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.

What do you mean “goes further than the first 3 degrees” where?

Ypu can find books about numerous things, The New World Order, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, people’s abduction by aliens, the Illuminati (not the actual Bavarian one). Various apocalyptic prophecies, the Lizard People, various conspiracies etc etc. Do yoi believe everything you read?

RTTT

There is also co masonry (bigger in the US than here atm).

It is true that there are companion orders we can join after going through the Third Degree ceremony. The most prominent in England is the Royal Arch, which English Freemasons are strongly encouraged to join. It's seen as the completion of Pure and Ancient Masonry. I joined the Royal Arch a few months after I went through my Third Degree. In addition, I have also joined the Order of Mark Master Masons and the Ancient and Accepted Rite (informally known as Rose Croix after its 18th degree).

Companion orders are additional but don't make you superior to someone who is just in Craft. That's why we always say that the highest degree in Freemasonry is the Third Degree. What the previous poster said about the Three Degrees being shown to be "a sham" is, of course, complete nonsense. They build on what came before.

Well exactly, that’s why I was questioning the phrase “goes further than the first 3 degrees” it seemed to indicate more degrees somewhere.

I'm not sure how much you can say, but can you tell me us any more about the companion orders?

Here is some information on them, aimed at those not yet in them. So far, I am only in Royal Arch, Mark Master Masons and Ancient and Accepted Rite. I can talk about them in general terms.

Masonic Orders, Rites & Degrees - Masonic Jewellery

What are the purposes/focuses of the companion orders you are part of?

Out of interest, is it purely white people? Maybe ask him about their diversity policies?

@pistachio83 DH’s lodge is fairly diverse. The older members tend to be white but that’s not the case at all for those under 50. It probably depends on the demographics of the local area.

No, very multi-ethnic. The following verse from Rudyard Kipling's Tyler's Toast, written sometime after 1885 when he was initiated, shows how ahead its time Freemasonry was back then:

"Amidst our mirth we drink to all poor masons o’er the Earth,
On every shore our flag of love is gloriously unfurled.
We prize each Brother, fair or dark, who bears no moral stain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again."

You might want to take note of the physical appearances of some of the Freemasons in this video:

What rubbish! Many of the members are Jewish, black, brown, whatever plus there are lodges for women. Get your facts right.

It was sarcasm! That is why there are women’s meetings!

That doesn’t answer my question: why are the sexes segregated?

Dear god why would anyone think that
freemasonry is all over the world which takes I all shades of humans

Probably the same reasom Mumsnet exists?

I should have added, because they can

80% of the funds go back to Freemasons and their families
Thats the financial payoff anyway
^^

Anyone can come on Mumsnet

And yet, it seems, so many of the comments have been very derogatory towards men but that doesn't appear to have raised any eyebrows!

Ewww so grim and steeped in misogyny. Also hyper right wing. Is he into Farage too?

I agree with you. I’m glad the homophobic ones were deleted. I think more than anything people seem to have an issue with men.

Replace men with misogyny and there you go!

Why do we have separate sex schools? Sometimes things are better separated like that.

I seem to recall that co masonry was introduced in the UK and that the women’s movement came out of that because they wanted their own group(but that’s a hazy recollection so someone with more knowledge might want to correct me).

The FM were founded/revealed in the 18th century - most organisations were men only. Plenty of other groups were men and women had equal membership have sprung up out of the FM.

what’s the issue with single sex groups?

Where is the misogyny though? Of course you will come across some misogynistic people in any group.

Indeed, and it seems slightly surprising to me. We're part of "Mumsnet" and, albeit a generalisation, one might think that there are men in the lives of all or most of us contributors, perhaps even an important part of our lives. Maybe it's some sort of "pack" behaviour at work or, at the very least, the anonymity of it all that encourages the sort of comments on here that many might not choose to identify with publicly!