Freemasonary

[*crikey*mate*]

What do you know about it?

I was told that one Mason could identify another Mason by shaking hands with them.

Apparently they have some special secret handshake.

[jean2579]

Crikey, my OH belonged to a Jewish Lodge. He was one of the few non Jewish members and when he became Master they gave him a special momento of a Bible that they had leather bound with the compass and square on the front and extra pages added for signatures. While they specifically did not discuss religion it was always an unspoken consideration. When I made the meals I would be careful not to include any food that the other women told me were not permitted under Jewish rules. The men respected each other in a very practical way.

[*crikey*mate*]

That's really cool, thank's jean...

See, it really is good to get "real" stories, rather than just what you read on google, eh?

[cherry*135]

I am not sure how they go about doing their charity work/fundraising and whether they donate anonomously or not.

[jean2579]

Funny thing Crikey. Being Jewish they could not eat prawns, yet they would ask for mountains of them each meeting. When I said that their wives had said that it was not permitted, they told me that because this was a Lodge and therefore had no religious significance that all of the prawns were considered to be kosher and could be eaten. I was only late 20 something at the time and did not dare question them. The prawns all disappeared each night though.:^O

[lakeland27]

a lot of left of centre politicians joined lodges to escape the catholic church in australia during the time of bob santamaria and the DLP. mannix and s'maria divide the catholic vote in a pre-meditated fashion .. driving half of them away to places that were traditionally off -limits.

i notice Rudd is an ex-catholic .. an anglican. i wonder if the groupers had anything to do with that decision.

[the_bob_delusion]

Funny thing Crikey. Being Jewish they could not eat prawns, yet they would ask for mountains of them each meeting. When I said that their wives had said that it was not permitted, they told me that because this was a Lodge and therefore had no religious significance that all of the prawns were considered to be kosher and could be eaten. I was only late 20 something at the time and did not dare question them. The prawns all disappeared each night though.:^O

It's always amazed me when people think God cares about what you eat, what you think , what position you sleep with someone.

[toon_town_nutter]

My sister works as a waitress in a restaurant where they regularly have dinners. The harassment and bum pinching she endures from that mob is astounding considering most of them are married men. Disgusting behaviour from any man married or not.

[jean2579]

toon_town, sounds as if your sister needs to accidentally spill some very hot coffee on a few laps. Hope she is ok

[azureline**]

I think, on average they are pretty much the same as men everywhere, regardless of what group they belong to.

Some are gentlemen, some are not. Some do good in the community and are seen to be doing it, some aren't.

[kopenhagen5]

The first Masonic charter, so far as is known, was that issued by Prince Edwin, with the consent of his father, King Athelstane, at York, in 926 A.D. This charter, told of in numerous copies of various old Masonic Constitutions, or "The Old Charges", provided fundamental right of Masons to assemble, work, take apprentices, make their own laws, have their own organization. It is, in the thought of many, the fundamental landmark of the Craft.  

But to modern Speculative Masons, the charter of a lodge is a document, setting forth the consent of Grand Lodge that certain brethren become the Master and Wardens of a new lodge, and that the new lodge is of. right and of necessity must be, recognized as an equal by all other lodges, with no authority over it and its Master except Masonic law, the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge.

 http://www.themasonictrowel.com/masonic_talk/stb/stbs/48-09.htm

My father was a freemason in Japan. Quite different in different countries apparently.