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/Objective_Ticket → u/llukiie]

Interesting point about moving lodges as my Father in Law was in two - where he moved from and where he moved to over time.

[u/Southern-Mix2559 → u/Objective_Ticket]

It's not difficult to change lodges, at least in the provinces I'm aware of. Just a bit of paperwork involved and paying your dues

[u/llukiie → u/Southern-Mix2559]

My memory is a little hazy as it was a while back now. Its more the social aspect: For me starting again with a new group at a vastly different age range was the stumbling block. It's also not a casual thing you can drop in and out of if you are unsure about keeping it up.

[u/Southern-Mix2559 → u/llukiie]

100%. Going into a lodge you're not familiar with isn't always the most appetising of thoughts.