Freemasonry.

Allira

Wyllow3

There's no doubt that in the past as David said, the "backscratching" and more went on. But `I expect it depended on local circumstances and branches.

My Dad gave me lots of examples from his working life of the less savoury behind the scenes stuff as he experienced it. Favours done, jobs got, people got advancement in certain sorts of careers, and it wasn't women.

I'm willing to accept its changed now of course.

Irrespective of the Freemasons, a lot of that goes on everywhere. "It's not what you know, it's who you know round here" I was told when we moved here and I was jobhunting.
And it certainly was!

Yes, personal recommendation is pretty much universal everywhere. I'm in the US at present with wife's family, a niece said "I earned $10k today " introducing a new worker to a company.
Whether you are paid or not personal recommendation is a big advantage in the jobs market or any other competitive area like housing, a negative response will close doors.

Wyllow3

There's no doubt that in the past as David said, the "backscratching" and more went on. But `I expect it depended on local circumstances and branches.

My Dad gave me lots of examples from his working life of the less savoury behind the scenes stuff as he experienced it. Favours done, jobs got, people got advancement in certain sorts of careers, and it wasn't women.

I'm willing to accept its changed now of course.

Irrespective of the Freemasons, a lot of that goes on everywhere. "It's not what you know, it's who you know round here" I was told when we moved here and I was jobhunting.
And it certainly was!

Daddima
Good excuse from your friend’s husband, for buying spirits.
We’ve had 2 Grand Masters my Grandfather and brother-in-law, and several Master masons on our family, but none of them have felt they had to do that.
Maybe the Lodge he was in encouraged that, or maybe . . .

My friend’s husband was a Freemason, and was going to be the Master ( or is it Grand Master?) the following year. She was annoyed because they were a bit short of money, and had three young children, but he was buying bottles of spirits every week, as when he was Master he would have to provide the drink for the top table of visiting guests. He maintained it was an investment, because of the business opportunities that would come his way.

People love the idea of being part of an elite, in this case a men-only club with secret rituals. I know that there is a women's branch, which have a similar attitude. I tried to join once but it was because I hoped to have access to secret knowledge. However, it was basically a sisterhood so I didn't go any further with it.

My friend is a Mason. When his business went under he said they paid his children’s school fees .

My father was asked if he'd like to join the Freemasons ,but refused.
My mother wanted him to join and didn't get her own way for once.
He was asked several times.He liked the idea of raising money for charity but was put off by the rituals. Being a very quiet almost introverted man any kind of "play acting "would have been abhorrent to him .
.

Masons bought the charity where I worked with the elderly a all singing all dancing mini bus to transport people into our day centre, it even had a lift to get wheelchairs in and out. Amazon left a very large sum of money in his will to provide transport as he was sad when visiting a group of elderly people in sheltered accommodation who said they would love to go to the local centre but there was no transport. When we saw it we could have burst into tears of joy as our old ambulance was on it's last legs and we just hadn't got the money to replace it.

We have Mens Sheds now. ☺️

Deedaa

My husband joined the Masons when we lived in Cornwall. It was fun because they were all ordinary people, the local postman and people like that. I started cooking meals for them at their monthly meetings, and when the top man in the county (can't remember his proper title) came to a meeting he insisted that I joined them at the festive board rather than eat alone in the kitchen.

When we were staying with a friend in Verona he went to a local lodge meeting which included all the local winemakers, with some exceptionally good wines. He was given a couple of bottles to take home. Sadly when we moved up to Berkshire the lodge he joined was basically boring old farts, and even he admitted that it was no longer fun and gave it up.

LOL, I was a Rotary member for many years and they became Boring Old Farts, content with a poor lunch and golf occasionally, so I gave up.

My husband joined the Masons when we lived in Cornwall. It was fun because they were all ordinary people, the local postman and people like that. I started cooking meals for them at their monthly meetings, and when the top man in the county (can't remember his proper title) came to a meeting he insisted that I joined them at the festive board rather than eat alone in the kitchen.

When we were staying with a friend in Verona he went to a local lodge meeting which included all the local winemakers, with some exceptionally good wines. He was given a couple of bottles to take home. Sadly when we moved up to Berkshire the lodge he joined was basically boring old farts, and even he admitted that it was no longer fun and gave it up.

Freemasonry is in decline - 2.5% decrease each year a/t Google.
Interestingly, membership soared after WW2, thought to be because men sought out the camaraderie & structure of the armed Forces; because more working / lower middle class men were able to afford belonging to a "Club"; and because the Nazis had tried to destroy Freemasonry.

There's no doubt that in the past as David said, the "backscratching" and more went on. But `I expect it depended on local circumstances and branches.

My Dad gave me lots of examples from his working life of the less savoury behind the scenes stuff as he experienced it. Favours done, jobs got, people got advancement in certain sorts of careers, and it wasn't women.

I'm willing to accept its changed now of course.

The Rotary do a lot of charity work too, and don't feel that they have to be secretive or (now) exclude women.

My late DF used to be given a masonic handshake now and then in his work as a businessman, and apparently this was a way of asking for a smaller fee. He returned the handshake and charged the normal rates.

Sago

Having been brought up a Catholic Freemasonry was considered a sin!
Apparently Catholics still are forbidden from joining!

I’d heard that too.
Strange that joining a charitable group is a bigger sin for RC than the domestic abuse I helped to deal with.

Maggiemaybe it was suggested to my Dad he became a Buff, a Freemason too, he joined the local Lions instead. He felt they were more open and visible in the community.

Are these the ones that stand on one leg, have a funny handshake and talk in a secret code? 😂

An older lady in our church was unimpressed by her husband's allegiance to Freemasonry, and if someone called to speak to him when he was attending meetings, she would tell the caller that " Mr X is at Brownies".

Our local Masonic Hall had an open weekend, and we went to have a nosey round and learn a bit about the whole thing. It was very interesting, and I was impressed to hear how much charity work Masons actually do. As for being secretive, this particular Lodge offers speakers to give free talks to local groups about Freemasonry, as they want to be more open. Apparently they don’t get much take up because people are so wary of them.

My dad was a Buff - a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. He had a bit of regalia tucked away and I’m sure he could have told us a tale or two (but never did).

Having been brought up a Catholic Freemasonry was considered a sin!
Apparently Catholics still are forbidden from joining!

Never said it did but it gives a good excuse as to where you go on set nights.
Another good excuse is visiting a friend every week at the same time.

Bowling, dominoes, football, cricket, WI, Knit and Natter, the gym...... all can be a good excuse on set nights if you're intent on deceiving someone. Seems a sad way to view a partnership to me but, if that's the way you think....... 🙅‍♂️

My father was a mason and I was offered his place when he died, it's not really my thing and my wife was not keen on me joining, so I politely declined. I do know quite a few that are Masons
Yes they do charitable work, but there is a lot of
"backscratching" that goes on, it's also quite expensive, you are expected to contribute generously. It got a bad reputation in the past because local politics was "influenced" buy Masonic loyalties (put politely) a lot less now that interests have to be declared

My ex husband was a mason. I met him at a ladies night where I was the guest of some friends. He was pretty miffed that being a librarian I had access to all kinds of books about freemasonary and masonic rituals. Ive always been aware of the business advantages and the charitable work they do. We were only married three years. Our divorce had nothing to do with masonry.

The big secret about the freemasons is that there is no secret. It's just blokes getting together, doing charity work etc.

But it’s another almost annual topic which gives us chance to express our views on it.

DH went in as a Lewis - son of a Freemason, but he wasn’t keen, not really a Christian and working away meant he missed lots of meetings, so he resigned.
His DF was a Past Master, etc and when on holiday wherever, was always welcomed into a meeting and meal as a guest.

A society of secrets, not a secret society and yes, they do a lot for charity, without making a song and dance about it.