BS: joining the masons

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 04:15 PM

Whooooooooo... spooky stuff, kids.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Peace
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 04:13 PM

And there is the 'proof positive' as to why I would never be a freemason.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: tarheel
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 03:20 PM

i am a Freemason too,Alan...i am so good at it that i can look at folks in a crowd and tell who are masons and who are not...if you are a Freemason then you know how to do that too...
my grandfather was a Freemason and use to tell me that when he rode the train that he would watch the folks at the next station and know who were Freemason at the depot before he got off the train...
greetings to you too,Al and to the other members in here!
tar...

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Alan Day
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:57 PM

I am a Mason and in fact I am the Organist, but play on my concertina.
I have been a member now for over twenty five years,during this time I have never received a favour or given one.If you are interested in
joining you ask ,you should not be asked to join.The Freemasons do a lot of good charity work and most Hospices are supported by this organisation.
My greetings to fellow members on this site.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: mack/misophist
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:41 PM

About Catholics and Masons: my aunt, a devout Catholic, told me my father was excommunicated because he wore his Masonic apron to mass. She says that's because Mason's have 'secrets' they can't talk about in confession. Hence a Mason's confession is considered incomplete so he can't take communion. Makes sense to me, even though I'm neither.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Gervase
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:41 PM

Generally a harmless bunch - the link from Georgiansilver above is a complete load of lunatic paranoid bunkum, by the way - and greatly into good works in the very dullest, Round Table and Rotarian sense.
Surely you'd have more fun playing music of an evening rather than trotting along to a mutual back-scratching session with a bunch of lower middle-class white men.
I've been asked a few times, but would rather go to the pub with friends, play music, shoot the breeze or whatever. But for those that have trouble getting a social life together and want some ready-made friends, maybe masonry's the answer.
If it is the answer, it must have been a very dull question, though!

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Peace
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:33 PM

Have been asked three times. Said thanks and no three times. I'm with Giok and Groucho on this. If I needed ceremonies I'd still belong to a church.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 02:10 PM

Jacqui ... Britain appears to be more secretive about Freemasonary than over here in Canada and the U.S. ... some Freemasons here have Masonic Symbols on their car ... in Toronto it is very comon to see bumper stickers and licence plate holders advertising "ask one to become one" ... Freemasons are much more open in the U.S. and canada.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 01:13 PM

Please check out this website.
http://www.conspiracyarchive.com/NWO/

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 01:04 PM

Depends why you want to join and what you think the benefit will be to you.

My ex was invited to join - to my knowledge Freemasons do not, in general, advertise their membership so it could be difficult to ask to join, at least in the UK.

It basically just seems to be another club, but with more secrecy than normal. They do do charitable works - we asked them to supply a computer to a family with a chronically sick child and they were able to do that.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 12:18 PM

My appologies Giok ... I gotcha there ... good one!

G

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 12:17 PM

You can become a Freemason if your are Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or whatever your religion is ... I knew this was coming.

The myth came about of Freemasons forbidding Catholics was due to the Catholic church itself ... The Catholic church forbids Catholics from becoming a Mason ... why, because FreeMasonry has been open to all religeons. A criteria in becoming a Freemason is that you beleive in s supreme being albeit God, Yahweh, Mohammid or whatever.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 12:06 PM

And if you're a Catholic you can still take communion if you're a Morris Dancer.
G ☺

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 11:49 AM

You could just join a Morris team! The same sort of networking and charitable work is there. You may have to wear your costume in public but there's no initiation rites or terrible oaths and it's a whole lot cheaper!

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 11:47 AM

I am a Freemason, though I haven't been to lodge in 8 years, I'm certainly not a crawler, nor back scratching bumlicker. Niether was Amadaeus Mozart (yes the magic flute).. of course there are a few that meet those characteristics I'm sure ... but those qualities have nothing in common with Masonry. Those qualities are unfortuantely found in many humans.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 11:14 AM

I've heard that they do a lot of good charitable work--as well as probably being the inspiration for Mozart's "Magic Flute" (obviously just the libretto).

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:40 AM

I was once asked to become a mason. I turned the offer down. Standing on a scaffold in the hot sun lifting heavy bricks and concrete blocks just isn't my cup of tea.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:39 AM

Guest, undecided,

If you do a search using "freemasons" you will find many posts by Mudcatters who are either members or have known members. Lots of helpful advice, and, of course, naysayers.

My uncle was one and he was one of the most honest, kindest men to ever walk this earth. My sisters and I all became members of Job's Daughters, under his aegis.

There is a lot of truth and beauty in the rituals, etc. and it does not have to be about the connections, though why wouldn't one want those, too? Those of like mind often support one another through business, aid and assistance, etc.

Listen to what you heart says and go from there...


all the best,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 10:13 AM

My brother-inlaw joined them and He is a total ass licking egomaniac asshole, and He usually hangs around only those folks who will boost his ego for his own gratification. In reality he is an insecure wimp, but I guess belonging to an exclusive club like this makes him feel more important than the average person who is smarter and more ethical than He is.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

I was offered and turned it down, I am a member of the Groucho Marx school on this one.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

True number 6, that is the theory, but in the real world it often happens the other way around.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:39 AM

If you want to be a back scratching bumlicker then fire away otherwise join the rest of humanity who can live without the need of a secret handshake.

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: number 6
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:36 AM

A Freemason cannot solicit membership inot the fraternity .... Masons cannot go and ask if you want to join.

You have to ask one, to become one.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:18 AM

Join. It's an honour to be asked. Then network away! Worked for me!

Subject: RE: BS: joining the masons
From: Paul Burke
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 09:16 AM

If you're a crawler, join. In return for a bit of posey ceremony, you get the opportunity to network with anyone that matters in your area.

If you aren't into sucking up to rich bastards, stay honest.

Subject: BS: joining the masons
From: GUEST,undecided
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 08:52 AM

Hello there - I was wondering if I could ask the wisdom of mudcaters; I was asked if I would like to join the freemasons in the uk; should I accept; what are the pros & conc; most of my friends are anti; any pros out there; what should I do?