The Masonic Ring

[quote]A old dear friend of mine is a Freemason. Because I'm not a member of the club, he wouldn't tell me what goes on with Masons. But what another friend of mine told me who happens to be a professional plumber who owns his own plumbing business, is that if he were NOT a Mason in his town, he would not receive business referrals from other Tradesmen whom are also members of his same Lodge.

In other words, the original intent of Freemasonry was to create a 'closed' system for Tradesmen to work within, where they would refer potential customers to other Tradesmen of other Trades whom were part of the fraternity, but wouldn't refer any business whatsoever to any Tradesman who was not a Mason.[/quote]


@swirlie This is NOT correct.

[quote]I know several men whom are Freemasons and even a couple of older ladies who belong to the women's side of the same arena. The underlying pretense of Freemasonry is one of religious connection, but the basis of the fraternity has been traditionally focused on it's members being Tradesmen, not employees of Walmart for example.[/quote]


@swirlie This is also NOT correct.

[quote]That is correct. They only help each other out, but they don't help out non-members of the club. That's the whole idea... unless you're part of the club, you won't get any business action come your way. Freemasonry leans more to the 'mafia' concept behind it's modus operandi that it leans toward religion. Those religious aspect of Freemasonry just get everyone on the same page in terms of a common mindset held by all members, but the whole institution boils down to 'who knows who' and if you're not on their list, you're not included! In fact, if you're a non-Mason Tradesman, they'll make sure you go bankrupt.
[/quote]

@swirlie This is Especially NOT correct. In fact, nothing you've stated in this thread is.

@SStarfish I really love how people like you just make these assertions without any supporting evidence at all. What exactly is "higher up?" The third degree is the highest degree in Freemasonry, so when I go through that in just over a week's time, will I then be one of the "higher ups" who are into devil worship? Is my friend who had his third degree ceremony last weekend now one of the devil-worshipping "higher ups?" Also, if we "lower members" are in the dark about the devil-worshipping "higher ups," how come YOU know about them?

@fakable I am just in Craft.

@BritishPerson
thank you for your reply.

@helenS Please feel free to ask whatever you wish.

One usually becomes Worshipful Master the first time by working their way up the ladder of progressive offices. In English lodges, the first office is Inner Guard. I have been told I will be made Inner Guard next April. Then, you have Junior Deacon, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden and then Worshipful Master. That's how it usually works, but it is possible to skip some of the offices (although, I don't want to). Strictly speaking, if someone has been one of the wardens, they can be made Worshipful Master. You are usually Worshipful Master for a year (sometimes two) and then someone else is given a turn. Once you have been "in the chair", you can go in again. Next year, my lodge will have a Worshipful Master who has been one before.

@BritishPerson The main thing you do together, in the lodge, is "performing" a ritual, and Guards, Wardens etc. are "roles" in that ritual?

@helenS Yes.