RAF Lodge?
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Jackonicko, Not everyone joins a golf club/ham-dram group/church/Lodge or whatever for their own benefit. I note your earliest comments have moderated throughout the thread and I consider some of the replies to them have been highly charged and wide of your professional mark.
I am a Mason, I have also spent 17 years in the RAF - not once (ever) have I found there to be a contradiction between the two. I have never been asked to give undue assistance (or any assistance) to fellow masons and have only known a handful throughout my time. I do not expect/look for/use my membership for advancement and I would be disgusted by anyone that did.
So why join? My family have been Masons for nearly 90 years from my grandfather down, of my 7 uncles, 7 are in my Lodge. Not everyone is in it for himself - or perhaps they are. Perhaps they wish to spend their time learning something and wishing to live by a code which they idealise. Perhaps they want to spend some of their time in the company of like-minded individuals (have a look in the bar on a Friday night). Perhaps there are things that mean more to people than their personal advancement at the expense of others.
I am not a saint, nor do I remotely suggest that I have the personal fortitude to live up to these ideals all of the time - but I am willing to try. If I don't want to tell you, Mr Blair, my Flt Cdr, or the official office for Mason Registration it's not because I'm trying to 'hide' something, it's because it is none of your, Mr Blair's or my Flt Cdr's business.
Please don't take offence at that but I am starting to get perplexed by the growing number of people wishing to know what everyone does, when and why - perhaps George Orwell had something when wrote 1984.
I am a Mason, I have also spent 17 years in the RAF - not once (ever) have I found there to be a contradiction between the two. I have never been asked to give undue assistance (or any assistance) to fellow masons and have only known a handful throughout my time. I do not expect/look for/use my membership for advancement and I would be disgusted by anyone that did.
So why join? My family have been Masons for nearly 90 years from my grandfather down, of my 7 uncles, 7 are in my Lodge. Not everyone is in it for himself - or perhaps they are. Perhaps they wish to spend their time learning something and wishing to live by a code which they idealise. Perhaps they want to spend some of their time in the company of like-minded individuals (have a look in the bar on a Friday night). Perhaps there are things that mean more to people than their personal advancement at the expense of others.
I am not a saint, nor do I remotely suggest that I have the personal fortitude to live up to these ideals all of the time - but I am willing to try. If I don't want to tell you, Mr Blair, my Flt Cdr, or the official office for Mason Registration it's not because I'm trying to 'hide' something, it's because it is none of your, Mr Blair's or my Flt Cdr's business.
Please don't take offence at that but I am starting to get perplexed by the growing number of people wishing to know what everyone does, when and why - perhaps George Orwell had something when wrote 1984.
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In Tor Wot
Jacko has indeed moderated his tone (thankfully) throughout this debate but, you have to admit, it has been mainly due to the 'charged' comments that myself, TM and PW have made.
As he has given ground, so shall I. I have no doubt that he is a consumate professional in his field; however, his early comments were strongly opinionated and a little ill-considered. My own feelings on the press remain.
The media is a far more powerful entity than the Freemasons will ever be. The fact that it is overt, makes it all the more worrying. The tabloids, in particular, know that they hold so much power that they can even risk libel cases in court. It's only money to them, but the damage may have already been done to someone's career.
I know that there are many journalists, and I include Jacko among them, who are serious, professionals who retain some moral balance. However, everyone in the media should be aware of the power, and corresponding reasonsibility, that they have.
As far as the masons go, Jacko is right, we are entrenched in our views. I do hope that others, who are not, may err on the side of caution with regard to this topic. I believe in my freedom of thought and speech. Jacko obviously believes in the same. The danger with the 'registration of Freemasons' is - where will it stop?
I have nothing to fear. Most people who know me know that I am a Freemason. However, to force people to disclose implies that there is something wrong and I don't want to be discriminated against. Especially as I have done nothing wrong!
Our laws still say that we are innocent until proven guilty...don't they?
Jacko has indeed moderated his tone (thankfully) throughout this debate but, you have to admit, it has been mainly due to the 'charged' comments that myself, TM and PW have made.
As he has given ground, so shall I. I have no doubt that he is a consumate professional in his field; however, his early comments were strongly opinionated and a little ill-considered. My own feelings on the press remain.
The media is a far more powerful entity than the Freemasons will ever be. The fact that it is overt, makes it all the more worrying. The tabloids, in particular, know that they hold so much power that they can even risk libel cases in court. It's only money to them, but the damage may have already been done to someone's career.
I know that there are many journalists, and I include Jacko among them, who are serious, professionals who retain some moral balance. However, everyone in the media should be aware of the power, and corresponding reasonsibility, that they have.
As far as the masons go, Jacko is right, we are entrenched in our views. I do hope that others, who are not, may err on the side of caution with regard to this topic. I believe in my freedom of thought and speech. Jacko obviously believes in the same. The danger with the 'registration of Freemasons' is - where will it stop?
I have nothing to fear. Most people who know me know that I am a Freemason. However, to force people to disclose implies that there is something wrong and I don't want to be discriminated against. Especially as I have done nothing wrong!
Our laws still say that we are innocent until proven guilty...don't they?
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Well said Adastral. If being a Pulitzer Prizewinner was a pre-requisite for posting on this Forum it would disappear up it's own orifice within a week. Do we have to submit our posts to In Tor for marks out of 10 before pressing the button? I don't think so!
All of the posts I have made on here have been done with my tongue pushed firmly in my cheek. We went down this road a few months ago so as soon as Masons were mentioned I knew Jacko would be in there with his insults. He didn't let me down.
Jacko asked for everything he got. (I love you really darling J).
YellowBelly - Thanks for the e-mail. You're a sweetie.
All of the posts I have made on here have been done with my tongue pushed firmly in my cheek. We went down this road a few months ago so as soon as Masons were mentioned I knew Jacko would be in there with his insults. He didn't let me down.
Jacko asked for everything he got. (I love you really darling J).
YellowBelly - Thanks for the e-mail. You're a sweetie.
