Barrie Hall

Freemasonry has perhaps in modern times acquired the perception of “mystery, strange arts and secrecy”.  It wasn’t always so!

Prior to the 1930s, and in particular in the latter half of the 19th century, freemasonry was very open, very obvious, and very much in the public domain – indeed parades and processions in public in full regalia were quite commonplace.

The rise of Hitler and his aspersions that masons were responsible for various subversive activities led however to the dissolution of all Masonic bodies in Germany – a strategy followed by a number of other dictators around the world.  As a result, in this country and elsewhere, masonry began to go underground and generations were brought up with a very secretive approach until, in the mid-80s, our governing body, the United Grand Lodge of England, reverted to the previous policy of greater openness and understanding.  Freemasons, after all, certainly have nothing to be ashamed of and much to be proud of.  We, like a Golf Club, or like the Rotary Club or the Lions or any other Association are a private organisation and, as such, like to keep some of our business to ourselves.  Nothing ominous or sinister in that – just private.

However there is a tremendous amount of published material available about Freemasonry and our Headquarters in Queen Street, London, can be visited on any day of the week.  With some wonderful Lodge Rooms and a superb Museum and Library to be toured, there is much of interest on display.

Origins:

Although the ethic of Freemasonry is as old as time itself, the origins of modern Freemasonry are generally aligned with the travelling operative stonemasons who built the great Cathedrals of medieval Europe.  They formed their own Associations or Fraternities to distinguish themselves and to protect their specialist knowledge and skills from less experienced masons or artisans.

These masons lived and worked in groups known as Lodges which, as well as encouraging communal spirit, committed their members to strict codes of professional and moral behaviour set down in Ancient Charges/Manuscripts.  They jealously guarded their knowledge and skills and only passed on the secrets of their trade to apprentices who proved their worth.

As time went by, men in different persuasions and other trades and professions were attracted by the freedom and conviviality of Masonic Lodges and the fraternal basis on which they operated.  These men were admitted on an honorary basis and became what we now know as Free, Accepted or Speculative Masons.  Lodges also began to take on a more outward approach to their benevolent activities, not simply restricting them to their own members.

The first recorded making of a Mason in England was in 1646 when Elias Ashmole, later to found the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, became a mason, whilst in 1717, four London Lodges got together to found Grand Lodge, the forerunner of our present governing body.  From that start point, some 300 years ago, this ancient pattern has lived on in the Constitution of the oldest and most extensive of fraternal societies – English Freemasonry.

Today, under the English Constitution, there are now over 350,000 Masons in 8,600 Lodges.  English Freemasonry is regarded as the Premier Grand Lodge but there are also many foreign constitutions based on the English system and many other Orders of masonry allied to the main trunk which we know as Craft masonry.

Organisation:

The organisation of Freemasonry is based on a 3-tier structure of Lodge, the Province and Grand Lodge.

Freemasonry at Lodge level has the Worshipful Master, two wardens and other officers and members.  The master, who presides over lodge proceedings is elected annually and in turn appoints the other officers.  The experience of Mastership is unique and memorable for all who undertake it.

At Provincial level there is a Provincial Grand Master with a Deputy, two Assistants and other officers and members whilst at Grand Lodge level we have a Grand Master with equivalent Deputies and other Officers.  Royalty has always been a great patron of Freemasonry.  Our present Grand Master is HRH the Duke of Kent, whilst in the recent past King Edward VIII and King George VI were very distinguished Freemasons.

I have the great privilege and honour to have been appointed by the Grand Master as Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.  The Province, one of 47 in English Freemasonry, comprises the County of Northamptonshire, the old County of Huntingdonshire, the original Soke of Peterborough and the beautiful town of Stamford.  There are 86 Lodges and 3,500 members within the Province.

Many famous men have been members of the Craft, to name but a few:

In Music: Mozart, Bach, Hayden, Liszt, Sibelius, Gilbert and Sullivan, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington.

In Literature: Robbie Burns, Walter Scott, Rudyard Kipling and Conan Doyle.

In Politics: no fewer than 15 American presidents including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklyn Roosevelt and Harry Truman, and here in the UK, Winston Churchill.

In the field of Human Endeavour: Scott of the Antarctic, Malcolm Campbell, Ernest Shackleton, and Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn.

In the Church: Archbishop Fisher of Canterbury and Chief Rabbi, Sir Israel Brodie.

In the Entertainment World: John Wayne, Clark Gable, Oliver Hardy, Houdini, Roy Rogers, Peter Sellars and Stanley Unwin who, until his recent death, was a member of a Lodge in my Province.  Len Hutton and Stanley Matthews were also distinguished masons from the world of sport.

Membership:

Membership is without regard to wealth or social status, but to become a mason there is one basic qualification which is that one must have a belief in a Supreme Being.  Thus, for example, Christians, Jews, Muslins, Sikhs and members of any other religion which worships a Deity may become masons.  But, so that fraternal harmony in Lodge may be preserved, the discussion of Religion, and indeed Politics, is forbidden.  This has the beneficial effect that men from all faiths and political persuasions can sit together with a common theme of brotherly love and affection.  Not a bad rule for life!  Freemasonry is founded on what we call the Three Grand Principles, which are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Firstly Brotherly Love:-when we consider all men equal, irrespective of colour, class or creed, and accordingly we treat each other with respect and affection, and offering comfort and support to those brethren and their families who find themselves in difficulties.  We also extend this principle as far as we possibly can to all our fellow citizens.

Secondly Relief:- more usually known as Charity, not just for less fortunate masons and their families but also for many good non-masonic causes giving both money, time and care whenever we can, either through the Lodge or through our own non-masonic activities.

And thirdly Truth:- This means Integrity, Standard or Morality and is the underlying basis of our system – teaching ourselves to become better men and setting ourselves high standards of conduct whether it be at work or business, in society in general, and especially at home.

Masonic Ceremonies:-Our regular work consists of bringing men into masonry, and this we call the ceremony of “Initiation” or 1st Degree and then extending our teachings through a 2nd and 3rd Degree.  These ceremonies are carried out in a quaint and somewhat old fashioned language and are learnt by heart and delivered by memory.  The Ritual, as it is known, has been handed down by word of mouth for generations, and it was only since the 20th Century that it has been committed to print.

The Lodge and its work is the heart of Freemasonry.  In the privacy of his Lodge the newly admitted mason is instructed in the principles of the “Craft” during ancient ceremonies which have been handed down by succeeding generations.  These ceremonies take the individual mason on a symbolic journey expressed in terms of a complex story about the building of King Solomon’s Temple and using the working tools employed by our ancient brethren in a symbolic manner.
The Lodge, and the dinner which usually follows it, together create a strong bond of fellowship.  We put a great deal of time and effort into the work that we do, and as a result derive tremendous satisfaction and enjoyment from it.

Masonic Charities:-In practical terms, Relief or Charity, which is the second of the three Grand Principles of the Order, is practised through the four great Masonic Charities, which are:

Firstly, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB) which provides educational support (fees, equipment, books, accommodation etc) for the children of deceased or distressed members up to and including University.  Substantial support is also given to many non-masonic children’s charities.  One recent example has been a £7m project to provide computers in Children’s Hospices to enable youngsters to communicate with each other and to enjoy the benefits of the technology.

Secondly, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) which provides 17 residential homes for elderly masons, their wives and widows in modern and friendly environments.  The very highest standards of residential and nursing care are provided.

Thirdly, the New Masonic Samaritan Fund (NMSF) providing funding for masons and their families to have essential medical treatment without extensive waiting times.

And last, but very importantly, the Freemasons Grand Charity (FGC) providing financial support to the dependants of deceased members or those afflicted by other calamity or misfortune.  This Charity also provides benefits across the community.  In recent years over £2m/annum has been awarded over a vast range of non-masonic good causes including medicate research (e.g. £1m to cancer research), youth opportunities (e.g. £50k to The Prince’s Trust), vulnerable groups in society (e.g. £50k to Sue Ryder Care), health care projects (e.g. £120k to Northwick Park Medical Institute) and so on.  Major donations are also speedily made to many Disaster Appeals throughout the world.  Another major initiative is the annual grant of £0.5m to the hospice movement.

These Masonic Charities do a wonderful job and it is worth remembering that all their funding is provided by masons alone without any recourse to appeals to the general public.