The Masons

[crgb14]

My grandad was a master mason head of the lodge sort of thing and now they're after getting me in. I went on a 'ladies evening' and found it quite surreal and was - apparently - lucky to be shown the lodge room thing.

I dont want to join or anything but what exactly is the whole conspiracy about them?? I just dont get it 

[ursula62]

I am not a Mason, nor is my other half. But I have a couple of friends who dabbled in Freemasonry but are no longer members, so I know a little bit about it.

I think in general Freemasons are misunderstood by the general public. Masons pledge to help each other in times of trouble. Unfortunately, as Andy says, this can lead to accusations of injustice, especially when the Mason concerned is a Judge, Policeman, MP etc. But most of the time, far from being abused, the bond between Freemasons requires members to encourage each other to uphold the laws of the land.

The "secret society" label is a bit unfair too - I think it stems back to the fact that you can't just turn up and ask to join. You have to be recommended by an existing member. And members are not supposed to disclose to non members anything that goes on at meetings. Rules like this are common to a lot of committees, clubs and groups.

The Freemasons are a club, just like any other. They do a lot of work for charity, like the Round Table and Rotaract do, and they have regular meetings. They follow rituals during their ceremonies, but so do the Brownies, Cubs, Scouts and Guides. Each organisation has their own little quirks and ways of doing things, the Masons are not unique in this.

They usually have a bar in their headquarters and often eat meals together - but then so do a lot of political parties, Farmers' clubs and Students' unions.

The bit about baring the breast and rolling up the trouser leg is true - but it is only to prove your gender. Originally women were barred from Freemasonry (and they are still barred from ordination in the Catholic church, so let's have no accusations of sexism here!). Nowadays there are womens' lodges as well as men only lodges.

[ursula62]

Progressing through the ranks of the Masons requires learning an awful lot - much of the ceremony is taken from the Old Testament, and anyone who takes part is expected to learn chunks of text off by heart, just like actors learn parts for plays. It is not an easy undertaking.

[kaktus]

Why shouldn't there be accusations of sexism ursula? I may have misunderstood you, but just because the catholic church is sexist doesn't mean that other sexist organisations are excused! As you say it is powerful people in a very close network, that is bound to give them opportunities they might not otherwise have, and as women are very much in minority concerning top posts they can't make their own network. At least not to the same effect. Sorry crgb14 I'm a little off the question here

[ratbag66]

My dad is a senior mason and he's a perfectly normal bloke : )

They donate a fair amount of cash to charity and have an excuse to escape from their other halves for a few hours a week - a bit like the Boy Scouts for grown ups!

[smudge]

This might help too crgb14:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/History-and-Myths/Question115388.html

[ursula62]

To reply to your specifc point Kaktus:

Although women are no longer barred from being members of the Freemasons, they have separate Lodges, so the society is making progress towards equality but hasn't yet got there.  But in the scheme of things this is a big improvement on the situation in the Catholic church.

[kazza12345]

why shouldnt organisations be for 1 gender only?  You wouldnt get any little boys in the brownies, would you?

[ursula62]

Ah but girls can join Scouts including Cubs and Beavers.

[crgb14]

I think then that in summary, nobody actually knows apart from the Masons themselves - who are obviously sworn to secrecy.

Having looked into it quite a lot i found nothing apart from it basically being religiously orientated with many people believeing it is all an act of satanic ritualism.

I also found out that if you were ever to be found out that you'd released secrets of the Masons you'd - for example - have you tongue cut out and your head cut off and lost at sea. Somthing along those lines anyway.

I'm just really intrigued by it all.