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You cannot be both a member of a secret society where iniates learn secrets... and then complain you are misunderstood..
Oh that is so perfect - well done Stoatsbrother 8)
Why all this toss about '"Empty vessel" it seems like some in-joke for the masons. But i guess these little secrets are what its all about
[i]...so what do they fill the head part with? Enlightenment like a buddhist? Or knowledge like errr, a cabbie?[/i]
Naa, It's more of 'an enlightenment', you know, demonstrating the morals of life & stuff.
Actually now you mention it, one of the members was a cabbie. (well he owned 2 taxis if thats the same thing.
I've never actually heard 'empty vessels' mentioned before, dunno what it relates to.
I've never actually heard 'empty vessels' mentioned before, dunno what it relates to.
Yeah, sure.
first rule of of fight club 🙄
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Naa, It's more of 'an enlightenment', you know, demonstrating the morals of life & stuff.
but earlier in the thread:
well, I was invited early this year, only went once! I found the racist, sexist, and other unpleasant forms of humur a bit much - but that's just me.
All lodges not created equal 😕
So anyway, sounds a bit like church but with no birds, no hymns, a bar and fewer needy/crazy hangers-on. Where can I sign up? 😀
Well it is a church
from here
One can no more keep secret the idea that God is the very warp and woof of Freemasonry than that he is the essence of all life. Take God out of Freemasonry, and there is, literally, nothing left; it is a pricked balloon, an empty vessel, a bubble which has burst.”
[i]All lodges not created equal[/i]
Probably correct IMO
[i]So anyway, sounds a bit like church[/i]
Definately not.
CharlieMungus, defo don't recall the mention of 'empty vessels'
but I might have been asleep.. 😳
Oooh, the Mason got the wunundred...
...hmmmm
CharlieMungus, defo don't recall the mention of 'empty vessels'
but I might have been asleep..
It's from the Introduction to Freemasonry
[i]It's from the Introduction to Freemasonry[/i]
Well you know more than me then. How come you've taken such an interest?
Well you know more than me then.
I really doubt it, but good misdirection
How come you've taken such an interest?
Just the usual not putting up with BS
i found a copy of the wee book that they must get in the attick of a house i bought.
is that how you spell attick?
I think it varies from place to place, I know members who've moved about and disliked/preferred new branches etc. From what I gather it's a bit of a social group with people who help each other out in various ways, however nothing as sinister as is made out by those who like to exaggerate and scorn. All of the members I know well enough to comment on are not racist, sexist and are quite nice folk with no real connections worth talking about.
you are in the masons coffeking i oddly have thought this before now.
you are in the masons coffeking i oddly have thought this before now.
Am I? Christ, I joined without knowing! 🙂
whatever though..
yeah your name was in this wee book anyways. 😀
Christ, I joined without knowing!
That's how secret it is ...... [i]you[/i] are not even allowed to know.
Not sexist yet excluding women?
whatever though..yeah your name was in this wee book anyways.
I've absolutely no idea how to answer that. I'll stick with bemused 😯 😀
Not sexist yet excluding women?
The people themselves are not sexist, no, most of them have been in positions of authority in businesses etc and have never been known to unfairly discriminate against females rising the ladder etc. FWIW they do have many wives events and social events including partners, but that's as much as I know - no point me discussing it further as know no more.
As, I suppose, with scouts - for a long time it was boys only, not through any inherent sexism of any of the scouts themselves.
Not sexist yet excluding women?
Well, yeah women obviously! 🙄
But not sexist against anyone else
my mrs used to be a member of a golf club that had a men only bar, i mean why else does one go to the bar?
i just dont get it.
As, I suppose, with scouts - for a long time it was boys only, not through any inherent sexism of any of the scouts themselves.
Do they play British Bulldog, like what we did when I was in the scouts ?
Do they play British Bulldog, like what we did when I was in the scouts ?
Dunno! We played that too. As we got older it progressed to who could withstand having a chair thrown at you and who could climb up onto the 4th storey roof fastest. Best game was building a mountain of tables and chairs to reach the ceiling of the 4 storey hall and stand on top.
Health and safety? no chance.
julianwilson - Member"Empty vessel"?? Is that like an atheist is to a Christian then? WTF did they fill you up with, essel?
vinegar.
Freemasons like members of any other club, society or association are subject to every Law of the Realm.
That's fine. but I don't know what it means. I'm in a club I've created and I've no idea what [i]
[/i]is. does that mean that Ive got some mates that get together that could be going against the law of the realm?? The law of The Realm! I can handle that!every Law of the Realm
who says these things! the law of the realm!!
I wish masons really were lizards. All the ones I've had the pleasure of meeting are snakes. Oh, and complete bell ends.
I wish masons really were lizards. All the ones I've had the pleasure of meeting are snakes. Oh, and complete bell ends.
Um, got up on the wrong side of bed GlitterGary or have you had an unfortunate experience with one of them there masonites? 😀
I've met 2 people I know are masons.
First guy is an absolute arse, really blatent about it, I'm in the masons, blah blah, my connections, blah blah, always wears the ring and the tie etc etc. Complete nob. Actually, I would not be surprised if we was not in it at all he's such a wnker.
Other guy is pretty normal, does a fair bit on international travelling for his work so as he says no matter where he is there is someone to go and have a drink with, and thats pretty much it.
My paternal grandfather was the head of a lodge in Crawley. My old man fell out with him over it, after his dad tried in indoctrinate him into it.
Me? I can't see what all the fuss is about. Not my cup of tea.
it seems a bit of a broad brush approach is going on here with regards to what masons are like and the general consensus seems to be quite negative. Now i’ve met guys out mountain biking who I would gladly talk to and others i’d avoid like the plague but I do not generalise and say all mountain bikers are bad just because I have met a few dodgy characters.
In all groups and walks of life you have the good bad and ugly and I don’t believe you can make a judgement on the few you have met, yes you will have those that join for the wrong reasons believing that they will get a helping hand at every corner and that it’s a status symbol that shouts i’m better than you, but that is a minority in my opinion as all those I have met over the years haven’t fallen into that category.
As for wanting to know more about freemasonry forget all the conspiracy theories that seem to surround freemasonry and research the subject with an open mind, hell find out where the local lodge is and go in for a chat and ask all the questions you want.
Now i’ve met guys out mountain biking who I would gladly talk to and others i’d avoid like the plague but I do not generalise and say all mountain bikers are bad just because I have met a few dodgy characters.
In all groups and walks of life you have the good bad and ugly and I don’t believe you can make a judgement on the few you have met
This is true, however, anyone I've ever met or heard of, who has had any interaction with the masons, when they themsleves are not masons, and particularly where two or more are gathered, has had a bad experience of it. So, whilst it might not be appropriate to generalise in the mtb case, the Bayesians amongst us can pretty sure that the Masons are a bit dodgy.
have you had an unfortunate experience with one of them there masonites?
Is there any other kind?
i’m split on this one as evidential probabilities are all good and well but this only gives you a partial snap shot not a true reflection of the whole. Could all the negative comments from non masons who you mention be related to either jealousy (for want of a better word) that they themselves have never been approached or the feeling that they are missing out on some great secret.
as a wise man once said to me:
'the freemasons? oh yeah that just a bunch of men getting together for the kinda sex they're frumpy old wifes wont let them have at home'
think he was a member for years but then left or something...
i used to work at the building the masons use near me, the guy running the building admitted to me he owed close to quarter of a million in tax... his father owned the building and was (from what i understood) a high level chappy in the masons that met there.... nothing happened with the tax....
*insert creepy music*
EDIt - that makes me seem super anti-masons... just adding to the uninformed rubbish part of the thread, i dont actually care what they get up to, there's a lodge a few doors down from my old guitarists house and we used to park there, never got told to bugger off so if they provide free off-road parking then i suggest there should be one next to every town centre 😀
Police officers have trouble making real world friends,
You really have trumped yourself with that particular gem. It speaks volumes about your issues with the police more than anything else in this thread.
I was asked to join once, but the invite was mysteriously withdrawn when they found out I was Catholic. Also, when I got my nipple out at the local mason's lodge, the Grand Wizard tried to put his ring on it. I couldn't get out of the door fast enough, with one trouser leg rolled up.
3.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM 
Is it me or is this 100+ post thread missing a few of the more 'regular' forumites? I can't believe a few of the usual ranty/witty folk didn't have some two-penneth or other to put in. Was it 'lodge night' last night or something?
I guess they're not all bad
I don't know who any of those folk are... they look like funny handshake brigade though.. and deeply creepy and uncool.. so maybe not such a good advert for Masons..?
what about this one...?
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i’m split on this one as evidential probabilities are all good and well but this only gives you a partial snap shot not a true reflection of the whole. Could all the negative comments from non masons who you mention be related to either jealousy (for want of a better word) that they themselves have never been approached or the feeling that they are missing out on some great secret
well the secrecy prevents a true reflection
I think the chance of negative posters being asked to join or accepting is rather low. You may draw your own conclusion [ it should be amusing post it up]on why this would be the case.
if this is your view when you are split I wonder how condescending you will be when you make your mind up.
[i]Not sexist yet excluding women?[/i]
Probably like the W.I. Not sexist but excluding men.
Ha ha, good one, Marilyn Mason!
some info here
http://www.myspace.com/mashiach.watchman/blog/507793347
it seems some guy called Lucifer is their Great architect?
Not in myself.
What a load of crap spouted above. one of biggest givers to charity in the uk. possibly the biggest.
One thing I must say though is that if given 2 candidate for a job. 1 you know and 1 you don't , only a complete moron would ignore the personal knowledge .