Freemasons

DH went in as a ‘Lewis’ when he was 21. His DF was Master, then a Past Master and when he went away, if he could, he always attended a local Lodge meeting and was welcomed with open arms.

DH resigned after a few years, partly through lack of time, and while he swore allegiance to the Crown, he strongly disagreed in the belief in a higher power - God. It wasn’t an easy decision and his DF was very disappointed with it.

I still think it’s a cause for good which raises £millions for charities, that they don’t publicize or bang on about.

My father was a mason, and an official of the Lodge for a while.
But he used to joke about it - he called it the ‘Boy Scouts’. IIRC being a member was supposed to be an advantage at work - I think that’s the main reason he joined.

I had a short-term friend (met on a flight from Canada to Gatwick) who, in passingly , told me he was a Mason. I believe they do a lot for charity. He seemed a very nice man and had he lived nearer, who knows how the friendship would have developed - mind you he was a mummy’s boy😂

Passing, not passingly 😂

I enjoyed the Ladies Evenings and didn’t worry about being patronised. It was a fun evening out and chance to meet and chat. I also went to lots of those sort of affairs because of DH’s job.

My husband was a mason and belonged to a small lodge in Cornwall. The members were mainly working class, with some farm workers and a post man in the mix. I used to cook the meal at their monthly meetings and, when they had the top man from Cornwall as a guest, he insisted that I should join them at the festive board instead of eating on my own in the kitchen. I think this was fairly unusual, but it was Cornwall after all. When we moved up to Berkshire he joined another Lodge, but I found they were a lot of boring old farts, and I was pleased when he got fed up and left.

My maternal grandfather's brothers and their father were all in the masons, but my grandfather refused to join despite being invited many times.He said he disliked the secrecy of it.My mother told me in the depression years my grandfather's relatives all kept their jobs, and made sure my grandfather kept his, despite his reluctance to join. On my father's side it was the same, except my father who refused to have anything to do with it.My paternal uncles were non practising catholics.

A neighbour of mum’s was in ‘the Buffs’. 🤷‍♀️

This from Wiki:

The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) is one of the largest fraternal movements in the United Kingdom,[1] The order started in 1822 and has since spread throughout the former British Empire and elsewhere in the world. It is known as the "Buffs" to members.

My grandfather was a Buff.

I think that Masons do a lot for charity. As mentioned by some already, the Buffs is similar, but different. My Dad, bless him, was a member of the Buffs for some years. Never spoke about it, but Mum would say he was going to a “Buffs meeting” when I was a little girl. I imagine that it, too, did charitable deeds, but was also a place for cameraderie and friendship, like I imagine the Masons is.
I believe it was quite secretive, too, like the Masons, with its rituals and such like. Certainly Dad never discussed what they did.

My Dad was encouraged to joint both the Masons and the Buffalo’s, refused both and joined the Lions club, Mum too and as children we helped with Christmas parcels..
The Lions were and still are a very active charity, MrJ had his prostate test done under their auspices locally last year, no secrecy in the their activities

Our late friend was a Mason and a Catholic.

I always refer to them as “the funny hand shake brigade” because of their special handshake where one can recognise another. I don’t think they are quite as secretive as they used to be.

The Duke of Kent is the Grand Master, and has been for years, being re-elected annually.
In a nutshell, it it is a charity organisation and they raise millions for the charities they support.
As for the rituals, they are there purely as a nod to the way the original masons worked. No goats are involved!
Freemasonry is not really secret any more. In fact, a few years ago there was a tell-all documentary about it on tv.
They are choosy in regard to people invited to join, but what’s wrong with that? They don’t want people they can’t trust, so membership is by invitation.
It’s the media who have given Freemasonry it’s bad reputation, and it should be noted that a lot of people who ridicule it actually know little about it. They just want to belittle something they either have been refused entry to, or just want to try to make trouble for.
As I said, they raise masses of money for charity, and that’s the important thing.

TerriBull

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.

You’re right! You don’t know much about Freemasonry, and why should you?
All the points you have made are untrue. Unfortunately, when Freemasonry was really secret some time ago, people who couldn’t access it for whatever reason decided to belittle it.
There’s too much to explain here now, but briefly, it is not at all sinister. Freemasons, through their Lodges, raise enormous amounts of money for charity (you’d be amazed how much) and the secretive label partly came about because they didn’t broadcast this fact, just got on with it.
I hope that convinces you that they are not sinister. The Duke of Kent is the Grand Master and many royals, past and present, are, or were, Masons. Sir Winston Churchill was one too.
I am sure, like any other organisation, there are bad eggs, but I think they are in the minority.

crazyH

Passing, not passingly 😂

He shouldn’t have told you that!!

My husband was a mason for years but he started doing long hours so couldn't get to lodge meetings. I went to a few events and everyone was very friendly and open.
They do a lot of charitable work and help any of their own who are widowed etc.
When I worked for an organisation for the elderly a mason had left a substantial sum of money when he died, He gave Help The Aged a large sum to distribute to buy transport for the elderly into day centres, we were the lucky recipients of one of their buses.
They are much more open about their organisation now, I know my husband who is a lovely, kind man would t have joined anything he wasn't happy with.

I wonder how they raise the money.

NotSpaghetti

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!

Yes, I think it is and I think they raise money for charity too.

We went to some Masonic dinners years ago when DH's uncle was a member and I know friends of ours are Mason. Both are very kind men indeed.
Men do seem to like clubs, uniforms etc, more so than women, I think.

Nothing to do with sectarian hatred like other groups.
Nor do they march.

kircubbin2000

I wonder how they raise the money.

Contributions, fees, raffles, donations - like many groups.

kircubbin2000

I wonder how they raise the money.

When I worked for an organisation for the elderly a mason had left a substantial sum of money when he died, He gave Help The Aged a large sum to distribute to buy transport for the elderly into day centres, we were the lucky recipients of one of their buses.
Redrobin has also answered your question, kircubbin.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

A neighbour of mum’s was in ‘the Buffs’. 🤷‍♀️

This from Wiki:

The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) is one of the largest fraternal movements in the United Kingdom,[1] The order started in 1822 and has since spread throughout the former British Empire and elsewhere in the world. It is known as the "Buffs" to members.

I never knew what The Buffs were but I remember visiting my Aunt and Uncle when I was young and quite often, Uncle Fred had gone to The Buffs! Apart from those occasions he always seemed to be sitting in his leather armchair in the parlour.
I liked it when he was home because he would give me two shillings.

Oooh Allira 2/- !

Yes they do some good things for charity but still a sexist organisation, much like the WI.

I agree Jackiest