The move towards openness in Freemasonry which began in the eighties and continues to this day is to be welcomed. There are, however, some members who feel apprehension about this new direction and whether it is desirable or not. Openness may seem to be a recent trend in Freemasonry, but openness of the heart is now, and always has been, the goal of a master mason.
    We need to be more open because our reticence to answer questions about ourselves has led to a difficult situation where the public’s perception of us, fuelled by media speculation, contains many errors of fact. In order to put the record straight, masons should be able to talk freely about the goodness in Freemasonry, and must learn that they can do so without breaking any trust. A better understanding of Freemasonry can only be for the good. It may even help to attract the right sort of candidate to join us. So what answers do we give to those who are genuinely intrested? It is difficult to answer the question ‘What is Freemasonry?’ in a few words, as it means different things to different people. One of the problems we face is that the language of the rituals, however beautiful, is not conducive to a contemporary explanation of what we are about. Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, make perfect sense to those of us who are conversant with their meaning, but to the non-mason these words could perhaps be better explained as masonic friendships, charity or compassion, and integrity.
    When attempting to explain ourselves, there are two main aspects to consider. There are the ceremonies which take place in the lodge room, and there is the social side. The former are enacted for the benefit of the candidate. They are like scenes from a play and are called ‘degrees’ because Freemasonry is a progressive system. The play is the building of King Solomon’s Temple, where every part of the building and every implement used has a deeper moral or spiritual interpretation. These are explained to the candidate during the ceremonies.

The first degree is almost wholly concerned with the importance of ethical behaviour, the essential foundation on which to build a good life. The second degree explains the importance of education and the development of the rational mind or intellect. Knowledge per se is a necessary ingredient for a fulfilling life, but there are many who know a lot yet have not acquired the wisdom to understand the deeper meaning. The candidate is encouraged to practise in his everyday life the good qualities he has been taught in the lodge, because only through experience can knowledge become understanding. The third degree is about a mason’s fidelity to a promise. It acknowledges the importance of rational thinking, but goes beyond this and explains that some things cannot be intellectualised. As an example, compassion is a quality of the heart rather than the mind, and the candidate is encouraged to develop these aspects of himself by dedicating his heart to God’s service and the welfare of his fellow beings. To summarise the process of the three degrees, one could say that Freemasonry helps the individual to discern what is good, and to identify the real causes and meaning behind events and personal relationships. With this understanding, human consciousness expands, giving rise to new patterns of thought, which in turn give rise to the possibility of new actions. Free will empowers the individual with the option of either taking this new direction and changing his approach to life, or falling back into old ingrained patterns. The choice is his, and his alone. He is helped and enouraged by those who have taken a step beyond him, and in turn helps those who are a step behind. This is the ‘mutual self-advancement’ which the Home Affairs Select Committee’s amended conclusion criticised us for, implying some material advantage, when nothing could be further from the truth.
    The social side of Freemasonry is focused on the meal which usually follows the ceremonial working. It is a little like the celebration following the first night of a play, when all the participants are in a state of well-being. Each of our ceremonies is normally a first night for someone, not least the candidate.

Freemasonry is, therefore, a blueprint for leading a more enriching and fulfilling life, which in turn makes us better citizens in a world facing many moral and spiritual challenges.
    Our critics try and make out that Freemasons do not practise what they preach. Sadly, in any association of over 350,000 members, there are bound to be some who do not follow its principles. Thankfully they are few in number, and when found out they are expelled from the Order. There are corrupt people in all walks of life, and yet Freemasonry as an institution is blamed for the failings of even a single member. We are rightly proud of the high standards which we set, but we must be ever more vigilant in our choice of candidates.
    The very large expansion of members following the end of the Second World War has resulted in a subsequent decrease and consolidation of our numbers. This was to be expected, but our priority must remain quality rather than quantity. It is no longer acceptable for candidates to arrive at their first meeting without any idea of what they are letting themselves in for. We want candidates who are responsible and thinking men, and it is not responsible to join any organisation unless you have good reasons to believe that it will suit you, that you can spare the time and money, and that your family will support your membership. Candidates should be encouraged to ask questions and be given answers, although it is not a good idea to tell the candidate about the content of the rituals, as that would alter their impact. Likewise, we in our turn need to know more about his motives for wanting to join us, and whether he is prepared to make the necessary commitment.
    One of the biggest criticisms laid against us is that we are a ‘Secret Society’, and there is no doubt that this misconceived accusation has contributed to the public’s perception of us. With our new spirit of openness this should slowly change as we become more confident in talking about ourselves. The only things that must remain our own private business are our modes of recognition, which are used and explained to the candidate during the ceremony, and which will enable him to gain entry to a masonic meeting. They are the proof of his membership and are important in preventing unauthorised and unqualified people from disrupting the harmony of a lodge. Masons place great emphasis on harmony, and forbid any discussion on the two most contentious issues in the world today : politics and religion. We demand a belief in God from the candidate, but his religious or political persuasion is his own affair. In this way we avoid dissension and make it possible for everyone to join us.
    As to the future of Freemasonry, I have no doubt that it will continue to evolve, building on the enormous experience which it has acquired in nearly 300 years. Every one of us must play his part in ensuring that it continues to be fun, and attractive to candidates. We must remember that the pressures on all of us in today’s society have never been greater, and it is difficult for the candidate to make the commitment to Freemasonry necessary if he is to get the maximum benefit from it. It is not for everyone, but it is for those of us who enjoy the companionship of our fellow masons, and want to lead a more meaningful life through the practise of its precepts.

Freemasonry is a process of self-development leading to a deeper appreciation of life through the unfolding of our innate qualities.