Here's the scoop from this side of the pond, from a Mason.
P2 wasn't a real Masonic Lodge as far as he knows. It was disbanded and shut down when the Masons found out they were discussing business and politics in the Lodge, which as far as he knows is forbidden (not just in the US) and has been since the 1800's when Masons were under popular attack. But, as the Mason said, things were a mess over there in Italy and P2 kept meeting illegally because the thrown-out Master of the Lodge brought together a bunch of other people who had been tossed out of Masonry. (I suspect you'd agree about the mess, since you live in London now, and even I vaguely recall Italy was pretty chaotic in the 70's.)
Anyway, he heard about the ban on joining, but was pretty sure that was lifted in the 70's, too. As far as Masons are concerned, anyone who believes in God can join (so long as they are men!). His lodge is about raising money for charities and "making good men better" - not teaching people theology.
So the mystery remains, and I suspect it has more to do with politics than theology, but that's what makes all the rumors fun to research.
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Date: 2005-04-03 05:26 pm (UTC)P2 wasn't a real Masonic Lodge as far as he knows. It was disbanded and shut down when the Masons found out they were discussing business and politics in the Lodge, which as far as he knows is forbidden (not just in the US) and has been since the 1800's when Masons were under popular attack. But, as the Mason said, things were a mess over there in Italy and P2 kept meeting illegally because the thrown-out Master of the Lodge brought together a bunch of other people who had been tossed out of Masonry. (I suspect you'd agree about the mess, since you live in London now, and even I vaguely recall Italy was pretty chaotic in the 70's.)
Anyway, he heard about the ban on joining, but was pretty sure that was lifted in the 70's, too. As far as Masons are concerned, anyone who believes in God can join (so long as they are men!). His lodge is about raising money for charities and "making good men better" - not teaching people theology.
So the mystery remains, and I suspect it has more to do with politics than theology, but that's what makes all the rumors fun to research.
How did your day go? Better than yesterday?