The Freemason Forum

In my head I see it playing out as just more of our members being like me, open about their membership. I have a S&C on my crash helmet, on my car and I tend to wear one on whichever jacket I'm wearing (noone ever notices the one in my ring) and I am happy to talk about it with my friends and family, that's it.

I kinda guessed that would be the case.:)

However perhaps I am being naive here but I simply don't see the need to have an installation ceremony for the general public?




3954

No, but it's thin end of the wedge stuff. Some here are looking towards TV adverts

That's always been the case with certain members willing to overtly disclose their membership by various means.. However the thread isn't about a 2be1ask1 bumper sticker

The old  "seek and ye shall find" springs to mind....

I too knew no one, (not even when I was given a list of members and asked if I recognised anyone). Previously I was invited to ask but after 18 months waiting for it to progress, I gave up and sought out my own membership. it was no biggie for me to seek out the details I needed.. so both you and I in our state of darkness managed to gather sufficient gumption to sort it out. Are we true masters of the universe, Reptilian shapeshifting NWO  types?  Or just a couple of blokes who picked up the Goddamn phone?

I wonder do we really need anyone who has to be spoonfed all the way in and  ponder if, that by making it too easy to join,  makes too easy to leave?

3954

Going to Mark's point of being confused with the orange order, i do believe that we still have a problem up here with regards to this sitution and this is maybe part of the problem with very few roman catholics in scotland being members of the craft. That is changing slowly but it is very slowly.

As for parades, i don't think there is a major building in the new town of Edinburgh that the freemasons didn't lay the foundation stone.  In fact the new infirmary had a parade of over 3,000 masons. now that can't be just the rank and file.

Like Bro Mike I do not hide my affiliation.  I wear an S&Q ring, a Forget-me-Not lapel badge etc, all my friends and my co-workers know that I am "On the Square". However I can fully appreciate that there are Brethren who need or wish to keep their membership to themselves so any Parades, Public events etc should be as voluntary as any other Masonic activity such as Ladies Nights, Stalls at Country Fairs, etc. Participate if you wish, stay away if you don't.

A good start IMO would be for The PGMs to attend in Full Regalia and to lay a wreath on Rememberance Sunday at the local war memorial at the principal city or town in their Province, with other Chains doing likewise in other locations, with those Brethren who wish to accompany them doing so. Perhaps in smaller villages etc the Master (or a PM) of the local Lodge could do so?

This is only a suggestion and there may be better ideas. Freemasonry is known about. It is NOT a "Secret Society" but a Society with Secrets. The problem is that there is too much in the way of spurious knowledge unfavourable to The Craft in the Public Domain, as a result of anti-Masonic books, newpaper articles, plays etc on the TV. The maintenance of unneccessary secrecy long past WW2 has not helped in this regard.

However, here in England this is not a problem. I do understand that the Orange Order has Lodges in England but it is far far smaller than in Ulster or Scotland and very low profile.  Down here the two organisations are not seen to be connected and there are many RCs who are also Freemasons here in England, so I can't see Masonic Marches being misunderstood in this regard as they could be in Scotland.

A thought occurs. In 2013 it will be the 200th Anniversary of UGLE. No doubt there will be a large Meeting in celebration thereof, possibly at the Royal Albert Hall as was the case with the Inauguration of the London Metropolitan Grand Lodge? Why not have a Public Procession of Brethren in their Regalia to the Hall to mark this occasion?

The decline in numbers of the Craft has many reasons. One in my view is the decline in public standards. A sizeable number of society now view a good night out, as a matter of getting "blootered" and rolling about in the gutter. They are not concerned with esoteric thoughts or moral self improvement.If we take an honest look at all our friends, colleagues, family and acquaintances, how many of them (who are not already Masons) would you be prepared to confidently propose or second, secure in the belief that they would "ultimately reflect honour on your choice". Thus one factor is the declining number of people worthy of becoming Freemasons.

I am against the trend in some quarters, that numbers of candidates are everything. Quality, not quantity is the essential element. Turning Lodges into Masonic "sausage factories", will not in the long term achieve the desired effect. If Masonry is going through a period of adjustment, and we end up with fewer Lodges, then so be it. Better that than compromise the principles on which the Order is founded.

Just my personal twopence worth.

Roy L.

"SELUME PROFERRE"

That is a great point, succinctly made. The whole reason for raising the profile of Freemasonry is to show that Masons are good men, honest and true. Somewhere between cup and lip that message has been lost. No parade can change that.

So how about getting back to the basics. Remaining true to the ideal of building something that does not change with every wind blow, and not changing the message for evey person an individual encounters just to win favour would be a good start. A lapel badge means nothing if the person wearing it remains as mendacious and unpleasant as those on the outside.