Freemasons

When I was 6 (80 years ago), my parents ran a hotel where the top floor was rented out to the masons.I regularly went up and helped myself to a handful of black and white marbles.I was the envy of every child in the neighbourhood.

I think it's a horrible organisation, as would be expected when it is so secret. They used to infiltrate various organisations, including the police, to gain favourable treatment. I think they are banned in the police force now but I don't know about elsewhere. How benevolent of them to "welcome the ladies at certain times".

My uncle was a mason and he was horrible - just saying!

Yes he’d be my ex husband too!

JaneJudge

So if a mason was telling his wife she could only attend wives of mason meetings and could not mix outside, we could assume that was an abuse?

Your experience is that it is open?

It’s the wives of masons meetings that I find odd, I have never heard of them.

Lodges do have mixed social events throughout the year, but they are very informal, casual and can be good fun.

As for being told who I could meet up with by my husband, he would soon be my ex-husband…

It’s not me, it’s my friend

So if a mason was telling his wife she could only attend wives of mason meetings and could not mix outside, we could assume that was an abuse?

Your experience is that it is open?

JaneJudge

And before I’m told otherwise, this is how our local ish group is run. Maybe other groups are different but not here.

Having been involved with Freemason Lodges in several U.K. counties, including London if I was you I would change your group as that is not normal practice.

JaneJudge

Georgesgran

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

And no, I’m not in.

They don’t. That have to be wives of masons to attend the wives meetings
and they don’t like the wives being friends with women outside of that group

The only women that can join the masons are trans women who are biologically male but are now ‘women’

There are female only Freemason Lodges.

They are nothing to do with wives of masons although there is nothing to stop a wife of a Freemason joining one.

As for wives not being liked to have friends outside of the wives group that is just utter tosh.

Whatever the Vatican says I can assure you that there are catholic masons.

And before I’m told otherwise, this is how our local ish group is run. Maybe other groups are different but not here.

Georgesgran

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

And no, I’m not in.

They don’t. That have to be wives of masons to attend the wives meetings
and they don’t like the wives being friends with women outside of that group

The only women that can join the masons are trans women who are biologically male but are now ‘women’

GrannyGravy13

Claremont not in modern 21st century masonry, you are misinformed.

To be fair, maybe she only knows the dodgy branches (if they exist), which can’t be gone into here.
Or maybe it’s an urban myth from somebody who knows somebody whose uncle’s stepson was party to a wrongful appointment.
They do not, whatever has been said, swear to help people above the law, though I have heard that people outside Masonry do, which I equally can’t go into here.

Claremont not in modern 21st century masonry, you are misinformed.

Freya5

kircubbin2000

Reading about the Orange parades someone mentioned similarity to masons. I've often wondered what they do and if they are a dodgy organisation. If not what is the secrecy about them?
My neighbours husband is a mason and she says the good thing about it is that she always knows where he is when he goes out.

"Dodgy". Anything that people do not understand maybe. About 4 years ago, along with other volunteers on our day out, we attended our local Freemasons Lodge. What a stunning place, the Worshipful Master showed us round, explained some things, and basically they are a meeting place, and are involved in much charity work, raising money for the hydrotherapy pool at the local school, working with the homeless, and more. I've just checked their face book page, and there was an interesting story , and pictures, of the joining of the Ladies Lodge, which also seems well represented. All can join either the mens or ladies lodges, the only criteria, you must believe in a supreme being, and no one is
excluded because of their religion, although that did happen for a short while when Jewish men , in Germany, were excluded. Because it's a secretive society, it's easily made a target of conspiracy theories. As well, anyone can visit, on appointment, and they serve a wonderful Sunday lunch public welcome. Of course you have to book.

Some of us say 'dodgy' because we know, actually.

Especially when it is about the appointments in the police and the judiciary, and when members swear to help members above the Law.

And also very unholly relationships between and among certain professions, which I can't go into here.

Here’s an example I’ve just screenshot from a website ….

I think on the Open Weekend in London you can visit the Freemason's Hall off Covent Garden. I think it is the HQ, but prepared to be corrected on that. I know there was a small Temple discovered in London in, I think, a Synagogue. It had been bricked up. I'll try to find it and put it on if I do as I think you can visit it. We did, many years ago when it was rediscovered, and it was fascinating.

Tell me, how much of the charitable work is for their own members and families and how much for the wider community. My impression is that men join this secretive society to get a leg up in their careers and also to have influence in wider matters such as the law, planning, etc. I have personal experience of this protection club which I can’t go into here. We call them the dodgy handshake club.

Seriously dodgy to belong to a group with such rituals and secrets. They may collect for charities - but so do many groups and individuals. It was very clearly a ‘jobs for the boys’ and ‘who you know’ route to getting promotions and even to bypassing laws with influential friends.

shoppinggirl

My father was a Mason and I went to the Masonic School in Rickmansworth. At that time the only girls who weren't admitted to the school were Catholics. There were a number of Jewish girls so I find it hard to believe that Jewish men are not accepted into Masonry. The school is still open but it is no longer 'Masonic' although it's called RMS. It was sold out and now accepts any fee paying girls.

There are Jewish, Catholics, Christians and many other religions in DH lodge.

My father was a Mason and I went to the Masonic School in Rickmansworth. At that time the only girls who weren't admitted to the school were Catholics. There were a number of Jewish girls so I find it hard to believe that Jewish men are not accepted into Masonry. The school is still open but it is no longer 'Masonic' although it's called RMS. It was sold out and now accepts any fee paying girls.

Mollygo

Whitewavemark2

The charity bit is fine.

It is the ceremonies that I find amusing and so old fashioned.

I agree they sound amusing, and even old fashioned. Anything our ancestors did sounds old fashioned to us and what we enjoy or like to do is referred to as old fashioned by our DGC. It doesn’t matter except when it’s used as an insult.

It’s just like any other group, that has a uniform or a ritual or a special song.
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go, which makes it a good idea that Freemasons was for men and not ladies on GN.

Another well said.

A very good friend of ours is a mason and was quite high up in his lodge . We’ve been to a number of ladies nights . They raise a lot of money for charity and look after members who are ill and the widows of members . There’s a masons care home near us , which is lovely with amazing staff. An elderly neighbour of ours was there .
Our friend says its members are decreasing and that younger men don’t join due to family commitments.

Allira

Whitewavemark2

The charity bit is fine.

It is the ceremonies that I find amusing and so old fashioned.

Doesn't old-fashioned also mean traditional?
Is it wrong to be old-fashioned looking at some of today's new-fashioned ideas?

The Freemasons raise money for charity. Their rituals are centuries old - do they harm anyone?

Other new groups suck the savings from susceptible people. Some have links to politicians. Their rituals are questionable.

Well said. Part of their culture. A good thing yes.

kircubbin2000

Reading about the Orange parades someone mentioned similarity to masons. I've often wondered what they do and if they are a dodgy organisation. If not what is the secrecy about them?
My neighbours husband is a mason and she says the good thing about it is that she always knows where he is when he goes out.

"Dodgy". Anything that people do not understand maybe. About 4 years ago, along with other volunteers on our day out, we attended our local Freemasons Lodge. What a stunning place, the Worshipful Master showed us round, explained some things, and basically they are a meeting place, and are involved in much charity work, raising money for the hydrotherapy pool at the local school, working with the homeless, and more. I've just checked their face book page, and there was an interesting story , and pictures, of the joining of the Ladies Lodge, which also seems well represented. All can join either the mens or ladies lodges, the only criteria, you must believe in a supreme being, and no one is
excluded because of their religion, although that did happen for a short while when Jewish men , in Germany, were excluded. Because it's a secretive society, it's easily made a target of conspiracy theories. As well, anyone can visit, on appointment, and they serve a wonderful Sunday lunch public welcome. Of course you have to book.

OP was dead right

I am 70 and remember from what my father said years ago just how powerful the Masons were.

Talk about Nepotism, Mateship and Jobs for the boys

You had to join them to even get a sniff at some jobs and professions.
They could really rule the roost. The Police Force had a big msson enclave at one time.

Although they are still going. I would imagine that they do not have as much power now.

Due to New Technolgies, Massive changes in Working patterns, and practices Emplyment Legilation.

Yes, Monty Python dud send them up something rottelnb and there were Lady Masibd

🦵👔👑💰

I went on a trip round a nearby Mason Hall. I thought it was a charity thing. But it isn’t. It’s a place for self development. It was started by stonemasons. It was a way of proving that you were a qualified stonemason. Some do charity work and others don’t. There are women ones.