Originally Posted by Gray C

Each to their own I suppose!

Originally Posted by Gray C

I agree with you that Freemasonry had a bad image years ago with much of what you allege being a common perception of masonry.

However, over the past few years, the number of people joining the fraternity has dropped dramatically (same with Rotary, the Buffs and Lions).

As the older members have died off a younger more forward thinking generation of mason has largely taken over. The Grand Lodge now want to attract new members and have come to realise that the way freemasonry is perceived by the general public has got to change.

It is now not uncommon for lodge meetings to be opened up to non masons to give them a feel for what takes place in the lodge room. New membership is encouraged, and gone are the days when you had to be invited to join a lodge. Also "Open days" at masonic halls are now popular, where both prospective members and their wives are invited to look around and discuss with senior brethren what is involved with masonry.

After all, you now only have to "google" to find out most of what masonry is all about.

In the past I think secret dealings may have taken place, as you have referred to, but this is now frowned upon and positively discouraged. Yes, there are signs and ways for masons to recognise each other, but as far as I am concerned, it has never been used by me, or in turn proferred to me for "gain" in employment.

I would suggest you go to a local lodge and ask questions. you will be surprised how many masons (the younger ones in particular) are willing to discuss what the lodge offers them.

Finally, for me, I enjoy the company, have made some good friends and get a lot of satisfaction that my lodge donations are being used for worthy causes. For example, not long after (a couple of weeks or so) the Tsunami, United Grand Lodge sent a donation of well in excess of £50,000 to the disaster appeal. That is just one case that I can think of from many.

Masonry is not for everyone, but unless you have been in the fraternity it is unfair to knock it.

I would like to say finally that it is not a good idea to want to join a lodge, purely for the gains (work for example) that you may hope to achieve, as you will almost certainly be disappointed.

For me it would be a very good way to meet people and make new friends. If I was offered a job in Spain by a fellow mason I would like to think it was offered to me on merit through my work skills and not because I am a member of a lodge.

Originally Posted by poollounger

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Personally I have no real interest....being on the committe of a small sailing club takes up enough time....but was just curious from a casual point of view. Especially as a couple of nights ago Channel 5 showed a movie I had never come across, Johnny Depp and Ian Holm in 'From Hell', a stylish well made film about one possible series of events around the Jack the Ripper murders, suggesting that the masons were involved in a cover up for the Duke of Clarence's marriage to and love child by one of the girls, involving the murder of a group of them. In cahoots with Queen Victoria !! Maybe not entirely implausible when you consider the conjecture around the death of Diana. Not an image the modern masons want to perpetuate !! Good to hear about the Tsunami appeal....though as it was so oversubscribed, do you know how the funds were utilised or whether they were then deployed elsewhere.....plenty of other lower profile causes crying out for funds.

Originally Posted by Gray C

Each to their own I suppose!

Originally Posted by culchie

Can women join the masons?

Originally Posted by Gray C

I believe that there are now some women's lodges.

If you contact the United Grand Lodge of England, they may be able to provide you with more information.

Originally Posted by culchie

Yeah, right! I think that my original view of the masons is correct. You might have a shiny new soundbite type presentation but underneath it all is the same old bigoted bullshit!

Originally Posted by culchie

Yeah, right! I think that my original view of the masons is correct. You might have a shiny new soundbite type presentation but underneath it all is the same old bigoted bullshit!

Originally Posted by culchie

Can women join the masons?

Originally Posted by Gray C

This is my point. Freemasons are now encouraged to be more open about being a member of the craft, from the top, down to new members.

Graham

Originally Posted by wheatsheaf42

From secret graft to open craft in a generation. Progress indeed. What is freemasonry craft anyway? It's good to see that women are now becoming accepted as members of society, though full emancipation is probably some centuries away yet.

I was at a church service for freemasons in an official capacity a year ago and I found the ceremonial stuff and those strange aprons they all wear quite wierd. It was a struggle to avoid sniggering at times. Now it has been mentioned in here it does remind me that a very large proportion were way past the first flushes of youth.

I have been along to Rotary and Lions events and find them very pleasant people and do a geat community job. The organisers always are keen to inject new blood as people won't spare the time any more- or the cash for all those fundraising causes,weekly lunches and dinners. Rather like freemasons they seem to be surviving with some difficulty. So far, I have resisted the offers to join Rotary but I do see they are a good outfit. I rather like the idea that you can turn up at one of their events anywhere in the world and be welcomed to lunch or dinner- for an expat or traveller that has to be a valuable benefit in a "strange" place.

Originally Posted by busterboy

Hey don't hold back!

What about me, I'm a church going female Roman Catholic, can I join?

Originally Posted by Gray C

Hi

Hoping to move to Spain soon. I was wondering if (UGLE) masonry was prevalent in Spain?

I think it would be a good means of making new friends/contacts and even finding part time work (the latter would be a bonus really).

I know many of you will not know the answer to this but I expect there may be some fellow brethren frequenting this forum?

Graham

Originally Posted by Wendy Nesbeth

My Father was a Freemason in Persia, now Iran. He died in 1977 at the age of 70.

My mother is now 92 & lives alone in London, Uk. She has now developed short term memory loss. & it is getting worse. She has carers in twice a day, but they don't stay long.

I am wondering if there is any help my sister & I can get for her in London from the Freemason's. I live in Spain & my sister lives in Switzerland. So it is very difficult for us to get correct advice.

Unfortunately my mother gave back the apron after my father died, we could have got some clues from that as to where to start from the apron.

I know this is a long shot but if anyone has any ideas on whom to go to for advice from the Freemason's my sister & I would be very grateful.

Thank-you in advance.

Wendy x