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AIBU?

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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
Rachie1973 · 04/02/2018 22:24

GrapesAreMyJam
I've recently applied to join a local women's lodge, which I'm assured is as weird as the men's.

LOL I don't know anything about the Womens Lodges, although it would make an amazing thread if someone mentioned Trans members! (Just kidding, please no-one take that and run with it, was firmly tongue in cheek)

I've joined as a self improvement thing (I desperately want to get better at public speaking) and also for the social and fundraising side of things.

Fair play to you :)

Rawhh · 04/02/2018 22:27

I work somewhere that has hosted a number of Masonic dinners. Without fail all the attendees were misogynistic social climbers with repressed wives. Most would order for their wives. The gents would sit around talking about how amazing they were whilst the wives wouldn't say a thing - not even to each other.

I witnessed one women get increasingly annoyed with it all as every time she attempted to bring some intelligence to their conversations she was shouted down. I've never lost my professionalism at work - however, on this occasion snipped back to the group as they became increasingly rude.

GrapesAreMyJam · 04/02/2018 22:28

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

LightDrizzle · 04/02/2018 22:29

Oh yes! Dad had some hilarious titles, I think in the side orders (or degrees - I can’t remember the jargon), and he was pretty senior. Game of Thrones has nothing on the Masons in that regard. He was Knight of East and West and a whole lot else. Not bad for a short, balding, overweight middle-aged Yorkshire bloke - actually whilst all those things, he was a highly intelligent and funny man, a most unlikely Mason I think.

gingergenius · 04/02/2018 22:31

@Rawhh I have attended such occasions. Unfortunately I allowed my rebellious nature to get the better of me and I did behave badly because I felt the whole situation was so ludicrously chauvinistic!

Rachie1973 · 04/02/2018 22:31

Flowerfae
I have never been to a 'ladies night'

Some of the more progressive Lodges (they'll all get there within several 100 years lol) have a 'Partners' night instead of a Ladies night now :)

I like this.

ManicUnicorn · 04/02/2018 22:33

My Dad is friendly with a mason who tried to recruit him into the lodge. He said they were bloody weirdos and he wasn't interested.

Also, my mum's Uncle was one and she swears he was able to get anything and that there was an network and they all looked out for each other.

gingergenius · 04/02/2018 22:33

And god the apron and the white gloves and the 'book' and all that crap! Utter fecking nonsense!

Rawhh · 04/02/2018 22:36

@gingergenius it was awful.

However, it is indicative of the type of people where I work attracts. I'm leaving because it is soul destroying seeing the place used to host things for men to get ahead in business at the exclusion of women.

Not to mention the way they speak about women. Fucking disgusting. But I bet most of then go home to their wives and never let their true opinions known outside the closeted protection of those they stayed with us alongside.

hollowtree · 04/02/2018 22:37

Oh the ladies nights are so annoying! Just let women in ffs!

daffodildelight · 04/02/2018 22:38

My dad is a mason. His lodge has all ethnicities and religions as members. I know they raise lots for charity, have regular curries and network,that's about it really. It's not sinister. The rituals all sound deadly boring with things to memorise and recite. I went to a Katie's night and didn't find anyone misogynistic, just normal men from all backgrounds.
My friend goes to a women's Masonic lodge and furs similar - raises money for charity, has nice meals, socialises and networks. She invited me but I don't have the time, plus i am a member of the WI already so dont feel the need.
I sometimes think MN is quite a sinister place with lots of trolls, fake posts and nastiness. I think Mumsnet is much more dodgy! Although that could all be down to the Russians churning out posts from their troll factory.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 04/02/2018 22:54

I don't think I work with any, although as I'm female, they probably wouldn't discuss it with me or ask me to join.

I have been in a couple of Masonic halls, which were just being hired out for functions. There was nothing particularly unusual about them, apart from Masonic insignia everywhere and them being quite opulent.

MrsFionaCharming · 04/02/2018 22:59

On one hand it seems odd, but on the other, I’m a Guide Leader... we have matching clothes, weird rituals and ceremonies, and it’s definitely helped at job interviews when the interviewer has also been a Guide.

TheBrilliantMistake · 04/02/2018 23:38

The only reason information is out there is because of leaks. Too many to mention and they've been forced to acknowledge the truth of most of it.
It's still secretive by nature, and I think that's a huge part of the appeal, that they feel important enough to be inside this secret group.

ItsAllABitStrangeReally · 05/02/2018 00:10

Does it really matter tho ?? They aren't killing anyone or doing anything illegal........its no weirder than what some religions get up to really. They all have rituals and silly frocks. 🤔🙄🙄

computationalAspects · 05/02/2018 00:41

@Bearbehind

"The masons seem to be a misogynistic closed cult that encourages men to behave like children."

Nothing like a cult, well, Christianity is at its core so that depends on your approach, I guess.

People like being part of an in crowd. That's normal. The little that is secret adds to the excitement.

Why do you think it's misogynistic? Because it's for men only? It seems to be the fashionable way of thinking that women are entitled to their safe female only spaces. Are you saying that this shouldn't be the same for men?

needtogiveitablow · 05/02/2018 07:06

This thread reminds me of the various slimming world ones that pop up from time to time! People who have never been but know from a friend of a friends sister in laws granny exactly what goes on and how disgraceful it all is Hmm. My DP is a member and is what you would call high ranking in his lodge - it has never afforded him or others a career leg up or other business benefits. Nor are they all sexist and/or racist. Some will be as in all walks of life and gatherings of people. Some of you will work in offices where people hold these views, some of you will have family members that think like this, you cannot state that an entire group of men hold some awful personality traits based on someone that most of you don’t know personally!

A lot of the information that you are questioning is readily available on the internet or in books. There have been numerous documentaries produced, there is no hierarchy of who can know what - there is a book of text/ritual (I’ve read it enough to help my husband learn) and all masons are given this. The only difference is the higher up the rank you go the more you need to learn/speak. The rituals are used to tell stories and the history of the Freemasons (little plays if you like). Yes it’s odd but so are a lot of things - eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ for example Wink

Gwenhwyfar · 05/02/2018 07:25

"it’s definitely helped at job interviews when the interviewer has also been a Guide."

I think that's shameful, but at least it's out there. People can see the that you are both Guides, it's more hidden with masons.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/02/2018 07:28

" It seems to be the fashionable way of thinking that women are entitled to their safe female only spaces. Are you saying that this shouldn't be the same for men?"

Do you really think the concept of 'safe space' is the same for men and women???

KayaG · 05/02/2018 07:31

My grandfather lived in a town whose economy depended on fishing. He was a mason as were all his sons, except my father.

They looked out for each other and if one was lost at sea, an all too frequent event, the others made sure the widow and children were cared for. Business was done on trust and a handshake. As far as I can understand anyone who wanted to could join.My father didn't go into the fishing so didn't join.

I do believe that some lodges are quite sinister, though, and think the police should not be allowed to join.

wisterialanes · 05/02/2018 07:43

My paternal side were all FM's as 30-40 years ago you couldn't get into certain jobs unless you were one, eg police/fire service, judge, barrister etc. As a child the presents at the FM Christmas parties were always great, which is why I loved it. I'm utterly ashamed to say this but a close family member got a very reduced sentence due to 'connections' of my DF.

Growing up I remember my DF catching me opening his brief case thing he used to take on 'nights out' and he went buck mad. The book of rituals was really dark, it definitely came over very 'New World Order'. Perhaps my DF's lodge is low mark in comparison to others, but from what I have seen they are mostly overweight, balding elderly men who are a tad fond of the drink. Most of them are divorced too and seem to be estranged from their DC my DF included.

alpineibex · 05/02/2018 07:48

My grandfather is one. He goes off to meetings every so often. They raise a lot of money for charity etc. My grandmother often does hampers for raffles etc. I don't know much more than that, but I could ask.

alpineibex · 05/02/2018 07:48

My grandfather is ex-police and ex-navy.

TrickyD · 05/02/2018 08:05

I thought they were known as "the Mafia of Mediocrity".

Gwenhwyfar · 05/02/2018 08:09

"I'm utterly ashamed to say this but a close family member got a very reduced sentence due to 'connections' of my DF. "

And there you have it. Not harmless at all.