To not understand Masonic lodges

[Bearbehind]

Just been talking to a friends who's husband is a head honcho mason.

He's called the Grand Master or something equally ridiculous.

Apparently throughout a masons 'career' they get to fill in certain blanks in the book and only at the top level do you get to fill in all the blanks.

AIBU to think WTAF?

What is the point in this seemingly childish behaviour in grown men?

A lot of the charities are charities for masons: Masonic nursing homes etc (VERY luxurious gated properties)

Looking after members seems more than reasonable though. Why not. My friend is on one of the finance committees it's nice the help they'll give members. Some have nowhere else to turn.

They still donate a lot to non Masonic charities

Can transmen join?

I once worked with a man, that admittedly had mental health issues, who was recruited into the local Masonic lodge at some sort of fayre that he attended. I can honestly say what I saw and heard disturbed me very very much and now even the mention of Masonic lodge makes me shudder to think what they did to that poor man

Santa is open to everyone. The Masons are not.
In these threads to always get posters coming along saying "Well my dad's in the Masons and I think my dad is nice"... But the Masons are all about leaving people out. Which wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so heavily associated with the workplace.

My dad and grandad, both really lovely men, were masons though dad left masons for Lions when he was quite young.

It is outdated, in its Male networking/career/favours for boys sense.

But it isn't particularly weird. Rituals bind people together, they help build a sense of identity. It's all about being part of the club.

They believe in a higher being. Hence the crazy rituals.
It isn't much other than food and drink. Thy don't help each other out as we're led to believe. If someone is in real dismay they might help them out. But they can't get you or if trouble, or get people beat up. It's a very silly thing really.

I know a few and they are very cuntish. And charidee should not excuse you from facing the consequences of one's hideous racism, for example.

Ha, cross post pancake!

I work for a local govt organisation with most senior managers Masons, it’s all jobs for the boys, gender pay gap - women haven’t got a f hope!

"Looking after members seems more than reasonable though."

CHOSING who gets looked after, particularly in the work place, is not harmless.

And they have to wear silly little pinnies.

It absolutely is sexist, and elitist, and so on. But it isn't particularly weird or abusive. Although of course, individual lodges and people may be,

It's not very secret these days. My mechanic is amazon. Long gone are the days of top flight civil servants and local councillors. It's no more exciting than The Rotary Club, or Wimmins Institute or The Lions, but the dinners are probably nicer.

Today 21:06 Sweetpea55
At the initiation they have to bare a breast to prove they aren't a woman

I wonder what would happen if a male-identifying woman wanted to join.

"But it isn't particularly weird or abusive. ".
Tell that to non Masons who worked in Mason heavy work places. Coincidentally these were usually the more misogynistic work places.

CHOSING who gets looked after, particularly in the work place, is not harmless

I wasn't referring to in the workplace. I was referring to financially helping members who have financial problems etc people who have lost their jobs that kind of thing.
Nothing to do with work

it absolutely is sexist, and elitist, and so on. But it isn't particularly weird or abusive.

More than a little that those two sentences follow each other.

It used to be men's men. Policemen, councillors, ceo's etc but now it's any man who is Invited to join. Some wear Masonic rings. I work with loads of them! It's just a club. Initistion ritual is to wear a hood over your face,one trouser leg rolled up (to show they are not shackled) wear and apron thing then are led around the room with a blade at their chest in some kind of trust eexorcise. Ive seen the little black books too. Of poem type rituals stuff. Meh

My uncle was a fireman and is a mason. hes 61 now, retired and even lives in a beautiful house owned by masons (in a row of owned cottages oddly) and gets very cheap accommodation and perks.

he mentioned how he got the house when i was at how nice it was, but other than that we have never discussed anything about them (i just dont care to ask)

I find it really interesting. Mostly because I’m nosy. Tell us what you know everyone!

...and for the record, although a nice enough man, he is a selfish prick who has 3 failed marriages and 5 kids he doesn't see. no DV or cheating on his part, just not giving a shit, not showing up for his kids and being selfish.

I was once a member of the female group of the RAOB.

Loved every minute of it :)

I would dispute the racist label.
There is an order of female Freemasons.

Apparently throughout a masons 'career' they get to fill in certain blanks in the book and only at the top level do you get to fill in all the blanks.

I'm imagining a Panini sticker book. I expect some will be gold foil

There are also female Freemasons: www.owf.org.uk/about-us/our-history/

They and the men are both Freemasons but not overlapping, like Scouts and Guides. They do exactly the same thing (word for word) but don't officially 'recognise' each other as Doing It Right.