S'Side,
I was about to join - you've put me right off!
GAGS
E86

John Eacot:
Membership of "Blue Peter" is not a secret but data protection laws prevent certain useage of the list.

RAF officers are not a secret organisation and all are published in the Air Force List.

Freemasonry membership lists in England have always been a secret.

Do, I wonder, those service personnel receiving PV clearance admit to membership of the Masons?

Under the Seditious Organisations Act of 17?? all Masonic Lodges had to send a copy of their membership lists to the Lord Chancellor every year and they were subject to public inspection at the Public Records Office. The requirement of the Act was not repealed until the 1960's, so I am afraid that it is only the last 40 years that Lodges have not published their memebership records.

As for mention of ones membership when being vetted it is covered under the Human Rights Act, that one has a RIGHT to privacy in ones private avocations.

BEAGS
As you are word perfect, you've obviously got the LP or the tape!
I nearly got inducted - but after a bit of reading up - I found that some of the initiation ceremonies I would have been obliged to perform would have reminded me of John Cleese, and with my cynical sense of humour, I would have probably burst out laughing and embarassed those present and made a complete @rse of myself.
Nowadays, when I'm introduced to someone who insists on crushing the flesh between my index finger and thumb with a very positive handshake, I simply reply, "How do you do, I'm wearing a pink corset tonight"
They tend to leave me alone after that
I'm guessing now, but I suspect your Beelzeebub statement will get you off a speeding charge in the right Magistrates Court
In fairness, they do a great deal for all communities and are to be admired.
A recent and very generous donation of 5 de-fibrulators at a cost of £10,000 from a Lodge in Kent, was turned down by the Chief Constable because it involved a photo call with him and members of the Lodge
He quoted some Home Office PC cr%p about "involvment" with secret societies - How on earth did he get to CC without being involved? I can only assume he may be a Muslim or similar - any thoughts?
Love many, Trust a few, Always paddle your own canoe

buoy15
laughed my c@@k off. To think you have been admitting wearing a pink corset to the wrong people all your life. you read the WRONG books(but John Cleese is and openly admits). never mentioned or worn a ponk corset... thats obviously your thing. infact,....you have made a complete arse of yourself!

<< know I am only a VRT, but I have been a freemason since I was 22, a few years ago now! In my time I have met a lot of serving Officers and Airmen/Women, yes there are lady freemasons, at various meetings and social functions.>>

That must make the breast bareing initiation a bit different.

As for secret membership lists, I once had to help the worshipful master sort out his database. I must admit to being distinctly uncomfortable.

Why do you boys get so worked up about who is a Freemason and who isn't? Is it simply a case of the haves and the have nots? I know that men have a natural hearding instinct (hence you all like to wear the same thing at functions unlike us girls) so is it the fear of being left out.

CIRCUMORNATAE UT SIMILITUDO TEMPLI

What I strove for at school and still stands me in good stead.;)

Tanewha,

You better go and do the EO Cse. Or is it all right to slag men off? It sure aint the other way round. But lets not turn this thread into a gender battle eh?

Testing

Woah.
I wasn't slagging men off. I actually quite like them. Its just that you seldom hear women wondering who is and isn't a Freemason.
Discuss.

Not So,

I overheard quite a lengthy discussion by a group of female JNCOs on what Freemasonry is or isn't!

And my sister-in-law is facinated by the whole thing....

So Mote it be!

why not ask one ?
 

Just before this thread grinds to a halt, let me add a couple more points in clarification of what has been writtten before.

1. Applications for membership MUST be entirely voluntary. If you have done your homework, asked your questions and decided that you would like to join, go ahead and apply. If you wait to be "invited", you will wait a long time . A Mason may intimate that he would be happy to support an application from you, and an invitation to a Ladies' Night may be a hint, but YOU must take the first step.

2. You could fill a small library with all the rubbish that has been written about Freemasonry, going back to the 17th century. Most has been penned by people who know a soft target when they see one. or who think that all the misfortunes of the world are down to masonic skulduggery. Politicians and the press cannot, or will not, accept that they do not have the right to know everything about everybody. It can be argued that Masons have only themselves to blame for not shouting back, and have allowed the mud to stick. But things are changing, and Masons are encouraged to be more open than ever before. Even five years ago, you would not have found me writing this in a public forum.

3. Little has been mentioned here about the principal activity of Freemasons - Charity. A couple of points. Freemasons in this country raise the best part of £10,000,000 a year for Charities, both Masonic and non-Masonic. Plus what they may give privately. That is second only to the National Lottery ! And very importantly, that is what they give themselves-from their own pockets, not from rattling a tin in the High Street.

Thanks for letting me have my say.

If you want to know the truth about the Masons, Why not ask one ?

MM

Testing,

Why should they?

What right do you, or anyone else have, to know which organisations people are members of?

To be flippant, should all individual's associations be made public?

AA, Weight Watchers, Model Railway Enthusiasts?

Cheers

BHR

TIGS2

Never worn a ponk corset - where do I get one?
Do the apron and gloves come as a package in a choice of colours?

Who'se the A%se now?

Regards B15

I've read this thread several times now.
What's the point of it?
Getting involved in life helps you get on. Moaning about life helps you moan.
Don't knock the masons for their rituals or ties to history, the Navy live by those things yet no one calls for a curb on their activities:oh:

I am calling for a curb of all Navy activities...



...and so is Roger... :ooh:

Green Eyed Monster!
 

I66,

Jealousy, will get you nowhere.........................

B L
 

It's not jealousy.
Just a comparison between two fine old institutions:}
Never been one for boats myself:ok:

What about other organisation that have secret memberships like the Buffalos, I don't hear anyone harping on about them. Whether you're a free mason or not is up to that individual so let them be :)

Proud to be
 

The Free Masons is a fine brotherhood with strict morals, in the world we live into day isn't it fantastic that something so fine and that does so much good for society is alive and strong? If you suspect someone of being a Mason (Its not illegal) ask them, I am sure they will answer truthfully and with pride. In my experience from the ones I have met, they are all on the better side of our society and I just wish more people in the country were like them! Oh and by the way I understand that its not so much a secret society but more a society that has secrets!

The man is right. Not every secret society is bad. My grandfather introcduced me to his society (TOC H) some years ago and I have been an active member for some years. Its no big secret what we do, nor do we shout from the roof tops.


and
Oooohhhhhh, shame. I am so so so sorry. Sorry to have messed up your career plans........


Bye then.............