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Tenets of the Craft
The Grand Master, HRH The Duke of
Kent, made a strong appeal to the three
basic tenets of Freemasonry at the Annual
Investiture of Grand Lodge (page 19).
It moved a number of brethren, as the
Pro Grand Master, Lord Northampton,
told the recent Quarterly Communication.
There was more to charity than money,
the Grand Master made clear. He added:
“We should try to involve ourselves to a
greater extent in activities which bring joy
and happiness into the lives of disadvantaged
people, and not just assume that a cash
donation discharges our obligations.”
In particular, the Grand Master said the
other tenets of the Craft should not be
overlooked. More and more, individual
Lodges, and Lodges jointly, as well as
Provinces, were making a bigger impact
in their local communities.
His views were echoed by Lord
Northampton in a speech to the Grand Lodge
of New York (page 30). The Pro Grand
Master said that in promoting openness,
Masons stressed their charitable work and
the effect it had on local communities.
In this, Masons have been almost too
successful “and Freemasonry has been
perceived as simply another major charitable
organisation, with even our members at
times forgetting the other two Great
Principles of Brotherly Love and Truth.”
Lord Northampton said that explaining
Charity was easy – it had tangible results.
Explaining philosophical concepts such as
Brotherly Love and Truth was much more
difficult because they could be understood
on many different levels.
So the message for the Craft is clear –
charity is vitally important, but always
remember that there are three basic tenets
of Freemasonry – not one.
Judge backs Masons
A High Court judge has backed the
principals underlying Freemasonry in
a judgment involving a local authority
planning application, dismissing allegations
that the Craft was secretive and had an
unhealthy influence on officials.
Mr Justice Newman said that
Freemasonry was not a religion although
it gave “succour” to “brother Masons”, but
they were subject to the “uncompromising
and clear” principle that they must pay
“due obedience” to the laws of the land.
The judge said there was still a perception
that Freemasonry could give rise to apparent
bias in decision-making, but concluded that
Masons in public office did not need to
remove themselves from decisions involving
other Masons.
He upheld a decision by North Dorset
District Council to give planning consent to
an application for change of use of farming
land to a showground in Motcombe, Dorset
by the Gillingham and Shaftesbury
Agricultural Society.
Mr Justice Newman dismissed arguments
that there was an “appearance of bias”
because two of the members who voted
in favour of the scheme were Masons.
Catching a few more smiles
At the Quarterly Communication in June,
the Pro Grand Master referred to the work
of the Masonic Trout & Salmon Fishing
Club in taking disadvantaged and disabled
children for fishing days (page 20). A full
report of their work and the special event
that was held in Lord Northampton’s ‘back
garden’ at Castle Ashby will appear in the
next issue.
Interest in MTSFC is growing fast and
this year this registered charity, organised
by Freemasons, will, as their logo says, be
‘Catching a few more Smiles’ at no less than
22 different fishing days and entertaining
about 430 young people across 10 different
Provinces.
If you would like to be a part of this
Masonic initiative that demonstrates how
Freemasons can be active in the community,
you can find full information on their
website at www.mtsfc.co.uk.
Alternatively, contact Ken Haslar on 01923
231606 (mob 07939 144910) or email
ken.haslar@ntlworld.com.
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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