Carbolic posted:

So do any Masons actually want women to be able to join?

Reading through the thread, some people have been very up-front that they like being part of an organization that doesn't allow women to be involved. Others have sort of skirted the issue by saying "welp, it's impossible, so there's no point discussing it."

For those who are perfectly fine with being part of an organization that excludes women: what if Masonry had also always had a "whites only" requirement? If you are white, would you be equally comfortable being a member? If you are not white, would you be comfortable being excluded ("oh well, that's just the rules, too bad I can't join")? Why / why not?

In 100 years, how do you think society will view the "no women" rule?

Carbolic posted:

I haven't presented any argument. I'm asking questions because I'm curious whether members of a particular fraternity (the Masons) see any parallels between a fraternity and a "whites only" organization, and whether they think that posterity will view fraternities in the same light as "whites only" organizations are viewed by most of society now. I don't believe these questions been asked in this thread before. I agree with Lovable Luciferian that these can be considered loaded questions but I can't really think of a more polite way to ask. This is, after all, an "Ask us" thread.

There have been a couple of mentions in the thread about a former "whites only" rule as well as one mention of a former "no maimed man" rule. I'd be curious to hear more about those rules, how widely adopted they were, and how they were changed -- and what made those rules different from the immutable "no women" or "must profess belief in God" rules. The OP mentions a historical schism that resulted in parallel sets of lodges between white Masons and black Masons but it is not clear whether this arose from de facto or de jure discrimination.

Flying Fortress posted:

Don't worry, we're not plotting new ways to oppress women at our meetings.

lord1234 posted:

Ours are all made to fit both the initiate and the...well you know. I had to tie them around each other to form a sort of belt at some stages...

stubblyhead posted:

The idea that we're secretly pulling the strings of all world governments is pretty laughable--as a whole we are barely able to plan a spaghetti dinner for twenty or so guys once a month, much less run the entire world.

QPZIL posted:

Silly outfits ITT

TemetNosceXVIcubus posted:

I see your Silly outfit, and reply with my silly outfit. I wore it for the first time last Thursday.
This is what a KT dresses like in The Great Priory of New South Wales and ACT.

QPZIL posted:

Last week we initiated a guy. It's all solemn, he's there at the altar, and after all the solemnity, he's ordered to arise. The conductor tugs at his hand to get him to stand up, and he proceed to confusedly stand up and start climbing up onto the altar.

Queue about 5 guys going, "n-n-no no NO...!"

Ahhh, fun in the lodge.

FreshFeesh posted:

The only secret is what exactly we keep secret

Crankit posted:

I was under the impression that sexism was discrimination against women, you're in an organisation that disallows (i.e. discrimnates against someone) because they are women (i.e. sex based discrimination).

I just checked the definition of sexism: Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

It sounds to me like freemasons who don't let women in their freemasonry group are sexists, but maybe I'm confused by some of the complex terminology.

Crankit posted:

I tried, and will read again but after the OP it starts off like this:

Brethren, it is the pleasure of the Worshipful Master that Something Awful Mason Thread No. 3523447 be now opened and stand open for the dispatch of business!
The lodge is tiled accordingly!
Brother Goons, It's the order of the Worshipful Goon that a thread of master goons be open in this forum and that you conduct yourselves accordingly.
Brother Senior Warden, are all present Master Goons? Inquire through your proper channel until you are duly satisfied.
"I am protected."
Then as Worshipful Master, I order Something Awful Getout Thread #3523447 to be now open.

...

Colton posted:

well, I just got a call from the secretary of the lodge I asked for a petition. apparently a whole group of masons want to meet with me at IHOP saturday. anything I should be prepared for? and what is it with masons and IHOP?

Colton posted:

I have not submitted the petition yet. I still have a few questions about it so i guess i'll have them answered this weekend. I don't know why i'm nervous though. Maybe i'm just worried about making a good impression.

Paramemetic posted:

... I cannot say that every brother Mason is a saint to a man. ...

7thBatallion posted:

... Most of us are the chillest motherfuckers around.

Colton posted:

I was pleasantly surprised. Now i'm looking forward to meeting the lodge and eating pancakes before i submit my petition. I told my wife about the pancakes and that sold her on the whole idea.

I did a little bit of research on the other organizations and the shriners really appeal to me but i'm probably getting way ahead of myself.

So in two weeks i'll be petitioning at tuality lodge #6 in hillsboro, oregon. I'm really excited now.

jonboy8871 posted:

WAFFLEHOUND posted:

Don't sell me so short. I not only outed myself, but sent messages from the then-locked down masonry thread through other people with accounts basically talking about how we had decided to reveal our organization now that Bitcoin was too weak to defend itself, etc. and then got several other Masons from the thread to pile it on as deep as possible.

It was glorious, the whole incident actually lead to the YOSPOS gang tag as well. Pretty much my proudest moment on SA

Solvent posted:

I completely understand this, and though I do have an urge to complain to the Grand lodge of California AND Florida, I cannot do so without him wanting me to.

Solvent posted:

Solvent posted:

To the best of my knowledge, most of the seminars in California focus on practical skills, such as hall management, lodge finance, record keeping and the like.
The ones I took were a waste of time in terms of education, but they provide certification.

KillianLett posted:

For the love of God, use the correct fork!

There is no correct fork, it's a trick.

redeyes posted:

got invited to be a Mason

Colton posted:

Two questions: is it a fur suit and do they clean it between uses?

QPZIL posted:

To clarify, one of our statutes is that we don't ask people to become Masons, they have to seek it out on their own. In fact, on most applications, you have to sign off on it being "of your own free will and accord."

Keetron posted:

Well, my first night as a Tyler did not went well. We raised a Brother and after all was over and we were about to close the lodge, I was get nauseous, felt warm, started sweating and became dizzy. Shortly after, my vision started to get dim. Even though the lights were already dimmed, apparently I was white as a sheet and a brother came over, send me to a seat (all were already standing) and took my place.

So, what did I do wrong? I was never in military service, it seems I should have picked up some tricks there.

Keetron posted:

Anyway, I locked my knees as I was engrossed by seeing the ritual for the first time since I underwent the same myself.

Nopers, we are a proud lodge where they select a young, healthy guy who has no issue with standing still for 2 hours to be Tyler. Which works most of the time.

Keetron posted:

About standing outside, I said proud, not strict.

Colton posted:

I'll be coming straight from work, so I won't be wearing any underwear... this is troubling...

Effingham posted:

During one of the EA... um, walks... my cousin's "special pants" came unfastened and dropped. He was very glad to be wearing new, clean undies. The whole loge now knows whether he's a boxer or brief man.

Colton posted:

in three hours I leave for the lodge that will forever be my mother lodge. I hope the goat is kind.

Colton posted:

So, uh... wow... that was a lot to take in. It was exciting though and i feel pretty good right now, like a burden's been lifted.

I have so many questions too but i don't know what to say here. Good thing my lodge meets this saturday.

Oh, and fraternal greetings, brothers

Sub Rosa posted:

When I was an EA/FC the Tyler encouraged me to eavesdrop.


I once heard a brother put it this way: "This obligation (pointing to wedding band) trumps any other obligation including this (pointing to S&C ring) one." And I've certainly met some Mason's wives who could put lots of brothers to shame in terms of Masonic knowledge and there is no way they don't all the things referenced above.

lone77wulf posted:

I'm seeking a bit of brotherly advice. If you look back in the thread, you'll see my post about my EA in March. Since then I've attending meetings as I can, missed 2 meetings since then. I've talked with lodge officers and other brothers, and still have had no one to practice my memorization with, and all my offers to help with dinner cleaning have been declined by the two who do that.

So, since I have no one to practice with, I'm not past EA proficiency. Should I keep pressing forward with this lodge, or is it time to look at other lodges? Election is next month, so I'm wondering if a change in officers might be worth the wait, or if this isn't the right fit. Everyone has been great socially, I just seems they're disorganized.

Zeno-25 posted:

I suppose that in that case, my conscience would be tugging on me to ask for some elaboration on what is meant by using the word God. I was raised in a mainstream protestant household but then went through an agnostic/atheistic phase of my life which I no longer subscribe to. The idea of god (for lack of a better word) that I've arrived at as a result of that process is a bit different than what the majority of people have in mind when they talk about God, and would seem to be a distinct issue from the monotheism/polytheism question that has been addressed in this thread.

KweezNArt posted:

Getting pumped for Sr. Steward installation, here. Am more terrified at the notion of having to be responsible for feeding the goatlodge than I am for having to memorize anything.

Mr. Maltose posted:

Is your boss aware of what his son is doing? If not, telling him would probably stop that poo poo on a dime.

LingcodKilla posted:

"The secrets?"

" Yes....all the secrets"

" Well....the keys to the booze cabinet are hidden in the stairway closet. The coffee kitty is under the microwave and the spare hall keys are in the flower pot on the kitchen window sill."

"........"

PrinceRandom posted:

I know in lodge it is forbidden to discuss religion/politics, but how is it viewed out of lodge? If it's used to increase fellowship or understanding and not as a debate material or whatever is it okay?