it's in these lodges where some dodgy things unquestionably go on, 99% of it unknown to the average well meaning Mason.
Now this would interest me. A man of my statue has no interest in the lower level crap and no doubt the top bods are connected some how, as the saying goes it's not what you know... I'll join up and report back, as long as it's members only natch.
My dad was a freemason. When he died I was given the opportunity to join his lodge but I politely declined because at that stage my mum had started to resent the amount of time he spent out with his freemason mates and I could see the strain it was putting on their relationship.
I am a past master and treasurer now London Grand Rank. You want any details and to find out all the secrets you have to join. Alternatively, look at Wikipedia. Lots of crap spoken about a society that does a lot of good across all races and religions. Innocent amateur dramatic society with an average age of 50. These days in decline with lodges closing every week, especially London lodges.
I am a past master and treasurer now London Grand Rank. You want any details and to find out all the secrets you have to join. Alternatively, look at Wikipedia. Lots of crap spoken about a society that does a lot of good across all races and religions. Innocent amateur dramatic society with an average age of 50. These days in decline with lodges closing every week, especially London lodges.
Big respect to you and all at your lodge masicat..........the work done for charity all over the country is enormous and very well received by one and all. As I say, the average Mason is not involved in anything untoward but I suspect they'd be pretty shocked at some stuff that goes on 'further up the line' (for want of a better term) which thankfully, they will never come across.
Ask @RedArmySE7! It's a weird club where they dress up as wizards and orcs and put 'spells' on each other. I think that's how he ended up with a Lego head. Legoextremius!
Don't know much about them but I don't object to people joining. The very fact that I don't know much about them means they are not ramming their views/issues/fundraising down my throat so they can get on with it as they please! PS Can I join?
Ask @RedArmySE7! It's a weird club where they dress up as wizards and orcs and put 'spells' on each other. I think that's how he ended up with a Lego head. Legoextremius!
He even gets his missus to dress up as a Wizard in the bedroom now. Weird!
My father was a member, I went to a few social gatherings very pleasant affairs. There were one or two individuals whose political views I found unacceptable but you get those in all walks of life. They do a great deal of good for charity and when my father was ill they did help with hospital bills etc., .
My only concern is the clique of self interest. It is a practice the organisation frowns on but we all know people who have been promoted well above their capabilities and I certainly came across two people who were elevated through their masonic connections. They indicated I join for the same reason. To that extent it is an extension of the "old school tie" brigade.
It's a bit like the CL clique, you don't join until you are asked.
My grandfather was a mason all his life and apparently was London's third most senior FM once, I've never had the slightest interest in joining. As with Groucho Marx I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member.
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
Correct.............. and was the reason I couldn't/didn't join.
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
You have to believe that the world was created by a supreme being - not necessarily God, could be any diety or mother nature etc etc.
Freemasonry is totally non-religious and non-political. As for secrets - you can read them all on the internet, or go into the Welling meeting place and ask !
Most Cathedrals in England were built with funds raised by Freemasons, but so are many hospitals and schools nowadays. The key thing is that Freemasonry does not go for massive publicity for it's charity work - a bit like Smashy and Nicey!
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
You have to believe that the world was created by a supreme being - not necessarily God, could be any diety or mother nature etc etc.
That's me stuffed then. Not that i would ever want to join them. I wonder why they have that policy?
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
I heard that the requirement was that you state your belief in a "supreme being" of some kind... with no need to justify or explain what this personal interpretation of "a supreme being" might be.
This act probably fulfils a similar function to why we swear on the bible in court today - it is a relic from a time when it was commonly believed that if a man doesn't have a 'religious code', and as such isn't 'god fearing', he has no reason not to lie.. Such a person would also have generally been perceived as amoral.
Indeed atheists were forbidden from testifying in court in America for many years for this very reason.
I was told that in order to join you have to believe in god. No atheists allowed. Not sure how true this is but if it is it might account for the dwindling numbers.
I heard that the requirement was that you state your belief in a "supreme being" of some kind... with no need to justify or explain what this personal interpretation of "a supreme being" might be.
This act probably fulfils a similar function to why we swear on the bible in court today - it is a relic from a time when it was commonly believed that if a man doesn't have a 'religious code', and as such isn't 'god fearing', he has no reason not to lie.. Such a person would also have generally been perceived as amoral.
Indeed atheists were forbidden from testifying in court in America for many years for this very reason.
Saying they 'do a lot for charity' is a bit like saying Millwall 'do a lot in the community, especially to counteract a tarnished image'...do they really? I mean is there a way of getting evidence regarding exactly what they do for charity? I appreciate helping their own members with hospital related expenses and such like, but do Freemasons stay out all night doing soup runs for the homeless, or voluntary work in care homes for folk with advanced alzheimers?
Saying they 'do a lot for charity' is a bit like saying Millwall 'do a lot in the community, especially to counteract a tarnished image'...do they really? I mean is there a way of getting evidence regarding exactly what they do for charity? I appreciate helping their own members with hospital related expenses and such like, but do Freemasons stay out all night doing soup runs for the homeless, or voluntary work in care homes for folk with advanced alzheimers?
Maybe they don't personally go on soup runs, but they employ folk who do. Since 1981 they have given £50m+ to national registered charities - according to this:
Saying they 'do a lot for charity' is a bit like saying Millwall 'do a lot in the community, especially to counteract a tarnished image'...do they really? I mean is there a way of getting evidence regarding exactly what they do for charity? I appreciate helping their own members with hospital related expenses and such like, but do Freemasons stay out all night doing soup runs for the homeless, or voluntary work in care homes for folk with advanced alzheimers?
My mates lodge used to select a local charity to raise funds for each year, this could be a care home, hospice, drop in centre etc.
I used to witness some amazing amounts of money being raised via auctions, golf days, ladies nights, collections etc.
Always taken the view that it's a lot of people with nothing looking to scratch the backs of other people with nothing all in the belief that they will end up with something. Don't really know though and don't have a particular view one way or another about it other than it seems a bit odd.
Comments
As I say, the average Mason is not involved in anything untoward but I suspect they'd be pretty shocked at some stuff that goes on 'further up the line' (for want of a better term) which thankfully, they will never come across.
PS Can I join?
Wizard in the bedroom now. Weird!
My only concern is the clique of self interest. It is a practice the organisation frowns on but we all know people who have been promoted well above their capabilities and I certainly came across two people who were elevated through their masonic connections. They indicated I join for the same reason. To that extent it is an extension of the "old school tie" brigade.
I didn't.
My grandfather was a mason all his life and apparently was London's third most senior FM once, I've never had the slightest interest in joining. As with Groucho Marx I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member.
The "all seeing eye" which is a key freemasons thingy appears on USA paper money.
At the lower levels they are like a "rotary" club and do lots of charitable works.
Its what affects if any they have and do at higher levels that could be a question.
I always ahve a good chat to our mate The Needle man9Grand water rat/pooba/buffalo that he is) as it is intresting.
There are women only lodges, jewish lodges etc etc etc
Freemasonry is totally non-religious and non-political.
As for secrets - you can read them all on the internet, or go into the Welling meeting place and ask !
Most Cathedrals in England were built with funds raised by Freemasons, but so are many hospitals and schools nowadays. The key thing is that Freemasonry does not go for massive publicity for it's charity work - a bit like Smashy and Nicey!
This act probably fulfils a similar function to why we swear on the bible in court today - it is a relic from a time when it was commonly believed that if a man doesn't have a 'religious code', and as such isn't 'god fearing', he has no reason not to lie.. Such a person would also have generally been perceived as amoral.
Indeed atheists were forbidden from testifying in court in America for many years for this very reason.
Since 1981 they have given £50m+ to national registered charities - according to this:
http://www.grandcharity.org/data/files/NEWSITE/PUBLICATIONS/FACT_SHEETS/Funding_National_Charities_A4_OCT_2011.pdf
I used to witness some amazing amounts of money being raised via auctions, golf days, ladies nights, collections etc.