This morning I caught the Bedford train from London Bridge to St. Pancras International. As the route is not well used by commuters one can usually get a seat for the approximately 20 minute journey. I sat down next to a chap who was furtively reading the Freemasons manual. On realising what the chap was reading a very childish impulse to pour my coffee all over his little book overtook me. Fortunately for him I managed to control my impulse.
What possesses perfectly normal men to want to join the Freemasons? Apart from the extreme secrecy and the, frankly cod 'history' and biblical interpretations justifying their secret society, what else could possibly attract a grown man to join in risable and laughable 'rituals' and to take vows which include blood thirstry promises to tear people's tongues out and to ensure their death should they 'blab' about what they do up at the local Freemason 'lodge'?
Make no mistake, the Freemasons of Britain are a very secret society. Non members are not even allowed to know who the membership is. Enrolment lists are more than a well kept secret. They are absolutely secret. One is often told (by Masons, natch) that the Freemasons are merely a body that raises money for charity. Yes, they are. But the 'charities' for which they raise money are Masonic ones - Royal Masonic hospital, Royal Masonic school, so on and so forth. These are institutions admission to which is dependent on membership of the Freemasons. I wonder then how the Freemasons have got themselves past the Charity Commission 'public gain' test? In what way do the Freemasons charities benefit society?
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