Freemasons

Maybe I don't know enough about them, but the little I've garnered is the secretive and by extension their somewhat sinister nature. Also, I understand they preclude people from joining based on sex, religion or whatever else their criteria dictates.

Not a secret society - a society of secrets. There’s a big difference.

My dh worked fir many years where many were masons, but despite invitations to join he never did. Something about secrecy and rolled up trouser legs just didn’t feel comfortable.

Ladies have their own branch of Freemasonry Terri and Catholics are forbidden to join by The Vatican.

And no, I’m not in.

My next-door neighbour was a lodge master.

I have very mixed feelings but a kinder person you wouldn't find.
He told me they have been helping wives and families of deceased and incapacitated members for years. I know they have done a lot by way of trying to help unemployed into work and homeless into housing because his wife told me about some of the things they have done locally as "businessmen" (without saying they were masons i think).

I think it's a bit of an odd "boys club" but no longer think it's sinister.

It strikes me as Rotary with rituals!

silverlining48

My dh worked fir many years where many were masons, but despite invitations to join he never did. Something about secrecy and rolled up trouser legs just didn’t feel comfortable.

My dad was invited by friends and felt the same.

The Order of the Eastern Star seems to be a version of the Freemasons that has female members.

I think Rabbie Burns, the poet, was a Freemason.

I think growing up Catholic I was told something along those lines Georgesgran and then I was also told Jews couldn't join either so they set up their own, but thank you for the information.

So the Masons could be deemed racist then?

Some countries accept Jews not all countries

Similar to Soroptimists. Not the female equivalent but very similar in the work they do for women.

There was a lot of Masonic influence in Local Government and business 25 yrs ago, much less now, more like an old boys club.. I’m sure the Orange order in NI still has a lot of influence.
I was in Rotary Club for many years and knew a lot of other business types, now that’s mostly an old boys club too, we did have women members too but they were pretty transient, attending weekly meeting is a challenge these days

The handshake thing is rather creepy.

There was small talk at my late husband's house one day about the Freemasons. I said "Oh I've decided to join the Coop" My father in law was startled into exclaiming "I thought you were going to say you had decided to join the Eastern Star".

There was a piece in the Guardian about loneliness among middle -aged men . Maybe Freemason meetings are a way to help middle aged men to feel they belong.

My father was a mason and was an n the same lodge as Arthur Lowe (Dad’s Army). They certainly ran a hospital in west London and raised money for charity. I went to a dinner/dance with Dad when I was about 13 in Kew.

My father stopped going in the end as Mum and her parents did not approve. They were strong Protestants. My father was an atheist but had a belief in the universe being more powerful than the individual. That’s the most that I know.

It does seem men don't always build the friendship groups that women do, I've heard about walking groups where men can walk and talk good idea. My husband plays golf so gets a certain amount of interaction action with other men from that interest.

I'm not comfortable with societies that preclude people on certain grounds or keep some weird mystique going. Orange orders have been discussed on the other thread an anachronism that should have died a death. If Masons exert influence in local government, then they sound similar to lobbyists and we have far too many of them with their own vested interests.

My father was a mason, he was desperate for me to become a lady mason, but I took on membership of a different charitable organisation, which in the end he agreed I made the right decision.

DH is a master mason, they often invite ladies and visitors into their Temple no secrets anymore.

They raise £millions for charity and send it wherever in the world it is needed.

It is good for men to have friends, they support each other in life and care for their widows in death.

Mt61

So the Masons could be deemed racist then?

Not in the 21st century, it doesn’t matter what race or religion you are Freemasonry welcomes all.

I don’t think there is the secrecy there was many years ago.
We have had many friends over the years who were Masons, all nice decent people but there did seem to be a lot of “ jobs for the boys”
However no problems at all.
I think my H, in LG, at a high level was approached, only hinted at not said but it just wasn’t his thing.
With friends we did go to social occasions.
We were told that some senior royals, I won’t name, were members.

It’s no secret Usedtobeblonde the late Duke of Edinburgh was a Freemason as is the current Duke of Edinburgh.

It is no longer a secret society and hasn’t been for many many years.

My grandfather was a Mason and so was DH. When we moved he found quite a few men near us went too. He said it was a friendly group. He stopped attending when his work involved lots of evening work which meant he couldn’t make it to meetings. I enjoyed the Ladies Evenings.

Am I alone in finding the whole rigmarole around so called "ladies evenings" patronising, for a start I prefer to be known as a "woman" I refer to a lady as a form of deference when referring to older wonen than myself or speaking about someone I don't know. My late father in law organised via his golf club so called "ladies nights" a more misogynistic load of old school dinosaurs it would have been hard to equal, thankfully my husband is nothing like him the mould was well and truly broken. The speeches were usually of the order of "we'd like to thank the ladies for letting us out" like they were some sort of penned in herd animal. God these events were dire, thankfully the female members of OH's family refused to go after a while, so he couldn't make up a table.

My father was a mason for many years and my husband has been a mason also for many years. They raise a lot of money for charity and support many. It is not a secretive society and they welcome the ladies in at certain times. My DH has made many friends and in retirement it has given him the opportunity to meet with other professional people and have a purpose. There is no racism all are welcomed.