My parents used to run a masonic lodge about 25 years ago and I learned so much about the free masons, it's actually super interesting.
Their guide book is all written in code, you have to learn the codes for your installation (induction into the lodge) for example outer guard and inner guard are og and ig. In the guidebook, it's brother ig.
They do a lot for charity.
2 b 1 ask 1 means that they cannot "recruit" per se. They can only tell you about how to join if you ask. It used to be you could only join the freemasons if you were related to one. But I think you have to ask 2 or 3 times before you're invited to a meeting.
The number of the lodge indicates the age of the lodge. There's something like 600 - 700 lodges in the UK, so the picture that you showed is 176 - that's a pretty old Lodge! The oldest in my parents lodge was in the low 200s
You can tell a lodge building by the columns on the doorstep.
There are female lodges now, there never used to be.
Freemasonry encourages equality, you have every walk of life from builders and prison officers all the way to commercial pilots, policemen, business owners etc. Theres no social hierarchy.
It's a really interesting society, it's probably changed a lot since I was in the space, but there were a lot of lovely and interesting people from all walks of life involved.
The secret handshake is pushing between the second and third knuckle on the right hand.
Also idc if this is secret information, I left the place 20 years ago and my parents aren't about anymore they'll never find me.
Women's lodges have existed since the 18th Century, in the UK since 1908.
To join one, any freemason can help you join and will probably be eager to do so. If you don't know anyone, you can join online now.
The UGLE has this and more information online. It is not a secret society, more a society with secrets. The day to day stuff masons are involved in is largely fundraising for charity and their local communities and the masonic charitable fund is one of the largest in the UK.
Indeed. It may just be some of the masons by me, but secretive they are not. They are only slightly less forthcoming about their involvement than vegetarians and crossfitters.
Indeed. It may just be some of the masons by me, but secretive they are not. They are only slightly less forthcoming about their involvement than vegetarians and crossfitters.
Someone dear to me has just rejoined after years of being away and your comment is just too accurate. I feel like I'm in danger of developing a nervous tic every time they start to prattle on about it for the tenth time that day.
Great. Glad you're happy. Have fun, but please, no more!
It's not a "guide book" , that's a ritual book. One exists for all the first three degrees (4 in Scotland)
Female Lodges are NOT considered "Regular"(in this context 'legitimate') and are not recognised by any of the "Home Constitutions"(Scotland,Ireland, England).
As for joining, yes you can ask a Freemason but he'd be more inclined to assist if he knew you as they would be the one to 'vouch" for you by proposing you for candidacy.
As for Lodge numbers, yes they give am indication of age but in Scotland there are 3 number 1 lodges, 1 , 1 bis and 1 ter. 1 is in Edinburgh, bis down the Borders and Ter in Aberdeen.
The Ancient Lodges are the ones that existed before Grand Lodge In Scotland's car that date is 1736.
The First recorded Freemason was made in Edinburgh in 1599(William Shaw) by Lodge of Edinburgh Mary's Chapel and the 2st I'm England was a Scotsman in Newcastle in 1641(Robert De Moray).
My lodge is numbered under 10😉.
It was NEVER the case you had to be related to join. Not at any point I'm history was that the case in ANY Constitution (jurisdiction).
You don't have to ask 2 or 3 times. It used to be the case we could not actively recruit but that changed about 15 years ago here in Scotland, similar with England and Ireland. 2 B 1 ask one was a USA sales pitch put on car stickers, pin badges etc. it was never really a thing in the UK. It does show up only very occasionally over here.
Not all lodge buildings have pillars by a large margin. Granted many do but not all by far. Many are quite amonymous looking buildings. (See attached pic of Caledonian Lodge in Edinburgh)
As for "the secret handshake" , you are hilariously and confidently wrong. That did make me laugh out loud.
I've been a Freemason for decades and a member of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons(England) so I reckon I know my stuff.
There is a hierarchy from non office bearers to Inner Guard right up to Right Worshipful Master (Worshipful Master in England) and the Provincial and Grand Lodge. But we always say we are "on the level" or equal to each other , which we are as brothers but we do have a hierarchy.
As for "it's probably changed a lot".... Erm.... No not really, it may have evolved a tiny bit but no it absolutely hasn't changed 'a lot" and never really will. That's part of the beauty of it... It's a constant factor.
Charity? In Scotland we recently raised 1.5 million for Prostate research, my lodge works with The Autism Initiative to provide supported accommodation for people with autism. We also support The Dean and Calvin Trust which has been helping vulnerable children I'm Edinburgh since 1733 and we have supported them since day one of their existence.
My experience was in England, not scotland, I lived in the lodge between the ages of 13 and 18, I am female and so was not a freemason. I just gave them their food, played the piano for them, and picked up that partial information over 5 years. My dad was a freemason, and that's the information I picked up. I didn't ask about his foray, he kept it close to his chest.
It was late last night that I typed that (for me) so words were hard.
This was also 20 years ago and a lot has happened so my memory is hazy. For instance I can't go back and ask my parents about stuff without a ouija board 😅
Thanks for your random lodge photo.
You do like to live up to your username, don't you 🤣
I'm sorry I got a few things wrong, I don't keep up with the space these days I have other things to be focusing on.
Generally what hold true for the Scottish constitution also holds true for English and Irish. I am also a member of the English constitution being a Founder member of two Mark Lodges.
That's not a random photo, it's ane came of a lodge without pillars as is quite common. This was in response to your claim they all had pillars which that shows they do not. I can post more but will refrain as it's obviously pointless.
Best of luck to you and when you talk on a subject and .akw statements on it, maybe mKe sure they are factual first 😉
I am still laughing at the handshake...it's very wrong 😂😅🤣
I can't believe they have an AOL.com email, I barely knew they were still around. Surely they should have some dark-sounding highly organised domain like members@lodge176.masonic.org
Probably something that was set up years ago and they can't be bothered to change it because of all the hassle involved. It's more common than you'd think, I know a lot of people still using Hotmail for the same reason.
You know how black guys just know special handshakes? Well it's not very natural for white people so they come here to learn how to do special handshakes
Freemasons Lodge Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire under the United Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Scottish Lodges have the letter G between the Square (bottom) and Compasses (top) whereas lodges under the rule of the United Grand Lodge of England do not.
I think all the strange stuff happens at lodge 33.
And coincidentally they use that number a lot, even on the news.
33 people injured etc
Strange how it crops up
Masonic Lodge. Boomers’ dressing up club. They’re genuinely in a fight for survival with Rotary, The Odd Fellows, the Order of the Buffalo (yes really) and sundry other ‘fraternities’. If you ask if you can join they’ll bite your hand off quicker than the Scientologists. Some say they rule the world, all we know is, that’s the Women’s Institute.
Sons of the light and descendents of the Templar Knights, the 2nd most prosecuted people outside of Jews and believed to be involved in every conspiracy conceivable, they control and topple governments, have infinite money and assassinate Mormon prophets...
They also have some banger philosophy books too if you're interested.
Manly P. Hall has dozens of books, favorite and probably most recognised = "Secret Teachings of All Ages"
Albert Pikes famous "Morals and Dogma"
Freemasonry isn't a secret society, its a society with secrets. Been making the greatest of men better for be better part of 3-500 years.
Its a brotherhood that transends borders, theres secret handshakes, hand signs and ways to recognise one another without so much as a word or suspicion.
I absolutely love Freemasonry, It in my own believe changed/saved my life.
No criminals allowed, If you've been convicted for anything serious you are automatically barred.
You must be religious, most lodges only accept protestants. Catholics and the orthodox are for the better part barred, Muslims, Jews and Hindus are all welcome.
Theres a female and male fraternity..
Not sure what else to say, what do you want to know?
Any potential member needs to believe in a supreme being. No religion is barred. Catholics are instructed not to join by the Catholic Church, a position maintained by every pope including the latest one.
Theres also allot of stories about the Jesuits founding Freemasonry to restore Catholic supremacy over England.
People thing the radical Muslims are scary, the Jesuits are extremely organised and inside every important institution throughout Europe. 90% of presidents/prime ministers across the west have gone through Papal linked universities: Macron, Trump, Tuderu and the new Canadian PM, Andy Burnum has implemented a Jesuit charity policy already (refugees).
Jesuits were helping smuggle illegals across the US border under Biden. (Who attended Jesuit schools too)
Jesuits and freemasons are two sides of the same coin.
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u/frozen_pope 1d ago
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