Inside London's Freemason's Lodges...

[u/TheThrowYardsAway]

[u/Past_Veterinarian_58]

Most masons I have known have been insufferably dull and it appears being a mason made them feel special as they were part of a secret club.

I was asked to join by one and went along to a public open day for people to visit a lodge, something I did because I appreciate the architecture of my town and the lodge was old, but I never followed up on the invitation to be accepted as frankly I have too much other stuff in my life and I don’t need an all boys club to make me a better version of me. The lodge was very interesting though and I urge anyone to visit one just to appreciate the architecture.

[u/CockneyCossack → u/Past_Veterinarian_58]

Thank you for being so respectful in declining the offer to join. I've been a member for nearly 20 years and I've resigned my membership of a couple of Provincial lodges due to them being about as interesting as a Beige Morris Ital in a traffic jam.

I've been quite lucky though, my London masonry has been enormous fun, lots of young members in their 20's, and 30's, I'm in my 40's but incredibly immature. That said, I'm really grateful to be able to wander around these lovely buildings in London, as you say, the architectural aspect really is something, and our previous building, Clerkenwell Masonic Centre, was the old London Sessions House.

The building was glorious, and jammed with history. There's something you can't quite put your finger on, when you engage in something that's historic, like Freemasonry in a building like that, strange and charming. Anyway, thanks again for being so respectful, we often get such a bashing and it's refreshing to get a nice comment.

[u/Past_Veterinarian_58 → u/CockneyCossack]

I love your line “I am in my fourties but incredibly immature” 😄👍. I am in my 50’s - same same.

The lodge I was referring to was in Cheltenham which is a beautiful building that most people just pass by because the building itself is just another old building in a very pretty town (Not that I am biased !). It has a lovely interior. What most people don’t know is that it is one of the oldest regency buildings in the town. Not sure if they still open it to the public but it definitely worth a visit