I've been asked to join the Freemasons

I've been asked to join the Freemasons

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The Moose

22,818 posts

208 months

Friday 3rd November 2017
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Henners said:
GTO-3R said:
Our installation in a couple of weeks and I'll be moving up to SW with my uncle going in the chair. Looking forward to the year and already reading up on the WM's words. I'm proposing someone to come in too so all being well with timings I'll be the one to raise him which I can't wait for!
I've just gone from SW to WM. It's amazing how much you just absorb - particularly the opening and closing.

Although you have to decide what to gavel rather than just copy...

Guess who got their knocks wrong on their instillation closing whistle
If in doubt, give it a clout wink

WRumbled

392 posts

226 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
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pmanson said:
My initiation is on the 25th November - really looking forward to it!
Where are you joining? Good luck with it.

MTech535

613 posts

110 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
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Henners said:
Sounds good!

We have balloted for 1, but had to turn 3 away because they haven't met the required criteria, which is a shame.

2 more in the pipeline for interviews though!
What are the criteria that applicants have to meet?

Do people not self assess before hand or. are the criteria a closely guarded secret?

Henners

12,230 posts

193 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
MTech535 said:
Henners said:
Sounds good!

We have balloted for 1, but had to turn 3 away because they haven't met the required criteria, which is a shame.

2 more in the pipeline for interviews though!
What are the criteria that applicants have to meet?

Do people not self assess before hand or. are the criteria a closely guarded secret?
No real secrets, no suprises. Conversation usually goes along the lines of:

- Do you believe in a supreme being
- Ensure they're aware of the financial commitment (fees and festive board costs etc)
- Are they enthusiastic / joining for the right reasons - we won't make you the next Prime Minister, thats my job wink
- Criminal convictions
- Are you morally fit

Stuff like that.

Basically if you're normal wink and not an ex bank robber, you're usually OK.

silverfoxcc

7,680 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
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One question we ask now a bit more forcefully ( well sort of!!)

'If you are thinking of joining just to 'feather your own nest' go join a golf club, Freemasonry is the complete opposite'. as you will be wasting our time and yours

Had a couple of guys who just got initiated and then never seen again, somehow i think it was they could tell people they are freemasons and thus, wrongly, get preferential treatment.

Another new entrant, who on being asked to be a steward, ( for the non masons here, its the first step on the ladder to the chair) said he didnt want to do it as all he wanted to do was sit at the festive boards and 'meet' people. It ws politely explained that is entirely the wrong answer and attitude
Trouble is these people believe all they are told by those non masons, who profess to know everything about the craft.........and dont

Henners

12,230 posts

193 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Hi, yes there tends to be - either to local lodge, or just to eBay tbh.

Happy to help.

pmanson

13,372 posts

252 months

Saturday 4th November 2017
quotequote all
WRumbled said:
pmanson said:
My initiation is on the 25th November - really looking forward to it!
Where are you joining? Good luck with it.
The Old Dunstablians lodge in Leighton Buzzard

The Moose

22,818 posts

208 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
silverfoxcc said:
Another new entrant, who on being asked to be a steward, ( for the non masons here, its the first step on the ladder to the chair) said he didnt want to do it as all he wanted to do was sit at the festive boards and 'meet' people. It ws politely explained that is entirely the wrong answer and attitude
Trouble is these people believe all they are told by those non masons, who profess to know everything about the craft.........and dont
I’m not sure I totally agree with that. Unless he meant for personal advantage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people staying as EA if they are happy with that - seems a shame to me but hey that’s their decision.

zygalski

7,759 posts

144 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
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It's nice to know we have so many people who believe in God on here.
Judging from N,P & E you'd think that virtually everyone on PH forums was an atheist.

E34-3.2

1,003 posts

78 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
Henners said:
No real secrets, no suprises. Conversation usually goes along the lines of:

- Do you believe in a supreme being
- Ensure they're aware of the financial commitment (fees and festive board costs etc)
- Are they enthusiastic / joining for the right reasons - we won't make you the next Prime Minister, thats my job wink
- Criminal convictions
- Are you morally fit

Stuff like that.

Basically if you're normal wink and not an ex bank robber, you're usually OK.
So, you first question and your last comment do not fit together. It shows a flaw in you belief.

"Do you Believe in a supreme being?"

And

"If you're normal and not an ex bank robber, you're usually OK."

If you believe in a supreme being, the first thing you should have learn is to accept anyone and forgive.

Henners

12,230 posts

193 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
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E34-3.2 said:
So, you first question and your last comment do not fit together. It shows a flaw in you belief.

"Do you Believe in a supreme being?"

And

"If you're normal and not an ex bank robber, you're usually OK."

If you believe in a supreme being, the first thing you should have learn is to accept anyone and forgive.
In your opinion, but thats why FM isn't right for all - and why it's a bunch of very different people. Your view seems to be the traditional Christian one, which is fine - but the scope is much much wider.

A FM may not even believe in any of the traditional religions.

E34-3.2

1,003 posts

78 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
Henners said:
E34-3.2 said:
So, you first question and your last comment do not fit together. It shows a flaw in you belief.

"Do you Believe in a supreme being?"

And

"If you're normal and not an ex bank robber, you're usually OK."

If you believe in a supreme being, the first thing you should have learn is to accept anyone and forgive.
In your opinion, but thats why FM isn't right for all - and why it's a bunch of very different people. Your view seems to be the traditional Christian one, which is fine - but the scope is much much wider.

A FM may not even believe in any of the traditional religions.
I see, but I don't understand that it is primordial that you believe in a supreme being and in a same time, you are not aloud to speak about religion. In that case you should accept humanist as surely, they will never speak religion.

If you are religious in any religion traditional or not which believe in ONE supreme being, the right thing to do is to try to convert others. So joining freemasons is completely un-religious and against it.

Not a critic but I try to understand the logic of your group. I don't think freemasons should need to believe in anything.


Edited by E34-3.2 on Sunday 5th November 08:38

Henners

12,230 posts

193 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
E34-3.2 said:
I see, but I don't understand that it is primordial that you believe in a supreme being and in a same time, you are not aloud to speak about religion. In that case you should accept humanist as surely, they will never speak religion.
Edited by E34-3.2 on Sunday 5th November 08:38
Neither religion or politics are discussed - simply because they tend to cause debate and disharmony.

The question is a simply 'do you believe in a SB' and nothing more, not which one, not why.

E34-3.2 said:
If you are religious in any religion traditional or not which believe in ONE supreme being, the right thing to do is to try to convert others.




Edited by E34-3.2 on Sunday 5th November 08:38
Not something I agree with you on, but thats a separate topic. Can you see why we don't discuss religion wink

The thing to keep in mind is that to some they may believe in something bigger, but it may not take the form of a religion for them.

There are some general point here, on the UGLE site.

silverfoxcc

7,680 posts

144 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
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The Moose said:
silverfoxcc said:
Another new entrant, who on being asked to be a steward, ( for the non masons here, its the first step on the ladder to the chair) said he didnt want to do it as all he wanted to do was sit at the festive boards and 'meet' people. It ws politely explained that is entirely the wrong answer and attitude
Trouble is these people believe all they are told by those non masons, who profess to know everything about the craft.........and dont
I’m not sure I totally agree with that. Unless he meant for personal advantage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people staying as EA if they are happy with that - seems a shame to me but hey that’s their decision.
Moose

The way it was put was more obvious than that, he wanted to get as many work contacts for himself,and being a steward, would mean there were little chances at the festive board,
On the other hand have just heard of the death of one of our now honorary members 55 years in, and never in the chair. He just enjoyed being at Lodge meetings.We got him Hon Provisional, all round good guy

The Moose

22,818 posts

208 months

Sunday 5th November 2017
quotequote all
silverfoxcc said:
The Moose said:
silverfoxcc said:
Another new entrant, who on being asked to be a steward, ( for the non masons here, its the first step on the ladder to the chair) said he didnt want to do it as all he wanted to do was sit at the festive boards and 'meet' people. It ws politely explained that is entirely the wrong answer and attitude
Trouble is these people believe all they are told by those non masons, who profess to know everything about the craft.........and dont
I’m not sure I totally agree with that. Unless he meant for personal advantage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people staying as EA if they are happy with that - seems a shame to me but hey that’s their decision.
Moose

The way it was put was more obvious than that, he wanted to get as many work contacts for himself,and being a steward, would mean there were little chances at the festive board,
On the other hand have just heard of the death of one of our now honorary members 55 years in, and never in the chair. He just enjoyed being at Lodge meetings.We got him Hon Provisional, all round good guy
Interesting view as being steward really is the best way to meet the other brethren in the lodge - especially those who can’t regularly attend LOIs.

The Moose

22,818 posts

208 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Bit of a thread bump.

What is wrong with these idiots? You've just been given £2.5 million to buy much needed equipment...and you're bhing and moaning about it. Give me a break.

https://www.channel4.com/news/freemasons-donation-...

Thinking about it some more, I guess they are right - it is unacceptable that we should be paying for life-saving equipment. It should be paid for from public funds!

silverfoxcc

7,680 posts

144 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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Chap in our Lof=dge wasvery high up in the Fire Service. Chief Fire Officer of Berkshire. He would be on the phone to the unions in a trice telling them to MTFU

21TonyK

11,475 posts

208 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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Can I just ask what the score is with the supreme being bit?

I'd like to think I would be a good Mason but I could not say I believe in a supreme being. A supreme "philosophy" yes, but not a being.

Am I out before I start?

The Mad Monk

10,446 posts

116 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
Can I just ask what the score is with the supreme being bit?

I'd like to think I would be a good Mason but I could not say I believe in a supreme being. A supreme "philosophy" yes, but not a being.

Am I out before I start?
Do you believe in a god?

Whether that be God, Allah, Buddha, etc., etc.

You need to believe in a god.

21TonyK

11,475 posts

208 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Do you believe in a god?

Whether that be God, Allah, Buddha, etc., etc.

You need to believe in a god.
Not a specific being or entity, no. If you mixed all the worlds religions and picked the best bits out... that would be me.

Hey... that's an idea... could I be a new supreme being?

All joking aside, no. I really follow no religion as such although I believe that Buddha was real and the philosophy is not one I would disagree with.