clubs which mostly men seem to be drawn to.

Part of me does wish it had been like it's reputation and more like the hell fire club. I quite fancy seeing a baboon dressed as the devil running around a church!

[OneMoreChap]

LineRunner Sat 06-Oct-12 16:49:42
What percentage of lord mayors and mayors of English cities have been masons, compared to the general population, over the past 50 years?

Don't know. How many have been Catholics?

StickMeToTheMan
Why do they often refuse to disclose their membership?
Maybe they don't like nosy-parkers? No reason, you can happily disclose your membership.

Why are there rituals that they are not allowed to disclose?
'cos it's the rules, but look 'em up on line.

Why do you have o be invited to join?

You don't - and for 30 years or so you have to ask to join... you may be asked if you were interested.

Why do new members and their families have to be vetted?
They don't. The candidate will come and have a chat with the Master and some of the Lodge committee. Usually they'll be asked about family commitments, because it can take a few evenings a month.

LineRunner
1. Which MPs are masons?

Don't know. Which are members of Mensa, or play Golf.

2. Which city councillors are masons?
Don't know. Which are Methodists?

3. Should there be a limit on the number of masons sitting together on licensing and planning committees where the attending police, licensing and planning officers, or the applicants, are also masons?

Don't think so. Do you ban the number of Muslims, golf-club members, Rotarians?

^SaurenLaurensonsMum*
What degree are you OneMoreChap?

Blue Masonry, I'm a MM (but am style PM as I was Master of a Lodge)

How old is your Mother?
Erased now, but 70.
Current Lodge 180

[MoreBeta]

I suspect that the majority of masons are decent people.

Unfortunatley, there are always people who will look to exploit any affiliation or loyalty to their own ends. That affiliation coudl be old school tie, golf club, football club, church, political party, trade union, working mens club... or the masons.

[OneMoreChap]

StickMeToTheMan
Same as LR's last question but for government ministers
LineRunner
And senior civil servants.
StickMeToTheMan
And judges. And senior police.

Same as all the others. Don't know. Do you know how many are 7th Day Adventists?

LineRunner
Are masons allowed to be openly gay
Yes
and take their same-sex partners to lodge dinners?
if they are Masons.

[Betterthedrivelyouknow]

As mentioned above, there are many degrees and levels within Freemasonry. I wouldn't expect someone in the lower levels to know much more about it than we do.

Members in the lower levels are there to make it look like a harmless, grown up version of the Scouts, thereby drawing attention away from the real sinister activities higher up the organisation.

Yes, I do believe all the conspiracy theories about the Masons! Whether you believe them or not, one thing I'm sure we can all agree on is that men in high ranking 'public' roles should not be meeting in secret behind closed doors. We're talking about men who control finance, law, government policy, you can't seriously believe that no back scratching or insider trading results from this?

[Spuddybean]

just for interest. From what i understand there is an anti freemason feeling among groups of christians. Some of them think it promotes homosexuality. There was recently a case of a christian psychotherapist who tried to 'suggest' masons were connected to sexual deviancy when trying to 'cure' gays.

[OneMoreChap]

StickMeToTheMan
Can you categorically say that you (OMC) have never suspected a high profile case being construed by masonic links?

If you mean influenced by, no I've never suspected that. I don't think construe means what you think it does.


SaurenLaurensonsMum
Why are the masons predominately white protestant?

In this country? Look at the population.
I've known Sikh, Muslim and Jewish Masons.

Lot of black masons in Trinidad.

Was Jimmy Saville a Grand Master?

Don't know.
StickMeToTheMan
Come one One More Chap, you offered us answers!

What are these, Scotch Mist?

[MrsjREwing]

who was curing?

[LineRunner]

To be fair, OneMoreChapPerson, you did volunteer to answer questions.

[Spuddybean]

But Better, people have the right to have friends and you can't have different human rights for some dependent on their job. So i am unsure how you could counter this.

[StickMeToTheMan]

No, you're right, construe was a crap choice of word.

[LineRunner]

Where you have councillors who have legal duty to determine, say, a licensing application on its own merits, but they themselves have let it be known that they have a higher sworn duty of loyalty to other masons, then I think there's a problem - but one that would at least be partly offset by full declaration of masonic membership by councillors, the officers who advise the committees, and the applicants.

[LineRunner]

I would accept that the men I know who are masons are the kind of men who would and will join any kind of old boy network in order to get on or enhance their social standing.

[OneMoreChap]

LineRunner
Where you have councillors who have legal duty to determine, say, a licensing application on its own merits, but they themselves have let it be known that they have a higher sworn duty of loyalty to other masons, then I think there's a problem - but one that would at least be partly offset by full declaration of masonic membership by councillors, the officers who advise the committees, and the applicants.

Possibly a misunderstanding.
I do owe a duty of assistance to other Masons, but there are higher priorities:

The Law of the land where I make my residence
My Family
My Business

Council business... should take higher priority than any theoretical duty to brethren.

[StickMeToTheMan]

So, you say first loyalty has to be to family, job and the law, but not voluntary extra-curricular activities, for example parish or town council? Or other voluntary organisations?

If a conflict of interest came up between your voluntary work and your masonic loyalties, which comes first?

[OneMoreChap]

I was whinging about getting hurry-ups in less than 15 minutes

[LynetteScavo]

How could he be Catholic and a Mason?

[StickMeToTheMan]

You can believe in any 'supreme being'

[StickMeToTheMan]

Yet another reason I couldn't be one. Far too arrogant to believe in something more important than me

[OneMoreChap]

StickMeToTheMan
So, you say first loyalty has to be to family, job and the law, but not voluntary extra-curricular activities, for example parish or town council? Or other voluntary organisations?

Where did I say job? Business.
Council work would be business.

If a conflict of interest came up between your voluntary work and your masonic loyalties, which comes first?

Mine? I'd answer the pager and go to the fire...
In general? Depends. What sort of voluntary work, and what sort of conflict?

I'd miss litter-picking to go to a Lodge Meeting; I'd go to a Governor's meeting rather than a Lodge meeting.

[adeucalione]

My grandfather and father are both masons - they are both factory workers, although my grandfather used to be RAF, and as far from powerful and influential as it is possible to get. They laugh at the conspiracy theories - honestly, they love them, it makes them feel important, I'm going to show them this thread.

[OneMoreChap]

LynetteScavo
How could he be Catholic and a Mason?

Not our issue.

It's why we don't say Allah, or Jesus, or God, or Yahweh...
You can also choose whatever sacred text you believe in to swear your oath.

[StickMeToTheMan]

OK, so you are on the board of trustees for a children's playground. The board want to get rid of their groundsman, who is on of your 'brethren' and replace him with agency staff. Do you interevene?