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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand Masonic lodges

314 replies

Bearbehind · 04/02/2018 20:50

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?

OP posts:
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6
Gwenhwyfar · 04/02/2018 21:52

"They do a lot for charity yes, but that doesn't disguise the fact that it's long been a secret society that's sought to exert influence behind closed doors for their own ends."

Exactly. If it was all about the charity, there are plenty of less secretive organisations to join.

"It's very much a 'we look after our own' type club"

I suppose you could argue a lot of organisations do that: trade unions, mutual associations, etc. But masons are generally not the most needy in society.

Rachie1973 · 04/02/2018 21:52

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

Why must there be a point? People do lots of things for fun, with no real point in it.

My late father in law was a Mason, he'd been through the chair, I used to call him the Grand Poobah.

We also print for the Lodges through our company so see a lot of the literature and I giggle over it. Granted, we probably have the business because my FIL ordained it lol

When he died, the first people to ask us 'were we ok for the funeral?' was the Masons from his lodge. At the funeral they formed a guard of honour and made us feel like FIL was well loved and remembered by people other than us.

hollowtree · 04/02/2018 21:52

Nope I can't say I ever got them to be honest!

Movablefeast · 04/02/2018 21:54

My brother's partner has siblings who are all in the police. Two are detectives and have guarded the royals. She told db they are all in the Masons as it is very hard to get a promotion if you are not.

grumpy4squash · 04/02/2018 21:56

My DP is a Freemason. He's master of the lodge until October.

He joined because he wanted to meet new people and do a bit of fundraising. His lodge do a lot for charity and the local community.

The other members of his lodge are all really nice people. Really down to earth and genuinely kind people.

My Dad is a Grand Master or whatever it's called. They do a lot for charity, including supporting local widow(er)s in the community.

They do have special embroidered scarves and they do have 'ceremonies' with particular spoken text - a bit like a church service in the sense that you say what's written - but that's mainly to give a bit of structure to the event. My Dad wears a nice suit and tie when he goes.

No funny handshakes or anything to do with nipples, as far as I'm aware.

Redglitter · 04/02/2018 21:57

She told db they are all in the Masons as it is very hard to get a promotion if you are not

Completely untrue. Possibly years ago but certainly not the case these days

Rachie1973 · 04/02/2018 21:57

Movablefeast
My brother's partner has siblings who are all in the police. Two are detectives and have guarded the royals. She told db they are all in the Masons as it is very hard to get a promotion if you are not

That's absolutely untrue. Both my Father and my brother climbed through the ranks without ever being a Mason.

People still have a very dated view of the Masons.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 04/02/2018 21:57

Why must there be a point? People do lots of things for fun, with no real point in it.

Which is fine if it's open to everyone but the masons are a closed group shrouded in secrecy..

Not even the lower echelons know what goes on higher up until they get they.

How can you say that's not weird and pointless?

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PancakeInMaBelly · 04/02/2018 21:58

Once in my job on a project I hit a wall of bureaucracy, with huge ramifications for a city and unbeknownst to me someone involved in the project belonged to a lodge and immovable obstacles were overcome

The BIG problem with that is how do you remove an obstacle if you have no role in maintaining its existance?

GrapesAreMyJam · 04/02/2018 21:58

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

PlummyBrummy · 04/02/2018 21:58

The biggest most abusive wanker I know was a Mason. And a policeman. And currently a member of the Rotary. And the TA. It’s in order to appear thoroughly respectable despite his little peccadilloes and, I suspect, an attempt to gain undue influence and personal power. He wears his little hobby outfits to detract attention from the whirling vortex where his soul should be.

His Masonic mates thought he was an upstanding member of the community.

1ndig0 · 04/02/2018 21:58

I want to know what are the "blanks in the book". What book?

My DH is a member of a "club" which used to be a "gentleman's club." They have graciously permitted women for some time apparently, but not surprisingly, no women seem to want to join. He says it's mainly a "business forum" and he only goes about once a month, if that. No weird rituals, just a load of hot-air in there, I would think.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 04/02/2018 21:59

At the funeral they formed a guard of honour and made us feel like FIL was well loved and remembered by people other than us.

Loads of people have A Guard of honour at their funerals.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 04/02/2018 22:00

People still have a very dated view of the Masons

That's probably got something to do with them being a 'secret' organisation with rituals not even members know about until they're sufficiently senior Hmm

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PancakeInMaBelly · 04/02/2018 22:01

Pancakeinmebelly I am not suggesting that anyone chose a career based on the masons? Not sure why you would think that I was suggesting this?

Do you think that lifeboats wouldn't exist if it weren't for the masons?

FWIW I know people involved in search and rescue who tell people not to donate to the lifeboats because it doesn't go to the actual life boats or lifeboat men, and are VERY very angry at how it's structured and run!

CoolCarrie · 04/02/2018 22:01

It is an exercise in networking for men. Traditionally they don’t like Catholics, women, Black people, Indian people etc, etc
Inspector Morse hates the masons.

Glumglowworm · 04/02/2018 22:01

A lodge near me was open for tours a few years ago on a day when lots of other semi-public buildings also were (I can’t remember why now though). We went and had a look round, it was quite interesting in the way that churches are interesting, but obviously we didn’t get to see any of the secrets or rituals.

I can’t take it seriously tbh, I just think of Homer joining the Stonecutters in the Simpsons and the song they all sang

gingergenius · 04/02/2018 22:02

No tje madons is still really dated, sexist and misogynistic. Not much has changed!

GrapesAreMyJam · 04/02/2018 22:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Rachie1973 · 04/02/2018 22:02

Bearbehind

Which is fine if it's open to everyone but the masons are a closed group shrouded in secrecy..

LOL really it's not, it's very easy to find out loads about it. Theres even books all about it.

Not even the lower echelons know what goes on higher up until they get they.

Again, not quite true. The Lodge of Instruction teaches new members how the Lodge works and how to progress.

How can you say that's not weird and pointless?

I didn't. I said I see no harm in pointless. I think fishing and throwing the fish back is pointless, but my DH along with countless others still do it frequently.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 04/02/2018 22:02

I want to know what are the "blanks in the book". What book?

I have no idea. I couldn't get my head round any of it.

It sounds like some kind of bible with blank bits which you only find out what they are as you progress.

It's all bonkers to me.

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Warmworm · 04/02/2018 22:03

Growing up in the west of Scotland in the 70/80’s the masons were well known to be anti-catholic. Not to mention the obvious disadvantage to women in the workplace who can’t benefit from the “network”.

CoolCarrie · 04/02/2018 22:03

They like to say they are a society of secrets, not a secret society. There are loads of books out there about the masons, their history. It started as a trade union of masons who built castles etc in the Middle Ages.

BaffledMummy · 04/02/2018 22:04

My brother inherited a ring from my grandfather (long dead) and found it recently. He tried it on and thought no more about... until he got to work and was confused as to why some of his usually standoffish superiors started chatting to him and being friendly when they usually ignores him. It only dawned on him when someone asked him what lodge he belonged to. He was mortified! I was thoroughly amused. Wong went back in the box.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 04/02/2018 22:04

Ok rachie and grapes I'm happy to be told I'm wrong or have been misinformed but if new members know what's going to happen or it can be googled, what's with the 'blanks' business?

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