International Co-Freemasonry

Sir,
    I write to inform you that, following an internal investigation and a subsequent meeting of our disciplinary body, four senior members of our Order were expelled on 2 January 2001. The four held the offices of Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Orator and Assistant Grand Secretary respectively in the British Federation.
    They and other members have started a new Masonic order for man and women; but, in the light of broken obligations in various degrees and broken oaths of allegiance to our Supreme Council, International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain will not recognise it as a bonefide Masonic body.
    On a separate subject, (not connected with the behaviour which led to the expulsions), during the months preceding the expulsions, and since then, some totally inaccurate claims about our Order have come to my notice. These claims, which seem to be in fairly wide circulation, suggest that a belief in God will no longer be a requirement for candidates joining our Federation, that references to God, the Supreme Will and the Great Architect of the Universe are to be removed from our rituals and that the bible/Volume of the Sacred Law will no longer be used in our ceremonies. Two former members, who appear to have joined the new order, have been interviewed by a reporter and quoted recently in their local newspaper as having said something along these lines.
    I would like to emphasise that there is no truth whatsoever in these claims and I am doing my utmost to refute these false statements. No Brother – inside or outside our Order – should be in any doubt about our rituals and landmarks remaining exactly the same as ever they were.
    I appreciate that the United Grand Lodge of England and some other Masonic bodies do not recognise International Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain but the false claims about the erosion of our Landmarks are highly damaging to us and I would be very grateful if you could publish this letter to help me to rebut them.
    Helen M. Boutall, 33º, MP Grand Commander, Le Droit Humain, British Federation.

Appalled By Co-Freemasonry

Sir,
    I was appalled to see the item on page 13 of the July issue, announcing the formation of "First Grand Lodge for men and Women". Why is Freemasonry Today used as a voice for this unwelcome mix?
    My wife has long been a member of the Order of Women Freemasons, and indeed is a Grand Lodge Officer. I have encouraged my wife in every sense of the word in her advancement, but neither of us would dream of "sharing" a Lodge, or indeed, attending any such so-called masonic Lodge. I trust I will never again see this type of information in Freemasonry Today.
    J.J. Clubbe, Manchester. Provincial Grand Organist (East Lancs), Excelsior Lodge, No. 4641.

Swami Vivekananda And Freemasonry

Sir,
    Your reference to Dr. Annie Besant and Krishnamurti (Issue 17) almost coincides with the centenary of the death of Swami Vivekananda. During the ten years prior to his death at the age of 39, in July 1902, Vivekananda had become greatly respected in England and the United States as a teacher of the Vedanta. He was the pre-eminent disciple of the Avatar Sri Ramakrishna and the leader of the group of young monks founding the Sri Ramakrishna Math.
    It is generally understood that Dr. Besant wished Vivekananda to be involved in her work of building spiritual bridges between the East and West. Not so well known amongst devotees of Vedanta is the fact that Swami Vivekananda (in his pre-monastic name of Narendranath Datta) was initiated, passed, and raised in the three Degrees of Freemasonry shortly after his 21st birthday. The ceremonies were worked in Calcutta, in 1884, in the Lodge of Anchor and Hope, No. 234 (then under the English Constitution and now Lodge No. 1 on the register of the Grand Lodge of India).
    There is much in Vedanta of value to Freemasons seeking a fuller understanding of the theory and practise of the `more hidden mysteries’ of our Craft.
    D.W. Wilkinson, Leeds. Aurora Lodge, No. 4047.

Hope For The Future

Sir,
    I received my copy of Freemasonry Today and saw we have a new Editor, Michael Baigent, so I read his editorial with great interest and agree wholeheartedly with his desire to bring refreshing changes to the Craft. One thing which most members of the Craft agree on is that we need to look after our youngsters and attract them to join us.
    But do they get a brotherhood of equals? They become part of a hierarchical system unknown outside the armed forces. There is much in this great institution of Freemasonry to which so many are proud to belong to, and to cherish. There is also much which is wrong and I feel this is embedded as much in the hierarchical system as anything else.
    After reading Michael’s stirring call to bring the Craft up to date, by the scruff of its neck if need be, I thought there would be changes which would grab the reader and encourage him to take up the reins which would bring the lads back in droves. But NO!
    Now, I love the Craft. I have made many friends and met a lot of very nice people. I have developed an interest in Masonic Research and have been honoured by being invited to Lodges to speak about my interests. But, if as Michael suggests, he wants to improve the magazine and open up the readership, then I would suggest that he needs to decide whether it is going to be a vehicle for strange and obscure writings which really are of value mainly to historians but of little value to the young mason (note the book reviews, excellent in their way, but the subject matter, Ugh).
    As a young mason, I wanted to know about the Craft; I wanted to know what it does and I wanted, above all, to be able to tell others, to pass on my enthusiasm and my commitment.
    Is Freemasonry Today going to develop into a vibrant and informative vehicle by which Masonry can be explained and moralised on in the 21st century?
    The real highlight was the letter from Bro. Peter Rance. I think his view of what is wrong with masonry is correct. He obviously has spent a considerable time thinking out his plea – which it is – to the hierarchy, to the leaders of our great institution, to take the traditions and all that is good in masonry and bring it to the world as being a vibrant force amongst the daily lives of people.
    But tradition can be used in two ways: it can be allowed to strangle development, or it can be used as a base upon which to build a new Temple, using the talents and commitments of all its members; and Freemasonry Today can lead the way.
    Jesse Riley, Bury. Papyrean Lodge, No. 5117, Association of Masonic Research.

The Essex Police And The Defibrillators

Sir,
    I have been a Police Officer for 25 years and over the last few years have become disillusioned with the Police and civilian management and their politically correct attitudes, when it suits them. I particularly take exception to the comments from the Essex press officer, Mr Peter Laurie that " provision of a defibrillation service is not a recognised police responsibility". What is a recognised Police responsibility?
    For example: making a cup of tea for a very aged lady senior citizen whom you'd told her only living relative had died or popping back to see an injured child and his family after an accident, just to see how they were coping. The list is endless and I have always thought little things like these important, and part of my duty. Incidentally, and sadly, this form of Policing doesn't attract points on officer’s personal performance indicators.
    On appointment I swore allegiance to the Crown and to protect life and property. I believe over the years that in situations I have been able to do this. If called in to an incident I wouldn't look on the defibrillator to see whether it had been supplied by the Freemasons, the Rotarians, the local golf club or the local pub. I would thank the Lord I had an instrument to enable me to save a life - something I have always believed is a major Police responsibility.
    As for his comment "at the scene of an emergency officers are committed to other public safety duties" what does he mean? Would it mean that at incidents in the wilds of Yorkshire where people have collapsed in the street the local constable would be busy checking that car tyres are properly inflated or that street lighting was adequate?
    I suggest Mr. Laurie, who would have consulted with senior management on his reply, gets a life and hopefully it wont be his on the line whilst officers wait to check if seniority has verified permission for use of the equipment.
    I know Mr Baigent doesn't wish to be confrontational but I believe it's time certain people and organisations, particularly public servants, were taken to task over their prejudiced perceptions.
    Name and address supplied.

Sir,
    I read your editor’s comment about the Essex Police refusing to accept life-saving heart machines at a cost of £10,000 from my English Brethren in Freemasonry with disbelief. What can be the matter with this so-called Police Department that has sworn to try to save lives? It is almost impossible for me to accept the fact that they have made such a devastating decision which will cost human lives!
    I am a thirty-three year mason under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and I am pleased to say that we go out of our way to work with Police Departments in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
    Ralph W. Staples, Canton, Massachusetts, USA. Secretary, Blue Hill Lodge, A.F.& A.M.

Sir,
    As the daughter of a Freemason of some thirty-five years, it was with disgust and horror that I received the news from him of the Police’s attitude towards the most generous gift the Craft wanted to donate to them. Unfortunately, my mother died within the last year and it is possible that immediate access to a defibrillator may have saved her life.
    It has been a privilege for me, over the years, to meet, through my father, hundreds of his Brethren from all walks of life and at all ranks of Freemasonry. I am aware of the wonderful charitable work that is carried out through Freemasonry and, in fact, feel a personal gratitude for the medical equipment donated to Chase Farm Hospital recently as both I and my mother have been patients there over the years.
    I, for my part, am proud to tell people that father is very active in the Craft and I do my best to dispel the myths and bigotry among the general public. To quote Herbert Spencer: "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in ever-lasting ignorance – that principle is contempt prior to investigation".
    Ann Freeman, Malta.

Support For The Essex Police

Sir,
    Your comments in the Editor’s letter, last issue, are looking for trouble where none exists. You criticise the Essex Police Chief for turning down the offer of four defibrillators. Did anyone take the trouble to ask him what he wanted as a gift from we masons? Did anyone consider who would pay for the training of his officers in their use? If four patrol cars carry defibrillators, how many officers would need to be trained so that each vehicle always had a suitable person on board? What would be the position of officers who did not want the responsibility?
    Defibrillators kill people to whom they are applied if the symptoms have not been correctly assessed. Press officer Peter Laurie was right and correct in his response to your enquiries. The force will buy any equipment needed and officers at the scene of an emergency are required for other duties. He was polite in turning down our offer, accepting it as a sincere gesture of which the force was appreciative. You respond with the churlish suggestion that this response is rather odd. In my opinion you have let down Freemasons by the comments made in your editorial.
    It would have been far better for the masons involved to have approached the Chief Constable to ask him how they could help his officers. Who knows what the response would be? It could be to provide equipment for their rest room, maybe a police widow and family could have been helped.
    We have been offensive to the Essex Police and I hope you will make amends in the next issue.
    Tim Earl, Guernsey. The Hansard Lodge, No. 3515.

Masons No Threat To Police

Sir,
    A West Lancashire Provincial Officer colleague of mine who is a retired Chief Inspector from the Cheshire Force, recently obtained an 1872 version of the Warrington Borough Police Force General Orders. Being originally from the Lancashire Force he read the contents with interest and came upon a section wherein the predecessors of today’s politicians, senior Police Officers and Watch Committee members, saw fit to put in writing that membership of Freemasonry was no threat to the Police Service or to society in general. Constables were allowed to be Freemasons before they were permitted to vote. As the Force general Orders were approved by Central Government, it necessarily follows that similar entries probably appeared in most, if not all, UK Police Force General Orders. The Home Secretary and Chief Constables should be asked to comment on this finding and declare when such conditions of service were changed and, more importantly, why?
    The finder of the book has donated it to the museum in Warrington Police Station on the proviso that it is exhibited open at the page showing this entry.
    D. Williams, Widnes, West Lancashire. The Widnes Lodge, No. 2819.

A Lewis, Perfectly Cubed?

Sir,
    Reading the learned discussions in the Readers Letters’ section with admiration at their erudite nature lead me to hope that a more expert brother might assist me. Recently I attended a 100-strong meeting at Amphibious Lodge, No. 9050, at Wimborne, Dorset. The reason for the high turnout, which included the Provincial Grand Master, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Assistant Provincial Grand Master, was the initiation of Bro. Adam Brookes. This was not, in itself, an unusual event but conducting the ceremony was his father, W Bro. Laurie Brooks, and giving the charge after initiation was his grandfather, Bro. Bert Brookes. A convivial evening led to controversy: Bro. Adam, newly on the Square, is a Lewis of a Lewis. Would masonry, being a progressive science of which mathematics forms a part, then make him a Lewis squared? And what would be a suitable description for Bro. Adam’s son, who will, some time hence, be a Lewis thrice over?
    Chris Hubbard, Weymouth, Dorset.