The truth is....It's just a social club

The Masons I mean. A retired mason who shall obviously remain nameless but who may well be my future father in law spilled the beans to me when I started quizzing him.

Like other laymen, I always assumed the Masons were the keepers of some meaning-of-life stye secret, or the holy grail or something. As it turns out, it is just a social club, or 'brotherhood' as they like to call it, that has it's advantages in every day life (y'know the thing, free parking, being let off speeding tickets etc...)

There is no mystery. Hell he even showed me the handshakes, and they are really simple. It all depends on which of the guy who's hand your shaking's knuckles you put your index finger on. It immediately denotes rank.

But remember - it's just a social club

Sure, sure...That's what they'll tell you. And it'll be the same thing that the "Inner Circle" will tell all of the "rank-an-file" members too, until they're initiated into the higher ranks...

that in my limited experience of Lodges in teh UK, they've always been prinmarily up-market social clubs.
The only obviously pernicious thing about masonry being that it did lead to a certain bending of teh law (minor often) as so many policemen were masons, and it led to unfair working and trading practices -but to be honest, in the UK, having gone to the right school, university college, or even having served in the same regiment can do as much.
On the other hand, it is worth remembering the point about "inner" and "outer" circles.
Most UK political "clubs" are essentially good-value pubs that exploit loopholes in UK gaming laws to sell beer cheaper, and in a nicer atmosphere, with the benefit of being members only.
Belong to a Labout Club or a Conservative Club says most aboput a person's drinking references and rather less about one's political inclinations.
I think you'll find that the same was true of most pre-war Nazi "clubs" -based in a Bierkeller.
And that of course tells one nothing about what the inner circles of parties are actually up to.

Ever hear of the Hellfire Club?

Sounded like a fun group to me...Too bad that they wound up disbanded (Supposedly! )

Yeah man...totally, and while I'd like to sue that dude for breaking an oath!!!!...anyways...hey what level mason is he ? ^.^

Sincerely,
no signature

Hmm and sort of to defend the honor of Masonry, there's more involved then just some stupid social club, that sounds retarded.

I mean you are talking about ancient stuff here

A social club is just something like "bingo night"

Sincerely,
no signature

"social" in the widest sense -say from teh London Gentleman's Club at one end to a Labour club in a mining town.
i.e. "club" in some sense a gathering with membership, rules etc.
"social" in the sense that its activities are, at least formally, restricted to a certain sphere.
Rituals and regalia necessarily vary: Oddfellows, Lions, Water Buffaloes, Masons.
The UK situation arose from the very odd and eccentric (in a uniquely British way) licensing laws -most of whch have only very recently been changed.
Our "pubs" are just that -"public" houses which menat that anyone wishing to be selective about entry needed, usually, some other sort of premise.
Hours of drinking were very, very odd and again, only a private establishment could get around these laws.
There were very strict rules concerning what, if any, gambling was allowed - believe it or not, by a curious anomaly, the relatively unknown (but rather good) game of cribbage was the only card-game permitted for money.
Later the same rules applied to Fruit machines (slots) and other gaming machines -pubs could only offer very small pay-outs. (still the case)
Strict pricing laws applied in every pub.

So, anyone wanting somewhere where a drink of any sort from a dry sherry to ten pints of Guinness could be sold and people gather without having to follow these rules had to be a member of some sort of "club". There's absolutely nothing to be inferred from the name as such.
The fate of half the world was decided from London's elite gentlemen's clubs in the 19th Century -they are still magnificent relics.
So - "social club" as such means nothing in terms of who, and when, and where, and why. A centre for dark forces or the local fishermen -all the same.

Damn ugh people like that really bug me...your "to-be father-in-law" may have been made a mason but he sure doesn't know WHAT a mason is.
I doubt he's even more then the 3rd degree...for all he thinks it is a "social club"

Or perhaps he's just showing you some crap to wet your pallet, or if he IS showing you the "hand-shakes" then he surely isn't teaching you anything about masonry.

I wish I had this memo still, I should go find it, a memorandum of how unworthy people are being made masons more and more frequently now then in the past, and how this hurts both Masonry and what it stands for.

hmmm.....I am getting over-worked on ideas ~.~ There is no proof that what he shows you is anything nor would it matter...unless you went to a lodge of blind and deaf men

Social "Club" bah...I could settle for Organization at the least but not a "Club"...clubs aren't the primary influence in the draftin of great documents and governmental systems such as the US constitution and American Federalism! MUHAHAHAHA

Sincerely,
no signature

Freemason: just as "Society" or, in US terms, "fraternity" would be just a word.
The French Reviolution pretty much started in a "club" ( a time of mania for things English like "le gentleman" etc.
What goe son in "clubs" and who knows what are of course different in every club - and just as a select committee in a Conservative club in Southern England might be fixing the voting for next week's flower competition: in another club they might be fixing the price of gold for the next 6 months.
I cannot speak for elsewhere; but in certain sectors of English commercial and political life entry to the lowest orders of Freemasons (and a few other societies) is pretty much required and I suspect that these members are told little beyond a bare minimum ocncerning ritual and procedure.

Club just sounds fluffy is all but mostly I hate blabber mouths, that Father-in-law has no right to be blathering, but then again he IS an ex-mason....and the only ex-masons I know of left for religious reasons or were washouts.

Sincerely,
no signature

Too much pride in "tubalcain".

grandson of Methuselah; first metal-worker named in Genesis; hence: something -rather a lot, in fact - of a hero to Masons.
And punning name of a badge looking like an upside down golf-club and balls ( Two-ball-Cane) favoured in certain quarters as a badge to indicate Masons among the uninitiated -3rd degree at best.
Excellent allusion, Constitution!

this guy was secretary of his lodge - I dunno if that denotes any particular rank

Status, rather than rank per se, Satch: there are Grand Secretaries and Grand Provincial Secretaries and others.
Lodges vary internationally- even nationally; but the secretary is the Master's right-hand ( no pun intended): an administrator in some lodges: a power behind the throne, in others.
There is no "qualification" as such; although secretaries are not infrequently Past Masters.
I English usage, at least, the Secretary is appointed by the Master rather than elected in various ways like e.g. the Treasurer.
In a big, powerful Lodge, the secretary will be fairly high up the totem-pole: in another lodge he will be a social organiser.
So, one would really know the man's Lodge and past before hazarding a guess.
But in general, one would expect a reasonably elevated rank.

Status, rather than rank per se, Satch: there are Grand Secretaries and Grand Provincial Secretaries and others.
Lodges vary internationally- even nationally; but the secretary is the Master's right-hand ( no pun intended): an administrator in some lodges: a power behind the throne, in others.
There is no "qualification" as such; although secretaries are not infrequently Past Masters.
I English usage, at least, the Secretary is appointed by the Master rather than elected in various ways like e.g. the Treasurer.
In a big, powerful Lodge, the secretary will be fairly high up the totem-pole: in another lodge he will be a social organiser.
So, one would really know the man's Lodge and past before hazarding a guess.
But in general, one would expect a reasonably elevated rank.

bootleg Asian keyboards: "one would need to know"
(It could have been seeing the "microchip" on the forum again -it unsettled me)

hehehhe freemason - you're funny

listen buddy, I couldn't really give a rat's ass about your sacred club. Neither do I care what the Tiler is, and certainly don't want to don a dress and become a mason myself.

What I do want to know, is why my disbelief in the masons owning any great secret annoys you so much? If you do have some great secret then fine - you've got it, I haven't, enjoy!

But you seem more interested in getting people to think you are somehow superior, and you can't stand the idea of someone who doesn't think the masons know anything special.

Well, that's me

No it actually probably stems from ME more then masonry, I think your disbelief bothers me more on a personal level just because I'm a bit arrogant that way...but we do have a fine history that seperates us from social clubs...and I hate misnomers. Misnomers suck.

Sincerely,
no signature

Really? What lodge? State?

And let's not forget those evil Masons building PYRAMIDS in EGYPT and in MESOAMERICA! And putting that darn snake and eagle in the MEXICAN flag!!!

And what about those eagles on the ROMAN legions? And PROMETHEUS, who eternally has his liver pecked by eagles? And EUCLID with all his fascination with triangles??

Masons, every one of them!!! I can see it right now!