Freemasonry.

My Father was a Master Mason, as is my Husband.

I know for a fact that they have done and continue to do so much for local, national and international communities.

There are many other ways of giving money to charity.

And? If a bunch of men decide to meet up every so often, create little rituals for themselves that don't appear to do anyone any harm, does it matter if they're faintly ridiculous? Personally, I find the lines of people paying £££s to pound away on treadmills in the gym, whilst staring out at the local running track in the park absolutely ridiculous but, it's their money and their choice. And surely any money raised and given to good causes is to be appreciated isn't it? A quick Google says this:

Freemasons in the UK donate millions annually, primarily through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), focusing on supporting masonic families, vulnerable people, medical research, and hospices.
Key areas include children's hospices, dementia care, and local community charities, distributing roughly £5.5 million in grants each year. Core Areas of Charitable Support:
Masonic Families: Support for Freemasons, wives, partners, widows, children, and grandchildren, covering financial, health, and care-related needs.
Hospices: Substantial grants to support palliative care services in the hospice sector.
Children and Young People: Support for early years (0-5) focusing on poverty, neglect, special education needs, and disabilities.
Medical Research: Funding for research into childhood diseases and conditions.
Older People: Projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of older people with dementia and their carers.
Disaster Relief: Regular contributions to national and international disaster appeals.
Key Charities and Programmes:Teddies for Loving Care (TLC): Provides teddies to A&E departments for young children.
Lifelites: Provides assistive technology for children with life-limiting conditions

Who has connected it with infidelity? Missed that post.

GrannyGravy13

kircubbin2000 men do not have to join a club in order to have an affair, nor do women.

Never said it did but it gives a good excuse as to where you go on set nights.
Another good excuse is visiting a friend every week at the same time.

There are many other ways of giving money to charity.

Freemasonry may be a harmless irrelevance, but its rituals do make it look more than faintly ridiculous. It may not be ‘secret’ but it couldn’t be described as open.

My late FIL was a mason and enjoyed the social life it provided. My late MIL belonged to the Eastern Star which she said was the womens’ version of the masons. They went to well lubricated meetings all over Fife. I never got involved so no idea if that comparison is true. I have never heard of the Eastern Star since.

Seems a bit of a stretch to connect Masons with marital infidelity; I expect gym goers, WI members or snooker clubs sometimes use that as an excuse too!

Whilst I have zero experience of our local Masons, I have to say that they've had a huge impact on the life of a little boy in our area. Due to difficulties at birth, he'll never be able to walk or move independently and, whilst he was provided with a motorised wheelchair, it was very heavy and cumbersome. The local Masons Lodge bought him a new, lighter and more responsive wheelchair and organised appropriate easy access in and out of his home. It was only when the child's parents gave public thanks that anyone became aware.

I think initially many join for the mutual benefits they can enjoy, however they do do charity work so all to the good.

My father was in the Masons for several years. He had some role as IIRC a steward, but he made fun of it to my DM - called it ‘boy scouts’ and laughed at the solemn rituals.
IIRC he joined only because it was expected to be a help in his career.

kircubbin2000 men do not have to join a club in order to have an affair, nor do women.

That happened me with the Rotary club. One year they had a Ladies night which was great fun. 2 years later I bumped into the Chief man and said how much I enjoyed it and asked why they hadn't run it again.
He looked at me blankly ,obviously hadn't a clue who I was and I discovered husband was no longer a member.

This was the first of the clues followed up by a builder phoning up to ask me for the keys to her house as he had a delivery and couldn't reach my husband.

Sounds like this man is a Knights Templar Mason

There are so many different branches of Masonry, they raise and donate £££££ to charities.

Some branches are very active in local communities.

They are not a secret society anything you wish to know is available online.

But does she always know where he is, kircubbin. A mason I used to know always called in on his mistress after his lodge meeting.

There are women masons.

I once met a gentleman mason on my flight back from Canada. A very nice man, but didn’t want to discuss too much about the society, except that they did a lot for charity.

As she said to me I don't have to worry about it for I always know where he is.

Crikey, are the Masons still going?
They always remind me of Inspector Morse.