Masonry and Religion

Sir,
    Your correspondent Gerald Reilly writes an erudite letter (Autumn issue 1999, p.43) but I would take issue with him. He seems to imply throughout that Masonry and Religion are co-terminous. Well, of course there is much overlap between them, but there is also a world of difference.
    To define religion, as he suggests, as a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and represented by symbols, is wrong. The Christian religion in particular is firmly rooted in history. Its creeds and historical documents make this claim clearly. Christian morality springs from its historical context. Religious symbols abound, but they point more to the life, death and resurrection of its founder than to the morality he taught.
    The Third Degree working tools that he cites are pointers to a morality that transcends religion, which could be inferred from a study of nature and science. This is evinced by the fact that the VSL does not necessarily have to be a Bible. Justice is an instinctive and deeply felt concept that has been recognised by religious people and non-religious people alike. The cry ‘it’s not fair!’ is heard even in the school playground.
    Pantheism (in answer to his question as to whether it would be an acceptable response for a mason to belief in a Supreme Being) would not be accepted as the religious pre-requisite to membership. To identify the creator with his creation is to strip him of his ultimate and independent identity. Panentheism, yes. God can be identified within the natural order; there is a world of difference between the two concepts.
    “Unfolding the beauties of true Godliness” can be achieved in a myriad of ways – through art, literature, science, religion, contemplation. The Church claims no exclusivity in this matter. Masonry would, I hope, not be seen as a rival in this activity any more than other routes to sublime knowledge.
    Your correspondent suggests the Church is exclusive, while Masonry is inclusive. Sadly, there are indeed signs of exclusiveness in the fundamentalist tendencies in modern religion. But, at its best, the Christian religion is eirenic, and tries to reconcile differences rather than emphasise them.
    In fine, Masonry is not a religion. It makes no claims to be in itself a path to salvation. Rather, it encourages its members to follow such a path as laid down by the revealed religion to which they owe allegiance. Whatever elements that it shares with religion (prayer, hymnody &c.) are complementary and not primary.
    Rev. J.Stephen Cooke, Provincial Grand Chaplain, Province of Staffordshire.

Daylight Lodge

Sir,
    One of the great delights of a daylight lodge is the opportunity it gives for elderly brethren to participate fully in Craft Masonry without the difficulties and potential dangers that dark winter evenings can present.
    Unfortunately, there are many brethren who have retired to locations other than those in which they were active masons and have become lost to Masonry as a result. A daylight lodge, where they exist, is ideal for these brethren, and on behalf of the growing band of such lodges, may I make a request?
    If any lodge is aware of any retired Brother who would feel uncomfortable about attending an evening lodge, but would be happy to join other brethren at a daylight lodge, could they please pass on the details of the nearest daylight lodge to those brethren? Furthermore, if any lodge is aware of a Brother who has relocated on retirement and who may be encouraged back into enjoying Masonry at a daylight lodge, a note to the nearest daylight lodge of the Brother’s name and new address would be welcomed.
    The daylight lodge presents a wonderful opportunity for brethren to make new friends and to enjoy Masonry at a convenient, and arguably safer, time of day. I hope that lodges will search their records (and memories) for this information so that elder brethren particularly can continue enjoying Masonry for as long as they would wish.
    W Bro SM Hardy, Almoner, Meridian Lodge No 9597, Province of Yorkshire, North & East Ridings.

Greece

Sir,
    I have just read the back page of Grand Lodge News following the meeting of the United Grand Lodge of England (8.9.99), and I feel quite outraged!
    From the piece, entitled ‘National Grand Lodge of Greece’ (p.4), it would appear that the Grand Lodge of Greece was deemed, at some stage in the past, to have been acting irregularly and so recognition was withdrawn in 1993. I have no problem with that. I do, however, have a considerable problem with the withdrawal of recognition of the National Grand Lodge of Greece (NGLG) which has been conducting itself regularly.
    When I first went to Belgium in the late 1970s, there was a problem with the irregular activities of the Grand Lodge Belgium (GLB), which ultimately resulted in its breaking relations with the prima Grand Lodges. (The story is related by Michel Brodsky in FMT Autumn 1999, p.6). In a nutshell, several brave masons and lodges broke away from the GLG and set up the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium (RGLB). I was there when this happened and it was traumatic and revolutionary.
    Those who actually went over to the RGLB did so with much courage, not knowing where it would take them. They could, after all, have been totally ostracised masonically for years to come. We all now know that the efforts of senior masons at the time eventually paid off and the RGLB became a recognised sovereign regular Grand Lodge in amity with most Grand Lodges.
    Not being in Greece, nor knowing any Greek masons, nor having any connection whatseoever with either the GLB or the NGLG, I have no idea of the circumstance leading to the set-up of the NGLG. However, what I am very sure about is that those masons who were willing to put their masonic futures at stake and set up the regular NGLG must have our full support for the brave actions they took in the early 1990s. I am also totally convinced that they should continue to receive our support whilst they continue to conduct themselves in a regular way, and I understand from the article that there is absolutely no question of anything but this having occurred.
    The fact that there is an internal stand-off between the two Grand Lodges in Greece is none of our business. I was pleased to read, though, that the NGLG was starting to move towards the recognition of the GLG following some of its changes, even if the latter was still not moving towards the former. For us to withdraw recognition from a totally regular Grand Lodge seems to me to be flying directly in the face of the very brotherly love we are supposed to champion. In my opinion, it was a totally wrong act on the part of the UGLE to withdraw recognition of the NGLG, and I sincerely hope that it is not followed by other Grand Lodges elsewhere. I hope the action will be reversed very soon.
    Peter Evans, Crayford Lodge No 6336, Province of West Kent.

Wallers not Walkers

Sir,
    On page 29 of the Autumn issue, you published a Masonic Bodies Address List. Under ‘The Operatives’ you refer to ‘Walkers’. Surely this should read ‘Wallers’. I trust the Ramblers Association hasn’t taken over Freemasonry yet!
    DG Goldie, Secretary, Lodge of the Chisel No 9398, St Columb, Cornwall.

Change

Sir,
    There can be little doubt that although efforts are now being made, many of which I support and applaud, we are miles behind our critics in the field of PR. Let’s face it, the critics thrive on publicity, and they’re experts at manipulating it.
    I happen to agree with open-days (although many of my brethren do not), but these can only reach a relative few, and to draw the teeth of the critics we need to re-assure the public. So, if the media refuse to run anything but scandal stories about us, then let’s give the public the truth in a way which the media cannot distort.
    What is needed is large-scale advertising in the tabloids (we may not like them, but they are what the public buy), and good peak-time nation-wide TV coverage. Wouldn’t it be just marvellous to see the MW Grand Master, perhaps accompanied by a few celebrity and non-celebrity brethren chatting on TV with Sir Trevor McDonald or Michael Parkinson? It might well be a big break with protocol, but where is protocol getting us at the moment? It would surely show, more than we could ever hope to do at a local level, that we are not some sort of ‘mafia’, but just ordinary people trying to live respectable lives. Equally important, it would give hope and encouragement to those brethren who may be losing heart.
    I am not some revolutionary. I am a Past Provincial Officer and a strong traditionalist as regards our ritual. I certainly hold our leaders in the greatest of respect, but I think that in the current climate, they must be much more pro-active.
    John Stephens, Stourbridge, West Midlands.

Sir,
    I take this opportunity to refer to the article The Image Problem (Andrew Hicks. Spring 1999). Although not among the younger masons, being 62 years old and an active 33° Grand Inspector General, I 100% concur with the author’s views. I am defending similar policies within our Supreme Council itself.
    Unfortunately, it is indeed a vicious circle, or one in which those that would have to undertake the so much-needed change are also the ones that would immediately be most affected in their own ‘important’ roles. Does one cut the branch on which one is sitting?
    Nevertheless, that is no reason to give up – which I don’t. The idea that Freemasonry should remain identical to what it always was and thus remain unchanged is an absurd policy. Freemasonry is an institution founded by men for men. It recruits within the profane world and it is bound to follow the outside world changes if it is to survive.
    Lucq Carlo, Lodge La Concorde Universelle, Zoersel, Belgium.

Sir,
    It is some 65 years since I was initiated in 1933 (HRH The Duke of Connaught was Grand Master then) and I have seen some changes, some for the better and some, it seems to me, just for change’s sake. Other than the war years, I have been a very active mason.
    Before the war it was de rigeur for us all to wear white tie and tails at every meeting. As this meant very stiff winged collars, shirt-fronts and cuffs preparation for a degree was somewhat difficult. It seemed to be the custom to meet at 3pm, conduct three degrees, each with two candidates. This was of course followed by a banquet and toasts. The toasts were interspersed with entertainment and if we finished before 1am, it was an early night. In the intervals between the seven courses the brethren ‘cross-toasted’. We all respected the gavel for the very many ‘taking wine toasts’.
    There never seemed to be any shortage of candidates then. The initiation fee was 25 guineas, the annual subscription was 5 guineas and a guest cost 12/6. Translated into present values, Masonry is not dear. Many golf clubs are very much more expensive and players take a whole day off business to play. Many business deals are conducted on the golf course; a lodge meeting is a haven from the outside world and business is never discussed. Those who disparage Freemasonry should be told this.
    During the war I was otherwise engaged and when I resumed my attendances the dress was uniform or dark suit and black tie. After the end of clothes rationing, dark suits or morning dress were the order and dinner suits for Installation meetings. For some years there were still more candidates than we could cope with. Perhaps the dearth of these nowadays can be attributed to Grand Lodge allowing too many lodges to be formed. After all, when so many are closing there seems to be little point in consecrating new ones except to give work to Grand Officers.
    Now we come to appeasement. Men of my generation know that appeasement of our enemies leads to further appeasement and if one does not stand and fight it leads inevitably to destruction. Our critics have based their arguments on statements made by renegades. If these men allegedly broke their oaths, can they be trusted to have told the truth about Freemasonry? I think we should not have altered our ritual at all, but should have stood firm. Every mason knows that the penalties in our Obligations are purely symbolic. Many masons to whom I have spoke agree with me but felt too overwhelmed by our hierarchy to express their opinions. Let us stop making concessions now. Our privacy should be respected. The boiler-makers’ union would not admit non-members to their meetings, nor would they allow their proceedings to be known. What’s so special about a union?
    Some may say, ‘there spouts an old fogey.’ Some may agree with me. The edict that membership must be declared by members of certain professions is iniquitous. One of the Georges (III or IV), and one of them was insane, also had groundless fears of Freemasonry. As a consequence, for about 150 years lodge secretaries were compelled to make an annual return to the magistrate of the names and callings of their members. I remember doing this. The Act was only repealed I think about 30 years ago. We survived the imposition…
    Stanley Berman, Edgware, Middlesex.

Sir,
    At our lodge meeting last Saturday, it was announced that in future all charitable donations should be sent via the London office, so that they will have a record of how much has been donated to charity by the various lodges, and they will send it on to the charity of our choice. After the meeting I discussed this with the Visiting Grand Officer, and told him that along with thousands of other London masons, I object very strongly to any further interference in the way a private lodge runs its affairs. What I, or my lodge, donates to charity is a matter between ourselves and the charity (see Matthew VI.1-4). He replied that it was not compulsory. That could turn out to be worse. Next year, when any lodge which has not sent their money via the London office do not receive their nominated promotion to LGR, they can only put it down to one reason: they did not comply with the ‘request’.
    It appears to me that the leaders of Masonry are out of touch with the ordinary mason these days. It is reported that London Masonry is losing 2000 members each year and it has been suggested that senior members are much to blame for this, because they fail to welcome the newer members properly, and do not assist them in their early years. Has it not occurred to anyone that about 50% of the losses can be attributed to those same senior masons who are fed up with VGOs making derisory comments about them, and knowing that everything they say may be reported back to their Chairman and so to Grand Lodge? I know several who resigned from the Craft when the VGOs were first sent to the lodges, and now concentrate all their energies into the KT, Cryptic, Operatives, Royal Order of Scotland or some other degree where they are not subjected to these restrictions and obstructions.
    As for the younger masons joining these days, I attended a meeting recently when the moment the candidate entered the temple hoodwinked, he started smiling. By the time of the obligation he was openly sniggering. At one point during the Obligation the WM (who had proposed him) had to stop to allow him to calm down. That candidate should never have got past the interview stage, but this is the reduced standard that is becoming more and more accepted these days. When I first applied to become a Freemason in 1958, I was turned down because although I had sung with him and had a close association with him, my Proposer had only known me for two years. Any organisation which takes that much trouble over its candidates has to be good, so I duly went back three years later and was accepted.
    There appear to be too many who have joined Freemasonry, not with the intention of taking part and helping it, but of destroying it from within, just as they have done with the Church of England and are doing with the pride of being English and not European. If the drastic changes that are now being made are indicative of more changes in the future, then I cannot see us celebrating the 300th anniversary.
    GH Vincent, London.

Tradition

Sir,
    It has been my privilege and pleasure to visit lodges in the remotest parts of East Anglia, even as far out as the Fens – not strictly Emulation Ritual there! At one very quaint lodge (brethren and building), some sort of former Nissan hut, I observed that as brethren entered the door of the temple, they seemed to bow or stoop before walking to their seats. Obviously I was far too polite to question this occurrence.
    However, on a subsequent visit and noticing the continuance of the practice, the frustrated researcher within me got the better and with my best efforts at courteous enquiry asked for an explanation. I was advised that it was the way it had always been in the lodge; no one was able to offer a reason. My investigative skill (as I call it) finally triumphed when a very elderly Brother informed me of a remaining founder member but that he had impaired memory and was in a nursing home.
    The next morning I arrived at the home, only to learn that the Brother was comatose in the intensive care unit. But, I had been charged to extend my researches into the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science. The hospital was properly tyled and I am not at liberty to explain how I gained access to the bedside but upon arrival it seemed all was lost. The patient heard my story, then opened his eyes and sat up; pillows were hastily arranged. He looked up to me and beamed: “Well boy, like this see, during the First World War we nicked an old coke stove, but the only way we could vent it was by running a flue across the inside of the doorway, so when you walked in you had to duck or hit your napper – yea, we caught a few – got the Provincial Grand Chaplain once!”
    That was his last utterance this side of the Grand Lodge above. I am reminded of the words of the Bible, I Peter III.15: …be always ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you. On my next visit, the tradition of the lodge will be respected.
    Gerald Reilly, St Osyth’s Priory No 2063.

Masons and Biographers

Sir,
    May I respond to Clare Harkness’ letter in your last edition and, in particular, take issue with her statement that “your organisation does not seem willing or able to provide us..with information about…brethren”?
    The Library and Museum of Freemasonry at Great Queen Street responds to hundreds of genealogical enquiries every year from masons and non-masons. We cannot always find documentary evidence of a masonic career for a number of reasons. Our membership registers are sometimes incomplete where, for example, a lodge has not submitted an annual return. (It is very likely that there were lodges in Canada during the period in which Ms Harkness is interested for which we have no records here). Without a lodge name or number it can be very difficult tracing possible membership of an individual resident in a large city (always assuming he attended lodge meetings there). Also, we only hold records of lodges under the English Constitution. I was equally fascinated to learn of Trollope’s masonic career in Ireland, which is outside Grand Lodge’s jurisdiction and therefore would not be covered by our records.
    As far as I am aware, none of the biographers mentioned contacted Grand Lodge for information about their subjects. I find this surprising as the archive material here is listed in the standard reference works and I hope that Ms Harkness will at least help us spread the word.
    Diane Clements, Director: The Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Freemasons’ Hall, London.

Five Generations

Sir,
    I was very interested to read the article on RW Bro Timothy Richards in the autumn issue and particularly noted the proud record of five consecutive generations in the same lodge. This is a fine record particularly for a Provincial lodge but we also have had five consecutive generations in St James’s Lodge No 482 in the Province of Staffordshire.
    My great grandfather, William Joseph Whittall, who was third generation in the family building business founded in 1796 was initiated in 1850 and Master in 1869, just 27 years after the founding of St James’s ’Lodge in 1842. He was Acting Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1892 and in 1993 I had the great pleasure of attending the centenary meetings of two lodges where my great grandfather had been a member of the consecrating team.
    My grandfather, Frederick George Whittall was initiated in 1895. He was a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of the United Grand Lodge of England, Past Grand Standard Bearer of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England and was also Provincial Sub-Prior for the Province of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire from 1931 to 1934.
    My father was initiated in 1931 and was Acting Provincial Senior Grand Warden for Staffordshire in 1950 and held the same office for Warwickshire in 1962. He also held distinguished office in Royal Arch and Mark Masonry.
    I was initiated by my father in 1955. I was appointed Acting Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1980 and Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1987, an office which I still hold. I am a Past Senior Grand Deacon of the United Grand Lodge of England, Past Assistant Grand Sojourner of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England and have held the office of Provincial Prior for Warwickshire since 1993.
    My grandfather, father and myself have all been active in other orders and degrees obtaining Grand Rank or equivalent in many of these. Unfortunately, the family business ceased trading in 1972 but my son, the third William Joseph Whittall in the lodge has remained in the Midlands and he was initiated in 1985. Master in 1996, he has a son, yet another William Joseph Whittall born in September 1999, so who knows, there may yet be a sixth generation.
    W Bro WJ Whittall, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire.

Borneo

Sir,
    I was delighted to see W Bro Hunt’s article on Freemasonry in Borneo (Winter 1999/2000). Between 1964 and 1968 I had contact with Lodges Elopura No 7545, Kinabulu No 7047 (where I was Secretary for a brief spell) and Beaufort No 7989 EC. Mention of the latter lodge brings back to me the memory of an extraordinary happening.
    Bro Frank Lucarotti PM and Bro Douglas Walker, PM of Lodge Kinabulu, and myself attended a meeting at Beaufort one Saturday afternoon. It was a lovely dry sunny day. Offices were closed and people had gone to the Yacht Club or the Golf Club and practically no person to be seen on the road.
    Bros Lucarotti, General Manager, and Walker, Track Supervisor of the Railways, had arranged for the GM’s private rail car to take us to Beaufort from Jesselton (now Kota Kinabulu). I was the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and made up the number.
    About half way towards Beaufort we saw that there was a man on the track, signalling for the rail car to stop. This was not expected and we drew up cautiously. The man was a native employee of the railway and he explained that there was a white man stranded in the jungle and that he wanted to be in the Interior on Sunday morning. The man came forward and introduced himself. He was a missionary and had difficulty in getting to the track sooner. We did not know him. In the course of conversation he said that he was from Scotland and had his family in Keningau in the Interior. His domicile was in Midlothian and he had grown up in Newton Grange. His father worked at the Lingerwood Coal Mine, employed on the main pumps underground.
    There were three men responsible for those pumps. His father was a sincere Christian and usually left Christian tracts at the pump stations for his work-mates. The families were also close friends and all attended the same church. There was a pause when I told him his father’s name, where he lived in Newton Grange, how his mother had helped the wife of one of the other men who had died of war wounds.
    The wife was my mother – it was my father who had died from war wounds. The man sitting before me had been born after I left in 1935. I knew the family during the 1920s and I had heard of the late arrival of a son. That son, David, was now sitting before me. His mother was held to be a saint by my brother for her attention when our father died.
    My brethren had sat quiet, listening to what was an extraordinary meeting. Frank made the necessary arrangements and David reached the Interior in the afternoon. Truth is stranger than fiction. The two sons of two workmen in Scotland: one stranded in the jungle, one on his way to a happy meeting in Beaufort Lodge. Bro Reg Lawes, PM of Beaufort, had arranged sleeping quarters for those who had travelled to Beaufort and it was in the early hours before we heard the Tyler’s Toast. On the Sunday we made our ways by rail car, Dakotas and boat – a truly memorable occasion. I have attended masonic meetings from the Far east to the west during the past 50 years or so, and while I am still seeking, I have found that Freemasonry is a way of life.
    Rev Dudley Fox, Kelso, Roxburghshire.