only odd men join organisations like the Masons

[GoodGriefSunshine]

Maybe I have just been unfortunate but the only men I have ever met that belonged to the Masons (...Rotary etc) have been kind of odd. Let's just say, not attractive to women types. Mummy's boys, odd-bods who are into train spotting and sci-fi in too big a way. The kind of men you feel may be a little on the boring side. What sort of men join these predominantly men's clubs and what is appealing about wearing aprons and performing bizarre rituals?

Just to clarify, when I wrote “so much more” I did not mean in a good way....

I think it's pretty obvious that the charity work is a cover for other activities.

What other activities are being covered up? Do tell as you seem to know a lot about it.

My dad and my grandad were farmers, some of this friends one was a plumber, one an electrician, two were police detectives . A teacher etc. They had functions through the year raising money for various charity’s.

When my dad died they all sang at his funeral and offer support to my mum and any Masonic widow etc, but hey fair enough nope their just weird losers.

I’d love to be in a club! The more secret the better. Unfortunately I’m never likely to be invited to anything exclusive.

I don’t know any Masons or Rotary club people. Or maybe I do but they don’t say. I guess each to their own.

I help organise a charity event, am I covering up for something?

I think the secrecy aspect is a bit silly, like middle-aged men playing at being little boys in a special club with their own code. I do think that side of it is a bit weird.

My grandad on my dad's side was a mason and my mum always referred to it with rolled eyes.

The Rotary Club do a lot of community stuff here though.

I absolutely agree, my ex husband was a mason & he was a twat!!

Rick Wakeman is a Mason - but I suppose he could be described as "odd"

@bumpsadaisy11 oh so of course that means everyone. How stupid honestly.

I can’t think of the Masons without thinking of Homer Simpson being initiated into the Stonecutters. The ones I know are small town business men - insurance salesmen and the like. None of them have any particular form of charisma and certainly none of them are revered. It gives them something to do when they’re not at parish council meetings.

Edward Lord has made me extremely wary of many things, the Freemasons being one of them.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/01/freemasons-allow-women-members-first-time-joined-men/

Clearnightsky, start your own club! 😁

My parent always wittered on about how Freemasons are dirty old corrupt pervs who get off with crimes because of their secret handshakes.... I knew two Freemasons, both were paedophiles and ‘lovely pillars of the community’ (I have first hand experience of them being paedos. Grim.), and one other who’s an animal abuser, illiterate and pathetically angry and hates women. But sure, it’s all fine, boys being boys eh. 😷

Odd ideas on here, all the Masons I know are married successful in their career guys; engineers, head teachers, high ranking police. There are lodges for certain careers, even an entertainers lodge, times have moved on, they give a lot to local charities. It’s not religious more social.

The masons I know are businessmen, or rather were. Combination of fat and straight, some are quirky others very ordinary. The rotary similarly diverse and women can join that

I think you would be surprised how many high profile, uniformed men are in the masons. I am aware of investigations in the emergency services where a group of masons made it their mission to bully and oust senior members of public services out of their roles. Turned very nasty and really did not support their ethos of kindness!! Personally I think it should be banned if you hold any kind of public office.

@steff good idea! Although a membership of one might be a little lonely

www.owf.org.uk/charitable-work/
Ladies can join, support a lot of charities.

I know five Masons (that I know of).

They are all Tories / Brexiters.

This thread 🙄

@SadForNoReason - that is spot on!

Aside from weird murders, then all of the strangest things I've read, or heard about people doing, have been from MN. As an intelligent, reasoning adult though, I'm aware that they are individuals, and that not all MNers are weird.

*Is this some sort of competition to get as many unpleasant strereotypes into one thread as possible^

You really aren't showing yourself in a very good light at all OP - making ridiculous statements about things you clearly know nothing about

No idea about the masons but both of my parents are in Rotary, and their one has more woman than men in it. They organise an incredibly successful monthly farmers market, a "special Olympics" for local disabled kids groups, as well as other fund raising causes. All you'll find is people offering their time and efforts to help others, with no barriers to join.

But I'm sure the OP does this sort of thing themselves and doesn't need to be part of an organisation of oddballs

@SinglePringle none of the masons I know are but the Scotland don’t really vote for tories that often.

My father and grandad were both Masons. My father would rather have hacked off his own arm than vote Tory. The guys that I know are Masons are Pagan and enjoy the esoteric side of it; they are also highly unlikely to be Tory voters from what I know of their values.

Scottish and women's freemasonry seems to be pretty open to the media and younger people, including through the universities.

And if you ever get the chance to see the BBC documentary on the Grand Lodge of Scotland (sadly not on iPlayer or fully on YouTube), it's well worth it:

What are women types OP?

It sounds as if it comes from the same stable as females

As for The Masons, just like any other group, I’m sure there’s both good and bad to be found there.

Personally, I like trains and Sci-fi.