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?

My grandfather was a Mason.

We went along family nights (and I'd quite often be asked coerced to perform (I was a singer). Think harvest festival and stuff.

My grandfather was a policeman, a member of our local church, always campaigned for charity and did some pretty amazing things in his life.

All of the men there were either upstanding pillars of society or outstanding businessman and philanthropists.

None of them were odd and it was a form of social networking in some respects. Any issues one member had, the others could help out with, financially or otherwise.

If I was ever extended an offer to join a female Freemason club, I would accept. Not sure they exist though.

I think alot of this thinking stems from the mystery behind it all. Curiosity can make people come to some odd conclusions.

I know lots of Rotarians, male and female. And to answer the OP's question, the type of people who join Rotary are those who are prepared to work voluntarily under the principle of 'Service above Self ' for the benefit of the local and international community. And that's the only generalisation that makes any sense here. Whether they also like sci- fi or trains isn't really relevant.

Well as toy insist on relying on the"but my best friend's a Mason" trope, I wil say that my experience is that my FIL and his brother are both extremely high up in the masons here, they park wherever they line, and haven't paid a ticket in their lives. FIL also had a deeply unpleasant complaint made against him, which I only found out by sheet accident, and it all just "disappeared".

I have many other examples, but that covers the breadth of how it makes for a charmed and corrupt life.

Edit: complaint of abuse... found out by sheer accident..

I can't imagine any secretive male Masonic society is all about being kind and charitable. No bloody chance.

Three of the nicest and most normal blokes I know (one of whom helped us out when we were in serious trouble) were masons. YAB massivelyU.

I always saw the Rotary and Lions as different from the masons. Back home, there were also the Moose Lodge, which I saw as somewhere in between. Mooses, Lions and Rotary I always saw in the context of raising money for charity - putting on fun days, the Christmas Carol float, bonfire night. There was also a building down one street which had a sign, "the hand-in-hand lodge of oddfellows" and I always wondered what that was about when I saw it as a child.

Never knowingly known any masons, but I probably have without knowing. I think it's the secrecy which makes it seem weird - we knew who ran the Rotary and Lions clubs in town.

I would assume that any organisation that has rules and hierarchy and you can learn the expected behaviour might appeal to people who aren't so socially adept, but I think if you only have people like that, it won't function well as a group - you probably need some people with high emotional intelligence who are good at facilitating social interaction and getting people to work as a team. (I expect people have researched this sort of group psychology, whereas I'm thinking aloud/akeyboard without having studied it at all, so I could be talking total rot.)

The ones I know are very kind, intelligent, powerful in their lives/jobs and wealthy.
Tbh I dont know anyone who is the type of person you (op) describe.

Pretty much right.

The OP still hasn’t told us what she does in her spare time that makes her so interesting ?

Those two groups, masons and rotary are filled with business men (mostly with families) who want to give back to local community. You ever meet any op...their nice kind men. If they hear of a child or someone needing a bike, food etc they quietly help as an organisation. Think you find groups like the photography group more to what you describing although these men sometimes are just very shy..

I don't understand why some people think members of the masons are automatically good just because they do charitable work. There are plenty of famous people I could name who did loads for charity but ended up being criminals.

I have an ex who was involved in this. I didn't know about it for some time. I also didn't know he was married either! From what I could gather about this particular lodge it was white men who had a problem with women. When I broke it off with him because of the marriage he stalked me, showed up at work, followed me etc etc. Then when I called the police they ran me out of the area. Basically blacklisted my name. He split from his wife and they got involved behind the scenes with custody and all she got was every other weekend even though she was primary carer.

Yes they do charitable work. But as a cover up for way more sinister things.

In many police forces you have to declare if you are a member of the Masons on your application form.

If someone wants to do a job that centres around community e.g. the police, it kind of links in that in their free time they would have an interest in volunteering in the community.

FYI TV programmes like 'Line of Duty' are fiction, not documentaries.

You’re wrong.

I have met many in the past, mainly they join the organisations to further their careers, they met managers and bosses who know them when they go fo a job. A bit like the old fashioned golf club thing. I agree most were odd

Just like in any organisation there are some people who are deeply unpleasant, criminals etc. I was in Scouting for years and yes, I did know one person who was a child abuser and, quite rightly, as imprisoned, that doesn’t mean all Scout Leaders are abusers (although again, the ‘image’ of a Scout Leader is often ‘a dodgy bloke’).

I only know three people who openly admit they are Masons (not family or close friends), two are charming, pleasant people, one isn’t, but that’s hardly a representative sample of the organisation as a whole..

I don't think you can generalise. The Masons and the Rotary do an awful lot of good and are involved in Philanthropical activities. No one really know what goes on behind closed doors with the Masons, but there is now a women's Lodge.

I'm a mason. The OP's description is as accurate as an assertion that MN members are generally man hating TERF types whose only real advice is LTB.

My late father was a mason. He was neither socially aspirational nor an oddball. He never spoke about it though so I don't know much about it.

My local Rotary club has more active female members than male. I'm a member, and have met some lovely friends and learned about some very interesting things from speakers at meetings. Our club raises many thousands of pounds for charity, largely through members snd volunteers standing out in the cold collecting at Christmas. Rotary worldwide has raised enough money to almost eradicate polio.

I suggest OP that perhaps you educate yourself before making such sweeping statements. Isn't it better for well being and mental health that people join organisations and meet people rather than possibly sit at home feeling lonely? And helping others makes you an oddball?

Pffft. All this nonsense about the Masons.

It's the WI you have to worry about. All those weird jam making rituals. Charity jumble sales? Ha, it's all a smokescreen.

And as for the Mother & Toddler Groups. Well, they're like the Mafia. You really think they just gather to sing "The Wheels On The Bus" every week just for the helluva it. Nah, it's a ritual too. It's what they discuss when they're on the tea and cake that's concerning. You don't see their buggies getting parking fines do you? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.

My Dad was a Mason (his lodge closed so doesn't go anymore- still does the funny handshake though!)

He's the most normal man I know. Worked in a factory, drank in the local social club, played footy, great dad etc.

It did wonders for his confidence- he learnt his verses and spoke at meetings.

I used to 'wait on' for meetings when he went through the chair and I went to a few ladies nights. They do lots of charity work. Can't see your issue really op.

Masonic always reminded me of demonic when I was younger. That and their weird culty ways, I heard they drink out of skulls and shit, don’t think that do that in the WI 😂

You are so so wrong .I am actually a Rotarian ..and a woman !! And none of the men in Rotary I know are odd , in fact being a member has given me a great social life as well as raising funds for charities home and away

It’s the secret ceremonies tbh, if they didn’t have all that I don’t think people would think they were odd.

The fact that Kenneth Noye -gangster, police murderer and all round good guy was helped out by a detective from his lodge tells me everything I need to know about how this organisation operates. I don’t think police officers should be permitted to be members which I’m aware is a “ pie in the sky” ambition. Incidentally this thread made me research it a little bit and I see that the Catholic Church doesn’t approve and the Church of England allegedly won’t allow members to achieve high office in the church. Interesting for a simple, charitable organisation. ( I absolutely don’t include Rotary in any of this )