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Post by whistler on Nov 21, 2004 20:06:05 GMT
A stolen Post - written by Hubert This week I was honoured (along With several female Brn.) to be invited to attend a male craft function to explain Co-Masonry. The main result was a realisation that the particular Lodge we attended was more into practical brotherhood, fraternisation, whilst CoMasons tended towards the "spiritual esoteric" aspects of self discovery. It was however a thoroughly inspiring occassion, and one in which I was able to "feel" the different "energy of a Male Lodge. This sort of interaction between us can only help to further goodwill and understanding of our repective views and aspirations within the Craft as a whole. Brn. Nobody wants to amalgamate, but isn't it marvelous such meetings have started. My guess reading all the posts I have read on this forum, if there wasn't "The Rule Book". there would be very few Male Craft Brn who would not like to visit a Co-masonic Lodge, and most would find doing so just compliments their Masonic journey. Hubert Tell us what went on at the Function......
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 21, 2004 21:00:23 GMT
Yes Bro Whistler, even I am beginning to think that this could happen in say 25 years or so. We already have quite a few Lady Masons Lodge sharing the Halls with us, even here in the Reading Area we have HFAF Lodges at Caversham (Abbey) and Wokingham (Forest Gate). It may well start with joint social functions, and who knows how things may move.
Having said that there would be tremendous opposition to begin with from the Male Freemasons.
Still in 1970 who would have guessed that Poland etc would be part of the capitalist and western EU or that Roman Catholics would play for Glasgow Rangers?
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Nov 21, 2004 21:49:09 GMT
Appropriate song: "Tearing Down the Walls of Heartache" by Dexy's Midnight Runners
I'll repost this idea which I recently put up in "another place" without, however, much response. We Traditional Freemasons are explicitly enjoined never to be present at the making of a woman into a Mason "under any pretence whatever". But there's nothing in that Obligation to say we can't see an already-initiated woman doing an Exemplification, is there? Just an observation.
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Post by whistler on Nov 21, 2004 22:47:48 GMT
Keeping this thread in safe territory. Co-masonic Freemasons Do not seek to visit Male only Lodges at this time, We are aware of the weight of history, and how hard it is for the troops on the ground to make changes. If Ruff's solution would let Freemasons visit us without having to look over their shoulder, that would be neat and they could be sure of a hearty welcome.
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ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Nov 22, 2004 7:05:44 GMT
I doubt it, though, whistler.
It's our old friend Masonic Logic again: if it looks that easy, I probably haven't read by-law 345B which is the catch-all forbidding anything they haven't thought of yet.
It would be nice, however, if we could at least attend some kind of open day or unTyled social event, if only to exchange fraternal greetings as fellow siblings in the great family of the Widow, also called Freemasonry Universal.
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Post by middlepillar on Nov 22, 2004 16:31:45 GMT
[quote author=whistler If Ruff's solution would let Freemasons visit us without having to look over their shoulder, that would be neat and they could be sure of a hearty welcome.[/quote]
One day Whistler, one day!!!
I for one would like to attend a Co-Masonic meeting, without the threat of having me proverbials cut off!!
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Post by ingo on Nov 22, 2004 20:31:51 GMT
"without the threat of having me proverbials cut off!!"
Well, I guess that nobody in a co-masonic lodge would publish photos of your visit in the news ;D Who would know of your visit then?
Isn't that strange? Liberal jews and the anglican church open the churches or synagogues for women to become priests or rabbins... and even the soviet empire fell...
But I do not think that without the bravery of male-only masons to visit co-masonic lodges leaving their rules behind, nothing will change in masonry....
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 23, 2004 8:10:52 GMT
The problem as I see it is that the British, and the English especially, (and to an extent I include former British Colonies in this), place a tremendous emphasis on "The Rules" and sticking to them , whether the "Law of the Land" or the "Rules of the Game" . It is rare indeed for any mass revolt against a Rule or Law , the ill fated Poll tax in the UK in the early 1990s is one of the few examples of a Law being overturned by mass protest across the Social and Economic spectrum.
Now the catchment from which Freemasons come, particularly in England, is predominantly Middle Class, the very people to whom, "Keeping the Rules" is so important.
So frankly I do not envisage any mass revolt by male Freemasons attending Co-Masonic Lodges as this would go against their mind set of sticking to the Rules, even if they disagree with them.
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Post by ingo on Nov 23, 2004 8:43:24 GMT
No mass revolt needed Just visits! ;D
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Post by atarnaris on Nov 23, 2004 17:15:58 GMT
Have the Operative start admitting women? I heard it through the grapevine...
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 23, 2004 22:33:03 GMT
No Andrew but there is a possibilty, and only a possibility at this stage, of SRIA doing so.
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