Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:42 AM

Obviously we have different definitions of classic trouble making trollism. Good OR Bad? the question is already an argumentative indictment.

As secrets go it is a pretty wide open secret. If you fall for a deliberately divisive secrecy argument then the Masons are bad but have missed the reason of and for good.

So we have different thermometers Senofou, we still like cats.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:39 AM

I've known a few Shriners, a North American branch of Freemasonry. They are best known for sponsoring a number of pediatric hospitals. They seem to spend most of their time raising funds for the hospitals and consuming distilled spirits. They strike me as folks who never outgrew the university fraternity thing. Relatively harmless as long as they sober up before driving. No more likely to pose a threat to democracy than any other group that tends to wear funny hats and vote Republican.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Senoufou
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:20 AM

Iains was merely using a very well-known quote to illustrate his point (with which I agree)
Matthew was certainly NOT 'full of shit'. He was one of the Apostles, and much revered by Christians.
Why is it that every time Iains opens his mouth, someone jumps on him?
Dreadful behaviour.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Senoufou
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:17 AM

There are many business folk's organised charities (Round Table for example) which do much good without all the secrecy.
It's obvious that 'back-scratching' goes on behind the scenes. If not, why not be open?
It's a bit like the gangs prevalent nowadays. One holds allegiance to the gang and members 'help' each other out. Freemasonry seems to be the posh equivalent.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:12 AM

The point was to serve god and man but not serve a divisive church.

btw Matthew was full of shit. If Iains wants to use Matthew to further a divisive agenda as gospel he has missed the point George Washington clearly understood.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: DMcG
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 09:07 AM

Both freemasonry and "professional networking" open up possibilities of corruption. It may or may not occur in any given situation, bur the risk is there.

What makes freemasonry a greater risk than some other professional networking routes is that it is cross-business: it is possible for a councellor to enter into a corrupt relationship with a builder in a way that is not so easy if both parties are builders, for example.

Secrecy is the problem, openness is a good way forward.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Iains
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:57 AM

If freemasons are purely a force for good then why the reticence of the individual to have public recognition of said good works. My feeling is that the individual mason's secrecy is at least unhealthy in a democracy and potentially a force for far worse. Those in receipt of public funds should disclose their membership or find alternative legit income streams.
As Matthew 6:24 says: No man can serve two masters.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:43 AM

To be more explicit than Nigel from my experience the credo and teachings of the Free Mason are progressive lofty and Unitarian.
However in practice it is a good ol' boys club that will help cover up mistakes made in career and domestic life. It is also used to protect their kids when they are wayward.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:39 AM

"Freemasons help their members by providing support to find jobs, or improve their positions. That may also be a good thing, but, if this happens by giving them an advantage over others who may be better qualified, it is not such a clear cut position."

So, what is your opinion of professional networking?

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 08:02 AM

Whether the wording will influence the answers is debatable.
The question set out in the title is straightforward, the answer may not be.
Freemasons do a lot of good work for charity. That is a good thing.
Freemasons help their members by providing support to find jobs, or improve their positions. That may also be a good thing, but, if this happens by giving them an advantage over others who may be better qualified, it is not such a clear cut position.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Jos
Date: 08 Feb 18 - 07:40 AM

The vocabulary in the original post - 'riddled with' - suggests that the person posing the question may not be seeking unbiased answers.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Feb 18 - 04:37 PM

Well, BEFORE this sinks below the music section, I'd like to point out:
Good or Ill, Freemasonry is part of history, centuries of it.

I'm thinking of the Age of Enlightenment
in which Central Europe becomes less orthodox in religion
and all this literature and music suddenly seems to pour out.
The places where German is spoken
-- there is no unified Germany at that time --
there is all this poetry, all this music,
and most of the poets and composers are,
you guessed it, Freemasons.

Maybe some of the composers weren't
but if it was literature and writing,
and the author wrote in German and published in German,
and was a man,
he was more likely a Mason than not.
At this point the Jews were discriminated against, of course.

I'm just saying, good or bad, it's literally etched in stone in some respects.

Subject: RE: Freemasonry. Is it good or bad?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Feb 18 - 03:51 PM

More cranks, as if we don't have enough with vegans and gender neutrals!

Subject: Freemasonry. good or bad?
From: Iains
Date: 07 Feb 18 - 02:37 PM

Several British newspapers recently ran an article on Freemasons in Parliament and in Journalism, among others.
Should a holder of any kind of public office be obliged to declare membership of such a secretive organisation?
Is their loyalty to themselves, their office, or freemasonry?
Is membership a direct threat to Democracy?
How can it be healthy when the police and judiciary are also riddled with freemasons?

Or could we just require a ministry of funny walks to keep tabs on them?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/04/two-freemasons-lodges-operating-secretly-at-westminster