Media exposure!

Obligations seem to be a hot topic at the moment, as mentioned by Bro. Ben Rowe of The Chequered Carpet.

I don't think I've mentioned in the past that I subscribe to a Masonic e-mail list, entitled the UK Mason List. However, in the last couple of weeks, somewhat of a storm has blown up over a report about Freemasonry in Berkshire being broadcast on the local news over here. For those that are interested, here are the two links:

Part 1
Part 2

The reactions to these two reports have been everything from awe to anger, via tantrums and praise. Those who praise it, do so on the openness of the report. Those who are angry, state that it breaks the obligation that every Mason takes.

However, I look at it a slightly different way. There have been many, many exposes over the years, some of which have been extremely accurate, and others not so accurate. One only needs to pick up a copy of Turning the Hiram Key by Robert Lomas to find out every little detail of our ceremonies. The advent of the internet has made this even easier to find out, with various sites claiming to reveal the secrets and mysteries of the Freemasons. Indeed, the internet has even allowed those to have a voice who have no idea at all, and all sorts of myths and falsehoods are permeating the internet for all to see.

Freemasonry in England and Wales has only maintained such a high level of secrecy since the 1930s/1940s, mainly due to the persecution of Freemasons by the likes of Hitler and Franco. Before this, Masons were quite happily getting involved in public parades, in full regalia. It has only been in the last 60-or-so years that everything about the society has got so secretive, and this is something that, in my opinion, can only damage our honourable fraternity.

The aspect that most brethren have taken issue over is that one of the grips is displayed. Whilst many feel that this is wrong, I would like to pose the question - does the grip matter without knowing what it means? I, personally, feel that it doesn't. Any person can shake the hand of a Mason, and ascertain a handshake. Likewise, anyone can read a book or look on the internet, and see a lot more than just a grip. In my humble opinion, the grip itself doesn't mean much without the word that goes with it.

There have been those who proclaim that this was an error in judgement by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Michael Hooton. However, I beg to disagree - everything in those reports would have been cleared by Grand Lodge, and thus approved for broadcast by them. If they hadn't agreed, I believe that the plug would have been pulled on the reports.

Indeed, I believe that the main reason behind the reports were to dispel a lot of the preconceptions about Freemasonry. For one, the second report thoroughly dispels any idea that Freemasonry is only for white, Anglo Saxon Protestants. Indeed, the Worshipful Master and Immediate Past Master of Grey Friars were present at Khalsa Lodge, and have both commented on how vibrant a lodge it is. Our Tyler is even a member of the lodge, and can be seen in the report, wearing a black turban on the procession in. In addition, I really feel that R.W.Bro. Hooton comes across very well, and really explains what Masonry is all about. Having seen him preside over Provincial Grand Lodge, I can honestly say that he is every bit as charismatic, if not more so, in real life.

If I have one bug-bear about either report, it isn't over the grip, but over the way in which the Lady Masons were included. Don't get me wrong - I have absolutely no objections to them being included in the report, but I am slightly disappointed that it was not emphasised that they belong to a different Grand Lodge than those male brethren in the report. Otherwise, I feel that their inclusion in the report is a very positive thing, dispelling more myths, in this case, that women can't be Masons.

Despite what many have said, I found the reports to be extremely positive, and very interesting indeed.