Freemasons?

[Prudie]

I know very little about the masons but find it hard to believe that such a secret society still manages to be so powerful these days. For years at work there have been mumblings about people getting promoted because they are in the masons and several senior staff are reasonably open about being one. What is it that makes them look after each other, even defending what is morally wrong in some cases (so I'm led to believe)?

[Barmaid]

I'm normally too shedded to remember the toasts. Or the Song to the Ladies which I've now heard more times than i care to remember.

I am now known for managing to fall over quite splendidly................

[Prudie]

I'm off to bed but thank you all for your input - even though I'm none the wiser!

[DaisyNonna]

So mote it be

[RiskyBiscuit]

I saw an interesting documentary on this subject a while back.

Lots of conspiracy theories about them but then there are a lot of conspiracy theories about most things.

Who knows whats true anymore. Best to do what I do and live in your own little bubble!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rwAT9aOEME

[LazyGun]

I do not subscribe to conspiracy theories surrounding the Masons, but the fascination seems to stem from that original secrecy, the link they have to religion, and the various ceremonies and rituals that to this day appear to be important enough to their operation that it takes a considerable time to learn them. The arcanity fascinates :)

And some here have defended the masons robustly, citing their own or family members experiences, and offering personal reassurances that there is no wrongdoing- but it is a persistent concern that masonry and the establishment is not a particularly good link - it offers grounds for continued speculation.

A recent article from the Telegraph, iterating that unease,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8713343/Freemasons-in-the-police-leading-the-attack-on-David-Camerons-riot-response.html

[boxtops]

My ex loved his membership of the Masons, I couldn't stand it (I felt the female side of it was very condescending) - and I was dismayed when two Brothers came to interview to make sure it was OK with me, before they admitted him. I wasn't happy about it at all, but what could I say? - it was his lifelong ambition, to follow his father and grandfather before him into the movement.

[Duncer]

"What is it that makes them look after each other, even defending what is morally wrong in some cases (so I'm led to believe)?"

Prudie, when I was in my old football team we looked after each other, as we tend to do at work these days. Why would the craft be any different?

Lots of people enjoy meteoric rises in workplaces, and ass-kissing and sycophancy can play a big part, as can learning all the right buzzwords and being so PC it hurts. I haver seen some of the biggest idiots promoted many times, and it wasn't through hard work or ability. As I said, HR should be your port of call if you know of nefarious dealings in work.

As for moral wrongdoings; unless you can cite an example then this is just another of the rumours that you seem to think proves the truth.

[atalanta]

The law ( magistrates, the Bar and the police ) the bench of Bishops, big firms like Rolls Royce and BR (or British Rail or whatever it is called now ) - all have been known for years as being dominated by Masons. ( Not Woolworths, though - they refused to have known masons in their employment, for religious reasons) . I'd be most surprised if the majority of Tory big-wigs weren't masons, too. Landowners or "squires" too.