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?

I went to a ladies night once. The women were horrible and mean to me. I was pretty young though. About 18 I think.

"Most of them are divorced too and seem to be estranged from their DC my DF included." That's because of the vows they take and the fact that the higher they progress, the more they take curses on their family. SIL was abused by one of FIL's masonic friends. They treat women terribly.

Freemasons also claim to be a Christian organization; they even include the Holy Bible in their ceremonies and rituals. There are even Masonic Bibles in print. If you look through a Masonic bible you'll see a classic example of mixing the Holy with the Profane. What they don't tell you is that they will also use the Koran, The Hindu Vedas or the laws of Confucius if the initiate's religious beliefs so dictate. That's a far cry from being a Christian organization.

They don’t claim to be a Christian organisation. The only pre-requisite is that you believe in a higher power (known as the Grand Architect in Masonic ritual). Yes you can buy a Masonic bible but having owned copies of both this and a King James Bible they are one and the same. There have been some pretty sweeping statements made on this thread but cursing their families is a new one on me!

There a masonic bible in my grandfather's room. I've been tempted to read it before but never have for some reason.

@Gwenhwyfar

As it seems we're answering questions with questions, why should women be granted access to a men's only club?

So often you read the opinion 'if men want x, y, z then let them organise it for themselves'. Well, here they have and it seems that some are suggesting that it's misogynist and that women should be allowed to join.

I think it provides a certain type of man with an opportunity to make like minded acquaintances/ friends. My DH is an old soul and most men his age are still filming themselves having sex with their girl friends and desperately sharing with others or talking about protein and the gym (early 30s) he wants to talk to proper men who know how to fix things and talk about the same sort of stuff. Feels no more of a cult to me than bloody slimming world - have you tried to decipher what they're banging on about? Evangelical and in their own special language!

My dad was in the masons. He was the worst mason ever. A) he told everyone. B) he showed us the secret handshake c) he used to go round the house practising his speech that he had to learn but never really managed it-I however can stilll do bits of it word for word.
He used to go once a month and come home mullered...and they did raise a lot of money for charity. He didn't take it seriously at all but I'm sure some people do-he got bored of it eventually and couldn't be arsed to go

The women’s version of the Masons is the Eastern Star.

My DF told me that the only reason they started a women's division was because a woman was caught in a cupboard in an attempt to discover their rituals, so it was either kill her or 'let them in in a controlled fashion'

My grandfather was asked to join the Masons by someone he worked with.

Apparently all of the upper management of where he worked were Masons and obviously it was unsaid but very much implied that if you wanted to get past a certain point in your career you had to join.

He very politely declined as he was very much against select clubs and believed very much in everyone being equal and nobody having an unfair advantage/better healthcare/etc etc due to being in a ‘club’, having more money or a more advantaged upbringing than someone else.

I will always be incredibly proud of him and the fact he held his morals higher than financial gain and privileged treatment.

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.

Guess what! In not Masonic communities, people do that too!

Special needs user

Wrong thread

My father was a mason, his brother (ex-police) is also in the ‘club’. My paternal grandfather and mother’s brother are so members. The one in my hometown and my mother’s hometown are extremely important (it would put me a bit to say why) but there is a town on the West boast of Scotland that is very important to all lodges.

I remember they all had special coins related to their lodges. My grandfather had a signet ring that he could flip to show the Masonic emblem when he attended meetings. I seem to remember that they’d go and come back rather merry and went to Burns Suppers etc. Their were always children’s Christmas parties and trips to pantomimes. You can also hire the halls
and my cousin had her wedding reception at the local hall, a beautiful 400 year old building. The drinks were cheap as chips.

I was at the pub a year or so ago when someone arrived and just looked at the older slightly posh looking man in the group and asked him outright which lodge he belonged to. He answered honestly while I sat there open mouthed. the man in the masons may have been wearing the emblem or a tiny forget-me-not which is the sign they were on the lapel as recognition of each other. I remember my dad had a tiny pin badge that was a small blue forget-me-not.

My grandfather is a Mason and I suspect high-ranking. He is very well-off but has a vile temper. Fortunately he has kept that underwraps for my kids though. He has a painting by an Iranian man named Al Bayda and sometimes, given his commentary on the Middle East and 'what should be done', I wonder if there's a connection between that name and a very similar sounding one. I think they are a very self-interested society.

If only it was a harmless ‘scouts club’ for grown men with the added bonus of charitable giving. I can’t believe it’s even still allowed. Have no idea if it’s cleaned up but 20/30 years ago the police force was dominated by masons who seemed to ignore the crimes (read were in cahoots with) of criminals who happened to be masons. It’s a cesspit of corruption that ensures the patriarchy rules. It’s not about men ‘having some space’. Ffs.

The power of what can be done in the masons is underestimated. Is it price edward or andrew who is grand master/'boss'?
These are some exceptionally powerful men. Lawyers. Politicians. Judges police. No way do they not help each other out. I knew a mason who had a speeding fine quashed overnight.

Primark. Yep. One in my town growing up literally got away with murder. I’ve seen (due to some interesting legal cases to do with my family) how far up they can influence in the justice system stemming of course from police connections. Where ever there was police corruption there always seems to be freemasons. It’s pretty scary and I can only hope it’s changed in recent years.

Off topic but i agree about catholic priests. Its disgusting how it's all just been swept away. But similar to loads of other religions whose victims are under a LOT more pressure to stay silent. Jehovas witnesses deal with allegations within the organisation just as some parts of islam use sharia law not uk law.
There is corruption at every level of society just the masons can hide it if they wish to, if that is what happens. The secrecy invites intrigue.

Oh but Rumpledfaceskin , some PPs dads and dps are masons, and they like their dad/dp, so masons can't be bad

Grapes Sorry, but how on earth can you know his lodge is harmless? How can you know that every member is moral and doesn’t use the connection for their own gains? That is as much of a sweeping statement as mine. If you’d seen the documents I’d seen you would never think these sorts of ‘connections’ could be harmless. I’m mildly satisfied that the police have ‘cleaned up’ over recent years somewhat but there are still a lot of police that are members. In fact only last month the chair of the police federation voiced his concerns over freemasonry influence in the police. Something about them blocking reform...but yea I’m sure it’s all harmless now.