How's Freemasonry in Ireland

PittIsIt

So, I guess I'll frame this as a continuation of my try to immigrate to Ireland, and getting a good feel for what to expect.

I am a Freemason here in the US, and it's a pretty substantial part of life, behind family and work. The fraternity has become my main social outlet, where most people my age (mid to late 20s) have much different aspirations for their free time. The fraternity is on a slow dying spree it seems, and there's simply not much to be done except try to plug the holes as long as possible.

So how is Freemasonry seen and treated in Ireland? Is there any kind of stigma? Are masons generally respected or hated to any degree? Is there a lot to be said about good charity work, assistance of the distressed by brothers, and the general good company that is to be had in the masonic lodge?

Or is it just a big conspiracy like I see in a bunch of videos?

Thanks all, I look forward to this, it being such an important facet of life.

Menas

Over here in Ireland we dont talk about our membership of freemasons publicly! Secret squirrel club for business men.

diomed

It is not free anymore.

SEPT 23 1989

pretty damn good

Teyla Emmagan

I only know one freemason. We all laugh at him and pretend to be wearing wizard's hats behind his back.

We're pretty childish in work.

Ruu

I bet you don't even know the secret handshake! :mad:

Oh no, I've given away the fact we have a secret handshake!!

AnonoBoy

How is it?

Well you know yourself...

*Wink*

*Shuffle*

*Wiggles bum*

*Shakes hand thrice*

*Spins Arounds*

*Opens and closes zipper*

*Shakes hand again*

Kazooomommmm!









If you're really a Freemason that'll answer your question.

Lisacatlover

We're all in the Stonecutters over here.

PittIsIt

AnonoBoy wrote: »

How is it?

Well you know yourself...

*Wink*

*Shuffle*

*Wiggles bum*

*Shakes hand thrice*

*Spins Arounds*

*Opens and closes zipper*

*Shakes hand again*

Kazooomommmm!









If you're really a Freemason that'll answer your question.

That's it

LDN_Irish

We tend to prefer proscribed organisations to fraternities here.

Pinch Flat

Just walk around with one trouser leg rolled up and you'll be sorted. Freemason' Hall in Dublin is located here:

http://www.irish-freemasons.org/Phototour_Pages/Photographic_Tour_Main_Page.html

Speedwell

I have nothing whatsoever to do with Freemasonry, but you folks are making my Friday afternoon. Carry on.

Skylinehead

Lisacatlover wrote: »

We're all in the Stonecutters over here.

WE DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

DEFTLEFTHAND

There's a lodge in the small country town where I live in. The masons I know of are mostly older Protestant men who are well respected. They do great charitable work in the locality behind the scenes.

People in our local Lions Club would have a lot of time for them.

diomed

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Just walk around with one trouser leg rolled up and you'll be sorted. Freemason' Hall in Dublin is located here:
http://www.irish-freemasons.org/Phototour_Pages/Photographic_Tour_Main_Page.html

Free tours. I might go.
Years ago I worked in a place where the bosses were members. One day I found loads of stuff about them on the photocopier. One of the bosses rushed back looking for it and I told him where to find the pages.

Peregrine

We like our metric system and cave fish here, thank you very much.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Great antipathy for the Freemasons within the Catholic Church here.

We're more into the Knights of St. Columbanus here.

PittIsIt

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

There's a lodge in the small country town where I live in. The masons I know of are mostly older Protestant men who are well respected. They do great charitable work in the locality behind the scenes.

People in our local Lions Club would have a lot of time for them.

That sounds similar to here then.

I'd heard for while, up until the 80s even that a good portion of members would actively work to keep catholics out of membership, but that seems to have passed, and it's further lauded with the current pontiff stopping the incessant religious attacks.

Is it still seemingly mainly a protestant group now, and devoid of young people?

PittIsIt

Yadiel Rotten Stud wrote: »

Great antipathy for the Freemasons within the Catholic Church here.

We're more into the Knights of St. Columbanus here.

Why is this? Is it really religious or more because of the political implications caused by the same religious divide that's been present for a century+

Zaph

Yadiel Rotten Stud wrote: »

Great antipathy for the Freemasons within the Catholic Church here.

We're more into the Knights of St. Columbanus here.

I would have said it's more apathy than antipathy. To the best of my recollection I've never once discussed Freemasons with anyone and I have no opinion of them either way. I would imagine it's the same for my peers. In fact the only time the word Freemason ever enters my consciousness is when I see it on Boards. The same would apply to the Knights as well.

Duggy747

Only time I ever hear of the Freemasons these days is how they're supposedly part of the Satanic Illuminati Jewish conspiracy hellbent on creating the New World Order by ways of using NATO satellites to beam subliminal messages into our heads so we won't criticise our governments using chemtrails to poison us and make us too docile to do anything when they take our freedoms away under the guise of liberals and political correctness.

Or at least so I'm told........the latest was that David Bowie was sacrificed by the Freemasons :pac:

Turtyturd

You get a tenner per block into your hand and can claim your dole, not bad.

PittIsIt

Zaph wrote: »

I would have said it's more apathy than antipathy. To the best of my recollection I've never once discussed Freemasons with anyone and I have no opinion of them either way. I would imagine it's the same for my peers. In fact the only time the word Freemason ever enters my consciousness is when I see it on Boards. The same would apply to the Knights as well.

Maybe the mystique around Washington DC and the Scottish rite etc is what gave people a event surge in curiosity. When The Lost Symbol was published you saw a fair bit of History Channel documentaries on the subject, and the renewed interest is still relatively strong.

Plus the masonic buildings are pretty grandiose in some cases, whereas molesworth street isn't nearly so.

Panthro

PittIsIt wrote: »

there's simply not much to be done except try to plug the holes as long as possible.

Mmmmmmmm...giggiddy giggiddy guuuuu!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

PittIsIt wrote: »

Why is this? Is it really religious or more because of the political implications caused by the same religious divide that's been present for a century+

It's not an Irish thing. It's a church law.

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated

the Church’s negative judgement in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”

The code of Cannon Law declares that joining Freemasonry entails automatic excommunication and also forbids books friendly to Freemasonry. The reasons given include the allegation that Masonry teaches a naturalistic deistic religion which is in conflict with Church doctrine.

timthumbni

PittIsIt wrote: »

That sounds similar to here then.

I'd heard for while, up until the 80s even that a good portion of members would actively work to keep catholics out of membership, but that seems to have passed, and it's further lauded with the current pontiff stopping the incessant religious attacks.

Is it still seemingly mainly a protestant group now, and devoid of young people?

Here in Northern Ireland it is still pretty common (though not mainstream) and I know a fair few people in it. I would say it is definitely more associated with Protestants/unionists within Northern Ireland anyway.

I was actually asked if I wanted to join but had no interest. It is mostly older people in it as well here. I do know that you can get very cheap drink in their clubhouse bar...... Maybe I will join up after all...

Pinch Flat

diomed wrote: »

Free tours. I might go.
Years ago I worked in a place where the bosses were members. One day I found loads of stuff about them on the photocopier. One of the bosses rushed back looking for it and I told him where to find the pages.

I visited the lodge last year on culture night - fascinating place. There's a few rooms your not allowed into - also noted in the map on the link I provided. Intrigued me even more.

recylingbin

AnonoBoy wrote: »

How is it?

Well you know yourself...

*Wink*

*Shuffle*

*Wiggles bum*

*Shakes hand thrice*

*Spins Arounds*

*Opens and closes zipper*

*Shakes hand again*

Kazooomommmm!









If you're really a Freemason that'll answer your question.

Say no more

PittIsIt

Yadiel Rotten Stud wrote: »

It's not an Irish thing. It's a church law.

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated



The code of Cannon Law declares that joining Freemasonry entails automatic excommunication and also forbids books friendly to Freemasonry. The reasons given include the allegation that Masonry teaches a naturalistic deistic religion which is in conflict with Church doctrine.

The current pontiff has largely dropped these old outdated papal bulls. He's tried getting the church to focus on more important matters.

Canon law. One n

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

PittIsIt wrote: »

The current pontiff has largely dropped these old outdated papal bulls. He's tried getting the church to focus on more important matters.

Canon law. One n

He has not changed any cannon law. These are not Papal Bulls.

The cannon law stands as stated.

LionelNashe

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Just walk around with one trouser leg rolled up and you'll be sorted. Freemason' Hall in Dublin is located here:

http://www.irish-freemasons.org/Phototour_Pages/Photographic_Tour_Main_Page.html

As well as that website, which looks like it was designed by Homer Simpson, there is also this one for their lodge in Dublin.

http://freemason.ie/

They have a very low profile. If it wasn't for their website, I wouldn't know anything about them in Ireland.

Herb Powell

Know a few. Wouldn't trust em at all. I grew out of secret boys' clubs by the age of 10.

Justjens

PittIsIt wrote: »

Is it still seemingly mainly a protestant group now, and devoid of young people?

Yes. Had an ancestor that was very involved with them, keep getting asked to join, my brother did go to one meeting (didn't go to a second).

They have a monthly meeting in the local lodge, not much published about what they do.

faceman

There are two orders of the Freemason in Ireland OP. You'd probably be better off posting in our Hosted forum than here but ill share what I can here.

The first order is called Order of the Heart. Membership is now in the thousands. The social outlet is great and charity work and helping other members who run into social, poltical issues etc is the general goal. Each year we select charity partners. A rule was recently passed though that all staff now have to be Freemasons which has caused tensions as the head house keepers were around a long time and were terminated quite suddenly. Now we can't get the same calibre of work from within the community as most people have other priorities.

The second order is called the Order of the Valiant. Membership numbers and their identities are kept confidential and the membership age is well over 20 years. This order all carry concealed swords and are drafted to fight dragons, ogres and the occasional angry cyclist who break red lights.

Sky King

I'm in the No Homers.

maryishere

Yadiel Rotten Stud wrote: »

The code of (Roman Catholic) Cannon Law declares that joining Freemasonry entails automatic excommunication and also forbids books friendly to Freemasonry.

I have a cousin in the states and he says a few of his Catholic friends are in the masons there, and they open about it and said they do good charity work. He said he was a bit shocked when he heard that. I guess a lot of Catholics use contraception too. Strange how the church would "declare that joining Freemasonry entails automatic excommunication" but yet failed to excommunicate both Hitler and Mussolini, who were Catholics, or indeed failed to report never mind excommunicate child abusers from within its own ranks?

jimgoose

Oooh, you'd better believe that's a paddlin'!

bodice ripper

Tommy. How's the freemasonry? Tommy, how's the freemasonry?

colossus-x

I've never heard of free mansons? what are they?

sheesh

faceman wrote: »

There are two orders of the Freemason in Ireland OP. You'd probably be better off posting in our Hosted forum than here but ill share what I can here.

The first order is called Order of the Heart. Membership is now in the thousands. The social outlet is great and charity work and helping other members who run into social, poltical issues etc is the general goal. Each year we select charity partners. A rule was recently passed though that all staff now have to be Freemasons which has caused tensions as the head house keepers were around a long time and were terminated quite suddenly. Now we can't get the same calibre of work from within the community as most people have other priorities.

The second order is called the Order of the Valiant. Membership numbers and their identities are kept confidential and the membership age is well over 20 years. This order all carry concealed swords and are drafted to fight dragons, ogres and the occasional angry cyclist who break red lights.

Damn you ! you had me completely sucked in until I read the second paragraph

biko

Boards have forums for almost everything but not for Freemasons, because no-one cares very much about them.


You can find some info by targeted google searches like
https://www.google.com/search?q=freemasons+site:irishtimes.com

PittIsIt

biko wrote: »

Boards have forums for almost everything but not for Freemasons, because no-one cares very much about them.


You can find some info by targeted google searches like
https://www.google.com/search?q=freemasons+site:irishtimes.com

That kind of makes me sad. A nation with such a rich and old masonic history that had largely forgotten about it.

Is it similar elsewhere in europe?

topmanamillion

What is the Freemasons, is it like Foroige for adults?

For Forks Sake

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I visited the lodge last year on culture night - fascinating place. There's a few rooms your not allowed into - also noted in the map on the link I provided. Intrigued me even more.

Probably where they keep the Stone of Triumph.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

PittIsIt wrote: »

That kind of makes me sad. A nation with such a rich and old masonic history that had largely forgotten about it.

Is it similar elsewhere in europe?

Enlighten me as to the rich masonic history in Ireland please.

smash

Yadiel Rotten Stud wrote: »

Enlighten me as to the rich masonic history in Ireland please.

Shhhhhhhhh. It's a secret!

biko

topmanamillion wrote: »

What is the Freemasons, is it like Foroige for adults?

It's like "men's shed" but costs more.

biko

PittIsIt wrote: »

That kind of makes me sad. A nation with such a rich and old masonic history that had largely forgotten about it.

Look into the Orange Order, they might be your cup of tea

smash

biko wrote: »

Look into the Orange Order, they might be your cup of tea

Apparently the Freemasons accept women now. I wouldn't mind going to a few hazing rituals if that's the case :pac:

CrabRevolution

I'd say anyone who looked into freemasonry would see too many similarities to the Orange Order, so it's unsurprising that it's not popular in Ireland.

smash

CrabRevolution wrote: »

I'd say anyone who looked into freemasonry would see too many similarities to the Orange Order, so it's unsurprising that it's not popular in Ireland.

Well that's no surprising considering the orange order was founded by Freemasons.