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Post by Lone Gunman on Jan 6, 2011 16:39:03 GMT
I think the Masons are about as out of date as The Orange Order. Surely it's just an all male bonding club (non gay) that there's no longer a place in society for. Aren't they the same thing? I'm all for knowing about the founders of the club but does it matter if they were masons. As has been said freemasonry was much more prevalent in the past, and there were a significant number of institutions and occupations in which you simply could not get on without being a mason. The parish church where i was born in Heywood was built by masons. Its a massive building which dominates the whole town, and is about 5 times too big for its congregation. Its got the masonic symbol in the stained glass and other carvings and things all over it. A lot of the people who go there are still masons even now. I wouldn't judge them on the basis of being masons though. |
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Post by peterdevo on Jan 6, 2011 16:52:07 GMT
I have a very elderly relation who has been a member of two lodges in London for around 50 years. They are a society of secrets not a secret society. The Lodge in Ickenham had an open day where members of the public were invited to apply. If anyone thinks for one moment that there is a lot of undue influence in places like that they should be bear in mind that friends do friends favours like in my badminton club. I sometimes get work from them because they know me. If I want an accountant, an electrician or a builder I go to someone I know.
The membership cost for a mason is a huge cost. It doesn;t end there. They are expected to donate regularly to charity and as a result do a lot of very good work in the community.
It is not for me...but no way would I knock what they do
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Post by YellowHoods on Jan 6, 2011 17:07:42 GMT
I agree Peter. My grandfather was a Mason at Strawberry Hill Lodge near Twickenham for decades. He didn't even talk to the family about their activities.
By contrast, we have a loud mouth neighbour who insists on telling us about the good works they do, how under-appreciated they are etc etc. I know which I prefer. There is no evil in the Masons. They're a group of people who organise for charity. Of course they do each other favours. I recently read that 90% of business obtained by small companies in the general population is through referral and recommendation. Why should Masons be different?
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jan 6, 2011 17:15:18 GMT
They are a society of secrets not a secret society. What's the difference? |
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Post by Ricky Otto on Jan 6, 2011 17:30:39 GMT
They are a society of secrets not a secret society. What's the difference? They'll tell you they're a member and where they live but they won't tell you what they know. |
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Post by salaghaf on Jan 6, 2011 18:31:47 GMT
I have a very elderly relation who has been a member of two lodges in London for around 50 years. They are a society of secrets not a secret society. The Lodge in Ickenham had an open day where members of the public were invited to apply. If anyone thinks for one moment that there is a lot of undue influence in places like that they should be bear in mind that friends do friends favours like in my badminton club. I sometimes get work from them because they know me. If I want an accountant, an electrician or a builder I go to someone I know. The membership cost for a mason is a huge cost. It doesn;t end there. They are expected to donate regularly to charity and as a result do a lot of very good work in the community. It is not for me...but no way would I knock what they do Good post. The freemasons have 3 main "aims" in life. These all involve helping other (local) people on different levels: 1) To donate financially to local charities themselves (out of their owm pocket). Different lodges have different annual "membership" fees. This is the money that goes to charity. This can be thousands of pounds a year. 2) To donate their own personal time to help other in the local community. 3) To live their life in a highlighly considerate, caring, moralistic and ethical way (to the best of their abiltiy): and therefore encourage others to do the same through the example they set. I.e. lead by example in society. Our founders, and possibly our current owners, were a pretty good bunch i would say. |
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Post by ox12tohp19 on Jan 6, 2011 20:21:04 GMT
Aren't the mason's something to do with the Templars? I don't side with them. I'm more of an assassin myself.
BTW everything I've learned about history has been through video games. For example, in renaissance Italy all tall towers were built next to small haystacks.
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Post by KidInTheRiot on Jan 6, 2011 20:34:33 GMT
Could someone explain why my post was deleted? If this forum is to actually succeed it could do without posts being unexpectedly removed without explanation. Could a moderator explain what happened please? Note: For anyone in any doubt it was a joke but I think that's irrelevant anyway I'm assuming it was a joke anyhow, I x2 it to look like I was in te secret gang but I'm not |
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Post by Long Live Clarkey on Jan 6, 2011 20:34:53 GMT
Aren't the mason's something to do with the Templars? I don't side with them. I'm more of an assassin myself. BTW everything I've learned about history has been through video games. For example, in renaissance Italy all tall towers were built next to small haystacks. You know, I also learned that only butch guys with long pointy spears would look for their enemies who were sat on a bench in front of them. Strange world it was back then eh? |
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Post by Paul Cannell on Jan 6, 2011 21:15:05 GMT
The freemasons have 3 main "aims" in life. These all involve helping other (local) people on different levels: 1) To donate financially to local charities themselves (out of their owm pocket). Different lodges have different annual "membership" fees. This is the money that goes to charity. This can be thousands of pounds a year. 2) To donate their own personal time to help other in the local community. 3) To live their life in a highlighly considerate, caring, moralistic and ethical way (to the best of their abiltiy): and therefore encourage others to do the same through the example they set. I.e. lead by example in society. Fantastic! Why is they a "society of secrets" then? If I was half that wonderful I'd want everyone to know. |
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Post by ox12tohp19 on Jan 6, 2011 21:32:42 GMT
Aren't the mason's something to do with the Templars? I don't side with them. I'm more of an assassin myself. BTW everything I've learned about history has been through video games. For example, in renaissance Italy all tall towers were built next to small haystacks. You know, I also learned that only butch guys with long pointy spears would look for their enemies who were sat on a bench in front of them. Strange world it was back then eh? Indeed I found out that all Courtesans looked exactly the same, while people carrying crates were very likely to drop them. |
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Post by Ricky Otto on Jan 7, 2011 14:32:49 GMT
Could someone explain why my post was deleted? If this forum is to actually succeed it could do without posts being unexpectedly removed without explanation. Could a moderator explain what happened please? Note: For anyone in any doubt it was a joke but I think that's irrelevant anyway I'm assuming it was a joke anyhow, I x2 it to look like I was in te secret gang but I'm not Spotted and it was good to have you back in the lodge. Eaststandboy kindly emailed explaining he had deleted it because, to be fair, it did say "Please delete" and he misinterpreted it as a request to delete that post! All sorted! |
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Post by chuckbert on Jan 7, 2011 14:42:23 GMT
Masons ... The Orange OrderAren't they the same thing? ... The parish church where i was born in Heywood was built by masons. So the masons are no more ridiculous than the Orange Order or C of E. Goodo. Apparently Ian Lenegan was in the Beano club, but Nick Merry failed to pay his Tufty club subscription. |
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Post by Sheik Djibouti on Jan 7, 2011 14:44:11 GMT
I'm assuming it was a joke anyhow, I x2 it to look like I was in te secret gang but I'm not Spotted and it was good to have you back in the lodge. Eaststandboy kindly emailed explaining he had deleted it because, to be fair, it did say "Please delete" and he misinterpreted it as a request to delete that post! All sorted! Sounds like an attempted cover up to me after you've admitted you're a member of the masons . . . Just admit you've been caught with your pants down . . . or should that be trouser leg rolled up? |
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Post by Londonroader on Jan 7, 2011 17:22:20 GMT
Spotted and it was good to have you back in the lodge. Eaststandboy kindly emailed explaining he had deleted it because, to be fair, it did say "Please delete" and he misinterpreted it as a request to delete that post! All sorted! Sounds like an attempted cover up to me after you've admitted you're a member of the masons . . . Just admit you've been caught with your pants down . . . or should that be trouser leg rolled up? Probably right first time.  |
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Post by Ricky Otto on Jan 7, 2011 17:45:48 GMT
Sounds like an attempted cover up to me after you've admitted you're a member of the masons . . . Just admit you've been caught with your pants down . . . or should that be trouser leg rolled up? Probably right first time. Either way works well for me. No matter how far underground you go, there's always dirt. |
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Post by peterdevo on Jan 7, 2011 18:40:11 GMT
To anyone that wants to understand the difference between Society of Secrets and a Secret Society there is a book about Freemasonry that reveals a lot of myths about them. They are far more open these days and you will find that masons often talk about their time there.
I do know that a long time ago someone quite close to me got away with a drink drive offence because the officer involved was in his lodge at Witney, but I understand that police officers are liable to disciplinary proceedings for involvement with masonic lodges..strange but true
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Post by Lone Gunman on Jan 7, 2011 19:47:37 GMT
Masons ... The Orange OrderAren't they the same thing? ... The parish church where i was born in Heywood was built by masons. So the masons are no more ridiculous than the Orange Order or C of E. Goodo. Apparently Ian Lenegan was in the Beano club, but Nick Merry failed to pay his Tufty club subscription.  |
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