# How do I become a freemason? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 13, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218 "2024-11-13T21:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/81 "2024-11-14T23:04:12Z")
I still don’t understand it. Here in Germany most people have statutory health insurance, but those who are foolish enough to buy private health insurance (hint: the rising rates will bite you in the ass when you get old and sick) don’t do it on behalf of a group, they are private customers of an insurance company. What group, clubs, or associations they belong to has nothing to do with the rates they pay. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/82 "2024-11-14T23:10:35Z")
If you buy insurance as an individual, they can raise your rates when you get old and sick. But a large group can lock the insurance company into a contract that obligates the company to offer lower rates to group members, even after they get old and sick. The company will offset this risk by charging slightly higher rates to members of the group, but it will still be much lower that what they charge individuals. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/83 "2024-11-14T23:13:09Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > But a large group can lock the insurance company into a contract that obligates the company to offer lower rates to group members, even after they get old and sick. > > The company will offset this risk by charging slightly higher rates to members of the group, but it will still be much lower that what they charge individuals. I think that’s the model for statutory health insurance in Germany and the reason why it’s foolish to buy it privately. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/84 "2024-11-14T23:16:37Z")
In Connecticut, a non-profit called Masonicare operates a home health agency, hospice and senior living communities. Edited to add, I’m pretty sure they provide services to everyone, not just Masons. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/85 "2024-11-14T23:30:45Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I honor your correction of my off-hand snark in timeless tradition of the the Dope! Any time! 🙂 I think I’d rather be a LOOWB than a Mason. Less weird. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/86 "2024-11-14T23:57:37Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Back in the day it was generally believed that (for example) if you were up for a job against a mason, and the guy interviewing was also a mason, then you stood no chance - that sort of thing. Oh, that reminded me, when I was in high school the Masons were offering a college scholarship to two students. Several of my classmates and I applied. One of the kids who applied had ok but not stellar grades, but his dad was a Mason. Guess who was awarded one of the scholarships. (Or maybe it was the Rotary Club, or some similar old boy network type organization; my memory is fuzzy on that detail) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/87 "2024-11-15T00:02:30Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I think that’s the model for statutory health insurance in Germany and the reason why it’s foolish to buy it privately. 😉 Which is also why we can’t have state-sponsored health insurance in the USA. Efficiency of delivery, real risk spreading, and consumer cost savings would eat into corporate profits. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/88 "2024-11-15T00:06:00Z")
It’s not unheard of for scholarships to have a preference like that. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/89 "2024-11-15T06:36:21Z")
Masonic women belong to Order of the Eastern Star. My grandmother was involved in it, back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/90 "2024-11-15T13:35:01Z")
My grandfather was a Mason. It was a society constructed to show good men, doing good works. You lived your life by example. It had a religious aspect I guess but that wasn’t its primary goal. My grandfather had no problem being that good man. As far as no women, it amuses me that women have a ton of clubs that are women only but just throw a fit if men do the same. If you contact the Masonic Lodge and tell them you are interested they will tell you about public events you can attend and meet current Masonic members. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/91 "2024-11-15T16:17:01Z")
> [@TXRebel](#): > > . As far as no women, it amuses me that women have a ton of clubs that are women only but just throw a fit if men do the same. 🙄 Can you be any more tedious? ---
**Author:** ![sb1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@sb1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sb1953)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/92 "2024-11-15T16:59:26Z")
A buddy of mine was in the masons because, as he said,…his boss and colleagues were masons. He was no longer active when we met at age 50, but his ex-wife told me that when he first joined he spent a ton of money as he moved up the “degree” ladder in his lodge and also was “away” from home quite a bit. She was not fond of the masons!! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/93 "2024-11-15T19:39:30Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > > [@TXRebel](#): > > > > . As far as no women, it amuses me that women have a ton of clubs that are women only but just throw a fit if men do the same. > > 🙄 > > Can you be any more tedious? I should probably expand on this. Literally no one in this thread gives a rolling fuck if there are men’s only clubs. I am not sure how this isn’t completely obvious. There are a few of us who don’t want to be in a club that doesn’t include women but still are fine if they exist. Any questions? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/94 "2024-11-15T23:38:01Z")
I’ve known of people who were interested, and also had children who were interested in Rainbow Girls or DeMolay, but it’s expensive and requires certain clothing purchases. I will add that until VERY recently, many lodges were racially segregated, officially or not. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/95 "2024-11-15T23:50:10Z")
I like the French word “franc-maçonnerie”; I just think it looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/96 "2024-11-16T03:43:13Z")
No, you probably shouldn’t expand on it. I have no idea who pissed in your Cheerios but you can kick it down the road. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/97 "2024-11-16T03:56:52Z")
You wish you actually upset me. I literally laughed at your silly straw man in your ridiculous post. So rebellious. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/98 "2024-11-16T04:25:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Substantially all the secrecy & mystery is gone, and what had been a decades-long process of “apprenticeship” to slowly reach the inner circle / upper ranks via learning arcane knowledge and suffering through complex semi-hazing rituals is now compressed into a couple months and a handshake. IOW, it’s now an organization where everyone is a Colonel and nobody is a foot soldier. Everyone gets a big Easy button right off the bat. A decades-long mystic journey towards enlightenment sounds life-changing and important, but then it should be that, not someplace to hang out or build social contacts. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/99 "2024-11-16T11:24:27Z")
Agreed. I’m no expert on Masonry, but I think the attraction their process once held died along with the patience to watch a complete baseball game in the sun. Modernity requires that, but modernity has thrown at least a few babies out with the bathwater. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218/100 "2024-11-16T12:28:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > modernity has thrown at least a few babies out with the bathwater. We need a better [app](https://schumanchu.eu/html/r1/r1_00128globish.html) for that! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-freemason/1010218.md?page=6)