WHITHER DIRECTING OUR COURSE?

Sir,
    Over the past few months I have been reflecting upon the article ‘Whither Directing Our Course?’ delivered by our Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton at the Cornerstone Society Conference, together with recent correspondence in this journal. Lord Northampton considers that in Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry change is needed, and has recently appointed a Rulers’ Forum to assist him in determining what that change is to be.
    My experience in the Craft persuades me that, inter-alia, there is an absence of emphasis on our spiritual journey in this life. For too many, Freemasonry is just a ‘gentlemens’ club' – a place to perform a fairly meaningless ritual followed by a good time at the festive board. For others, it affords a splendid opportunity for the mediocre to attain high office and recognition among their Brethren, without the expenditure of much energy, be it physical or intellectual. With so much emphasis on, and genuflection towards, rank, it is hardly surprising that so many Brethren aspire to attain within Freemasonry what would be denied them in other social spheres.
    Having pursued a study of the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science for most of my life, it saddens me that most of my Brethren shun this aspect of the Craft.
    Outside the bounds of Freemasonry attainment of degrees is associated with some form of academic study. I think that it is regrettable that Freemasonry contains no curriculum requiring formal study and examination for Brethren to progress within the Craft beyond the third degree.
    Corporations have Mission Statements and a set of objectives. Thereby, the world at large is made aware of the purpose of the corporation and employees have a focus for their thoughts and actions. I have searched in vain for something similar in Freemasonry. Perhaps this is among the ‘hidden mysteries’!
    There is a pervading non-judgmental attitude within the Craft, together with a set of Rules and Regulations full of ‘thou shalt nots’, which has engendered a sycophantic culture. Despite this, one hopes that the Pro Grand Master will receive the objective feed-back he will require if the right changes are to be made. Lord Northampton considers that Freemasonry is a force for good. This seems to me to be a pious hope rather than an objective observation. With the exception of charity, it seems to me that Freemasonry has as much force as a hunk of candyfloss!
    One hopes that Freemasonry will one day be the force for good that the he believes. Heaven knows, the world needs it!
    Harry Morgan,
    Goxhell, North Lincolnshire
    St. Matthew Lodge, No. 1447

PUBLICITY FOR FREMASONRY

Sir,
    In response to the letter by David Hayes in your last issue about Freemasonry never being in the news despite all the good work we do, it is an almost universally accepted axiom that ‘good deeds do not make good copy’. The given example of the £3m donation given by Mark Masons to the Osteoporosis Society is a case in point. The fact that Mark Masons raised this sum from their own pockets is awe-inspiring, but in the modem idiom is not news. To make it news you must have an ‘x’ factor, such as a missing half a million that cannot be accounted for, or accounted for in a spurious or suspicious manner. Now that makes it news. The £3m is just a figure, which the man in the street may disbelieve anyway. As to having high powered PR firms fight our corner. I understand they are employed, but of course must confine themselves to instructions of their clients.
    Some years ago I came to the conclusion that the only way we are going to change the public perception of us is to buy space in a give-away news paper at Province level and confine the Nationals to Grand Lodge. That is advertising space, and in that space you print information about Freemasonry. The thing that I thought up was ‘Ten things about Freemasonry you probably didn’t know.’ These include a list of obscure facts about Freemasonry, such as George Washington being a Freemason, or Rudyard Kipling. Mixed with this information would be snippets of a modern nature, such as the £3m donation. Change this list every week for every issue. To achieve our end this must be like water on granite gradually wearing away the resistance. I contacted the local give-away newspaper for prices of a week in week out publication, and was surprised to learn that if every mason in West Kent made an annual payment of £2 we could afford to do this. At a meeting of my lodge I explained my plan, and how much it would cost each member, then fmished up by asking ‘Who will give me £2 a year to improve the public perception of Freemasonry?’ and got a roar of approval in response.
    My suggestion to Province was never acted upon.
    T.A. Lynch,
    Sidcup, Kent.
    Lesnes Abbey Lodge, No. 7393

Sir,
    If I may add to the contributions of Bros Jenner and Hayes in your winter edition; I believe that both these Brothers have identified the correct path that Freemasonry must now take.
    Bro. Hayes bemoans the lack of PR in the provinces. He is right. Recently I and a fellow Brother were asked to deliver a Grand Charity cheque to a major local hospice which had not only received £37,000 from Grand Charity but also countless other cheques from local lodges over the years. I was astonished at the knowledge base of the hospice’s fund raiser. In a 10-minute training session we were able to feed her curiosity about who ‘these Freemasons’ were and what they did. She was very pro-mason at the end of this chat. It made me wonder how many of our other beneficiaries are equally unaware. We were also able to persuade the local paper to publish a picture and therefore did our small bit to add to the image of Freemasonry in the area.
    Bro Jenner wishes to see us wear regalia more in public. He is right. The decision where and when must be held at a Provincial level, in order for decorum to be maintained, but Provinces need to expand the number of times this permission is granted. Hitler is long dead and I think we can now risk the public seeing who we are.
    To the uninitiated, an organisation with an invisible membership is potentially scary. This was brought home to me years ago when a female councillor who had not been granted a particular chair had blamed her lack of promotion on ‘these masons’ who had, she suggested, created a cabal to exclude her. Of the four councillors she mentioned, three were not and never had been masons. A more visible membership might have precluded this view.
    Huge efforts have been made over the last 10 years in explaining Freemasonry to the outside world. Open days at centres, white table meetings, stands at local shows; all work to remove in ignorance that those opponents of Freemasonry seek to continue. We need to do far more at all levels. I would start with those who benefit from our charity.
    Garry Heath,
    Henley on Thames.
    Regattas Lodge 9660

Sir,
    In the last edition of Freemasonry Today, Paul Jenner of Westerham wrote about the wearing of masonic regalia at ‘official’ functions – in this case, the laying of a wreath at his local war memorial on Remembrance Sunday – which has provoked me to much thought.
    On the face of it, there seems no reason why masons shouldn’t appear in public, or at least at public events, clothed in the badges of the order, just as boy scouts, girl guides, members of the British Legion and others do. We’re not a ‘secret society’ so why be secretive? There’s no reason at all why we should be secretive, but there’s a good reason, I think, why we should be invisible.
    I used to work with a very charming fellow who was gay. He had been a policeman and a Royal Marine; he was as decent and honest as the day is long. I remember him becoming extremely agitated one day at the suggestion that he might take part in a Gay Pride march. He wasn’t ashamed of being gay, any more than I’m ashamed of being left-handed, but he disliked intensely the idea of defining himself as being ‘different’ by getting himself up like something out of the Rio carnival. He said that he’d happily take part in a Gay Pride march so long as everyone involved wore the clothes that they wore to work. That would demonstrate that there were firemen and barristers and surgeons and soldiers, etc., etc., who were gay, just as there were people in all walks of life who were lefthanded.
    Their sexuality was a part of them but it didn’t define them, any more than skin colour or faith defines a man. So it is with Freemasons, is it not? We actually spend very little time got up in aprons but – hopefully – we spend every available minute of our time doing good in the world, as citizens of it.
    Andrew Montgomery,
    Richmond.
    Yorick Lodge, No. 2771

FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION

Sir,
    I freely admit that my letter on Freemasonry and Religion in the Autumn edition of Freemasonry Today was intended to stir up debate on what I believe are matters fundamental to Masonry.
    Judging by the drubbing I have received I seem to have succeeded!
    Of course, we invoke the assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe in all our undertakings and His existence is central to the required belief in a Supreme Being. We do the same, or ought to, in many other walks of life. It is true too that there are instances where seemingly spiritual aspirations occur. Peter Adams quotes for example from the Exhortation, how the object of the Second Degree is to lead us through the paths of heavenly science even to the throne of God Himself.
    Let us examine this. It is typical of other instances of what I might call quasispiritual parts of the ritual. What does it mean? How can the Second Degree possibly lead to the throne of God Himself! It does nothing of the kind. It doesn’t even pretend to. It requires us to make the Liberal Arts and Sciences our future study and to extend our researches into the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science, and be thereby able to estimate the wonderful works of the Almighty, though it puts the last only second to discharging one’s duties as a mason.
    Masonry is defined as ‘A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.’ That says it all. It is a moral institution. not a spiritual one, and I have no doubt that is how the overwhelming majority of masons view it.
    For spiritual uplift. as J.F. Fern contended. one should look to the Church of one’s faith. Neither of the official masonic statements, Aims and Relationships of the Craft and Freemasonry and Religion, make any claims towards spiritual inspiration.
    The Brotherly Love. Relief and Truth and the happiness that one can experience from being a mason makes it not only such a rewarding institution, but a unique one.
    Perhaps, after all, there is spiritual value in that.
    Peter Smith,
    Oadby, Leicestershire.
    Semper Eadem Lodge, No. 3091

Sir,
    Previous correspondence on the subject of Freemasonry, religion and spirituality has produced several threads and I would like to respond to two of them.
    I suggest that spirituality is not a belief system, whereas a religion, with its associated dogmas, is. Freemasonry is not a religion as it isn’t a belief system and has no dogma. It is an initiatory path.
    Spirituality is not only found in the context of religion. Its exploration is a matter of personal choice, in Freemasonry or elsewhere. For me, spirituality is to do with that part of man which unconsciously knows itself to be at one with the universe, the development or evolution of the life force – that which is non-physical, the essence of all living things, the divine spark, which departs on death of the physical body.
    Through its ceremonies, degree by degree, Freemasonry helps tap into that life force by using more than one of our senses at a time, by experiencing instead of simply listening to or viewing a cleverly worded story. Through interpretation of its symbols, Freemasonry provides greater freedom of thought, enabling us to rise above dogma and reach a far deeper understanding about life and our purpose within it. It enables us to develop ourselves, intellectually, morally and spiritually, for the common good; to expand our consciousness and to look for that divine spark in ourselves and others, however deeply it is buried. It helps build the temple of humanity.
    Brian Roberts,
    Grand Commander,
    British Federation International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain

UNKNOWN APRON

Sir,
    I attach a photograph of an apron whose origins I am trying to trace and which was loaned to me by a Scottish lady from Aberdeen. The apron was presented to me see if I could research its origins by a Brother who was a neighbour of the lady in April 2006 and I have been trying to establish its origin ever since. The apron belonged to her late father and was found in his effects after he died. As far as she is aware he was not a Freemason but he did have connections with the Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen as a Carpenter, however, enquiries in that direction have drawn a blank.
    I believe it is Scottish in origin but it does have some unusual symbols and may not necessarily be masonic. The apron is made completely of leather and is hand painted; the cords are also leather and it is in remarkably good condition but there is no indication of a date on it anywhere. I think it may date around 1800 or even earlier.
    The symbols which are creating the most problems are the plough or harrow on the bottom right and the seahorse, pipe-fish or ‘serpent’ by the left-hand pillar. I have never seen either of these on any apron before. Standing against the right-hand pillar it what appears to be a quill pen. The Rose and Thistle interlaced above could be representative of a connection between Scotland and England. The comet above has I believe some masonic connections as do the seven stars. The rest of the symbols are not only common to Freemasonry but also to many other fraternal orders. There are the initials RL which do not mean anything to the lady who owns it. The globes on the pillars are not terrestrial or celestial and I came across a similar design in the Transactions of OQC No, 118 Figure 4, Page 143 on a medallion in the paper ‘In search of the Blazing Star’ by Chris Impens but that is as far as I have got.
    Fred Lomax, Editor,
    Manchester Association for Masonic Research.
    Email: fredlomax@blueyonder.co.uk

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

Sir,
    Reading Paul Devereux’s article in Freemasonry Today, Autumn 2006, recalled an experience I had in 1942.
    I had a tonsillectomy, and at some time during the post-operative recovery period I had to be taken back to the operating theatre to stabilise some bleeding.
    During one of these procedures, I had a strange vision. I was travelling through a long tunnel with a bright light at the end. I had the distinct impression that I was not myself – I was neither male nor female, merely a being travelling through space. I never reached the light, and the next thing I knew was waking up in my hospital bed.
    In those days, near-death experience was not discussed, but if it had been, I suppose my experience would have come under that phenomenon.
    Ronald Bird,
    Malta.
    Seafarers Lodge, No. 9589