Dajazar

Do you seriously think that a chairman who was known for telling members of the public to "shut up/sit down" would have tolerated an individual councillor trying to highjack a meeting? In addittion, such conduct would not exactly be democratic.

Adam, you and I have spoken many times after meetings and I know that we share some opinions and are poles apart on others.

I too would have had a debate with you and the other candidates if you too had asked. However, not everyone is on here or would be prepared to participate. Therefore people may not get a balanced view of the situation. The fact that certain councillors are not standing for re-election speaks more about who is prepared to defend their views/corner than anything else. At the end of the day no matter which Party (or none) we represent, we all want to do our best for our community and that I think is the most important thing of all.

I wish everyone good luck on Thursday 2nd May whichever ward they seek to represent.

I apologies for getting the facts wrong I thought you abstained, saying that all the town council chairman/Mayor asked was for those in favor which is wrong of them to do.

However throughout the town councils life you could have made it very hard for the other Councillors. Also if we remember a Conservative Party leaflet delivered to residents said that the YOU as the Conservative Party Candidate were doing so much for the Ridge Farm Allotments (which is the incorrect name to start with, it is Ridge Terrace Allotments) and that the allotments all looked/were in a derelict state, which only one was which had a photo taken of it and under says "We deserve better then this" and says also "I am doing my best to ensure that the town council fulfills its duty to allotment holders." Yet whenever allotments where raised nothing was said from any Councillor only silent gestures (shaking your head) from you towards the public, You never spoke up and only wanted to take the credit for what the allotment holders and the allotment association did to get votes that is not right and you were shot down for it by the secretary of the Ridge Terrace allotment association at a meeting in front of the public.

Well Adam, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. However, I did apologise for the slight error in name and my recollection of the other events is somewhat different. As for me just "shaking my head" I think you will find that me being out voted 7 to 1 whenever I did not take a majority veiw was behind this. I will just note that it is very easy to be critical on a forum. As it has been said, we all have our own opinions and it is good that the community is taking an interest in the affairs of the Town.

It is elections coming up, Pity we couldn't get a response during the last four years

You could have from me. Town council meetings are minuted. I have no problem whatever speaking to anyone either before or after these meetings as others will attest. My literature for these elections also carry my e-mail address (tracy.aynsley@gmail.com) and a mobile contact number which is 07925756470. I have given contact numbers on all my literature delivered in West Bedlington during the last 4 years and have frequently been contacted by members of the community as a result. I don't think there is any point in trying to hide because it's just not posssible. It is similarly impossible to engage in every topic of discussion/argument either on here, on other forums or in the press/media. In any event, there are others more eloquent than I who can offer a sensible view.

Foxy et al are welcome to discuss any community/council business with me providing it involves West Bedlington.

For the record, can I just say that no councillor abstained in the precept increase voting. However, one councillor voted AGAINST the increases and that councillor was ME. I agree that the public should have been permitted to engage in a discussion over the merits or otherwise of increasing a precept. After all it is public money and affects everyone. Similarly, I am also in favour of an increase in the public input into Town Council meetings. I had to accept that I was in a minority in these beliefs but always voted in line with my views and if re-elected, will continue to do so and thereby represent the views of the community of West Bedlington where I too live.

A good day has got to be breakfast at The Red Lion and then Don Lynn's for sly cake.

Forget Rasputin and the World

Mmmm. Sly cake..........

BTW, on the walkabout they issued warnings only to anyone slightly exceeding the speed limit, as one of our town councillors can testify to! Ahem

Tsk Tsk. Who COULD you be referring to Malcolm????

I was asking the lasses in Tesco's this self same question months ago and was told it was on hold until 2012.

Lets not forget the masonic homes that will take care of a mason in need for life,and give them food room and board and medical too, and the homes work with local lodges to give the elderly as many activities as possible to keep them active, visit a masonic home and ask the residents if they are well treated!

Yes, absolutely true. The Masonic care home in this area is Scarborough Court in Cramlington. This was recently refurbished to world class standards and the residents there seem very happy with the level of care they receive. It is not just Masons but also their wives/widows and this means that some very frail and vulnerable old folk can be cared for through Masonry should they be unable to look after themselves.

I think that when all is said and done, Masonry, it's values. secrets, history, rituals and brotherhood needs to "call out" to you. If it does so, if it pricks at your curiosity and inner being then perhaps it is for you. If not, then as Mercuryg suggests, there are more than enough other distractions vying for our attention.

Does it? Does it really offer answers to 'mysteries' that are not available elsewhere? Forgive me for being flippant - I must say this is a very interesting subject and a thread I am enjoying - but I really can't see how a Freemason of even the highest standing would know the answer to questions such as 'Is this all there is? Is man here for a purpose? What (if anything) lies beyond this life?' If there were answers to those questions, we can be quite certain that whoever discovered them would make a lot of money telling us all!

I believe so. That is not to say they are not available elsewhere or that different interpretations are not available elsewhere because evidently, they are. However, as ever, the answers are invariably a matter of faith. Freemasonry tries to answer these age old questions using the "tools" man has been given. Because the questions are so fundamental, many have attempted to do so from medicine men, shamen, mystics, men of faith, scientists, dreamers et al. Many will offer you the "answers" for free and many will not but it is worth considering the following:

Starting from the central tenent of belief in a supreme being (which I am afraid is inescapable whatever the intentions of a small number of opportunistic individuals) and given that it is fairly accepted that Freemasonry is a charitable organisation which does good works, would you rather seek those answers through such a group of like minded people which offers the opportunity to serve others and improve your own knowledge or would you prefer to answer an advertisement in a local paper offering you these answers for only £10.00 per month? Now I would choose the former (although as a female, I cannot) but I can fully accept that there will be those who would go for the latter, if for financial considerations alone. Obviously, I use the comparison to illustrate diametric opposites but when you ask what it is that would lead someone to join the Masons, I hope that you can see why some would view it as an attractive proposition.

Of course it is not for everyone but I think the subject has stimulated sufficient debate on here to at least prompt others to wish to learn more. I am heavily reliant on my husband for some of the interpretations and needless to say, as a past Master, he is very involved and enjoys his membership immensely.

Just want to say thanks to the guy with the huge bobcat who has spent almost all of today going around the hazelmere estate clearing the snow away, right down to the tarmac. Doubt he works for the council so its a tremendous gesture of community spirit to spend his time and money making other peoples lives easier.

Cheers!!!

Yes, I'll second that. Nothing was too much trouble and he's done a lot for people round here. This is the Big Society in action. Thank God for farmers.

This is where we differ. Personally, a Christian - as in someone of that religion - who doesn't believe in Jesus can't really exist. I'm not at all religious, but have no doubt the man existed. A freemason who doesn't believe in a Supreme Being is an altogether simpler concept. The question I am asking here is this: if someone joins the Masons and declares a belief in a Supreme Being falsely (and I don't doubt there are many, I think they will likely make up a good proportion of the numbers as they do other clubs and societies) why has he done so? What is it that would inspire someone to make such a fundamentally dishonest statement in order to become a member of the Freemasons? It can't be so that they can contribute to charity, as everyone is free to do that, and let's face it, few will join for the traditional rituals, so what is it? What is the benefit of being a Freemason?

Malcolm - thanks for those pics, interesting stuff.

More than a few Christians seem to view their religion as a "concept". This seems to arise from some difficulty as accepting The Bible as literal truth. Some see the acceptance of religious texts in this way as the root cause of extremism and there is more than enough evidence of this. Freemasonry as I understand it, faces the same sort of conundrum. However, the brotherhood accepts that Masonic ritual contains a good sprinkling of allegory so the question of "literal truth", where it comes into conflict with established facts is dealt with in this way.

My other half is not religious in the sense of being a regular churchgoer but was used to asking questions of other family members already in the brotherhood. He found himself very attracted by the ancient ritual which he sensed sought the answers to questions humans have asked down the ages. Is this all there is? Is man here for a purpose? What (if anything) lies beyond this life? Malcolm's pictures hold a poignancy for Masons and show that the same questions being asked then are being asked now. Masonry offers the answers to these mysteries which are revealed as a man progresses through the three degrees from entered apprentice to master mason.

The revelation of these hidden mysteries are the goal which is achieved by adherence to the principals of the Order. I understand that Masonic ritual is very "powerful" in the sense that it is clearly ancient and echoes back through the ages to the root of humanity. Many also achieve this through participation in organised religion but one does not have to be religious to join the brotherhood. I think (and this is exclusively my own opinion) the belief in a supreme being is a necessary starting point from which those questions emanate? Is this supreme being "God"? I think so but others think He/She or It has a different name and this is no less valid an opinion in the search for answers. This acceptance is attractive to many men and leads them to wish to learn more. Of course, some organised religions feel that this concept is challenging which has led the Order being denounced down the ages. As has already been alluded to, this has resulted in fanciful works of fiction such as the works of Dan Brown et al. As I have said before, Freemasonry is not a religion but it compliments any other which has the belief in the supreme being as it's central tenent. Some very senior churchmen of all denominations are also Freemasons.

As with any club, some members join only to find that it is not for them and they then drop out. Are these individuals those Mercuryg refers to, who are joining for what they perceive to be it's material benefits? Perhaps, or maybe their questions are not being answered or at least answered in a way they expected.

This poses some very profound questions but of course like any other "gentlemans club" there is usually a lot of eating, drinking and amusement to be had outside of the scrutiny of wives and girlfriends. The social scene is very enjoyable though, especially the Ladies Nights.

Indeed, that's what I find hard to believe - that anyone would be amazed at Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Catholics etc getting along together without rancour. It happens all the time. Despite the popular Daily Mail depiction of inter-religious rivalry it is unusual. The problems are exclusively related to a minority of extremists - among Christians as among Muslims and others - and these would not be those who become Freemasons and mingle with other creeds and religions.

I am still at odds, however, with the Supreme Being angle, and it bothers me to some degree. I admire the charitable aspects of the Freemasons, and may like to play a part in that (although, as said before, one doesn't need to join a society to be charitable) and I like the picture your husband paints of a Gentlemans club with ritual, but to join, assuming I was able to persuade them to have me, I would have to falsely claim an allegiance to a Supreme Being. I wouldn't be the only Freemason who had done thus, no doubt. Given that I cannot believe all Freemasons actually do believe in a Supreme Being I am concerned at a lack of honesty in their intentions. I still don't know why anyone would join, to be honest.

An interesting angle. I asked my husband how he would describe a Mason without a belief in a supreme being? He said that he could not put an accurate name to such a person although a Water Buffalo might be the closest you could get. However, this might be misleading as he is not a "Buff" and has little knowledge of their activities beyond their committment to philanthropy. They do still exist though. Doubtless there are Masons who don't really believe in a supreme being just as there are Christians who don't believe in Jesus. I doubt there are many though. Of course a "supreme being" might actually mean just about anything; a deity, alien species, life force, spirit or whatever. I suppose the underlying principle must be intelligent design. Are we getting too highbrow here or what?

Next thread by Erich von Danniken "Was God an English Astronaut?" Bedlington edition with foreword by David Icke.

I'm a bit of a scholar regards the Knights Templar and can completely refute the claim the the Order of the Rose Croix has anything to do with them other than a tenuous connection that was cooked up to create that belief.Leigh, Lincoln and Baigent have a lot to answer for with regards to perpetuating this myth.

We're back to this belief in the 'supreme being' again, and it's this that bothers me. Let me elaborate a little.

If all Masons have to pledge a belief in a Supreme Being that surely means that all Masons must be religious, that they must actually, truly, believe in God, Allah, call him what you will. In all honesty, I find it hard to believe that they are do actually, truly believe in a Supreme Being. Let's be honest here, this is the 21st century, and even the most ardent Christian is hard pressed to admit that there is a God up there who created the Earth in seven days. That's plain to see, and difficult to argue. So how have the Freemasons found so many men who actually, truly do believe this? It doesn't strike me as being very probable. Therein lies my problem: I don't believe in a Supreme Being so would not pledge that I do to join the Freemasons, and I can only logically assume that many who have joined the Freemasons, and pledged a belief in a Supreme Being, have not been entirely truthful. My question is - why would they do that?

I have to be quite frank in response to this sentence and say - and I don't mean to offend - that I find this extremely hard to believe.

Quite undestandable but nonetheless true although it was before 9/11 and more recent troubles. It is also true however that such men are a long way from the extreme interpretations of their respective religions as it is possible to get. When you are comfortable with your beliefs in the overall scheme of things, why would you feel it necessary to persecute others who hold different views but are otherwise benevolent and of good character? However, that's for another thread......

Dajazar,

Thank you for a measured and informative response. The problem for me is this 'belief in a supreme being'; I have none, and wonder whether all Mason's actually do? I would guess, and again I may be wrong as it is a guess albeit an educated one, that the majority of Freemasons in the UK are of the Christian faith. If so, do they also attend Church on a regular basis?

Yes, many Masons are regular churchgoers but by no means all. I should have mentioned that there are many branches of Freemasonry (referred to as "The Craft"). One such branch is The Chapter (coincidentally the same name as the infamous motorcycle gangs). This is closely related to the Christian faith as is The Knights Templar who continue to exist as another branch of the Order and The Rose Croix. I always used to think that admission was only by recommendation but this is not so. You would however need to seek out other Freemasons if you were interested in joining and they would need to get to know you to feel confident of proposing and seconding you. You do need the belief in the supreme being though. All Masons have pledged this belief before being admitted.

In his early days as an entered apprentice (as new Masons are referred to) my husband was amazed to witness together in a lodge room, Christians, Catholics, Sikhs, Muslims and a myriad of men of other faiths working together. The uniting factor was the belief in the supreme being. In other situations/countries/places these men could have been at each others throats or denouncing each other/preaching hatred and all the other things that characterise conflict. These things have no place or relevance within Masonry and that is, I believe, something to cherish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT0WEFs2S90

Hi. Some interesting replies there chaps and tbh I've had to ask the other half about some of them-at least to make sure I've got it right. Cympil, your answers are as follows. The millions in charitable donations come from individual masons and their lodges. There is no typical mason and no social class or strata from which they are drawn. Whether rich or poor or any point in between is irrelevant. The only real qualification is that a candidate for joining must have a belief in a supreme being. You or I may call that being 'God' but others for example, may call Him Allah, Yaweh etc. In that sense, Mercuryg is correct. Whatever you call Him is irrelevant beyond the simple belief. In lodges in this country, the Bible is usually the book which lies open during the ceremonies but it can be the Koran or other holy text as necessary. Some lodges have several open at the same time. Freemasonry is exclusively male but there is the womens Masons. This is called The Order of the Eastern Star and is most common in Scotland. My husbands mother and grandmother were members (I am not) but I know little of it beyond these basic facts. Blackballing refers to the vote carried out for prospective members of a lodge. Each candidate for admission must have a proposer and seconder who should know the candidate well and be prepared to vouch that they consider him to be of good character. The vote is taken when each lodge member places a ball, coloured white for 'yes' or black for 'no' into a box (although in practice a ball is placed into a box which is divided into two parts one marked Y the other N). The box is then opened by the Master. If all the balls are white (or in the Y segment) the candidate can be admitted but if just one of them is black (or in the N segment) then a member or members do not believe that person is of good character and his candidacy is refused.

I can cetainly understand many of the reservations on here. I can honestly say that I have never found that it incurrs any advantage, say a nod or a wink to get off with a fine or prosecution or to obtain "favours" from other Masons who may be in positions of authority or "power". Nor should it and anyone who considered seeking admission for those unworthy reasons should certainly be blackballed IMHO. My husband often refers to Masonry as a gentlemans club with ceremony. Be that as it may, I know that he derives a great deal of enjoyment from his membership and would encourage others to consider membership if they wish to discover more. The Americans have a bumper sticker which says "To B1 Ask1". Sounds straightforward enough to me.

Monsta that Stonecutters song from The Simpsons is great. Guest voice for the episode is Patrick Stewart as "Number 1" or Jean Luc Picard as he is better known.

History quite clearly shows they are nothin whatsoever to do with the Knights Templar, despite romantic notions that they might be. It is a convoluted story as you say. I'm interested to hear what our Mason thinks they bring to the party in teh 21st century.

My husband is an active Freemason although his mother lodge is in Newcastle. Freemasonry is rightly proud of it's charitable works and as has already been pointed out, they contribute to both masonic and non masonic causes. A few years ago they donated over £2 million to the Samaritans and there are countless other contibutions both nationally and internationally. Freemasons embrace charity, indeed it is one of the fundamental principles on which the Order is founded. This is as relevant in the 21st Century as it was in ages past. It is true that membership is continuing to fall but that is due to many factors not least the difficulty in recruiting new and younger members into an organisation seen as one for older men. None the less, masons are proud of their history, traditions and(not so)secrets. There are also many branches of Masonry, each with it's own unique heritage. A dedicated Mason finds it hugely rewarding and it can be hard for a non Mason to understand just what it is? but it is not a religion or one which shamelessly promotes it's own interests.

Interestingly, discussion of Politics and Religion is forbidden in the lodge, because such things do not lend themselves to harmony and brotherly love. Freemasonry does not boast of it's contribution to society but goes about it's work quietly. This engenders suspicion in some people but the information is in the public domain and can be readily found for those who care to carry out some basic research. The website of the United Grand Lodge of England is a useful place to start.

Be eaiser if you came along to Bedlington Forum/Partnership meetings Mr D.

Then there is the Town Council stuff but really you need Stephen or Dajazar discussing that.

Hi All,

Further to your comments I have asked Stephen to upload the minutes of the last meeting to this site, so that everyone can have a chance to see what was discussed at the meeting and perhaps to contribute at the next one.

I will try and get them updated following each meeting in future.

Sorry for the late reply due to work commitments.

Rdgs

Dajazar

I heard they have applied for Licence to open it up.

Never happen

Your most likely right but we can only hope

Well the ones that do meet with they voters may get a knife in the guts. Well in certain London areas that is. Thats probably an aberration I hope. Anyway yes it would be good if your local MP wasnt just a puppet for their party. Just there to make up the numbers. I mean it should be a part time job for 5 years max. Most take second jobs. So it cannot be that taxing. And wouldnt be if your mind was made up for you by your party and all you had to do was rock up and toe the party line on every vote. Most MP's stick with the status quo in my eyes, Labours very guilty of it up in this neck of the woods. You could call them conservative in that respect. The industial days are gone and what do they stand for now, dishing out local government posts like sweets. Well looks like they're for the chop. If our MPs actually sratched their heads a bit more rather than there arses we might get a bit of PROGRESS* around here - - - * the new buzz word.

Your so right. The MP that we vote for locally should be there for the people that vote for them and I know they have to spend time in Parliment but I think that they should not be a puppet for their party but do the things that people voted them in for. At least then they could show that they are not just looking after their interests but the interest of the people that put them there.

Just caught a bit of the news before... Cameron said something on the lines of "the people are the masters-we are merely the servants"...... think its about time these MP's all remembered that and started to act in our best interests

Your so right they should remember we "the people" know what we want

Oh joy! The candidate list has been published.

*clicky* (opens in MS Word)

Nice to see faith the Conservative candidate has in our district - he doesn't even live here, his address is listed as 'somewhere in the Ilford North Constituency'

Still, at least it's more than the BNP & UKIP candidates bothered to give.

Just for the record the Conservative Candidate, Campbell Storey is a native of Newbiggin. He works in Westminster and this is his "work" address.

Cheers

Yeah it was Marge I was taking about. She was a friend of the family.

Oh my sorry to hear that I knew Marge when I used to play darts my wishes go out to her family.