Masons

Doodlebug12 · 12 Jan 2011 at 17:04

Anyone ever seen that film with Johnny Depp about Jack the Ripper, suggesting it was all covered up to protect the freemasons?

That's about as far as my knowledge of them goes!

Pudney · 12 Jan 2011 at 17:28

DiamondMark said:
Im a mason, believe half of what you see and a 1/4 of what you hear, we do a lot for charity

In fairness that's a bit of an understatement. Say what you will about freemasons, but they're the second largest contributor to charitable causes in the UK, only behind the National Lottery.

Narj · 12 Jan 2011 at 17:34

Lagmeister said:
Nothing more than a glorified social club with a few odd traditions, to be honest in the UK at least they do a lot of good charity work.

That's what they all say, and want us to believe.

I know a guy who is master (or whatever they are called) of a lodge and will rarely discuss anything apart from talking about the charity stuff!

I think the idea of getting away with serious crimes and stuff is a bit of a myth though unless the Judge and all of the jury are masons...

DRZ · 12 Jan 2011 at 18:00

DiamondMark and amigafan2003 are correct, all of the conspiracy-mongers are wrong.

My Dad is no longer an active member of a lodge which is a great shame as I have seen enough of what goes on to want to join.

I believe (like most things, I guess) that which Lodge you end up joining makes a difference to your experience of it. I'm not able to join my Dad's lodge as I am too far away, so I have reservations about joining "any old lodge" - not that I could, as I don't know any up here!

DM · 12 Jan 2011 at 18:02

DRZ said:
DiamondMark and amigafan2003 are correct, all of the conspiracy-mongers are wrong.

My Dad is no longer an active member of a lodge which is a great shame as I have seen enough of what goes on to want to join.

I believe (like most things, I guess) that which Lodge you end up joining makes a difference to your experience of it. I'm not able to join my Dad's lodge as I am too far away, so I have reservations about joining "any old lodge" - not that I could, as I don't know any up here!

Where are you?

Grimley · 12 Jan 2011 at 18:05

Lagmeister said:
Nothing more than a glorified social club with a few odd traditions, to be honest in the UK at least they do a lot of good charity work.

Yep, its this. I know a few people in freemason 'lodges' The dodgy handshake & greeting each other a suspect way is all lies. A hello & a handshake just like any other greeting. They do a lot of Charity work but they don't like to shout about it.

DRZ · 12 Jan 2011 at 18:09

DiamondMark said:
Where are you?

Used to live in Hampstead, now live in Manchester.

VeNT · 12 Jan 2011 at 18:21

sounds like it's quite an investment in time and money tho.
guessing you have to be on a good wage to be able to afford it anyway.

mushroomsoup · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:10

to be honest, if they are in fact bent on world domination - appearing as a mere charity (and not telling the lower levels of initiation anything of importance) is a pretty good cover.

DRZ · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:34

mushroomsoup said:
to be honest, if they are in fact bent on world domination - appearing as a mere charity (and not telling the lower levels of initiation anything of importance) is a pretty good cover.

There are millions of then worldwide - if they had such a vast world domination secret don't you think it would have got out by now? They have been going for a long, long time!

Xordium · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:51

I'm quite grateful that the time was taken to answer questions - it's good to be able to ask people things related to their experience or expertise. Should have more ask me question threads - I was aware of the charity work but the other stuff like the learning process I had never heard of - hadn't exactly gone looking for it either though!

DRZ · 12 Jan 2011 at 19:57

VeNT said:
sounds like it's quite an investment in time and money tho.
guessing you have to be on a good wage to be able to afford it anyway.

Depends on the Lodge. You have to pay the fees but they aren't huge (certainly less than a weekend away, per year) and as for time, you can dedicate as much or as little (within reason) time as you like. Obviously the more you put in the more you get out of it...

Grimley · 12 Jan 2011 at 20:15

VeNT said:
sounds like it's quite an investment in time and money tho.
guessing you have to be on a good wage to be able to afford it anyway.

Its very expensive if you want to go 'up' in the organisation. My dad's mate was always moaning about how expensive it was when he did that. Most of the money goes on travelling here & there to meetings & to various posh dinners/nights out etc.

Naf · 12 Jan 2011 at 20:37

My dad used to be Master of a Lodge up in Hartlepool for a few years.

He used to get all dressed up and come home late, drunk as a skunk.

My friend at uni's dad used to be in the same lodge.

He (my friend) said that his dad also used to get dressed up and come home mullered.

Sounds good to me!

Von Smallhausen · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:08

Lucero said:
What's that group called who are meant to actually rule the world? Something Illuminati or other?

In the US, they are known as the Republicans.

Maximum Triceratops · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:09

DiamondMark said:
Where are you?

If I join your Guild will you put me in touch with some of your leet diamond contacts and insider knowledge?

Interesting thread btw and thanks for the info!

mushroomsoup · 12 Jan 2011 at 21:48

DRZ said:
There are millions of then worldwide - if they had such a vast world domination secret don't you think it would have got out by now? They have been going for a long, long time!

Actually no, if they are as powerful as some people think they could cover it all up and no one would know. The vast majority of their members know nothing believe it to be a charity - but they are a pool to recruited from once they go further down the initiation (once they demonstrated themselves useful and trustworthy, which most lay members probably are not) I don't actually believe any of this, mind. I'm just saying, that if they are super powerful then they would be super powerful enough not to get found out surely.

Although there are some interesting cases of Lodges gone...bad, such as Propaganda Due

"Propaganda Due (Italian pronunciation: [propaˈɡanda ˈduːe]), or P2, was a Masonic lodge operating under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient of Italy from 1945 to 1976 (when its charter was withdrawn), and a pseudo-Masonic or "black" or "covert" lodge operating illegally (in contravention of Italian constitutional laws banning secret lodges, and membership of government officials in secret membership organizations) from 1976 to 1981. During the years that the lodge was headed by Licio Gelli, P2 was implicated in numerous Italian crimes and mysteries, including the collapse of the Vatican-affiliated Banco Ambrosiano, the murders of journalist Mino Pecorelli and banker Roberto Calvi, and corruption cases within the nationwide bribe scandal Tangentopoli. P2 came to light through the investigations into the collapse of Michele Sindona's financial empire."

Interesting stuff, Brulesconi was involved haha!