Freemasonry is not elitist - it is selective

Mar 12 2008 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post

Surely, though, the secrets and ritual have to be part of the appeal?

“For us, it’s the cornerstone of what Masonry is all about. Without the ritual element it would be like any other organisation, like the Rotary Club or Round Table,” agrees Michael.

“Masonry tends to appeal to people who like tradition. After both World Wars, the Masons expanded a great deal, I think because men came out of the Army or Navy and missed the sense of community. They were looking for the stability that life gave them so they joined the Masons in droves.

“Since the last war, Masonry has declined in numbers really as a result of people not serving, but recently it seems to have reached a level and is increasing again.”

A traditional perception is that being a Freemason can help you get on in your career because there is always another member who, presumably having established your common interest by a secret handshake, is prepared to give you a step up.

Both men insist that is never the case.“I have been in it 35 years and never seen anything like that,” says Michael, shaking his head.

Christopher thinks being a member of a Lodge could even be an obstacle in your career: “I believe personally that if you have got a Mason sitting on an interview panel and a Mason going for the job, you have to show beyond any doubt you are better than all the other candidates. It can be harder for a Mason to get that job.

“The three principles of Freemasonry are ‘brotherly love’, ‘relief’ (charity) and ‘truth’ so everything a Mason stands for is not to give priority to other Masons.”

Even so, an element of secrecy makes it difficult for the uninitiated to learn exactly what an evening with the Masons is all about, which has probably contributed to people’s wild imaginings.

The website of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire (which covers Merseyside) describes the “secrets” as “traditional modes of recognition which are not used indiscriminately but solely as a test of membership, eg, when visiting a Lodge where you are not known.”

Both Michael and Christopher struggle to describe their ceremonies to me, without giving too much away.

“There are the three degrees of Freemasonry (known as ‘craft’ degrees through which every member must progress),” the elder Mason begins.

“They are very formal meetings, they do involve a lot of ritual.”

Christopher gives it a go: “It’s more of a ceremony, you could think of it like making your Holy Communion . . . ”

“It’s not really like that,” interrupts Michael, who lives in Aigburth.

“No, it’s not like a church service, but if you were to make your Holy Communion you would walk round in a certain way and do things in a certain order,” Christopher tries hesitantly to explain. “Could you say it’s like a play?”

“I suppose they are like plays,” Michael continues. “The ceremonies are telling a story in the same way that a play does. It’s rather like the Mystery Plays in a way, there’s a spiritual side to them explaining a story.

“The person going through the ceremony is seeing it for the first time and being taken through the story.”

“It’s a way we can relate, to the new members, the history of Freemasonry, so people know what it stands for,” Christopher finally concludes, quoting a statement he learned upon reaching the Second Degree: “A system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.”

As a woman, I have to be content with their explanation, as, even should I want to, I shall never get to witness it for myself. This is another criticism the Masons has had to contend with, that they are closed to female members, and they appear quite relaxed about it.

Michael points out: “We have female only Lodges and they like to do their own thing just as we like to do ours.”

FURTHER information on joining the Masons is available at www.westlancsfreemasons.org.uk or email univ@btinternet.com

lauradavis@dailypost.co.uk