Don't do it! Why be a Free Mason?

Did you know if you charge people, you can make pretty good money?

In 2002, the median hourly earnings of cement masons and concrete finishers were $14.74. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.52 and $20.02. The top 10 percent earned over $26.02, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $9.31.

In 2002, the median hourly earnings of terrazzo workers and finishers were $13.42. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.46 and $17.72. The top 10 percent earned over $23.70, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $8.94.

Like those of other construction trades workers, earnings of cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers may be reduced on occasion because poor weather and downturns in construction activity limit the amount of time they can work. Cement masons often work overtime, with premium pay, because once concrete has been placed, the job must be completed.

Many cement masons, concrete finishers, segmental pavers, and terrazzo workers belong to the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association of the United States and Canada, or to the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. Some terrazzo workers belong to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of the United States. Nonunion workers generally have lower wage rates than do union workers. Apprentices usually start at 50 to 60 percent of the rate paid to experienced workers.

The current (as of 2007) starting wage for a bricklayer in Los Angeles in the union is $11.92 an hour and journey top out at $34.07 after a 3.5 year apprenticeship.

username wrote:

Klimbatize wrote: Hacker wrote: "...we take good people and make them better" That's basically the slogan of any branch of the Armed Services. Join the Army instead. you can say that about ANY group really.

Oh yeah? Let's see you try to apply that slogan to NAMBLA?

Hacker wrote:

Based on things said here. I think I should do more research. My origional decision was just based on half an hours worth of researching, and how they said on their website that they exist to help improves people's character and way of life. Oh and interestingly enough, the 5k run I did was for the SLC shriners hospital, which has involvement with free masons.

The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Shriners) are a brother order to the Masonic Temple, and is more of a free-sprited fraturnity then it's father order. Shriners are more about fun and fellowship. Upon until recently to become a Shrine, you had to complete either the Scottish Rite or York Rite degrees of Masonry, but now you only have to be a Master Mason to join.

Master Mason is the Third Degree, with the first three being Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason.

Higher degrees are part of The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry commonly known as simply the "Scottish Rite". The Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. In the Scottish Rite the central authority is called a Supreme Council.

The thirty-three degrees of the Scottish Rite are conferred by several controlling bodies. The first of these is the Craft Lodge which confers the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees. Craft lodges operate under the authority of Grand Lodges, not the Scottish Rite.

I could tell you more, but I might suddenly disappear.

This is the true reason to become a mason: