That freemasonry "coming out" post R0wan links to is quite something.
Today though, I have decided to ‘come out’ and be clear to friends, colleagues, and anyone else who is interested: I am a Freemason and have been for twenty-two years.
I was introduced to the Craft, as it is widely known, by my step grandfather, an active Mason in Lincolnshire, and then by a number of friends who, like me, were involved in politics. The values espoused by Freemasonry chimed with my own – Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, or as they are now perhaps better expressed: integrity, kindness, honesty, and fairness.
(yes let's just pretend the Brotherly bit means all people, including minorities such as women)
As a feminist, [emphasis mine] the ethicacy of that position inevitably troubles me, as it does in respect of any organisation that defines who may become members by means of gender or other arbitrary distinction. For me the balancing test has always been whether I feel the positive benefits of Freemasonry – be they social, charitable, or more ethereal through its moral teachings – outweigh the disbenefits of its arbitrary segregation by gender. This is a question which will undoubtedly vex me for many years to come. Hopefully, one day, I might be able to fully answer it. In the meantime, I will carry on enjoying Freemasonry as my hobby and as a means through which I socialise with some of my friends, whilst hopefully doing a bit of good for charity and wider society.
GALAXY BRAIN is Edward Lord attempting penance for his membership of the arbitrariliy gender segregated Freemasons, by removing gender segregation everywhere else?
I love the "yea well it's troubling isn't it this excluding women from power but "in the meantime, I will carry on enjoying Freemasonry as my hobby and as a means through which I socialise with some of my friends"