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I just watched a documentary on Sky about the Freemasons.It just looks like a gang of old people out for a p@ss up,with a few rituals thrown in for good measure. My father in law was a mason until giving it up because of poor health recently and I’m glad he never asked me to join.What a load of old tosh.
He had many brilliant and memorable roles. Other than the ones you mentioned, I really enjoyed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, he was in perfect harmony with Steve Martin.
Probably needs a separate thread by now but I’m a big fan of Hell Drivers. Sean Connery in a greasy spoon cafe playing table football with Sid James and Gordon Jackson (can’t remember the fourth in the quartet). Quality.
That is the most unexpected, weirdest fu cking picture, I have ever seen on the internet. The wardrobe dept must have been off their heads, Sean Connery must have been skint, and his agent must have been sh itting themselves. Bonkers.
That is the most unexpected, weirdest fu cking picture, I have ever seen on the internet. The wardrobe dept must have been off their heads, Sean Connery must have been skint, and his agent must have been sh itting themselves. Bonkers.
Charlotte Rampling though...worth the odd sacrifice.
There are different types of Masons. Those at the top of society use it as an 'Old boy's network' and is a lot more serious than the average lodge where it's more like a Social Club.
Like Essex I have meet many, many proper people in Freemasonry.
It is very different from many years ago when only wealthy, well to do men were Freemasons. I have invited very close and trusted friends to join me. Now it is open to everybody providing you meet certain criteria.
Freemasonry gives more to 'charity', not just their own, than any other organisation apart from the lottery. Prior to that we gave more than anybody or anyone. We do look after our Brothers and family as well.
Recently we have purchased an Air Ambulance Helicopter for London and since that Grenfill disaster we have purchased a ladder that will help firefighters to go to high heights to save lives.
Contrary to one post earlier, London Freemasonry is the largest province in the UK, more members.
The HQ is in Great Queen Street, Holborn and the building is well worth a visit and a tour.....it is quite fascinating.
I went there on open London weekend or whatever they call it. Absolutely amazing building, learnt lots of interesting things about the masons too. Knew very little before.
hopefully some of the 'rubbish' being spoken by people on this thread will make them understand a little more. It is just a little that Freemasons are doing for people, non masonic at that.
Back in the day one of my mates was always asking me to come along to his lodge and hopefully join, I asked him why and what do I get out of it, I/we were very young, but all he would say was that I would love it and not regret it. He mentioned another of our mates, a good friend from school, who had gone with him and will be joining soon, this friend at the time was at a lowly PC. Move the story on 35 years or so and the lowly PC is now so high up in the force that you need binoculars to see him and the other mate, spent a vey long time at one of her Majesty's hotels. Moral of the story is that it takes all sorts.
Gazza/Essex, Is it true that candidates for entry must declare a belief in a superior god-like being and if so which did you choose?
Also I have heard the ritual for entry involves being blindfolded, secret handshakes, rolling up your trouser leg, exposing your breasts and having a noose around your neck. Can you explain how that came about and what it signifies?
Oh and what are all the aprons and gloves all about?
Gazza/Essex, Is it true that candidates for entry must declare a belief in a superior god-like being and if so which did you choose?
Also I have heard the ritual for entry involves being blindfolded, secret handshakes, rolling up your trouser leg, exposing your breasts and having a noose around your neck. Can you explain how that came about and what it signifies?
Oh and what are all the aprons and gloves all about?
You have to declare a belief in a supreme being "as you understand it" .So that opens up more than recognized religions Once you have done that you will never be asked again . Politics and Religion are banned as they are deemed to be a source of division . You could lie of course no one would ever know .
The whole thing is based around the real stonemasons hence the symbolic aprons and gloves . Unable to read and write they needed a means to check whether a newcomer was skilled so developed means of recognition that were only passed on when a mason had achieved a certain skill level .
The First Degree is full of symbolism and allegory which I would not pass on even if i had not taken an obligation. It would spoil the day for anyone who joined in the future . The hoodwink(blindfold) relates to your first question though . If you did not declare your belief in a Supreme Being the degree would be abandoned and you would leave having never seen the Lodge .
The secrets are pretty small and insignificant really, but keeping to the obligation to keep them secret suggests that you are someone for whom their word is their bond. Thats my take on it anyway .
You have to declare a belief in a supreme being "as you understand it" .So that opens up more than recognized religions Once you have done that you will never be asked again . Politics and Religion are banned as they are deemed to be a source of division . You could lie of course no one would ever know .
The whole thing is based around the real stonemasons hence the symbolic aprons and gloves . Unable to read and write they needed a means to check whether a newcomer was skilled so developed means of recognition that were only passed on when a mason had achieved a certain skill level .
The First Degree is full of symbolism and allegory which I would not pass on even if i had not taken an obligation. It would spoil the day for anyone who joined in the future . The hoodwink(blindfold) relates to your first question though . If you did not declare your belief in a Supreme Being the degree would be abandoned and you would leave having never seen the Lodge .
The secrets are pretty small and insignificant really, but keeping to the obligation to keep them secret suggests that you are someone for whom their word is their bond. Thats my take on it anyway .
Interesting Essex, thanks. It does seem a bit odd, to me anyway, that religion is banned but you must have one to join.
After I'd posted I wondered why women weren't allowed so had a quick Google and found the answer to my other question. It said all the men have to show their left breast to prove they aren't a woman. Do women have a separate order in the masons, partners of Masons allowed at certain functions or are women just banned from anything to do with it?
Interesting Essex, thanks. It does seem a bit odd, to me anyway, that religion is banned but you must have one to join.
After I'd posted I wondered why women weren't allowed so had a quick Google and found the answer to my other question. It said all the men have to show their left breast to prove they aren't a woman. Do women have a separate order in the masons, partners of Masons allowed at certain functions or are women just banned from anything to do with it?
Its talk or discussion of religion that is banned. You have to believe in a Supreme Being(a higher power) for me that could be "Nature" itself for example.
Stonemasons were all men and when Freemasonry was set up it was the same . There are women lodges although not as many.
Partners of Masons are are very much part of the group ,they are included in the entry procedure. Although they dont attend meetings they support the lodge and each other . There are social occasions all geared to raising money for charity and the partners attend and play a big part . Occasionally we have a whats known as a white table meeting where the Lodge meeting is quickly opened and closed , the partners join us in the lodge room and there is some sort of presentation or talk . They join us for the Festive Board (dinner) and a p*ss up .
We have a Ladies Festival every year at a hotel which is formal dinner and dance thing , dinner suits and expensive dress type . Our lodge has recently expanded it into a weekend long thing , in 2019 we went to Oxford , Casino night on Friday , Walk around Oxford , hit the spa until getting dressed up and in the bar before the meal on Sat.
Its talk or discussion of religion that is banned. You have to believe in a Supreme Being(a higher power) for me that could be "Nature" itself for example.
Stonemasons were all men and when Freemasonry was set up it was the same . There are women lodges although not as many.
Partners of Masons are are very much part of the group ,they are included in the entry procedure. Although they dont attend meetings they support the lodge and each other . There are social occasions all geared to raising money for charity and the partners attend and play a big part . Occasionally we have a whats known as a white table meeting where the Lodge meeting is quickly opened and closed , the partners join us in the lodge room and there is some sort of presentation or talk . They join us for the Festive Board (dinner) and a p*ss up .
We have a Ladies Festival every year at a hotel which is formal dinner and dance thing , dinner suits and expensive dress type . Our lodge has recently expanded it into a weekend long thing , in 2019 we went to Oxford , Casino night on Friday , Walk around Oxford , hit the spa until getting dressed up and in the bar before the meal on Sat.
Its talk or discussion of religion that is banned. You have to believe in a Supreme Being(a higher power) for me that could be "Nature" itself for example.
Stonemasons were all men and when Freemasonry was set up it was the same . There are women lodges although not as many.
Partners of Masons are are very much part of the group ,they are included in the entry procedure. Although they dont attend meetings they support the lodge and each other . There are social occasions all geared to raising money for charity and the partners attend and play a big part . Occasionally we have a whats known as a white table meeting where the Lodge meeting is quickly opened and closed , the partners join us in the lodge room and there is some sort of presentation or talk . They join us for the Festive Board (dinner) and a p*ss up .
We have a Ladies Festival every year at a hotel which is formal dinner and dance thing , dinner suits and expensive dress type . Our lodge has recently expanded it into a weekend long thing , in 2019 we went to Oxford , Casino night on Friday , Walk around Oxford , hit the spa until getting dressed up and in the bar before the meal on Sat.
Thanks for being so open Essex. One last question, if you don't mind: i know you can't talk about the details but what was going through your head during your initiation ceremony and was it what you had expected?
Thanks for being so open Essex. One last question, if you don't mind: i know you can't talk about the details but what was going through your head during your initiation ceremony and was it what you had expected?
It was a bit different for me , I have been around it for many years .I attended social functions as a guest of my proposer so knew a few members .I was supposed to go in with another guy on the same day but he blew out last minute .Everyone told me I would get more out of it on my own and I did . The day was totally for me , the work in learning everything that everyone had put in to make it special amazed me TBH . I like the idea that everyone from Rick Wakeman to Prince Philip went through the same ceremony as me Thanks for your questions and not taking the p@ss .
It was a bit different for me , I have been around it for many years .I attended social functions as a guest of my proposer so knew a few members .I was supposed to go in with another guy on the same day but he blew out last minute .Everyone told me I would get more out of it on my own and I did . The day was totally for me , the work in learning everything that everyone had put in to make it special amazed me TBH . I like the idea that everyone from Rick Wakeman to Prince Philip went through the same ceremony as me Thanks for your questions and not taking the p@ss .
[Post edited 27 Apr 2021 14:53]
I've found the chat interesting. Thanks folks. It doesn't sound like my thing but at least I know something about it now.
"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
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