DH is a Freemason and it makes me cringe

[YerJokin]

He takes it so seriously. He's always gone through hobby phases but he's done this for years now and takes it very seriously. He's currently on the phone discussing 'Bretheryn' and it gives me the major ick, I actually want to cry listening to it.

I've tried to stand by him as he takes it so seriously so i attend events and smile encouragingly but I can't bear it. Never knew when I married him that he wanted to do this. It's not the worst thing he could do of course but it's an old boys club and we're only in our 30s!

He has lots of friends and other hobbies so it's not even his only social outlet, no idea why he needs this in his life and treats it like a second job.

The only men I've known who were freemasons were gammons and complete pricks.
Huge turn off.

A friend of mine claimed his dad was a freemason. He claimed to uncover that freemasons were controlling the maintenance fees people pay in a particular apartment block, and this money was being used corruptly. He confided this corruption to his dad who lost the absolute head with him. His father was more loyal to the freemasons than his own son. His son was a traitor in his eyes. He was really afraid of his father, and he said that he feared for his life.

He was on the Residents committee, and i think they just assumed he would sign cheques for them.

Very dramatic but these were his claims.

If he’s just at the business level of it probably not too bad higher up however …. Either way it’s all sexist stuff.

It’s an initiatory system, therefore it has to be somewhat secretive. The effect on the person undergoing the initiation wouldn’t be the same. But tbh you can find enough snippets around to put things together.,- what goes on is pretty similar to in your average rugby club on a Saturday night as far as I can tell, the initiations are just a mixture of drama, designed to let someone experience an awakening or improvement. . The most obvious symbol of this are the rough and smooth ashlars.. -it you want to have a look at some of the concepts you can read Ben Zions excellent books. It’s self improvement. The esoteric element has been somewhat striped out -although the SRIA (open to master masons) pretty much protects that esp re Rosicrucianism. It’s not hard to find these things out.

it really is more concerning when you look at who is spreading anti Freemason rhetoric - there’s some interesting First Posts on this thread.

Have you really been checking everyone.
😳🤣
I guess that’s probably what you get too @SugarHeadache ….a complete security check 🥴

It isn't necessarily secretive -my DB was a mason for a time and we heard all about it, to the extent of helping him learn his part for the purposes of ceremonies. They also put a lot of emphasis on genuine charitable work, he got them to collect for a charity I support at one point.

Not checking everyone lol. Just finding it very interesting to see the anti-freemasonary rhetoric play out. So was interested in who would start such a thread.

It’s very common Freemasonary conspiracy theories are linked to rather abhorrent ideologies. It’s always worth checking out the background when these things start, especially when so many of the posts are clear fabrications in line with the usual conspiracy theory spiel.

I know next to nothing about Freemasons, but I do recall the outgoing Chair of the Police Federation raising concerns, a few years ago, about Freemason police officers blocking proposed reforms (which the Freemasons denied).

www.bbc.com/news/uk-42579064

...the initiations are just a mixture of drama, designed to let someone experience an awakening or improvement. . The most obvious symbol of this are the rough and smooth ashlars.. -it you want to have a look at some of the concepts you can read Ben Zions excellent books. It’s self improvement. The esoteric element has been somewhat striped out -although the SRIA (open to master masons) pretty much protects that esp re Rosicrucianism. It’s not hard to find these things out.

I don't know what rugby club you go to, but this does not sound anything like "your average rugby club on a Saturday night"!! 😵‍💫

I don't think the lower level freemasons really know what is going on. I think they think it's a social club and a way to move up in society. The oaths they take are terrifying and it is obviously a fear based control system. Freemasons who leave the brotherhood don't ever reveal 'the secrets' out of fear.

I'd imagine it's like being in a relationship with a narcissist. New members are love bombed at the beginning, false promises, brainwashed and then eventually controlled.

FM 'widow' here. A lot on the thread is inaccurate and reporting stuff which may have had some truth in the 80s but no longer.

It is an old men's dining club. They have rituals they follow similar to church services crossed with a short play. They have a hierarchy and I think the hierarchical ritual gives something to men of a certain age who might feel uncomfortable just calling it the Men's Institute.

Money...not all wealthy but a lot are and give generously (tax paid on wages so it's not a tax dodge as suggested). They have masonic nursing homes, look after widows and give lots to charity. Local lodge currently support the dementia day centre and do litter picks and similar things. Fundraising nights are quizzes, meals with raffles etc. It's like a church in the 80s (or even now for that matter?)

Husband attends too many evenings. Initially I quite enjoyed a night on my own but he has become obsessed and I feel it is threatening our marriage in the same way that any obsessive hobby would.

Being only open to men is fine by me as I like women exclusive groups. The silly 'ladies' events when wives are invited are ridiculous and I've stopped going.

I think it's ridiculous - the hierarchy, suits and regalia. The time spent away from a young family is just wrong.

Secrets...??? he leaves his paperwork lying around and chats about it openly. I'm just not interested enough as it's actually dead boring. No testicles in custard or any of the other wild things I've heard.

For older men it's great...a male community that does no harm.

I'm willing to believe that any large, organized group will have some impact on public policy, and that some corruption will exist.

That said, I find the Freemasons less concerning, in that respect, than (to pick one example) the CoE.

Ah that would be the ex police federation chief Steve White who claimed the police were on the verge of being Paramilitaries whose first line of defence were tear gas and rubber bullets? Think he was largely kicking off when he lost his six figure salary

Can you let us know the “terrifying” paths they make?

You really don’t seem to know a lot about freemasonry frankly or have entirely misinterpreted what you do know. If you go into freemasonry looking to move up in society you’d be rooted out very quickly if not blackballed initially anyway.

Freemasons I know are amongst the most genuinely caring men I’ve known, actively seeking ways to support those struggling and charitable causes and doing so in a way which is quiet and not shouted about unlike a lot of individuals who claim to be genuinely charitable. I don’t know of anyone amongst my partners friends, past or present masons, who feels in any way controlled or brainwashed and think they’d find such claims offensive and laughable. In fact I know of more than one individual/family who has left freemasonry, fallen on hard times and been comforted emotionally and financially by the MCF - certainly they haven’t met any terrifying demise!

What goes on on an average social night is pretty similar to your average rugby club lol. Are you particularly susceptible to conspiracy theories or just ones which match certain ideologies?

@Costacoffeeplease why?

I'm several pages in but has anyone actually told us what goes on

@feelingathomenow People like a little bit of drama and mystery. Most of the local lodge are in their 70s and retired. The idea of them influencing the police, getting criminals off the hook, giving their retired mates leads to new jobs....😆 I'd love to see them taking terrifying oaths. They would have to ask for them to be repeated as most are deaf.

Somehow, it's far less dramatic and much more boring

Again spreading completely laughable and ignorant untruths. Personally know of Freemasons who have been to prison, and remained a respected Freemason pre and post sentence.

Based on my knowledge of the people I know who are/were members.

My friends husband was in there for a long time. he recently left out of the blue and refuses to say why. Apparently my friend thinks they asked him to do certain things. She also believes he was having sex with people. He always went to bed with no clothes but every time after his nights with them he would wear pants and often have stuff in his undies next day. She said that it was gross and his behaviour got worse and worse. Very controlling. She is happy he is out. It is totally a cult and dangerous.

Well exactly.,tbh most of the people I know are master masons many involved with the SRIA. Research geeks who love nothing more than solving 17th century riddles.They're about as terrifying as a Labrador puppy.,

I think it is more the male equivalent of the WI. Just less baked goods.

I suspect he wasn't actually going to FM meetings... Great excuse though!

Omg! Are you now claiming the Freemasons are some kind of sex cult!!! This thread is getting more hilarious by the second. Your friend had better watch out, no doubt next week he will be dancing naked with a goat during the full moon!🌕