Why can’t women join? Why do they have to be in a separate women’s version of it?

This is entirely too big of a topic (pun maybe intended) to cover in a single ELI5, so unless you give us an idea of what your hangup with infinity is, this isn't going anywhere.

great answer

A country.

BE QUIET! I ORDER YOU TO BE QUIET!!

1. Are women allowed to join your chapter and if so are they 100% equal with no restrictions or limits? I've seen conflicting info about this online, some sources say women are not allowed to join the freemasons and any chapters that allow it are considered "unofficial" or something of the sort, or that women have their own separate chapter specifically for women. Other sources say that rule is dependent on which region/country the chapter is based in. Other sources say there is no gender exclusivity/limitation/restrictions at all.
2. Does modern freemasonry (or more specifically, your chapter) have anything to do with religion? Again, what little I've read about freemasonry told me that freemasonry originally was religion based and that the organization claimed to hold "secret" information about jesus/christianity as a whole. Is it kind of like modern day mormonism, where it has roots in religion but modern day practices are mainly based around leading a good life?

if my questions are just completely off base, do please inform me as such. I know very little about the organization, only whispers here and there. I have (had) a close friend who is a freemason and basically lost him to it. It seems like the longer he was in it, the more closed off he became to anybody not part of the brotherhood. He also slowly grew a very bloated ego. Neither of these circumstances gave me a particularly good opinion of the organization and my opinion doesn't seem to be uncommon. It would be nice to have a deeper understanding of what freemasonry is, why somebody should join it, what the purpose of joining is, etc. So please enlighten me if possible.

edit: typos

Hey friend, it’s all good. Tone and intention can be difficult to read via text. Just know you didn’t upset me, and I appreciate the answer you gave!

What’s Togo?

Almost joined a while ago, couldn't bring myself to lie and say I believed in a god. No controlling the government for me 😫

I'm a Mason as well, can you remind me what the secret handshake is again I forgot? Silly me lol

Like, if someone orders food from your Lodge to take home, you'll handle it ?

Accurate

My whole paternal line were Freemasons, but it stops with me.

They are a white-supremacist club (in North Carolina).

This is, unfortunately, the case with MANY community organizations. Our modern world seems to have less time for the sort of community fraternization that was promoted by groups like the Kinsmen, Lion's Clubs, Rotary, and yes, Freemasonry. To say nothing of groups like the Scouts and Guides.

The mixing of people with disparate backgrounds on an equal footing allowed for a certain sense of community building among members. A Doctor sitting next to a factory working, ruminating on the issues of the day, would allow for a wider perspective for both men. That is something missing today.

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I, too, was in a situation similar to yours when I joined, if not as extreme.

But who's your king?

I don't have high blood pressure, quite the opposite, it is on the lower side. I most definitely have regular tinnitus, and hearing loss. I do t have a family doctor so it's hard to get smaller things checked.

Popular take - nefarious and intimidating illuminati-esque organisation hell bent on world domination.

My experience - a bunch of 60-something businessmen trying to leverage social connections to further themselves through showing some calf ( to prove they're not women), and discussing their prostate problems... I don't think that is related to proving they're not women. I've never met a freemason I considered to be the least bit intimidating.

Basically a more formalised old boys network for those who didn't go to the right school.

Thank you it makes a lot of sense

We're taking turns to act as a sort of executive-officer-for-the-week. But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting. By a simple majority, in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority, in the case of more major-

That's just what they "want" you to believe . . . LOL. Freemason here, too. I always laugh at the conspiracy nonsense. If anyone ever brings it up around me, I will play along, tell them I am a Freemason and that, when we DO finally takeover, I'll be put in charge of Togo.

Thank you 😊

Im not a mason but my Grandfather was. He told me Mason's do not try to recruit new members they have to wait for people to ask them about the Fraternity.

You have to ask a member. They often wear hats that identify them.

If you're interested in a much more substantial delve into WW1 and questions like this, I highly recommend The Great War channel on YouTube

I became a member but the lodge didn’t have anyone under 80 years old in it. I just didn’t feel like I belonged. The master was on Oxygen and couldn’t make it through my initiation. I haven’t been back since my initiation 15 years ago. Sad.