More of a build up to the new programme on Sky - hoping it is not a disappointment when it comes
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| Freemason's Hall - Queen Street London |
"They don’t ride goats but they do have to bare one breast and roll a trouser leg up.
They’re
not meant to use their friendships for career gain, but they do have a
strange handshake. And they don’t appear to be striving for world
domination – they’re far too busy learning lines for their countless
ceremonies.
The Freemasons have long been seen as a shadowy organisation, accused of plotting to take over the world.
The pedigree of some past Masons – including Winston Churchill, the Duke
of Wellington, Lord Kitchener, Kings Edward VII, Edward VIII and George
VI, and Prince Philip, a Navy Lodge Mason for more than 60 years – has
even led to accusations that they have a stranglehold on the
Establishment.
So a new documentary about this enigmatic
fraternity is fascinating, even if the truth about the Masons is rather
prosaic. It turns out it’s a bit of a glorified dinner club.
‘The
public’s perception of us isn’t realistic at all,’ says Jonathan
Spence. The former banker is one of three deputies to the Grand Master
of the United Grand Lodge of England, who happens to be the Queen’s
cousin, the Duke of Kent, a Freemason for 50 years.
‘We’ve
thought about confronting the myths for a long time. If we show how it
really is – for example we have a masonic handshake but it’s only for
ceremonial use – then people might understand us more.’
The Grand Lodge celebrates its 300th anniversary this year so the five-part Sky 1 series comes at an opportune time.
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| Duke of Kent - Grand Master |
‘Freemasonry has had a policy of more
openness over the past 30 years to try to show people what we’re really
about,’ says Jonathan. ‘And as this is our tricentenary it seemed like a
good time to let the cameras in.’
Freemasonry was originally based on guilds created by stonemasons in the 14th century.
Many
of the traditions go back to those days; the baring of the breast and
rolled-up trouser leg, both part of the initiation ceremony, are meant
to prove the newcomer is a healthy man.
As
ancient stonemasons travelled from job to job, the handshakes were
created to recognise a man’s experience, with each level of mason using a
different handshake.
Gloves and
aprons, which were worn by the stonemasons for protection, are still
worn today and become more decorated as a Mason climbs the ladder within
the organisation.
The square and
compasses, trowel and plumb level, tools that every stonemason needed,
are now internationally recognised insignia of the Masons.
The basic tenets of the
Masons are that they’re all equal (which is why they call each other
brother) and that today, instead of working with stone, they’re working
on themselves to make ‘good men better’. As they work harder on
themselves, through charitable work for example, they climb up the
hierarchy.
Each man goes through three
separate ‘degrees’ during his time with the Masons – Apprentice,
Journeyman and Master – and for the first time some of the rituals,
which take place at Masonic Lodge meetings around the country, have been
filmed.
‘The ceremonies mirror the
principles of Freemasonry which are brotherly love, relief and truth,’
says Garry Hacking, a nurse who works with 50 women and finds the Masons
have given him some much-needed male company.
‘The friendship is a big part of it for me but the ceremonies are important too. They’re profound.’
To
become a Mason, you can either apply online or another Mason can
recommend you. There are six million members worldwide, with 200,000 in
England and Wales, meetings range from twice a week to four times a year
and Masons can be members of several lodges, or visit new ones while
travelling.
Membership here peaked at
300,000 after the First World War as men joined to recreate the
brotherhood they’d found in the trenches. The group went underground in
the 30s when it was targeted by fascists and Nazis; up to 200,000
European Freemasons died in concentration camps.
‘When
we first started making this series I didn’t understand why, in the
21st century, people would want to join something that was about
handshakes and aprons and that was men-only,’ says Emma Read, the show’s
executive producer.
‘It felt really
anachronistic, so we’re looking at what its relevance is in the 21st
century. But it’s been a real eye-opener. Some are there for the
tradition but for many it’s about making new friends. It’s the oldest
social network in the world.’
We meet
various Masons in the show who reveal how the organisation has helped
them through tough times such as the death of a partner or serious
illness.
‘The Freemasons may be a
traditional institution but it’s also a major support network for men
and I was taken aback by that,’ says Emma, who spent a year shadowing
them.
‘When you’ve fallen on hard
times – emotionally or physically – you have a real group of friends you
can turn to. Coming out of the show I thought it was a force for
good.’
Inside The Freemasons starts on 17 April on Sky 1. For more information on the Masons visit ugle.org.uk."
So much for secrecy.... and...
Inappropriate book of the day is...
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