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.

Why should they tell you? Is this what this is all about? You feel you’re missing out on some big secret? I suspect anything that could be revealed would pass you by.

As a word to the wise, if you want people to talk to you about something that is important to them, the best thing is to start off with approaching them and what they do with respect. Calling something “mumbo jumbo” etc is hardly going to put people who value that thing on the best frame of mind to talk to you in depth. This applies to life generally not just the FM.

I’m sorry you’re so angry about this.

Self-evidently, the majority commenting on this ridiculous initial post know nothing about Freemasonry and to suggest it might be misogynistic is not only ludicrous but offensive too.

Sorry that was a
Response to @Auntywokery - no idea where the quote went.

And your evidence for that is what precisely? Or perhaps you're saying that because you know nothing about it? It is, in fact, non-denominational and blind to colour, race and creed.

@Feelingathomenow. Thank you for your advice. I’m not angry, more amused, bemused and derisive. And I still want to know what the payoff is or is meant to be.

This thread is hilarious. The lengths people have gone to in order to convince people that nothing sinister is occurring has only made the whole thing look incredibly shady.

You're right, it is hilarious, but for quite the opposite reason. People who seem to know little or nothing about an organisation suggesting, therefore, that it must be shady, is simply bonkers.

I think that’s been covered - “ to make good men better”

@Auntywokery

www.ugle.org.uk/become-freemason/why-become-freemason

Yup, the defensiveness and repetitive statements from FM members has been thoroughly bizarre - but it’s all fine because ChArItY wOrK!

A question not for the freemasons, but for the rest...

If the men's lodges are misogynistic, what are the women's lodges?

@Feelingathomenow “To make good men better” as exemplified by the St James Lodge in West London as investigated by Sir Robert Mark Are you serious?

There’s no point this been discussed on mumsnet, you either know or don’t.

Firstly, you asked why people joined. I told you why.

Secondly -what point are you attempting to make re St James Lodge and Robert Mark?

Do you actually know anything about the Met police corruption centred on the Lodge? Have you read Rowley, Cundy etc on the subject? Do you have any concept of how important this is?

Why are the sexes separated?

I’m asking you what point you are attempting to make re Robert Mark and St James Lodge. Once you have clarified that we can move on to the next point. You seem very keen to through round a random half baked accusations without actually saying anything. If you have something to say, say it because at the moment your thrashing around in the dark throwing out names is looking rather desperate and silly. I’ll pick up with you tomorrow

goodnight

Posters question how anyone can make assumptions about freemasonry if they know nothing about it.

There are many, many books written on the deceit and agenda of the society. Most books are written under a pseudo name to protect the author. Such is the fear and intimidation.

Masons apparently lie to one another. Allegedly, if a mason goes further than the first 3 degrees, he learns that the secrets he was told up until then are a sham. It's fools gold.

I think it really pulls on a man's (or womans) need to belong hence why people join. The grandiose titles they give one another (Master Mason and Supreme Degree) seem to prey on members pride. They like feeling important. But again - fools gold.

Isn't this type of club morally wrong? Jobs for the boys and all that, hindering the rest of us getting on in the workplace? That would "give me the ick", not just all the weird rituals.

The part of the organisation where women stay in their place 🙄

In response to Auntywokery:

A few things.

First of all, "mumbo jumbo" refers to "confusing or meaningless language." Freemasons would (perhaps not surprisingly) dispute that they engage in "mumbo jumbo" or "nonsense" on the grounds that everything that is said and done in the lodge has a symbolic meaning and/or purpose. As I have already said elsewhere, when we conduct a ceremony we are telling a story, which teaches certain moral principles. By doing it in an unusual and dramatic way we make it enjoyable and memorable.

I found the ceremonies (particularly my initiation) to be somewhat surreal at the time, but I loved them. I didn't feel at all humiliated and I am not really sure why you would assume that I would have been. I absolutely love all three ceremonies, particularly the Third Degree one, which I think is particularly dramatic and beautiful. I also loved the ceremonies in the companion orders I went on to join i.e. the Royal Arch, Mark Master Masons and The Ancient and Accepted Rite. That last one... WOW!

The "pay off," as you put it, is going through these wonderful ceremonies to begin with and then being allowed to take part in them later on. A lot of effort goes into performing them. We try to deliver our lines from memory and we get an awful lot of pleasure and satisfaction from performing a ceremony well and giving the candidate going through it a really positive experience.

So, hopefully I have now adequately explained what the "pay off" is.

Beaver lodges

Are you normally so derogatory towards women?