British Freemasonry refurbish its image

Since its inception in the 18th century, the practice of Freemasonry has been well known for allegedly using sec­ret handshakes and other obscure rituals.
But the United Grand Lodge of England is keen to shed more light on its shadowy practices as the organisation approaches its 300th birthday in 2017.
The Lodge, which governs Freemasonry in England, Wales and the Channel Islands, has appointed Bondy Consulting as a retained consultancy to build greater awareness of Free­masonry and ensure the practice’s long-term future.
Grand secretary of the United Grand Lodge Nigel Brown said: ‘Freemasonry is now run as a modern business and it is important our communication reflects this. Freemasonry plays a unique role in society today and it is vital we encourage people to talk openly about it and dispel the many unfounded myths associated with it.’
Freemasonry has 250,000 members, including 30,000 overseas. It is one of the world’s largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations.
Bondy founder Jessica Bondy said: ‘We have been appointed to combat common misconceptions including those of secrecy. There are no secrets in Freemasonry and we need to encourage people to talk openly about it. Information is totally accessible for anyone that wants it and anyone can come into Freemasons’ Hall.’
In PR Week.

Common expressions used in English Masonry -I

Accepted - a Craft Mason is called Free and Accepted, because the persons who were not Operative Masons were received into the Acception

Advancement - a Craft Mason is initiated, passed and raised into the three primary degrees of Masonry

Ballot - the usual mode to electing candidates and also the Master and the Treasurer

Cable Tow - most generally the binding covenant of Masonry

Chain of the Union - it is symbolic of the bond of the brotherhood; English freemasonry doesn't form la chaine d' union at the end of the session

Chisel - One of the working tools symbolized in certain degrees

Compasses - The most spiritual of all the working tools

Cube - it is essential in the Craft Freemasonry as the form of the Perfect Ashlar

Dormant - a Brother that cease to participate in the gathering of the Lodge

Due Examination - Brethren that are passing from Grade to Grade

Due Form - the correct way to " open"  a Lodge

Freewill and Accord - no person can be unduly persuaded to become a Mason

Furniture - the main items used in a Masonic session, namely the Bible, the Square and Compasses

Gavel - working tool of chief officers of a Lodge

Globes - the celestial and terrestrial globes have a special meaning

Gloves - it is required to wear gloves in Masonic Lodges

Grand Master - the chairman of the Craft; in England a member of the Royal family

Greater Lights - The Bible, the Square and the Compasses

Holy Ground - The Art of Masonry is performed to the Glory of God, for which reason the Lodge is to be accounted Holy Ground

Immovable Jewels - The tracing-board peculiar of each Craft Degree, the Rough Ashlar and the Perfect Ashlar

Installation - A new Worshipful Master is installed annually in the Chair of each Lodge

Jewels - The jewels attached to the collars of Lodge Officers are in connection with the function they perform

Lesser Lights - certain symbolic lights situated at the East, South and West of the Lodge

Middle Chamber - later you will be informed about it

Mosaic Pavement - the pavement used in Masonic Lodges made of black and white large squares

Ornaments - the Blazing Star, the Intended Tassel and Mosaic Pavement are sometimes termed as the Ornaments of the Lodge 

Quorum - a basic Masonic law lays down that three rule a Lodge, five form a Lodge and seven make it perfect [it is different in our continental tradition]

Raised - a fellow craft is raised to the Third Degree

Recognition - the modes of recognition are those by which Masons prove and recognize one another

Resignation - the resignation of a member of a Lodge is absolute from the moment of reception by the secretary and cannot be postponed or denied, on the assumption that such member is not in debt to the Lodge

Square and Compasses - the universal emblematic device of Craft Masonry

Tesselated Border - an expression synonymous of Indented Tassel or la houpe dentelée of French Masonry. It is a looped cord which surrounds Tracing Boards and has tassels in the four corners. These are held to represent the cardinal points and the cardinal virtues. 

Tracing Board -  The emblematic design that represent the different degrees of Blue Masonry. In the eighteen century it was customary to be drawn with chalk on the floor of the Lodge. 

Twenty-four Inch Gauge - a common two-foot rule and a basis of moral reflections

Valley - In Latin Masonry this word is equivalent of the East or the Orient 

Widow's Son - the Master Builder was traditionally a widow's son and all Master Masons are sons of the Widow

Winding Starcase - a masonic symbolism essential to the Second Degree

Letter from Michael Baigent (editor of Freemasonry Today)

It was with sadness that I heard the decision of Lord Northampton to resign as Pro Grand Master. And that feeling was reinforced by his address to Brethren attending Grand Lodge in December, the highlights of which are given on page 7 of this issue. Lord Northampton ushered in a remarkable reorientation of the Craft and Royal Arch. It is not so much that elements have been changed, though of course there have been changes, it is that Freemasonry’s relationship with its Brethren and with society beyond has been refocused. After the Second World War, Freemasonry experienced a huge increase in membership: between 1945 and 1950 the formation of new lodges was running at three to four times the pre-war rate. In 1948, for example, 202 new lodges were founded. Almost 4000 new lodges have been formed since the Second World War. At present the position is very different: in 2005 sixteen new lodges were formed. Times have changed; Freemasonry must change to accommodate this. But accommodating change does not mean throwing out the ‘hard’ bits and our heritage in a desperate rush to grab the last towel on the lowest common denominator, then relaxing into a state of comatose selfsatisfaction, seeking a tan rather than wisdom from the blazing star above.
Accommodating change means adapting, or in the words of Lord Northampton, not being afraid to try something new ‘so long as it is within our rules.’ Freemasonry is a journey; if the territory we are passing through changes then we must modify our style of movement. But the journey still continues. We must not succumb to the modern disease of living vicariously and thereby letting others make the journey for us.
The aim of Freemasonry is to make better men, who in turn make a better society; this cannot be done without the journey to gain knowledge, insight and eventually, we have good reason to hope, wisdom. Indeed, this is our heritage. We simply need to recognise its value and its depths of wisdom. We need to recognise its direct relevance to the life we lead for it is this heritage that we pass on, it is directly relevant to the world which we create for coming generations.
Lord Northampton has brought two great changes to Freemasonry which has rendered it durable and relevant to the present century and beyond. He has introduced structural changes in the executive to make it more open, accountable and responsive to the needs of Brethren and he has re-emphasised the continuing vitality and importance of the three great principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. And by this new emphasis he has reminded all Freemasons of our deep spiritual roots; roots which are able to find an easy relationship with any of the world’s religions. We are living in uncertain times. Society often seems determined to fracture. People seem determined to cause trouble with others who do not share their politics or beliefs. Nations seem to be growing apart rather than finding common cause. Freemasonry, with its uncompromising stand on the divisions caused by politics and religion yet its equally uncompromising demand that the Divine Principle be recognised, together with its aspiration to bring men together in agreement, rather than to drive them apart, is in a crucial position to help: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are sorely needed in the twenty-first century. Lord Northampton has been correct to focus Freemasonry back upon its great principles.

About the quality of freemasons

Consolidation Lies Ahead Address
Grand Master of the UGLE, His Highness the Duke of Kent on 30 April

(...) As Grand Officers you have an important leadership part to play in the future of Freemasonry. By leadership I mean setting consistently high standards in your own masonic life as well as demonstrating your understanding of the meaning of the ritual and the principles and tenets of the Craft. This understanding will help you to guide others at all stages of their masonic journey, remembering to encourage them all to talk openly about their Freemasonry to potential candidates, family and acquaintances. There is a caveat, though. Although you will naturally feel some personal satisfaction at achieving such offices, I know you will all remember the words we hear each year at our Lodge installations, that humility in each is an essential qualification. And I have no doubt that that injunction should apply at least as much to those who are Grand Officers as to more junior brethren. Last November I hosted a reception and dinner on the eve of the European Grand Masters’ meeting. This was the first such gathering and was thus an historic occasion for representatives of 44 European Grand Lodges, which included no less than 41 Grand Masters. It was the most representative gathering of the leaders of regular Freemasonry in Europe that has ever been held. The Pro Grand Master planned it as a one-off meeting so that we, as the mother Grand Lodge, could make clear our views on regularity, recognition and sovereignty. The Pro Grand Master set out our position on regularity, emphasising that it is not Freemasonry, but the individual mason, instilled with the principles and tenets of the Craft, who has a positive influence on society. My view is that communication between us all is essential to the future well-being of regular Freemasonry, and I can see no reason why such gatherings should not occur from time to time in the future. I spoke last year about the Rulers’ Forum, and said that I would be happy if it achieved a focus for grass roots masons to debate issues which concern you all with the Rulers and other senior members of the Craft, and to act as a conduit for disseminating the results through their groups to lodges. I was therefore happy to hear that during year three of the Rulers’ Forum, Groups were given the task of identifying and collating best practice from Mentoring Schemes across the country. The project team has seen masons from eight different Provinces working together, sharing ideas and, importantly, learning from each other. They have now presented their ideas to both the Rulers’ Forum and at the last Quarterly Communication. Their ideas support the aim of recruiting and then retaining men of quality. The successful retention of these men will involve the careful selection of mentors at lodge level so that, once initiated, each member is fully supported throughout his masonic journey. The Brethren selected as Mentors will be those who can provide the time and knowledge required to care for the candidate, and then to develop his understanding of our Order and how it translates into his everyday life. There have been a number of advances since this time last year which I believe will bring substantial benefits. For example, the new magazine Freemasonry Today has been successfully launched, and I am confident it will become a major channel for our open communications. In addition, the four masonic charities have all now congregated in this building, a move which will result in cost savings as well, I hope, to a better understanding by the Brethren in London and the Provinces of the roles of each of the charities. With so many successful initiatives launched since I last addressed Grand Lodge, I see this coming year as one of consolidation.
From Freemasonry Today, here.