A charge to the fraternity

**Edbear** · 19th February 2011, 18:46

Originally Posted by Big Dave

WTF am I then ???

Oh, for sure you are most humble and unpretentious among the unpretenders, my good Sir!

**Big Dave** · 19th February 2011, 18:54

Nah - I'm just fukin' good :-)

**Edbear** · 19th February 2011, 18:59

Brevity is not my long suit...

**Mom** · 19th February 2011, 19:11

Originally Posted by blackdog

I am certain this is not true.

Lets hear from the masons on this site, I think there are a few.

You can tell them by the handshake apparently

Originally Posted by blackdog

actually the fact that regardless of your religion you are still welcome is one of the things that appeals to me.

hindu, muslim, or christian to me you are a person that if earned deserves my respect regardless

Can I join?

Bit of a tongue in cheek question to be fair...

Do good works, have their own rituals, dont do harm, dont allow women to join...

**Edbear** · 19th February 2011, 19:15

Originally Posted by Mom

You can tell them by the handshake apparently

Can I join?

Bit of a tongue in cheek question to be fair...

Do good works, have their own rituals, dont do harm, dont allow women to join...

Hmmm... I may know of one like that where women are most welcome and treated with the greatest of respect...

**Mom** · 19th February 2011, 19:25

Originally Posted by Edbear

Hmmm... I may know of one like that where women are most welcome and treated with the greatest of respect...

I am sure you do.

I am not sure where that droopy breasted, red haired, hairy pits and legs comment came from really

**Smifffy** · 19th February 2011, 19:31

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I help out at the YMCA. I teach kids how to play basketball and be tolerant.
They wear a bib too.

Yeah, the whole apron & chains thing is, quite frankly, off putting.

The wielding of secret power and control over business & banking sounds kinda cool tho.

**Edbear** · 19th February 2011, 19:38

Originally Posted by Mom

I am sure you do.

I am not sure where that droopy breasted, red haired, hairy pits and legs comment came from really

Hey, I don't have red hair!

**YellowDog** · 19th February 2011, 20:12

I think you have to be invited to apply. If Jo Public was to simply apply as has been implied, I doubt that the masons would allow their thousands of years old secrets to be known by just anyone. I don't know. Perhaps someone on here should apply and see what happens?

The best thing I can say about the masons is that they don't go around press ganging people in to joining, like some religions I could mention.

I'm not sure that all masons do lots of charitable stuff. I get the impression that some just show up for the beer and pies. When I asked my wife about it, she said they sacrifice virgins - OK - I'm in

**Wannabiker** · 20th February 2011, 08:13

Not sure if it is membership by invitation, but I believe there is a certain amount of "vetting" required before being accepted...you cant just walk in off the street, pay your subs and head for the bar.

**lb99** · 20th February 2011, 08:57

My father and I got a tour though a masons lodge a couple of weeks ago, was part of a local heritage day here. most interesting to see inside that ominous un windowed building, we were taken right through the place, all of the inner chambers and all, not much to report, although there were some chain links attached to the chequered floor, Dad asked if this was where they chained the goat up. Does the boss get a hat with horns, like the grand poobah?

couldn't find any virgins though.

My grandfather was a Mason, and seemed to have held most of the senior positions in his lodge at one time or other, when I was a kid I remember him dressing up and going out "to lodge" after dark, would artfully dodge any questions asked by us kids too.

There were heaps of masons at his funeral, in full regailia, and he has a square and compass on his gravestone.

**Hitcher** · 20th February 2011, 14:05

A reminder that there is a thread called "Religious Ravings" (and a fine read it is too).

This thread is fringe, so far it's skirting just on the right side of the line for it to continue unmerged with RR. Well done to all contributors on that score.

Keep up the good work.

**blackdog** · 20th February 2011, 18:02

Originally Posted by Hitcher

A reminder that there is a thread called "Religious Ravings" (and a fine read it is too).

This thread is fringe, so far it's skirting just on the right side of the line for it to continue unmerged with RR. Well done to all contributors on that score.

Keep up the good work.

Apologies hitcher.

Apart from the belief by masons that there is a 'greater' being, my thread has NOTHING to do with religion.