Are black people allowed in this? I always thought is was some racist thing but I don't know why...
From what I'm reading, they're technically allowed, but historically have had some Jim Crow shit going on (separate lodges, called Prince Hall lodges, named after the first African-American member). And while most are like, "Sure, anyone is allowed," most of the things I'm reading are pretty hedgey and sketchy on this point and capitulate that the organization has typically been pretty racist.
That's what I thought although I had no real basis other than word of mouth.
Are black people allowed in this? I always thought is was some racist thing but I don't know why...
I belonged to a sort of branch of the Masons, there's Eastern Star for Women, and another org for girls 11-18 I think. It is definitely racist as hell. But I'm also in Texas...so.
Post by amandakisser on Dec 7, 2015 13:42:03 GMT -5
my H is a mason and tells me what goes on at meetings - for his lodge, at least, it's mostly just reciting old verses and some standard record-keeping shit (new members, members who have died, Masonry news, etc). Then they eat and drink in the social club that is part of the Mason building.
You are only as active as you choose to be - so, the more you do, the higher "degree" you can achieve. Before he invited several of his friends to his lodge, my H was, quite literally, the youngest member by at least 25 years.
They DO have a wicked sketchy Bible that is written in code. My H doesn't read it but claims he can understand the code. His lodge (we are in the northeast) has a few people of color as members, though I'm going to have to ask him how inclusive the Freemasons are as a whole of minorities. I never heard this before, but I also don't really go out of my way to research them as my H isn't really THAT involved (pays his dues and goes to maybe 1-2 meetings a year).
Post by purplecow0206 on Dec 7, 2015 13:51:30 GMT -5
I was in a Masonic youth group as a teenager and have been to MANY public Eastern Star, Mason, Amaranth, and other Masonic youth group events (I grew up in NY where there a total of 4 youth groups, 3 for girls (11-21) and 1 for boys (10-21)). I always loved going into random floors of the NYC Grand Lodge building, some of the meeting rooms are beautiful.
My dad has been a Mason for 25 years, and my grandfather was too. The charitable work has been covered, so I'll just throw in that lodges greatly vary. Some are exclusive, some are much more welcoming. If you live in a big city with multiple lodges, my dad recommends visiting them all to find the right fit.
I grew up with the Masons and I don't feel left out of the "secrets." I guarantee it's boring as hell, probably lots of their readings, which are boring and Christianity based. My dad is a super non-religious guy, so I think he's in it for the community and hobby aspect. He loves memorizing those weird abbreviated books and actually gets to travel around his state teaching them to others.
ETA: He also attends A LOT of funerals, as the average age is like, 80 lol. Ok not that old, but a lot of the members are old as hell.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown
My great grandfather was a Grand Master and my grandfather and cousins are all Masons. I have a few friends from college that are Masons as well and I have no damn idea what they do or why. I do know they all had/have really well-connected positions in their companies and are highly respected. Just have no idea why. I really hope that the wife-sharing thing is BS:
I was in a Masonic youth group as a teenager and have been to MANY public Eastern Star, Mason, Amaranth, and other Masonic youth group events (I grew up in NY where there a total of 4 youth groups, 3 for girls (11-21) and 1 for boys (10-21)). I always loved going into random floors of the NYC Grand Lodge building, some of the meeting rooms are beautiful.
Sorry, but I laughed at your sig. I thought it would be a Shriner driving that car
I dont think it's a Catholic group, I believe that's the K of C. I had a lot of family in it, and always thought it was a Scottish group. I know they do a lot of charitable things. From my understanding, it really just a men's group. Usually it is mostly olds.
Post by Ohhmm(bligo) on Dec 7, 2015 14:45:07 GMT -5
H is, and we hang out with a group of his 'brothers' all the time. I'm pretty involved with helping. They spill some details of the ceremony, and its super lame and the wives mock them.
"You. You and your crazy life. You and your geographic anomaly. You and your drunken lesbianic ways and terrible navigational skills." - ProfArt and her holy baby
Post by shostakovich on Dec 7, 2015 14:49:32 GMT -5
Some of the dudes in my mom's side of the family were Freemasons, at least way back. I know this only because my gram had this ENORMOUS black and white old timey photo of a dude in a weird hat, sash and holding a sword up at her house. It was creepy as fuck, because his eyes followed you wherever you went.
One time I asked my parents if that was someone in my mom's family, and what war he fought in? And before my mom could answer, my dad was like, "He didn't fight in any war - he was just a freemason." I asked for more explanation, and all my dad could come up with was that they were a bunch of racist old dudes who liked to get together and drink :/ Oh dad...
Catholics aren't supposed to join the masons. I know that much. I think you can be literally excommunicated for it.
This. It's because you aren't supposed to join any group you can't talk to your priest about in regards to Reconciliation. It prevents people from confessing sins and therefore effects their salvation (and ability to partake in communion).
share.memebox.com/x/uKhKaZmemebox referal code for 20% off! DD1 "J" born 3/2003 DD2 "G" born 4/2011 DS is here! "H" born 2/2014 m/c#3 1-13-13 @ 9 weeks m/c#2 11-11-12 @ 5w2d I am an extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, pro marriage equality, birth control lovin', Catholic mama.
A ton of Mormon traditions are ripped from the masons.
I think the secret squirrel stuff is silly. Like little boys with their clubhouses. So I probably couldn't stop my eyes from rolling. Beyond that, though, I wouldn't care if h enjoyed it. Unless it cost a lot of money.
Goddammit I forgot all of my sorority's secrets! I have no loyalty and would tell you guys anything, but I can't remember shit.
Initiation was a stereotypical dark room and everyone held a candle and recited some stuff. Why do I remember it involved a coffin?? LOLOL
Were you a Chi O? I feel like theirs were rumored to involve coffins.
Ours was a bunch of Greek chanting and stuff. I tried so hard to show H the secret handshake and he was like "... I truly don't care at all about this." Lol!
Post by lolobeth802 on Dec 7, 2015 15:49:24 GMT -5
I can add 2 things and basically all I know about the Free Mason's. First, when my daughter was 1, she was burned pretty severely and her entire week of care (and monthly follow ups) were completely cost free at the Shiners Burn Center for children in Boston. And, yesterday at our Christmas parade there were two Masonic floats, one with a group of white men and one with a group of black men.
One of my highschool boyfriend's father was/is a Mason. The main Hall of the lodge was often used for community events but then there was the super secret upstairs. My bf told me he'd been up there but he couldn't take me because girls weren't allowed. I've been indignant ever since
Google also tells me that the secret phrase used when in grave danger is "O Lord, My God! The founder of the Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, cried out the secret phrase as he was dying in an attempt to alert any masons nearby that could help him. Hmmm. I don't know. I feel like that's probably along thw lines of what most people would say if they are in grave danger. I mean, I think I uttered something similar this morning when I stepped in cat puke. Lol
I was a member of the International Order of Rainbow for girls growing up, Which was an organization founded for girls who are somehow related to Masons. I am also an member of Eastern Star (though I don't participate) Masons are just a social, philanthropic, fraternal organization of old (mainly white) men. They do community service, and have "secret' rituals just like a sorority. Really no big.
Post by Chuppathingy on Dec 7, 2015 18:26:33 GMT -5
My grandfather was a prominent, nationally known freemason. My dad and brothers are all members as well. You can PM me if you want some specifics, although I can only give a limited amount because they don't tell women a lot of stuff. Their main activity is charity work. Every chapter has a organization that they raise money and hold benefit events for. There are a few coexisting organizations for wives and daughters. My mom has made a lot of friends this way.