Apparently Chris, you can't just join...........you have to be asked, but you can't be asked by the person (mason) inviting you to join.......it has to be via 'another person'.......... ........in the areas in which I have had communication, the 'other person' is not a mason......... ...........'kin wierd. AL
That doesn't sound right. People do get invited by their friends, but you are more than welcome to ask - either via an existing member (not necessarily of the same lodge) or just get in contact with your local group. They will expect a character reference before granting membership, obviously. If the group are making up their own hoops to jump through or insisting on invitation, they're probably not worth the effort...some idiot at the top clearly has an agenda to pursue.
So back to my other post earlier...... Why would I 'want' to join or why would they 'want' me as a member? ;-) This bit still escapes me.....
Why? given the evidence on this thread... 1) contribute on a collective and collaborative way towards good causes and local charities, with time and or raising funds 2) meet like minded others 3) avoid speeding tickets, small unlawful misdemeanours, rape murder and mass terrorism by pinching someones pinky on the bench when being on trial 4) further you business, career or social standing by having the best schemers, con men and general bad 'uns in your corner
I've got a mate who wears his trousers tucked into his socks, he's a used car salesman so if it's a society where they 'look after' their own does that mean whenever another mason buys a car off him he loses out and has to sell it cheaper? Why would he want to do that?
Bit harsh on the lady swingers -sorry golfers - at my course, don't see many of them taking a leak mid round!!
I guess you are talking about Masons AL? I know someone who joined recently although I did give him some advice at the time. As for the Oddfellows Society, you can join anytime you like and after talking to a representative it didn't seem at all sinister and with no catches that were apparent.
I'm enjoying this thread! I'm not a Mason (yeah, as if I'd fit in...). I don't feel I should slag them off with no evidence or personal experience. But I just dislike clubs and establishments as a matter of course really. Law, instruction, rituals, secrecy, membership.... er.. reminds me a bit of Scientology...
Yep, I was talking about Masons..............but I guess we could start Oddfellows II between us......:wink:
It is, right up until the point they need a specialist. Guess what I am..... So far in this thread I've not seen a single reason to change my way of thinking about masons. The whole setup is weird to outside eyes, and there's nothing here that explains why the masons exist. Being a small boy in a club with a special handshake is endearing...being a grown man still using special handshakes is very disturbing indeed.
Good point. The OP was aimed at tempting any freemasons there might be on here to admit to it; surprisingly, a couple actually did. So I wonder if anyone is prepared to admit to being connected with scientology? Or the BNP? Or homeopathy? etc ... Probably not, I suspect. Another point about freemasonry has just struck me. It is one of those strange organisations which requires members to adhere to some type of supernatural belief, but they don't care which one. Masons can follow whichever flavour of superstitious unreason they please, but the one thing which is unacceptable is rationality! Again, this tells us something about the nature of the organisation, and the character of those who join it.
