Freemasons:
The silent destroyers?
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Freemasons:
The silent destroyers?
Punch
magazine outing the masons:
Masons have misled parliament when asked to supply details of their members' identities. Daniel James, the secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of most UK freemasons, wrote to the Lord Chancellor saying that the society did not keep records of its members' professions. And the Grand Lodge also told Parliament that it had no means of identifying members who hold judicial office. That, however is nonsense. The application form for the United Grand Lodge of England contains a space for the applicant's 'Profession/Occupation/Trade/Rank' with a footnote that reads as follows, 'a precise definition of occupation or former occupation if retired is essential'. It would thus be a relatively simple matter to supply the information requested by parliament.
The Grand Lodge of England only administers Craft and Royal Arch Masonry in the UK. There are at least four other Masonic governing bodies. On top of that there are irregular so-called black lodges, which have no overall governing body.
The Mark Masons and the Royal Ark Mariners' degrees are administered from the Mark Masons hall in St. James' Street, right across the road from Prince Charles' London residence, St. James' Palace. Prince Charles has refused to join the freemasons, much to their annoyance.
Then there is the Order of the Secret Monitor, The Red Cross of Constantine, and the mysteriously named Operatives. It is these orders that contain the 'cream' of Masonry in the UK. Subscribers to these additional degrees are the real fanatics.
The government measures have not been a complete failure. Compulsory Masonic declaration will soon be a condition for all new appointments to the Bench. Last summer, Avon and Somerset Police set up a voluntary register for officers to sign if they are Freemasons. And, in September, the Chief Constable of Lancashire Police ordered a top level investigation into the influence of Freemasons within her force.
A report into a corruption scandal on the Isle of Anglesey recommended that members of the local council disclose in the council's register of interests whether they are freemasons. Dorset County Council has also decided that Freemasons should be added to the lists of council members' interests. Similar moves are being contemplated by Essex County Council. Members of the new Welsh Assembly will also have to declare if they are Freemasons.
Yet, despite all this, there have been no firm moves to make Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords disclose whether they are Freemasons.
Many members of the House of Lords are active Masons and some regularly take paid for trips abroad on Masonic business (see box on previous page). Not surprisingly, none of these trips is declared in the House of Lords' discretionary register of interests. MPs, too, have been less than forthcoming about the Masons in their midst.
As far as we are aware, only one MP, Tony Baldry, has outed himself as a Freemason. Baldry, whose Masonic title is Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, made a speech last May suggesting that the government's proposals on Freemasonry were comparable to the persecution of Freemasons under the Nazis. He also pointed out that most golf and private clubs do not disclose their membership lists.
Many Lords are active Freemasons. According to House of Lords guidelines, peers have discretion over whether to disclose their interests if they consider that the interests may affect the public perception of the way in which they discharge their parliamentary duties. [whatever that might mean] One might argue that being a Freemason may well affect that public perception.
The Grand Lodge of all England has close ties to the Grand Lodges of Scotland, Ireland, Northern Europe, and some American Grand Lodges. It also has directly affiliated lodges around the world. There's even one in Kathmandu. Nepal.
THE EARL OF EGLINTON & WlNTON
City. Aged 59. Conservative. Represents Scotland and Ireland at Grand Lodge.
Visits to Norway in 1991. France and Scotland in 1995.
LORD BARNARD
Landowner. Aged 75. Cross-bencher. Represents Turkey at Grand Lodge. Visits
to Turkey in 1994 and 1997.
LORD CORNWALLIS
OBE, Farmer. Aged 77. Cross-bencher. Grand Steward. Represents the Netherlands
and Belgium at the Grand Lodge. Visits to Belgium in 1993 and 1996.
LORD FARNHAM
Irish Peer. Aged 67. Pro Grand Master. Member of Royal Arch Chapter.
Representative of Ireland. Visits to France and Ireland in 1992, Denmark
1993 and 1997, Portugal 1995, and Scotland in 1998.
LORD LANE OF HORSELL
Aged 73. Former partner of City accountants BDO Binder Hamlyn. Former chairman
of National Union of Conservative Associations. At the forefront of plans
to restructure the way that the Grand Lodge is administered. Visit to France
in 1991 on Masonic business. Honorary member of Manor of Saint James Lodge.
THE MARQUESS OF NORTHAMPTON
Aged 52. Landowner. Assistant Grand Master. Representative of Italy. Visits
to France in 1993, Italy and Greece in 1996.
EARL CADOGAN
Deceased. Was Conservative. Son is Viscount Chelsea. Formerly President of
the Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls. Member of the Board of General Purposes.
Chairman of Finance Committee, Member of the Premises and Staff Committees.
Represented Luxembourg.
VISCOUNT CHELSEA
Aged 61, son of Earl of Cadogan. 'Visit to France in 1990.
LORD CHELSEA
Visit to Luxembourg 1996, Ireland in 1997.
OTHER LORDS WHO ARE MASONS:
Lord Burnham, Provincial Grand Master for Buckinghamshire. Earl of Darnley,
Senior Grand Deacon. Lord Swansea, Provincial Grand Master for South Wales,
Eastern Division. Lord Churston, Junior Grand Warden. The Earl of Shannon,
Provincial Grand Master Surrey. Lord Gray, member of the Grand Lodge's External
Relations and Premises Committees.
Have the British police fallen under the sway of Freemasons? The boss of Scotland Yard and officials at the Home Office say they are worried about the Freemasons' influence over senior police officers. Several cases of corruption are said to have been covered up at the bidding of the brotherhood.
At least one in seven male magistrates in the U.K. are members of the Freemason brotherhood, according to a first official survey of the judiciary's links with the secret organization. The survey was (...)
Police officers and local government officials figure largely among the 50 British Freemasons who have resigned from their lodges on claims their careers would be damaged if they were publicly identified as members of "the Craft," according to John Hamill, curator, librarian and spokesman for the Un (...) [Total = 2199 characters]
Gavin Purser, president of the United Grand Lodge of England's Board of General Purposes, has reluctantly given the names of 16 Freemasons linked to a number of controversial police investigations in the 1970s and 1980s to Chris Mullin, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, after being thr (...) [Total = 2169 characters]
Senior officials of the ruling council of British Freemasonry, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGL) , face charges of contempt of parliament if they fail to provide the Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs with the names of 163 members connected with police corruption and miscarriages of j (...) [Total = 2373 characters]
Britain's Association of Women Barristers (AWB) has recommended to the Commons Home Affairs committee that members of the Freemason Brotherhood who are appointed as judges should either resign their Masonic membership on the occasion or at least declare it publicly. (...) [Total = 1746 characters]
Prime minister John Major has personally appointed a Freemason, Frederick Crawford, to the £80,000-per-year, part-time post as chairman of the new Criminal Cases Review Authority (CCRA). The move came (...) [Total = 1620 characters]
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has drawn up national guidelines warning police officers that membership of the Freemasons (or other secretive and influential societies) could "compromise their integrity as impartial upholders of the law. [Total = 1673 characters]
Expectations that a House of Commons select committee on home affairs might provide details of alleged Masonic penetration of the judiciary and the police (IN 259) are "receding into the distance" because of a backlog of business that the committee has to deal with, according to a Conservative membe (...) [Total = 1888 characters]
London's Metropolitan Police commissioner, Paul Condon, has ordered that all officers with links to the Freemason Brotherhood be ousted from Scotland Yard's anti-corruption unit. The move came after a (...) [Total = 1640 characters]
The House of Commons committee of all-party MP's headed by Lord Nolan will shortly consider examining the role and influence of the Brotherhood of Freemasons within the British establishment. The comm (...) [Total = 1712 characters]
Following the first-ever debate of its kind, the Police Federation rejected a motion by 429 votes to 391 to compel all officers belonging to the Freemason Brotherhood or other secret societies to declare their membership publicly. [Total = 1808 characters]
Labour MP Chris Mullin's Secret Societies (Declaration) Bill is due for its second reading on 29 January 1993. The bill would place most public servants, including police, under a legal obligation to (...) [Total = 273 characters]
John Smith, Deputy Police Commissioner, Scotland Yard, is the strong favorite to become the next Commissioner of the "Met", succeeding Sir Peter Imbert, who is likely to resign in the autumn after a five year term. [Total = 1477 characters]
by Tony Gosling @nticopyright
When I first heard about the Freemasons they seemed harmless enough, a likable curiosity. Aprons? Secret handshakes? A bit of childlike escapism for grown-ups? But Stephen Knight and Martin Short's masonic exposés reveal an occult order where standards are falling rapidly. Their investigations reveal a more sinister picture of the world's most extensive secret society.
On an individual level privacy is an essential right, but the characteristics of freemasonry make it inappropriate in many cases. Britain's 700,000 masons, that's about one in thirty adult men, form a secret link between the country's most powerful institutions. Secret masonic links can be used by unscrupulous businessmen and other individuals to compromise the independence and integrity of the media, judiciary, local government, lawyers, MP's, local councillors, royalty, politicians, armed forces, police, civil servants, and intelligence agencies. And, in the 1990's, as economic pressures increase, so does the temptation to abuse the masonic network for private gain. A complete national list of initiates is the very least the public require if masonic assisted corruption in positions of public trust is to be checked out, and ruled out.
Bloodcurdling initiation rites, occultism, secret expressions, closed meetings... and all for what?
New recruits are drummed up by existing masons '...it might be a good idea to join...' but the choice of whether to actually apply or not is up to the individual. So what does that decision say about a person? Anyone who approaches the masons in order to join will probably be encouraged by the prospect of gaining social positions by the back door. In other words the initiate has the fundamental ingredient of a cheat who is prepared to go behind the public's back because he lacks confidence, self-belief or integrity. Masons are men who fight shy of free and open discussion. The usual reason for men joining is to take up the masons' unofficial promise to further one's career.
So why aren't these powerful people coming clean?
In the lowest three degrees of masonry there is a plethora of silly rituals that may, or may not, mean something. The point of these is surely to brainwash men into accepting bizarre subservience without questioning why they are doing it. If initiates prove to be truly and ingratiatingly obedient they are then selected by their Masonic betters to enter the higher degrees up to level 33 [see extract below]. The move to these higher degrees is like stepping from the second class to the first class carriage on a train. The 4th to 33rd degree seems to be called the 'Royal Arch' though I can find no masonic literature 'spelling that out'.
The Royal Arch is more like a gentleman's club than the lower levels. In Britain the H.Q. of the Royal Arch 'The Supreme Council' is at 10 Duke Street, St. James's London SW1. Check out the brass plaque by the door, 'The Supreme Council, Ring Once'
Another notable and easily missed Masonic venue is no. 86 St. James' Street in London SW1. The Mark Masons HQ or the 'Worshipful Society of Free Masons' is just a stone's throw from the royal hangout of St. James' Palace. At the front of the masonic building is an office of Kall-Kwik printing.
So secrecy is at the very heart of what the masons are about. Masonry is for those who'd never be able to get what they want by open discussion. Masons celebrate the ignorance in others and as such keep progress of human understanding. Masons are going behind people's backs with their patronising, condescending and subversive brotherhood.
Britain's Grand Master (33rd degree) Mason is Prince Michael of Kent. His father the then Duke of Kent, was a Nazi supporter in World War 2. Hardly encouraging
Masonry is bad for the families of those who join it, because it can, and frequently does, take precedence over everything else in their lives. It is bad for culture, democracy and the nation. The fact that so many of our so called public 'servants' are secretly masons subverts the crucial principle of open government. As one of Stephen Knight's anonymous ex-masons attests [see below], 'There is no defence against an evil which only the victims and the perpetrators know exists.'
An attempt to expose precise details of all the cranky rituals performed in the lodge is time consuming and surely misses the point. The message is already clear... powerful people are putting time in behind closed doors for their clique's advantage, and therefore our decline.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Exodus 22;18
George Micklewright, Leader of the liberal group on Bristol City Council is concerned, he got a front page spread on the masons in Bristol's 'Evening Post'
0117 963 3170 or via Lucy on 0117 922 2639
Vernon Hicks believes he was victimised out of local government by the freemasons. He was elected a Labour representative in Bristol City Council but found it impossible to carry on. Vernon lives on Hengrove Road in Knowle, Bristol, 0117 977 9843.
David says he has evidence of a masonic plot against him involving DC Wellington of the Totton police, Mr. Fraser-Scott (a typesetter who claims to be an investigative reporter), Mr. Dirks a local solicitor and several other solicitors, the official reciever, trading standards officers and the DTI.
David Turner, c/o Holly Bush, Weston Lane, Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 1RL
VOMIT,
Victims Of Masonic Ill Treatment
The VOMIT newssheet comes out weekly. It is vitriolic and has short ascerbic articles purporting to expose corruption caused by the 'JMF', which it describes as:
"..the Judeao Masonic Faction; the heirarchies of Jews and Masons, the Establishment, the Old Boy Network or whatever you want to call it. It is the thing which controls our lives and contaminates the Judiciary and the Executive. It is the thing which makes a mockery of human rights and democracy."
VOMIT can be obtained from JM Todd, Misbourne Farmhouse, Amersham Road,
Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, HP8 4RU.
Enquiries and editorial phone/fax number 01494 871204
VOMIT have their own website where you can view their current edition archive
See newsgroups alt.freemasonry and uk.legal for the latest edition - go to Metacrawler or Altavista and search usenet drop down box for "victims of masonic ill treatment" or just "VOMIT"
VOMIT is on e-mail: Avengers@vomit.demon.co.uk
LETTERS
Letter dated 16 April 1998 from Mr J S Chalmers, Field End, 51 Conway Crescent, Burnham-on-Sea,Somerset TA8 2UW (Telephone 01278 794374) to J M Todd
Dear Mr Todd,
As a fellow Mason I should address you as Brother but I am so appalled by
a letter which you wrote recently to the press I feel disinclined to do so.
I find it unbelievable to say 'I do not know a single Mason who has not been
prepared to accept preferential treatment derived from Masonic Membership'.
The principles of the Craft that I certainly uphold, clearly forbid any
'preferential treatment' and I for one never gained any such advantage from
my membership of 25 years. The impression you give to the public at large
is a disgrace to Freemasonry and quite shameful to make such a statement.
You are fully aware that there is a National Register of members and like
any other Association this is mainly kept private. How can you remain a member
if you truly believe what you have said?
There will always be 'black sheep' in any organisation but you malign many
thousands of decent men in the craft by your sweeping statement. I have always
lived up to the code of conduct contained in our ritual and true friendship
in the Brotherhood of Masonry can only exist if it is untainted by such
hypocrisy. I trust many others will point out the error of your ways.
Signed J S Chalmers W Bro. J. S. CHALMERS. P. PRO. G. SUPT. OF WORKS (West
Kent).
Reply dated 18 April 1998 from J M Todd.
Dear Mr Chalmers,
I thank you for your letter of 16 April 1998 referring to my letter of 21
February published by the Times. One thousand salutations to you and ten
Brownie points and may the Great Architect of the Universe watch over you.
It was not my intention to offend decent Masons but rather to waken them
up to the reality of Freemasonry. For my first twenty years of Masonic
subservience my attitude was exactly like yours. I may still be a member
because in Scotland one is automatically a life member in order to maintain
a maximum number of brainwashed slaves to the cause.
My view is that Masons in high places are black sheep and that the rest are
white sheep. Since it is obvious that you are one of the lower order Masons
who do not know the first thing about Masonic corruption I should not abuse
you. Bear in mind that many of us Masons have suffered grievously and still
suffer as the result a Masonic chicanery. We don't take too kindly to people
like you who are worried about the impression we give to 'people at large'.
People at large are sick of the manner in which your hierarchy has undermined
every institution in the land.
You would not know if you had gained advantages through the Craft. You could
have been given promotion because, as a Mason, you would trust the word of
a bent Mason. However, if you care to think a bit more you will realise that
not only have you derived unfair advantage by being a Mason you will also
have bestowed the same unfair advantage on other Masons.
If you want to reply to this letter please do so by return. I will publish
your reply.
Yours fraternally and eternally,
James M Todd -o-o-o-
DOCTOR IAN OLIVER - GRAMPIANS CHIEF CONSTABLE
Never before has a Chief Constable been so thoroughly bad- mouthed by the
establishment and by the Press. Creepy Dewar could not attack him on moral
grounds on account of the gymnastics of Cardinal Irvine (the seducer of Dewar's
wife), Geoffrey Robinson (adulterer and personal friend of President Blair)
and Cock Robin Cook (adulterer).
One is bound to ask how the good doctor was promoted in the first place.
Doctor Oliver made only one mistake. He proscribed Masonry. This is why the
police authority and Dewar are putting a spin on the facts. He is allegedly
weird and mercenary. He must quit his post immediately because the world
will come to an end if he doesn't. Doctor Oliver was prepared to go immediately
provided he was compensated for loss of earnings. It will cost ten times
as much to go through the procedures for sacking him.
Freemasonry is petty, evil and vindictive. It wants to be able to say that
Doctor Oliver was sacked because he was useless. He will be sacked because
he proscribed Masonry - for no other reason.
The latest news is that Dr Oliver has silenced Dewar and the police authority
and made them keep to their agreement.
The Royal Masonic Hospital See Private Eye of 20 February
1998 at page 9. The RMH had an excellent reputation for not killing its Masonic
patients. It was financed and effectively owned by the lodges who had funded
it for years. The ordinary decent Mason had paid the piper. The Grand Lodge
had no say in the ownership and administration. This did not stop the Grand
Lodge in the form the president of the governors, the Duke of Kent who was
and is also the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, deciding
to sell the hospital. The governors took successful action in the courts.
For reasons unknown the hospital went into receivership. The lodges offered
to put up £12 million to keep it afloat. The Official Receiver and the
Charity Commissioners turned down the offer authorised its sale to a property
developers for £6 million. The property developer has already sold part
of the property for £16.8 million and still has a few acres left for
development. The developer will have no problem obtaining planning permission
and making a further gain that could exceed the profit already made.
Will you ordinary Masons please read our introduction again?
Note that the Charity Commissioners and the Official Receiver approved of
the sale. We found the Charity Commissioners guilty of the same offences
when they allowed Barclays Bank Trust Company to defraud the Combined Charities
Trust in the sale of the official cocaine distribution centre next door.
The Official Receiver has been guilty of serious offences in the Winding
Up of Bydand Limited (the highest bidder for what became the cocaine distribution
centre). We have tried to provide the Metropolitan Commissioner with information
that could lead to the discovery of other locations connected with the cocaine
trade but so far there has been no response. In due course we hope to show
that the drugs business helped to finance Lloyds Insurance Syndicates.
I am free to name only a small number of the many hundreds of people who have helped me with advice and information. Most of those who helped did so only on the understanding that I would say nothing that could lead to their identification. Among these were many Freemasons who feared recrimination from other members of the Brotherhood. Others included government officials, politicians, judges, policemen of all ranks, lawyers, churchmen, past and present officers of MI5 and MI6, and people from every sector of society touched on in the book.
In England, the rank of barrister-at-law is conferred exclusively by four unincorporated bodies in London, known collectively as the Honourable Societies of the Inns of Court. The four Inns, established between 1310 and 1357, are Lincoln's Inn, Gray's Inn, the Middle Temple and the Inner Temple. Prior to the establishment of the latter two Inns, the Temple, which lies between Fleet Street and the River Thames, was the headquarters of the Knights Templar, declared heretics by King Philip IV of France and wiped out during the early fourteenth century. There is a modern day Order of Knights Templar within British Freemasonry which claims direct descent from the medieval order. From the beginning the men of law were linked with Freemasonry.
Sporle, now dead, was a corrupt man who used the Lodge at Wandsworth unashamedly
for setting up crooked deals. Among seven charges of corruption for which
he was later jailed for six years, Sporle was found guilty of taking a job
from T. Dan Smith, PR man and fellow conspirator of architect John Poulson.
It is generally thought that Smith, who did so much to further the interests
of Poulson (himself known to have exploited his masonic membership at every
opportunity), was also a member of the Brotherhood. According to what he
told me, and I have no reason to disbelieve him, he is not and never has
been a Freemason, however. This is what he said when we met for a cup of
tea at the Charing Cross Hotel: 'People have always assumed that I am a Mason,
so gradually I found the way they shook hands and the way they made the next
move - and because I virtually detested them (for no reason other than I
hate that sort of organization) I always used to give them the handshake
back. Still do. I met a journalist last week from the Daily Mirror.
He gave me a Freemasonic handshake and I gave him one, and he said, "Oh,
you're on the Square." He said, "As you're on the Square, why didn't you
pass the money to Ted Short that way.
'I said, "Well, how do you do it that way?" He said, "Very simply. You
just pass it through the organization."'
Edward Short, MP for Newcastle Central, was an old friend of Smith's and
a Freemason. He accepted £500.00 from Smith 'for the work you have done
on behalf of the firm'. The DPP later considered prosecuting Short for accepting
a bribe but decided there was no case to answer. Eleven years after the event,
when it all came out, Short, by then deputy Prime Minister and Leader of
the House, astonished Parliament by not resigning despite dissatisfaction
with his explanation.
There are clues that there is a well-established system within Freemasonry
for passing money untraceably from one Mason to another. No fewer than seven
informants within the brotherhood as well as T. Dan Smith on the outside
have told me of the system.
In the ritual of exaltation, the name of the Great Architect of the Universe
[The Freemason's god] is revealed as JAH-BUL-ON - not a general umbrella
term but a precise designation that describes a specific supernatural being
- a compound deity composed of three separate personalities fused in one.
Each syllable of the 'ineffable name' represents one personality of this
Trinity:
Baal, of course, was the 'false god' with whom Jahweh competed for the allegiance of the Isrealites in the Old Testament. But more recently, within a hundred years of the creation of the Freemason's god, the sixteenth century demonologist John Weir identified Baal as a devil. This grotesque manifestation of evil had the body of a spider and three heads - those of a man, a toad, and a cat. A description of Baal to be found in de Plancy's Dictionary of Witchcraft is particularly apposite when considered in the light of the secretive and deceptive nature of Freemasonry: his voice was raucous, and he taught his followers guile, cunning and the ability to become invisible.
There is an Elite group of Freemasons in England over whom the United Grand
Lodge has no jurisdiction. These are the brethren of the so-called Higher
Degrees, and even the majority of Freemasons have no idea of their
existence.
Most Freemasons who have been raised to the 3rd Degree to become Master Masons
believe they are at the top of the masonic ladder. As novices they were Entered
Apprentices. They were then 'passed' as Fellow Craft Masons and finally 'raised'
as Masters. The very name Master has connotations of supremity. If Master
Masons have ambition it will usually be to achieve office within their Lodge
- eventually, with good fortune and the passing of years, to become Worshipful
Master of their mother Lodge (the Lodge to which they were first initiated
into Masonry). Those who have their eyes fixed on higher office will aim
for rank in their Provincial Grand Lodge or in the United Grand Lodge itself.
But even the Grand Master of all England is only a Freemason of the 3rd Degree.
The three Craft degrees form the entire picture of Masonry for most of the
600,000 'uninitiated initiates' of the Brotherhood in England and Wales.
3º Master Mason
2º Fellow Craft
1º Entered Apprentice
The 'Masters', who form the largest proportion of Freemasons, are in most
cases quite unaware of the thirty superior degrees to which they will never
he admitted, nor even hear mentioned. This is the real picture, with the
three lowly degrees governed by Grand Lodge and the thirty higher degrees
governed by a Supreme Council.
These thirty degrees, beginning with the 4th (that of Secret Master) and
culminating in the 33rd (Grand Inspector General), are controlled by a Supreme
Council whose headquarters are at 10 Duke Street, St James's London SWI.
Nobody walking down Duke Street from Piccadilly is likely to suspect the
true nature of what goes on inside the building, even if he or she happens
to notice the small plate to the right of the entrance which says, 'The Supreme
Council. Ring once'. Built in 1910-11, this imposing Edwardian mansion with
fine neo-classical features might easily be taken for a consulate or the
headquarters of some private institute. Nor do people thumbing through the
S-Z section of the London Telephone Directory get any clue from the entry
sandwiched between Supreme Cleaners and Supreme Die Cutter 'Supreme Council
33rd Degree ... 01-930 1606'.
Nobody looking at that fine but anonymous house from outside could suspect
that behind its pleasing facade, beyond the two sets of sturdy double doors
and up the stairs there is a Black Room, a Red Room and a Chamber of Death..
To high Masons, the house in Duke Street known as the Grand East.
Members of Craft Freemasonry - that is, all but a few thousand of England's
Masons - often argue that Freemasonry is not a secret society but a society
with secrets. Although the argument is in the end unconvincing, it has its
merits. But no such case can be made out for the wealthy society-within-a-society
based at 10 Duke Street.
The Thirty-three Degrees of Freemasonry
33º Grand Inspector General
32º Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret
31º Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander
30º Grand Elected Knight Kadosh, Knight of the Black and White Eagle
29º Knight of St Andrew
28º Knight of the Sun
27º Commander of the Temple
26º Prince of Mercy
25º Knight of the Brazen Serpent
24º Prince of the Tabernacle
23º Chief of the Tabernacle
22º Prince of Libanus
21º Patriarch Noachite
20º Venerable Grand Master
19º Grand Pontiff
18º Knight of the Pelican and Eagle and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix
of Heredom
17º Knight of the East and West
16º Prince of Jerusalem
15º Knight of the Sword, or of the East
14º Scottish Knight of Perfection
13º Royal Arch (of Enoch)
12º Grand Master Architect
11º Sublime Elect
10º Elect of Fifteen
9º Elect of Nine
8º Intendant of the Building
7º Provost and Judge
6º Intimate Secretary
5º Perfect Master
4º Secret Master
--------------------------
3º Master Mason
2º Fellow Craft
1º Entered Apprentice
[Quote: There is no Degree higher then that of Master Mason.. Once a MM a man can go on to join the Appendant Bodies like York Rite & Scottish Rite that have higher number Degrees but none has a higher position then the Third Degree of the Blue Lodge. from Manny at MasonTruth@aol.com]
One of the regulations of ordinary Craft Freemasonry is that no Mason may invite an outsider to join. Anyone wishing to become a Freemason must take the initiative and seek two sponsors from within the Brotherhood [This, at least, is the theory - and United Grand Lodge staunchly maintains that it is the practice. In reality most Entered Apprentices are recruited by existing Masons they know personally]. The position is reversed for Freemasons of the 3rd Degree who wish to be elevated to the Higher Degrees. Initiation open only to those Master Masons who are selected by the Supreme Council. If a representative of the Supreme Council establishes a contact with a Master Mason and concludes that he is suitable, the Candidate will be offered the chance of being 'perfected' and setting the first foot the ladder to the 33rd Degree. But only a small proportion even of the limited number of Freemasons who take first step, progress beyond the 18th Degree, that of Knight of the Pelican and Eagle and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of Heredom. With each Degree, the number of initiates diminishes. The 31st Degree (Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander) is restricted to 400 members; the 32nd (Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret) to 180; and the 33rd - the pre-eminent Grand Inspectors General - to only 75 members.
One of my major sources of information was a former Grand Inspector Inquisitor
Commander of the Thirty-First Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite who
had withdrawn from Masonry in 1968 for religious reasons. As with so many
other people in the labyrinthine world of Freemasonry, I was led to him by
way of a series of contacts, He agreed through a third party to he interviewed
by me concerning his conviction that no active Christian could in all conscience
remain a Freemason.
When I met him I learned that he was a judge, and a particularly quick-tempered
one. Although I had heard of him, I had hitherto known little about him.
We spent a long time talking about Masonry and religion, but after a while
I began to ask him about the Ancient and Accepted Rite of the Thirty-Third
Degree. He was, after all, only the fourth initiate to the Rite who had agreed
to see me. He answered quickly. 'No, I dare not go into that,' he said. 'We'd
better stick with religion.' It seemed a perfectly normal answer - I had
received many such replies over the months of my investigation. It sounded
like the usual rebuff. But I thought immediately afterwards how strange it
was that he had used the words 'dare not'. Most people said, 'I'd better
not', or 'I'd rather not'. I remarked on his use of the word. He said, Anyone
in public life has to be cautious.'
'Cautious,' I repeated. 'That's a masonic word of recognition.'
'You've obviously delved into the ritual, so you know,' he said. 'But I mean
cautious in the sense everybody understands it.'
'What must you be cautious about?'
'Mr Knight, I don't like this line of questioning. I agreed to speak to you
in general terms about why my commitment to Jesus is incompatible with the
masonic religion. I do not wish to be drawn into discussion of matters covered
by whatever undertakings I have ... taken.'
'By undertakings, do you mean masonic oaths?'
He paused. 'Yes, I do. I prefer the word obligation to oath. It's not the
same.'
I remember thinking as I turned the conversation back on to the track I wanted
it to follow that it would be interesting later on to return to this question
of the distinction between an obligation and an oath. I never did.
'Why do you have to be cautious, careful', I said. 'You're not a Mason any
more. I've got copies of all the rituals of the 4th to 33rd degree. There
is no obligation which could possibly be interpreted to forbid you from telling
me what you meant when you used the word "dare" in an ordinary
conversation.'
This isn't about my religious convictions, is it?'
'Many of your former masonic colleagues are very powerful people in this
country. Do you think there would be some kind of reprisal if you gave away
any secrets?'
'Not of the kind you write about in your book about Jack the Ripper.' He
laughed. A bit hollowly, I thought.
'Well, not murder, no, I wouldn't have thought so.' I, too, laughed. I felt
oddly embarrassed. 'But there is some kind of reprisal to be feared then?
Something more ... subtle?'
He began to look angry. He had made a slip. 'That was a figure of sp-- I
was making a joke. A very bad joke.'
'But you said-'
'I know, I know! And I do not believe for one moment that what you suggest
in your book has happened in real life - then or ever.'
I could see the rattled ex-Mason automatically slipping back into the practice
of a lifetime. Sometimes you shall divert a discourse, and manage it prudently
for the honour of the worshipful fraternity. I would not be diverted into
defending the evidence and arguments in my first book. I felt I was close
to something. I pressed on.
'Leaving murder aside, can I ask you . . .' And then it hit me. 'Can I ask
you, as a Christian, have you ever seen at first hand any sort of reprisals
carried out by Freemasons using masonic influence against any non-Freemason
or anti-Freemason?'
All at once, he seemed to relax, or to somehow collapse into a smaller man
as he let all the anger go out of him. 'As a Christian . . .' He paused
thoughtfully, and I noticed how very many times he blinked his eyes during
this hiatus. I wondered at one point if he was praying for guidance. He drew
a long, slow, deep breath. 'As a Christian, I have to tell you that I have
never in my whole life witnessed or heard about a single act of hostility
by a Freemason or group of Freemasons that was sanctioned by Grand Lodge
or Supreme Council' He looked at me significantly as he laid stress on that
qualifying clause. 'There,' he said. 'I have said nothing which betrays my
obligations.'
'I have heard from quite a lot of contacts about organized action by groups
of Freemasons that have resulted in the financial or social ruin of certain
people,' I said.
So have I,' he said, still looking me straight in the eye as if telling me
this was important. 'So have I, Mr Knight.' 'Have you any direct knowledge
of such happenings?'
'Not of such happenings which had the backing of official Freemasonry.'
'But of action which was unofficial? In other words, Masons abusing the Craft
for their own ends?'
'You know the answer to that, from the way I have said what I have said.'
'I have also heard about people who have "crossed" certain Masons and finished
up in prison . ...'
He stopped me in mid-sentence by placing a finger on his lips.
'If I told you everything I know about Freemasonry being betrayed by its
members, it would surprise even you,' he said. 'It would make your hair stand
on end. I can't tell you any more.' Then, as if it was an afterthought, but
I don't believe it was, he said, 'Give me your phone number. You might hear
from someone in a few days.' I gave him the number. 'Who?' I said.
The finger went back to his lips and he went to fetch my coat.
'God bless,' he said as I left, and I ran pell-mell to a sandwich bar in
nearby Chancery Lane to scribble down the notes on which this account of
our meeting has been based.
Four days later I received a phone call from a man who told me he had seen
my advertisement for people with information about Freemasonry in an old
copy of the New Statesman (This advertisement had appeared for four weeks
in the summer of 1981, some nine months earlier). He said he had read my
Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution and would very much like to meet me.
I tried, as I tried with all my callers, to get him to say something concrete
on the phone, but he would not even tell me whether or not he was a Mason.
I had already received a dozen or so similar calls, some of which had proved
useful, some wild goose chases. But the researcher's world is the natural
habitat of wild geese and red herrings, and one accepts the necessity of
chasing them. Despite his unwillingness to talk - perhaps, in a way, because
of it - I arranged to meet him the following Saturday in the vestibule of
the Cafe Royal. From there we would go to his club. He said his name was
Christopher. Whether this was his Christian name or his surname I didn't
know.
When I arrived, he was sitting in the armchair to the right of the fireplace,
just inside the entrance, smoking a small cigar in a holder and reading that
day's Times. He was tall, more than six feet, slim and aged about fifty.
Everything about him spoke of affluence, except his plain National Health
Service glasses. We went to his club, which he pledged me not to name as
it could be used to identify him. It turned out that Christopher was one
of his three Christian names and that he was a very senior Civil Servant
in Whitehall. He had contacted me, he said, not as a result of seeing the
New Statesman advertisement - although he had seen it when it appeared -
but at the request of my cautious Christian Judge. He asked me what I wanted
to know. I said I took it that he was a Freemason. He nodded and took some
papers out of his slimline briefcase. He wanted me to be in no doubt as to
his bona fides.
After examining the papers I told him I was interested to know what a person
might have to fear from a group of influential Freemasons if circumstances
made him, for instance, a threat to them in the business world; or if he
discovered they were using Masonry for corrupt purposes; or had fallen a
victim of their misuse of Freemasonry and would not heed warnings not to
oppose them.
'It is not difficult to ruin a man,' he said. 'And I will tell you how it
is done time and again. There are more than half a million brethren under
the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge.
Standards have been falling for twenty or thirty years. It is too easy to
enter the Craft, so many men of dubious morals have joined. The secrecy and
power attract such people, and when they come the decent leave. The numbers
of people who would never have been considered for membership in the fifties
are getting larger all the time. If only five per cent of Freemasons use
- abuse - the Craft for selfish or corrupt ends it means there are 25,000
of them. The figure is much closer to twelve or thirteen per cent now.'
It transpired that Christopher was one of a small and unpopular group within
Masonry who some time in the early seventies had decided that either they
had to get out of the Brotherhood or they had to do something 'to stop the
rot' which the blinkered officers of Great Queen Street refused to admit
was there. His reason for talking to me was to assure me that the Brotherhood
was an essentially good body of men devoted to all that was best in the British
social system and which promoted brotherly love and contributed to the wellbeing
of the country and to the relief of suffering. He wanted this put firmly
across to the public, and his group wanted pressure brought to bear on those
in positions of responsibility within the Brotherhood to put Freemasonry's
house in order - to institute proper policing, to close down Lodges used
for shady dealings and to root out corrupt brethren and expel them. The group
- it had no name - also wanted the whole business of masonic secrecy looked
into by Grand Lodge, most of them believing that secrecy was more harmful
than helpful to Masonry.
Christopher explained that Masonry's nationwide organization of men from
most walks of life provided one of the most efficient private intelligence
networks imaginable. Private information on anybody in the country could
normally be accessed very rapidly through endless permutations of masonic
contacts - police, magistrates, solicitors, bank managers, Post Office staff
('very useful in supplying copies of a man's mail'), doctors, government
employee bosses of firms and nationalized industries etc., etc. dossier of
personal data could be built up on anybody very quickly. When the major facts
of an individual's life were known, areas of vulnerability would become apparent.
Perhaps he is in financial difficulties; perhaps he has some social vice
- if married he might 'retain a mistress' or have proclivity for visiting
prostitutes; perhaps there is something in his past he wishes keep buried,
some guilty secret, a criminal offence (easily obtainable through Freemason
police of doubtful virtue), or other blemish on his character: all these
and more could be discovered via the wide-ranging masons network of 600,000
contacts, a great many of whom were disposed to do favours for one another
because that had been their prime motive for joining. Even decent Masons
could often be 'conned' into providing information on the basis that 'Brother
Smith needs this to help the person involved'. The adversary would even sometimes
be described as a fellow Mason to the Brother from whom information was sought
perhaps someone with access to his bank manager or employer. The 'good' Mason
would not go to the lengths of checking with Freemasons Hall whether or not
this was so. The 'target' was presented as a Brother in distress by a fellow
Mason, especially a fellow Lodge member, that would be enough for any upright
member of the Craft.
[I discovered from other sources that this system has been long established
within Masonry for the 'legitimate' purpose of bringing succour to a distressed
Brother Mason or to the family of a departed Mason. It is common for details
of a Freemason's debts, for instance, to be passed to his Lodge by his masonic
bank manager. This 'invasion of privacy' is for no more sinister reason than
for his brethren to club together and pay off his debts. This occurs most
often after the death of a Mason, but by no means always. And this, apparently,
is just one example of the many methods by which Freemasons obtain information
about each other for genuine purposes.]
Sometimes this information gathering process - often involving a long chain
of masonic contacts all over the country and possibly abroad - would be
unnecessary. Enough would be known in advance about the adversary to initiate
any desired action against him.
I asked how this 'action' might be taken.
'Solicitors are very good at it,' said Christopher. 'Get your man involved
in something legal - it need not be serious - and you have him.' Solicitors,
I was told, are 'past masters' at causing endless delays, generating useless
paperwork, ignoring instructions, running up immense bills, misleading clients
into taking decisions damaging to themselves.
Masonic police can harass, arrest on false charges, and plant evidence. 'A
businessman in a small community or person in public office arrested for
dealing in child pornography, for indecent exposure, or for trafficking in
drugs is at the end of the line,' said Christopher. 'He will never work again.
Some people have committed suicide after experiences of that kind.'
Masons can bring about the situation where credit companies and banks withdraw
credit facilities from individual clients and tradesmen, said my informant.
Bank can foreclose. People who rely on the telephone for their work can be
cut off for long periods. Masonic employees of local authorities can arrange
for a person's drains to be inspected and extensive damage to be reported,
thus burdening the person with huge repair bills; workmen carrying out the
job can 'find' - In reality cause - further damage. Again with regard to
legal matters, a fair hearing is hard to get when a man in ordinary circumstances
is in financial difficulties. If he is trying to fight a group of unprincipled
Freemasons skilled in using the 'network' it will be impossible because masonic
Department of Health and Social Security and Law Society officials (see pp
189-90) can delay applications for Legal Aid endlessly.
'Employers, if they are Freemasons or not, can be given private information
about a man who has made himself an enemy of Masonry. At worst he will be
dismissed (if the information is true) or consistently passed over for
promotion.'
Christopher added, 'Masonic doctors can also be used. But for some reason
doctors seem to be the least corruptible men. There are only two occurrences
of false medical certificates issued by company doctors to ruin the chances
of in individual getting a particular job which I know about. It's not a
problem that need greatly worry us like the rest.'
He continued for about half an hour to list examples of the ways in which
corrupt members of the Brotherhood could defeat opposition, repeating every
few minutes that these kinds of circumstances involved a minority of the
brethren and that most would be utterly appalled at even the suggestion that
such things were happening, let alone countenance them. ' That they were
happening at all reflected the deterioration of the Craft inasmuch as its
entry requirements were no longer stringent enough. Those in power in Freemasons
Hall knew something of what went on, but they felt defeated by it and preferred
to look the other way rather than take steps to eradicate it. If Christopher
and his group failed to force the issue into the open, he said, the organization
would become so morally polluted that it would simply cease to exist. But
he was not solely concerned with the Brotherhood. It was the victims of those
who used Masonry as a source of personal power who had to be helped as
well.
'Only the fighters have any hope of beating the system once it's at work
against them,' he told me. 'Most people, fighters or not, are beaten in the
end, though. It's . . . you see, I ... you finish up not knowing who you
can trust. You can get no help because your story sounds so paranoid that
you are thought a crank, one of those nuts who think the whole world is a
conspiracy against them. It is a strange phenomenon. By setting up a situation
that most people will think of as fantasy, these people can poison every
part of a person's life. If they give in they go under. If they don't give
in It's only putting off the day because if they fight, so much unhappiness
will be brought to the people around them that there will likely come a time
when even their families turn against them out of desperation. When that
happens and they are without friends wherever they look, they become easy
meat. The newspapers will not touch them'.
'There is no defence against an evil which only the victims and the perpetrators
know exists.'
Freemasonry consists of a body of men banded together to preserve the secrets,
customs and ceremonials handed down to them, from time immemorial, and for
the purpose of mutual intellectual, social and moral improvement. They also
endeavour to cultivate and exhibit brotherly love, relief and truth, not
only to one another, but to the world at large.
Freemasonry offers no pecuniary advantages whatever, neither does there exist
any obligation nor implied understanding binding one Mason to deal with another,
nor to support him in any way in the ordinary business relations of life.
Freemasonry teaches us to remember our common origin; it also distinctly
enjoins us to respect all social distinctions, so that while some must rule,
others must obey and cheerfully accept their inferior positions.
Freemasonry has certain charities, but it is not in any sense whatever a
benefit society, nor is it based on any calculations which would render this
possible. The charities are solely for those who having been in good
circumstances have been overtaken by misfortune or adversity, and they are
quite insufficient to meet even these demands now made upon them.
Freemasonry distinctly teaches that a man's first duty is to himself, his
wife, his family and his connections, and no one should join the Order who
cannot well afford to pay the initiation fees and subscriptions to his Lodge
as well as to the Masonic charities, and this without detriment in any way
to his comfort, or to that of those who have any claim upon his support.
Freemasonry recognises no distinctions of religion, but none should attempt
to enter who have no religious belief, as faith in a Deity must be expressed
before any can be initiated, and prayers to Him form a frequent part of the
ritual.
Freemasonry, therefore, demands that everyone, before offering himself as
a candidate, should be well assured in his own mind:
1. That he sincerely desires the intellectual and moral improvement of himself
and his fellow creatures, and that he is willing to devote part of his time,
means and efforts to the promotion of brotherly love, relief and trust.
2. That he seeks no commercial, social nor pecuniary advantages.
3. That he is able to afford the necessary expenditure without injury to
himself or connections.
4. That he is willing to enter into solemn obligations in the sight of his
God.
Each Lodge elects the following officers every year:
Worshipful Master Chairman of the Lodge.
Immediate Past Master Last year's Worshipful Master.
Senior Warden Personal officer of WM; next year's WM in most
lodges.
Junior Warden Personal officer of WM and next in seniority.
Chaplain The officer who conducts prayers. Can be a man of any profession
in the outside world, not necessarily a clergyman.
Treasurer The senior officer in charge of the Lodge funds.
Secretary
Director of Ceremonies In charge of the ritual element of Lodge
business.
Senior Deacon The Deacons - with their wands - play an important
part in Lodge ritual, including acting the role of messengers.
Junior Deacon
Charity Steward. Officer in charge of the Lodge's donations to
charity.
Almoner Officer in charge of collecting and spending the Lodge's
benevolent funds.
Assistant Director of Ceremonies Self-explanatory.
Inner Guard Officer who guards the door of the Lodge on the inside
and ensures that only Freemasons enter.
Tyler The outer guard who stands outside the Lodge door with a dagger
as the first line of defence against non-Masons trying to enter.
The Tyler prepares the Candidate in a room outside the Lodge room where he
is to be initiated by divesting him of all metal articles. The Candidate
removes his outer clothing until he stands ' in socks, his left shoe, trousers
and shirt only. His shirt is unbuttoned to reveal his left breast, his right
sleeve is rolled up to reveal the elbow, his left trouser leg is rolled up
above the knee and a slipper is placed on his unshod foot. A hangman's noose
is then placed around his neck, the end of the rope hanging down behind him.
He is blindfolded.
He is then led by the Tyler to the door of the Lodge and the Tyler knocks.
The Inner Guard, moving with the prescribed step and making the First Degree
sign, says, 'Brother junior Warden, there is a report.' After several ritual
responses, the Inner Guard opens the door and asks the Tyler, 'Whom have
you there?'
'Mr John Smith, a poor Candidate in a state of darkness,' says the Tyler,
'who has been well and worthily recommended, regularly proposed and approved
in open Lodge, and now comes of his own free will and accord, properly prepared,
humbly soliciting to be admitted to the mysteries and privileges of
Freemasonry.'
There follow several repetitions exchanges, the Inner Guard places the point
of a dagger to the Candidate's left breast. He is asked, 'Do you feel anything?
'Yes.'
The Inner Guard raises the dagger in the air, and the still blindfolded Candidate
is led by the right hand by the junior Deacon to the kneeling-stool before
the Worshipful Master, who then addresses the Candidate for the first time.
'Mr John Smith, as no person can be made a Mason unless he is free and of
mature age, I demand of you, are you a free man and of the full age of twenty-one
years?' 'I am.'
'Thus assured, I will thank you to kneel, while the blessing of Heaven is
invoked on our proceedings.'
The Candidate kneels. The Brethren move in the prescribed manner, the Lodge
Deacons crossing their wands above the Candidate's head, while the Worshipful
Master or the Chaplain prays aloud, 'Vouchsafe Thine aid, Almighty Father
and Supreme Governor of the Universe, to our present convention and grant
that this Candidate for Freemasonry may so dedicate and devote his life to
Thy service, as to become a true and faithful Brother among us. Endue him
with a competency of Thy Divine Wisdom, so that, assisted by the secrets
of our masonic art, he may be the better enabled to unfold the beauties of
true Godliness, to the honour and glory of Thy Holy Name.'
The Immediate Past Master says or sings, 'So mote it be.'
'Mr Smith,' continues the Worshipful Master, 'in all cases of difficulty
and danger, in whom do you put your trust?', and the Candidate replies, 'In
God.'
'Right glad I am to find your faith so well founded. Relying on such sure
support you may safely rise and follow your leader with a firm but humble
confidence, for where the name of God is invoked we trust no danger can
ensue.
The Candidate rises to his feet with the help of the Deacons. The Worshipful
Master and the Brethren sit. The Worshipful Master then gives a single knock
with his gavel. 'The Brethren from the north, east, south and west will take
notice that Mr John Smith is about to pass in view before them, to show that
he is the Candidate properly prepared, and a fit and proper person to be
made a Mason,' says the Master.
There then follows various ritual motions and the Candidate is led in a
procession around the Lodge. Arriving at the place where the junior Warden
stands, the junior Deacon takes the Candidate's right hand and taps the junior
Warden's right shoulder with it three times. The junior Warden asks, 'Whom
have you there?' 'Mr John Smith,' replies the junior Deacon, 'A poor Candidate
in a state of darkness, who has been well and worthily recommended, regularly
proposed and approved in open Lodge, and now comes of his own free will and
accord, properly prepared, humbly soliciting to be admitted to the mysteries
and privileges of Freemasonry.' 'How does he hope to obtain those privileges?'
'By the help of God, being free and of good report.'
The Junior Warden then takes the Candidate's right hand, and says to him,'Enter,
free and of good report,' and he is led to the Senior Warden, before whom
a similar exchange takes place. The Senior Warden moves to the Worshipful
Master. 'Worshipful Master,' he says, making the appropriate sign, 'I present
to you Mr John Smith, a Candidate properly prepared to be made a Mason.'
'Brother Senior Warden,' replies the Worshipful Master, 'your presentation
shall be attended to, for which purpose I shall address a few questions to
the Candidate, which I trust he will answer with candour.' He turns to the
Candidate. 'Do you seriously declare on your honour that, unbiased by the
improper soficitation of friends against your own inclination, and uninfluenced
by mercenary or other unworthy motive, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself
a Candidate for the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry?'
'I do.'
'Do you likewise pledge yourself that you are prompted to solicit those
privileges by a favourable opinion preconceived of the Institution, a genuine
desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish to render yourself more extensively
serviceable to your fellow creatures?'
'I do.'
'Do you further seriously declare on your honour that, avoiding fear on the
one hand and rashness on the other, you wl ill steadily persevere through
the ceremony of your initiation, and if once admitted you will afterwards
act and abide by the ancient usages and established customs of the order?'
'I do.'
'Brother Senior Warden, you will direct the junior Deacon to instruct the
Candidate to advance to the pedestal in due form.'
'Brother Junior Deacon, it is the Worshipful Master's command that you instruct
the Candidate to advance to the pedestal in due form.'
The Junior Deacon complies, leading the Candidate to the pedestal and instructing
him to stand with his heels together and his feet at right angles, the left
foot facing east and the right foot south. He continues: 'Take a short pace
with your left foot, bringing the heels together in the form of a square.
Take another, a little longer, heel to heel as before. Another still longer,
heels together as before.'
The Candidate is now standing before the pedestal, with the junior Deacon
to his right and the Senior Deacon to his left.
'It is my duty to inform you,' says the 'Worshipful Master, 'that Masonry
is free, and requires a perfect freedom of inclination in every Candidate
for its mysteries. It is founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue.
It possesses great and invaluable privileges. And in order to secure those
privileges to worthy men, and we trust to worthy men alone, vows of fidelity
are required. But let me assure you that in those vows there is nothing
incompatible with your civil, moral or religious duties. Are you therefore
willing to take a Solemn Obligation, founded on the principles I have stated,
to keep inviolate the secrets and mysteries of the order?'
'I am.'
'Then you will kneel on your left knee, your right foot formed in a square,
give me your right hand which I place on the Volume of the Sacred Law, while
your left will be employed in supporting these compasses, one point presented
to your naked left breast.'
This done, the Candidate is then made to repeat the Obligation after the
Worshipful Master, 'I, John Smith, in the presence of the Great Architect
of the Universe, and of this worthy, worshipful, and warranted Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons, regularly assembled and properly dedicated, of my own
free will and accord, do hereby (WM touches Candidate's right band with his
left band) and hereon (WM touches the Bible with his left band) sincerely
and solemnly promise and swear, that I will always hele, conceal and never
reveal any part or parts, point or points of the secrets or mysteries of
or belonging to Free and Accepted Masons in Masonry, which may heretofore
have been known by me, or shall now or at any future period he communicated
to me, unless it be to a true and lawful Brother or Brothers, and not even
to him or them, until after due trial, strict examination, or sure information
from a well-known Brother, that he or they are worthy of that confidence,
or in the body of a just, perfect, and regular Lodge of Ancient Freemasons.
I further solemnly promise that I will not write those secrets, indite, carve,
mark, engrave or otherwise them delineate, or cause or suffer it to be so
done by others, if in my power to prevent it, on anything movable or immovable,
under the canopy of Heaven, whereby or whereon any letter, character or figure,
or the least trace of a letter, character or figure, may become legible,
or intelligible to myself or anyone in the world, so that our secret arts
and hidden mysteries may improperly become known through my unworthiness.
These several points I solemnly swear to observe, without evasion, equivocation,
or mental reservation of any kind, under no less a penalty, on the violation
of any of them, than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue tom out
by the root, and buried in the sand of the sea at low water mark, or a cable9s
length from the shore, where the tide regularly ebbs and flows twice in
twenty-four hours, or the more effective punishment of being branded as a
wilfully perjured individual, void of all moral worth, and totally unfit
to be received into this worshipful Lodge, or any other warranted Lodge or
society of men, who prize honour and virtue above the external advantages
of rank and fortune. So help me, God, and keep me steadfast in this my Great
and Solemn Obligation of an Entered Apprentice Freemason.
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1979).
WHALEN, William j., Christianity and American Freemasonry (Bruce Publishing
Co, Milwaukee, 1958).
Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror
Freemasons' Montbly Remembrancer
Freemasons' Quarterly Review
Masonic Square
Inside the Brotherhood has its origins in the pioneering work of Stephen
Knight who died [of cancer of the brain] in July 1985 aged thirty-three,
just eighteen months after the publication of his bestselling, controversial
and much-disputed exposé of Freemasonry, The Brotherhood.
Had he lived, Stephen would have written his own sequel. Instead I stepped,
almost literally, into a dead man's shoes. I tracked down many of his sources
and read hundreds of letters sent in response to his book but which he never
pursued because of illness. More than three years after his death, fanmail
still pours in for him from all over the world.
Typically futile was the 1985 resolution by the London Borough of Enfield that all councillors should declare membership of societies such as the Masons. Two years later the Enfield Gazette discovered only twenty out of twenty-eight Labour councillors had filled in the confidential form, just one admitting he was 'on the square'. Of thirty-eight Tories only fourteen complied, none of whom was a Mason. Yet the newspaper claimed at least ten Tory councillors were in the Craft. Labour councillors said they suspected Enfield was run by Masons but one Tory who publicly admitted he was a member retorted: 'There is no reason why Masonry should clash with council business. But I can't tell you anything about it.'
Masons are reluctant to unleash the full force of law against an offending
brother. Their dilemma is clear from a letter which I received from the son
of the late Sir George Evetts, Master of Ewell Lodge (no.1851) some fifty
years ago.
In 1932 I persuaded my father to buy me a motor-cycle. He quibbled for
days as to paying £35 instead of £30 which he considered ample,
and kept on lecturing me on 'the value of money'. Eventually he gave in and
I thanked him. The sequel came in 1941 when I was serving as an officer in
the RNVR [Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve].
One Saturday afternoon Father was driving with Mother to Croydon for a very
important Lodge meeting. On the outskirts of the town the bombs began to
fall and she begged him to abandon the trip. He refused and stated the meeting
was very important and he must attend. When I came home
on leave in 1942 Mother told me of this incident and said,
'The blessed Masons are more important than any of us. I will now tell you
that ten years ago, three weeks after father argued about an extra £5
for your motor-bike, the telephone rang. It was the master of the Lodge telling
Father that the Treasurer had left his wife and taken the Lodge's funds of
£1,300 - plus a lady friend! Father offered between £600 and £800
as his share towards making up the loss. I told him he should not give his
hard-earned money to protect a rogue. His reply was to sulk in his study
and say, "You do not understand. As a well-to-do brother, I am honour-bound
to replace so much, so that we do not prosecute."'
As my Masonic Brother Voltaire once said: " I don't agree with a single word you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it!" I am an American Freemason, but one whom has visited a number of my English Brethren (some of whom are relatives).
From reading your various pages, it appears to me that you write as an intelligent person, and one who has a passionate desire to help others. How ironic it is then that you have the stance against Freemasonry that you do. For if you really understood the tenets of Freemasonry, then you would probably avoid the such tirades against the fraternity. I think this stems from ignorance on your part. I mean this not as a slight, but as a truth. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, but the more I learn proves to me just how ignorant I myself am. I would only ask that you do some more reading and - Question, question, question, everything that you read. Don't allow personal biases to influence your judgement. Gather all the facts- (in this case some-PRO with the con,) assess these and then come to a decided stance. I have both of Mr. Knight's books, and other anti-Masonic literature in my library. I feel obliged to hear what others say, and seek to refute it with fact (whenever possible). This is quite easy to do with Mr.Knight's works. I recommend to you 'BORN IN BLOOD' by John Robinson, (an elderly scholar who was not a Mason, but later became one, only two years before his death). He wrote on the origins of Freemasonry and their ties to the Knights Templar (another much maligned group). Mr. Robinson has an entire section in his book where he discusses "The Brotherhood," et al, and refutes it easily ...fact by fact.
Admittedly American Freemasonry differs from the English, but this is more in the social aspects than common beliefs and tradition. We American Masons find it anathema to recruit candidates. One must ask to join our ranks, we don't pick and choose. This policy is firmly adhered to, and is actually detrimental in today's society (where few know anything of our fraternity. Recruitment is relatively commonplace in England, where I have found such instances as a cousin, who is a constable for Devon-Cornwall Police, being told that he needed to join if he expected to advance. This would be unheard of in America. Without lambasting my English Brothers, I will say that, again, our beliefs and traditions, at least, are still one and the same.
As Masons our basic tenets are set in 'Friendship, Truth and Brotherly Love." We believe that all people are created by the Deity as equals. Material wealth, social status, etc. is taught to be unimportant. What counts is a man's heart; that he live uprightly (in whatever way he chooses) and believes in the Deity. This applies to women and children as well for in America we have a Masonic branch for them also (Eastern Star, Job's Daughters, and DeMolay).
When I speak of the Deity, I refer to one omnipotent, benevolent, Supreme Creator. We Masons are composed of Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. All one must do is profess faith in a benevolent, Supreme Being. Thusly; a tenet of Masonry is tolerance. As long as one strives to live uprightly, and believes in a benevolent Supreme Being one is to choose his own path. Discussion of religion or politics is absolutely forbidden in Lodge, as these can be divisive (as one might push his beliefs or views on others- resulting in disharmony).
I apologize if I appear to be proselytizing, but I wanted to make this all clear to you before proceeding into my next rant. Now that I've covered the ideals of Freemasonry, I will agree that not all is a bed or roses. As human-beings we are all fallible creatures, no less in Freemasonry. There are those who use it to gain status, and advantage, but those who do so violate the very oath taken upon their admission- that they seek enlightenment, and support the tenets of the fraternity, and swear that they are not joining for any mercenary reasons.
Up until only a decade or so ago, much of American Masonry, had a sad tradition of working to exclude people based on skin color and ethnicity. In the Black community, this resulted in Blacks forming their own branch of Freemasonry called "Prince Hall Masonry." Many of us, especially we younger Brethren, have worked to put an end to this anti-Masonic evil within our own fraternity. I can only speak for California, but as such an ethnically diverse state, we had (and really still have) only had a sprinkling of Blacks, Jews, Sikhs, etc. in our overall ranks. We in California, were some of the first to openly recognize Prince Hall Masons, and now visit one another's Lodges. In doing this, I and all California Masons, were technically seen as having 'violated the rules,' by accepting 'clandestine/false Masons' and could have be ostracized by Lodges in other States and countries. This included England- who actually issued an edict stating this! Our goal is to now work to make our fraternity what it is truly meant to be- a place for ALL men.
Enough, thank you for taking the time to hear me out.
Peace- Lloyd MacKenzie Parker
Dear Lloyd
Thanks for taking the time to write... Sounds like your objections to racial discrimination will have an effect. I think it's trully couragoeus to break with tradition backing principles of basic human respect.
Let me make my objection to masonry clear. It is the very lack of free speech (which you celebrate above) and culture of secrecy and deception of the lower degrees by the highter degrees that warns me off. Its a bit like the problem we have with government... you can be governed by its rules without the transparency that you need to say you really believe in somthing. In the case of govt. none of us choose to put ourselves under government yet we're all subject to its laws. I am an idealist I admit... but I believe the human race can only live in harmony (without JFK assassinations and Gulf Wars waged by corporations and banks for oil) if we do it openly and honestly. Masonry is the very antithesis of openness! Who knows 33rd degree masons well enough to know how deeply good they are? Do they give you the creeps when you meet them? All these questions I want answers to AND my Christian faith precludes me worshipping any other than Jesus Christ and Yahweh the God of the Old Testament.
I also abhor all forms of priviledge. These top masons might be a fine old dudes if billions of people weren't starving hungry!
'Nuff said... thanks for your compliments about my intelligence... I am sorry to tell you my IQ is abnormally low. Probably because I couldn't be bothered with the stupid test!
Tony Gosling
How could I find out which members of my local council are freemasons?
The first route is to obtain a copy of the Masonic Yearbook (available for
£12, inc p&p, from Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B
5AZ). This is an encyclopaedia of the masonic fraternity's nationwide structure
and contains a who's who of hundreds of leading freemasons. Check this list
as a starting point.
Each area also has a listing of all its masonic lodges and chapters, indeed,
the yearbook reveals that, for the questioner's address, a borough of Greenwich
Lodge - number 2332 - was founded in 1888. It undoubtably serves as a lodge
for both masonic councillors and council officers in Greenwich. The masonic
yearbook reveals that this lodge holds its annual inaugural meeting at
Freemason's Hall in Covent Garden on the third Saturday each December - this
year Saturday 20th. Simply turn up on the day and watch your local masonic
councillors arrive for the event!
Alternatively, a foolproof method of identifying masonic councillors is to
ask a friendly non-mason councillor to table a motion at the next full council
meeting proposing that the council should set up its own voluntary register
of freemasons. Whether or not the motion is carried, under local government
regulations, all councillors who are freemasons will have to declare an interest
before the matter is debated, and thus reveal their status. David Northmore
London WC2
When I was a Labour councillor in Greenwich in the eighties, we adopted a
policy of councillors declaring membership of masonic lodges and other
associations in the register of members' interests. As a Greenwich resident,
the questioner should contact the Town Hall and ask about relevant entries.
This move was part of a wider debate about masonic influence, including their
use of community buildings.
During a discussion on this issue, a senior officer sought to explain that
he believed the "modern" masonic movement was open to all. A formidable Tory
lady then asked: "I assume you mean all men?" The hapless officer said he
understood there were now ladies' lodges. In a comment that managed to offend
both sides of the argument, a junior officer then asked if they were called
the masonettes. Ron Robinson Greenwich, London SE10
Notes and Queries appears in The Guardian newspaper and has its own website.
If it is difficult to decide on matters of Ritual it is equally difficult to understand a good many things which one experiences in Masonry. I have called them anomalies and peculiarities.
To begin with Freemasonry and Masonry seem synonymous terms, but are they? There was an Art, or Trade (whatever it may be called) of Building and this was Masonry, so called because of the product of the labours of those skilled in the fashioning and putting together pieces of stone. Freemasonry was, or is, the association of persons for certain character building purposes, and regarding the individual members of the association as typified by stones then there may be some synonymity. Freemasonry of to-day has nothing in common with the Buildings or Builders of to-day except in the use of symbols derived from the Builder's tools.
Freemasonry is said to be a Secret Society, but go where you will, you see Masonic Temple, Freemasons' Hall, and even Freemasons' Arms. There are well-known Freemasons' Institutions for Girls, Boys and Old People, and Freemason's' Hospital. You see men carrying odd shaped cases r bags, some who wear emblems on their watch chains, or you go to dinner as a visitor at a Ladies' Night, or see the members assembled at a Church Service. You know some relative or friend is a member, and perhaps gaze with wonder at his Apron. How then is it a secret? it isn't. It is properly a Society having secrets, to obtain or share in which you must join, or be made a member.
You think you would like to become a member, but no one asks you to do so. When you approach a friend you know is a Mason you don't seem to get on with it. He tells you about fees, subscriptions and so on, but not what it is or does - or why it is, or does it. Perhaps you are told you are free to do as you like, and you think that is why it is called Free. You are not quite wrong, but you ultimately go into it without any real idea of the nature of its ceremonies, unless some would-be wit tells you a great deal you find is wrong.
You join of your own free inclination, but before long you find yourself bound to certain principles, and have given up you freedom of selfishness for a bounden duty to serve your fellows. Freedom is not unrestrained license.
Freemasonry is said to be ancient, and derived from Time Immemorial, but no one can tell you when or where it really began, but for that very reason it is from Time Immemorial.
You come across some strange words which you may not have heard of before. HELE, surely it isn't English? No, not of to-day, but it is an Anglo-Saxon survival and is used in Cornwall, Sussex, and elsewhere and means to cover up or conceal. For instance, in Sussex a house with a new roof is said to be newly heled. The hard sound which is sometimes given is not AngloSaxon but German, i.e., hehlan, having much the same meaning. MOTE is an Anglo-Saxon word, from Motan, to be allowed, and the tense shows it to mean "So may it be."
MARK. This perhaps in two senses, one to make a mark, or sign on something, and the other to observe, or watch. Hence, to mark the Sun, etc., means to observe its position as indicating time. It may be thought that the position of certain officers whose backs would apparently (and perhaps actually) be toward the Luminary whose progress they were to mark, was an anomaly. So it would be, if visual observation of the orb was desired, but it is now figurative, and it may also be pointed out that the altitude could be ascertained by means of the shadow of a pole, or gnomon (used in early days for that purpose) necessitating the observer's back to the source of light, although it is true that in earlier (but comparatively recent times) the position of these officers was not the same as now.
HIGH TIME, OR HIGH TWELVE indicates noon, the period of the Sun crossing the meridian. Low twelve means midnight, a time of gloom, and has been adopted by certain American Masons to name a kind of Benevolent Association or Club, for the instant relief of a Brother or his family.
ON THE SQUARE really implies membership of the Fraternity. The terms Fraternity, Order, Craft, Institution, Society, Association, are variously applied to the organisation of which you are a member. The best title is Fraternity which means a Brotherhood for all Freemasons are regarded as Brothers. Moreover, it is the official title as on your Certificate.
GOOD STANDING. This means you have paid up all your dues and fees and performed your duties in that respect.
UNATTACHED - not a member of a Lodge - one who has resigned, and no longer subscribes to a Lodge. No Mason should remain in this position longer then can be helped. He loses privileges and advantages as well as the right of visiting Lodges often being limited to not more than one visit to the same Lodge.
CLOTHING. It is a matter of necessity for a Brother attending a lodge to wear the appropriate masonic clothing. This means in general an Apron (omitting matters of mundane dress) and this should be that appropriate to the degree of the wearer. It sometimes happens that by adverse circumstances the wearer's own is not available, and if one cannot be borrowed, then perchance a M.M. (or even greater personage) may have to wear one of a lesser degree, which causes anxiety to officers at certain times. It should be remembered that there are other styles of Apron than those used in the English Craft, and an acquaintance with them should be made.
BY-LAWS. The nature of these is generally known, but you may be surprised at hearing them read- not as a whole, but the first and last - or the marginal titles of them. This is wrong, they should be read in their entirety.
ANCIENT CHARGE. This is a term wrongly applied to a certain part of the Ceremony. Ancient Charges appear in the Book of Constitutions with the direction that they are to be read at the making of a new Brother or when the Master may direct. Now this is a direct and plain instruction to read a definite set of officially prescribed injunctions and admonitions or explanations. If they were ritual then we are not only directed or ordered to read them, but they would be an official part of the ritual. But in the majority of Lodges this is not done, and I may say that I have never heard it done anywhere, although this statement is a confession of my own default. Still, the Ancient Charges if read would be a very interesting experience for all its hearers and ought to become the invariable custom.
CLOSING THE L. gives rise to an anomaly in some of them, as where one is informed that it "is closed ....." and the "meeting adjourned," etc. This cannot be the case for those same Ancient Charges state that the L. is an assembly of Brethren met to do certain things, and there is official authority for the statement that when the L. is closed the meeting has ended so that you cannot adjourn a meeting which has ceased to exist.
MAY GOD PRESERVE THE CRAFT is a pious aspiration of every member whether it is expressed verbally, or only voicelessly appreciated. Its use is superfluous as a moment's consideration of an almost immediately antecedent part of the Ceremony would indicate. If the true ritualistic idea of collective participation in the Ceremony is entertained, a more expressive form has been used. Some points more nearly allied to ritual may be mentioned. The expression "enable you to become" (S. and L.) is not particularly happy, for no one who was not, could possibly be contemplated as eligible "enable you to be" (E. and O.) is better "to remain" (W.) is best. Then in reference to recommending anyone - we get "your choice" and for the choice is that of the person recommending, and only the ultimate acceptance of that recommendation is "our" business. Then a variation is found of those "in" and "from" the N., E., S. and W., which suggests two thing, "in" that those being addressed are actually situate at the cardinal points which they all cannot be, or "from" that they have assembled from every point of the compass, which seems more possible and suggestive of mediaeval times. A peculiarity which caused me some hesitation when I first participated in that part of the Ceremony is the statement "constantly revolving around it on its axis" (W., O., L.), and it is not improved by "constantly revolving round it on its own axis" (S.) revolving on its axis in its orbit (E.) is nearest to being correct, it does revolve on its axis, the latter produces night and day, and also the phenomenon referred to at this point.
BENEVOLENCE AND CHARITY. These are not integral parts of the Masonic structure, strange as this statement may appear. They are distinctly stated to be "truly Masonic Ornaments," and rightly so for character which does not adorn itself by the practice of virtue is unworthy of itself or the Fraternity.
There are many other things I should have like to mention, but they must remain untouched, and so be subjects for consideration and investigation by those who are attracted by or notice them.
---------------------------------------------------
Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.
The Deadly Deception: Freemasonry Exposed - Jim Shaw & Tom McKenney - Jim Shaw was one of the top leaders of Freemasonry: 33rd Degree Mason, Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, Past Worshipful Master-Blue Lodge, Past Master of all Scottish Rite bodies, when he became a Christian and left. He exposes Freemasonry as he experienced it. $9.95+ $4.00 S&H 207 pp. from: http://www.thecomingbattle.com/more%20books3.html
Scottish rite http://www.srmason-sj.org/index.html
Corruption in the west country http://www.rose-associates.demon.co.uk
'The Wigged Mafia' - masonic malpractice in the judiciary http://www.citizenbeware.com/MW1.html
Masonic symbols - an insight http://www.reachouttrust.org/fremsym.htm
United Grand Lodge of Scotland http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/
Do Freemasons Worship Satan? http://www.cth.com.au/corp/despatch/worship.htm
Freemasonry's Occult, Evil Empire Exposed http://www.execpc.com/~amerisub/chapt-04/chapt-04.html
Critical of Freemasonry FAQ http://users.uniserve.com/~ttrevor/anti-masonry_faq.html
Freemasons, Secret societies and the New world order http://www.unm.edu/~hrommel/cooperNWO.html
A masonic Gallery http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9991/gallery.html
Acacia masonic exposee press http://www.crocker.com/~acacia
More masonic links http://www.crocker.com/~acacia/jfklinks.html
The Dangers of Freemasonry - of course it's harmless! http://www.sounddoctrine.com/ptimes/masonry.htm
Black sun lodge, a bit weird http://ourworld.compuserve.com/blacksun/homepage.htm
The 'mystery' that is freemasonry http://trojan.neta.com/~kottinge/m-main.html
Bamboozled by the Masons in Dorset? http://www.mical-data.demon.co.uk/story1.htm
Good masonic links site http://home.fireplug.net/~rshand/streams/masons/masons.html
Famous masons http://www.balaams-ass.com/journal/warnings/masnfame.htm
Comparing masonry to the old Russian communist party http://www.ostara.org/autor/mason.txt
More famous masons http://www.bc-freemasonry.com/TextFiles/famous.html
(The Search For) Ancient Wisdom, Rea and Bob Connoly. Good grounding on the origins of masonry and the Knights Templar, especially pp. 11, 63 etc..
U.S.A. published by Cambrix, Chatsworth CA. (818) 992 8484
U.K. available from Ramesis, Bradford, Yorks. (01274) 737376