ARmy Rumour SErvice

[QUOTE=King_of_the_Burpas;4434102]Have got a fantastic image of you, charging up to Mildenhall in your Jensen, screeching to a halt, kicking the doors in

Hats off, or aprons lifted to you and your chums.[/QUOTE]

To own a Jenson Interceptor....mmmmmmm. That'd be nice.

Originally Posted by Pyianno

Friend?

I have no desire to be part of any kind of cult.

It's not a cult, I would not want to be a member of a cult. You are an outsider trying to look in. I'm a sceptical SoB and I went in eyes wide open and found some great blokes who liked a laugh, fellowship and a good meal whilst raising money for good causes... the majority outisde of The Craft.

Imagine a Golf Club anywhere in the world. You'll always get nobs who want to pull strings/be dodgey/corrupt but IMHO I haven't seen any of that in my Lodge and, indeed, in any other Lodges that I have visited around the world. I have been in scrapes/in need thanks to luggage handlers etc. in the weirdest of places, but have always found help from a fellow brother. The same can be said of us in the Forces. It's not just a case of flashing an MOD90, but saying the right things and you'll be helped. It's all a matter of trust. I was stuck in Malta about ten years ago and stuffed with my ex, my three girls and an empty wallet thanks to local lightfingers.. who stepped in and helped after the right introduction? Some normal, working class bloke who happened to be a Mason...

B T W... one is not asked to join. One has to show an interest and curiousity in The Craft and ask... as for racism or middle class bias... bollocks.

Cue MickDaBugz for his views on Area 51, aliens and Communism... zzzz

[QUOTE=Negligent-Discharge;4434117] The same can be said of us in the Forces.

B T W... one is not asked to join. One has to show an interest and curiousity in The Craft and ask... as for racism or middle class bias... bollocks.

[/QUOTE]

Very true. I think that Forces/ex-Forces would find the Craft enjoyable.

Actually, sometimes people are asked if they're interested/curious. Though traditionally it's not the done thing, it sometimes happens.

Originally Posted by PrinceAlbert

Yes, your friend. I assume it was a friend that asked you to join a lodge?

What is this "friendship" you speak of?

It was some nut of an acquaintance. I try to keep my social circle as small as possible. "Friends" are too much hard work.

Maybe I should've accepted the offer. Hoover left all his personal files with his lodge. I bet they make for interesting reading!

Originally Posted by PrinceAlbert

Surely if you were arrested/convicted for something the Lodge would bin you anyhow.

I should imagine the suspicion is that the Masonic influence would come into play before arrest and conviction!

[QUOTE=SomersetMan;4434150]I should imagine the suspicion is that the Masonic influence would come into play before arrest and conviction![/QUOTE]

I would like to think that this isn't the case. One of the pledges of being a Mason is to be a law abiding citizen.

Pyianno... have you looked out your window in the last few minutes? What's that strange clicking sounding noise on your phone? Who's that in your garden and it's not a dogger... Why is your dog whimpering and your cat hissing? We're coming etc. etc.....

I joined the Freemasons because i thought i'd be going to ladies nights every month and meetings most weeks , I joined a lodge no 45 in Great Queen street and thought once i get my feet under the table I will join a lodge in a pub in Islington near me . Of course this dint happen because on the whole lodges do not meet in pubs except for rehearsals or dinner .

I was initiated in May then told see you in September we close for summer . I was a bit disappointed to say the least . But by the time September had come around I discovered that i had a great interest in the history of Freemasonry which goes on to today . I was crap at the ritual found it very hard to learn . But the history studies lead me to writing for the masonic press , appearing on radio and TV. I am not saying this to blow my own trumpet but just to illustrate the different source of masonic interest which kept me going .i LIKED THE 3 DEGREE CRAFT , ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE IN CHAPTER ( ROYAL ARCH ) and loved knights templar , knight Malta to bits . Freemasonry took me to places and allowed me to meet some fantastic people whom i would t have normally encountered .
Of course Freemasonry isn't for everyone or they would have 50 million members grin. I mean I couldn't dress up as a redcoat at the weekends and go role playing, i have no interest in sports or cars so there wasnt an awfull lot left over for me to do .