Freemasons

Whitewavemark2

I am sure that you DH and father were/are delightful individuals, as I am sure are many other men.

I tbh do not have any strong feelings one way or another other than as I said it just seems so old fashioned snd rather like Boy Scouts for grown ups

That is fine if you like that sort of thing. There are plenty of ways to give back to society without joining a boys club with secret symbols, handshakes etc, not to mention the mysticism attached to it in the form of an amorphous “deity” . But I’m sure it is fun for the members, and as they do little harm really, I guess it is live and let live😊

Yes, and then ??? It should not be live and let live when it comes to massive public contracts, High ranking Police and Judges (I'd say all police and judiciary), and large organisations and institutions. And as said before, professionals who give advice to their clients should do so on the basis of quality of service, and not on membership of said society. Same for appointments to top jobs in those institutions or businesses - the best person for the job should be appointed, not the one who is a member (and all this not declared as part of process). They also say that they do NOT recruit- but they do, and very activelly, if a link is required for their needs. Refusal has consequences.

I you asked your doctor about which Consultant to be referred to, or which undertakers in your hour of need, for instance.

Georgesgran

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

Absolutely. They go back centuries, now have women’s “lodges” and do loads for charity, local and national.

Personally, it’s not my “cup of tea”, but a very dear friend of mine is a Mason and from what he’s (allowed) to tell us, there’s a lot of book learning, one has to believe in a “higher” authority, ie a “god” and always strive to be a “better version of yourself”

I am sure that you DH and father were/are delightful individuals, as I am sure are many other men.

I tbh do not have any strong feelings one way or another other than as I said it just seems so old fashioned snd rather like Boy Scouts for grown ups

That is fine if you like that sort of thing. There are plenty of ways to give back to society without joining a boys club with secret symbols, handshakes etc, not to mention the mysticism attached to it in the form of an amorphous “deity” . But I’m sure it is fun for the members, and as they do little harm really, I guess it is live and let live😊

GrannyGravy13

^pat on the back^ 🤷‍♀️

👏👏👏

pat on the back 🤷‍♀️

I feel strongly about this, my DH is a mason as was my late father. They are two of the kindest, funniest and most generous men that I have ever known.

Before joining the masons DH had had 30+ years membership of another service/charitable organisation.

Please stop with the slurs about men who give up their time to spend time with likeminded men and do so much for charity, most of which is not publicised, as they do not do it for the par on the back

harrigran

My DH was invited to join the Masons but declined, he told me he worked with several people who were members and he had no wish to be associated with them outside of work.

But that’s quite reasonable.
There are several people DH and I have worked with that we would not wish to associate with outside work, and they aren’t masons.
If there was a GN thread on “Do you meet up with all your coworkers socially?”
It would be full of reasons why or why not.

My DH was invited to join the Masons but declined, he told me he worked with several people who were members and he had no wish to be associated with them outside of work.

Please pont me in the direction of the mud slinging?

Crosstitchfan
That could be true.
When I was on the Parish Council one woman didn’t get elected to and because of that that she was heard to be loudly dismissing anything they did.

Do beware of getting reported though.

Allira - You can have experience of what they are all about as many posters have already reported.

Also, anyone can look up what they are about, so all this mud slinging is, rather pointless, and even, dare I say it, rude.

I don't think the Masons are all about helping people and Ladies nights and fine wine.

So - what are they about? As it's supposedly secret, how do you know?
Can you share it?

lafergar

I don't think the networking that comes with being part of the Masons is comparable to the opportunities which may come from a chance encounter in a pub.

I don't think the Masons are all about helping people and Ladies nights and fine wine.

What kind of opportunities are found down the pub?
The mind boggles!

Unless they need staff.

lafergar

I don't think the networking that comes with being part of the Masons is comparable to the opportunities which may come from a chance encounter in a pub.

I don't think the Masons are all about helping people and Ladies nights and fine wine.

Then what do you think they ARE about? As previously stated, they raise a lot of money which helps a lot of organisations. Why do you need to know all the details?
I am of the opinion that you are on here purely to cause friction and arguments.
I think you are one of the most argumentative people I have ever had the misfortune to come across. You ask a question or make a (usually uninformed and incorrect) statement and then you immediately come back and contradict the person who has answered you.
Having read your posts, it has occurred to me that you might have wanted to join the Masons but no-one invited you, so this is all sour grapes to try to get your own back.
As far as I am concerned, you are just a waste of my time, and I will not be pandering to you any more. Have fun trying to make waves, but I think you would be better off trying to get a life!

Grantanow

Georgesgran

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

And no, I’m not in.

Catholic men have the Catenians in place of the Freemasons.

Grantanow
I was about to mention the Catenians!
A good friend of mine, who is a practising Catholic ,is a member of the Catenians. They seem to do a lot of fund raising for worthy causes

Many of the rules of the catholic church that were so binding in childhood are not now imposed with such rigour and some are not applied.

The catholic church has also, in principle, allowed catholics to deviate from some rules and regulations of the church if after proper prayer and consideration they feel they cannot conscientiously follow them. This applied very much in the 1960s and 1970s, when many of us could not conscientiously accept the churches teaching on contraception.

GrannyGravy13
I imagine that the catholics that are Freemason are non practising catholics

Yes. Maybe CEO catholics or like several I know personally who are selective about the rules they follow.

shoppinggirl

" On Nov. 15, 2023, the Vatican reaffirmed that Catholics cannot belong to Freemasonry and are prohibited from joining a lodge due to their “irreconcilability” with Catholic doctrine. "

I imagine that the catholics that are Freemason are non practising catholics

Allira

That Black Hole has to be filled somehow!

🤔

🤣🤣🤣

So it is not that Catholics are not allowed to join the Freemasons by the Freemasons themselves, it is their Church which forbids it.

" On Nov. 15, 2023, the Vatican reaffirmed that Catholics cannot belong to Freemasonry and are prohibited from joining a lodge due to their “irreconcilability” with Catholic doctrine. "

That Black Hole has to be filled somehow!

🤔

Whitewavemark2

Actually you almost certainly can or should be able to view their accounts if they are a registered business which I assume they are.

They lost a long running court case last year regarding VAT payments on their membership fees, it concluded they could not claim a refund of £2.8m.
Their argument was that UGLE was a purely philanthropic organisation, the court and HMRC ruled otherwise, income at the time was £13m.

lafergar

Oh dear, How very rude you are.

Have a nice afternoon.

Oh dear, when you don’t like what I post, presumably because it’s the truth, you say I’m rude.
That’s nice
I can live with you thinking that.😁
And thanks, I am having a nice afternoon.

lafergar

I don't think the networking that comes with being part of the Masons is comparable to the opportunities which may come from a chance encounter in a pub.

I don't think the Masons are all about helping people and Ladies nights and fine wine.

So what do you think Freemasons are all about ?

Those who have knowledge have posted, and so far you have disagreed with them all.

As for your take Ladies nights and fine wine I find this both hilarious and in-informed.

Oh dear, How very rude you are.

Have a nice afternoon.