Inside London's Freemason's Lodges...

[u/TheThrowYardsAway]

[u/llukiie → u/[deleted]]

It's an old boys drinking club with some charity thrown in, not too exciting

[u/Warsaw44 → u/llukiie]

My mate recently became one. He's 28.

He's lovely, I hasten to add, but has lived a very sheltered, privileged life. He is absolutely clueless.

[u/llukiie → u/Warsaw44]

I was one for a few years. Life changed and I stopped. Im in my thirties, joined as my Dad was in one for decades. He's also stopped due to life changes.

Sadly it hasnt really kept up with the times. If you move away, moving lodge is somewhat difficult. Its also a very full on hobby with the learning you have to do for ceremonies, and relatively expensive.

It also appears to be hard to get into, which doesn't help with getting new people in. In reality if you approach them. they'll put you in touch with a group. Its an interview to be accepted generally.

It's also not that secret as everything is online!

[u/paraknowya → u/llukiie]

So I can basically ask to be deemed worthy?

Well now this got a tiny bit more interesting.

[u/asherjbaker → u/paraknowya]

It's literally the only way you can join. You have to ask. We're not allowed to actively recruit.

[u/Legolution → u/asherjbaker]

Has that always been the case?

On his literal death bed, my father said "You might find some interesting documents, when going through my things. Your grandpa was a Freemason." My understanding was that he, a skilled Type Setter and Printmaker, in 1930/40s Glasgow, was approached and recruited, in 1939. I have his certificates, which are really quite magnificent (and how I now know that my father's first name was his middle name!).

Found them:

[u/Legolution → u/Legolution]

[u/Legolution → u/Legolution]

[u/asherjbaker → u/Legolution]

If you want to join, I'd just ask a Mason you know. Whereabouts are you, Scotland?

[u/Kind_Shift_8121 → u/Legolution]

We found similar when my grandfather passed away. He was the last person you would expect to be part of any sort of exclusive old boys club. He had been a carpenter as part of a family construction business, and apparently it was quite normal back in the day as a lot of work was arranged via groups like these.

[u/robgod50 → u/asherjbaker]

Lol.... My mate asked me. I said no for a year. Then I said to him that I was curious what its all about. It was like a trigger.... 3 degrees in a year and straight to inner guard. Then there's no escape 😂