Letters and social media

Letters to the Editor

Write to: The Editor, FMT, Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Email: editor@freemasonrytoday.com

Time for a change?

Sir, I enjoyed David Newman’s letter in the Winter issue of FMT. There are three ways of delivering ritual. One, learned by heart and delivered accurately and with understanding and feeling: perfect. Two, read from a script and delivered accurately and with understanding and feeling: perfect. Three, learned by rote and delivered in a halting monotone, prompted at intervals by the Director of Ceremonies, and with neither feeling nor understanding.

Having visited many lodges in the UK and around the world, I know just how commonplace option three is. So why do we regard rote learning as a sacred cow? Not only does it deter potential Freemasons who lead busy lives (especially if they contemplate side degrees or moving up ‘the ladder’), it also hinders those brethren who may be highly intelligent and massively qualified but who struggle with the rote learning of large volumes of what is often unusual text.

When the Archbishop of Canterbury officiates at a service, he feels no compunction about reading from the prayer book or the Bible. Is he wrong? Not a new question, I know, but before brethren the length and breadth of the land write back in horror, I must ask them to answer this question: where is the good in insisting on rote learning? Bill Wyllie, Willington Lodge, No. 4028, Durham

Sir, I wholeheartedly agree with the letter from David Newman in Issue 48 of FMT. The time has come for reading ritual out of the book to be accepted as the norm, except for the few sentences that require questions and answers with candidates. I have seen so many Freemasons resign

or become backbenchers only, leaving the half-dozen well-retired and ageing ritualists to go round and round testing our mental faculties.

The stress put upon by work and family responsibilities is far more these days than it used to be years ago. There is also far more expected of young men in the home, to say nothing of the stress of travelling for hours to work. Ceremonies run much more smoothly when read, avoiding the embarrassment of being prompted every few words due to nerves, etc., which has resulted in resignations.

To be fair, I have never heard any Visiting Officer or other senior Freemason comment on any of our readings. I would like to see more open books in lodges. Phil Cook, Old Lancing Lodge, No. 4660. Metropolitan

Sir, I will always accept that there are some brethren who struggle to learn ritual. For those who make the effort but have problems in delivering in open lodge, they are always worthy of support from their fellow brethren. There is, however, a distinct difference between those who have attempted to learn and have for various reasons problems in delivery and those who have not made any effort at all. I also accept that in modern times, brethren face pressures from busy business commitments, and time is a premium. I do not, however, subscribe to the suggestion made by David Newman in the FMT Winter edition that reading long sections of ritual should become acceptable in order to encourage younger brethren with busy lives to become Freemasons.

Freemasonry generally has recognised the challenge of enthusing and retaining younger brethren. It should not be overlooked that one of the key factors in achieving those objectives is belonging to a lodge where all the brethren work hard at delivering ritual. Visitors attending those lodges are always keen to visit again. I have visited lodges where all the brethren have read ritual (some very badly) and I would not wish to belong to such a lodge or indeed visit it again. You can bet that observing a Master reading the opening and closing of a lodge that most of the rest will also be reading. It should be recognised that if you are serious about the contribution you can make in supporting your lodge, you begin learning the ritual months in advance. For a potential Master this would be at least 12 months. Those who pick up a ritual book a few days before a ceremony for the first time no doubt claim they are no good at ritual. Well, nobody would be with such a blasé approach.

I would be pleased if someone could explain why, when brethren join the ‘ladder’ within their lodge and make little effort in learning ritual, they are then promoted the following year and so on. You wouldn’t do that in a business environment, so why do we do it? I have also been shocked on the number of occasions where brethren have become Masters with little knowledge of the ritual or Freemasonry generally. The negative impact when these brethren later receive Provincial honours cannot be understated.

Lodges of Instruction should be promoted more, and in the Royal Arch (Chapter), the Aldersgate Chapter of Improvement underpins the importance of learning ritual and in gaining knowledge of the fraternity to which we all subscribe.

I speak as someone who ran two businesses simultaneously that involved extensive travelling, while having an active rank for three years. Time spent with my little blue book late at night in my hotel was invaluable, and missing EastEnders was a small price to pay. Due to my commitments, I made time!

Initiatives are underway to address these problems, but I believe that rather than waiting for instructions from Provincial office, lodges have it in their remit to look at how they can enthuse and retain brethren. Being part of an enthusiastic and winning team is a wonderful experience, so please no more of these negative excuses. Trevor Black, Sykes Lodge, No. 1040, Yorkshire, North & East Ridings

Sincere thanks

Sir, As a relatively new Master Mason from Surrey I was privileged to attend my first Quarterly Communications meeting at Great Queen Street on 11 September 2019. So imagine my surprise when fellow Surrey Master Mason Andrew Philpot, my RW Provincial Grand Master Ian Chandler and I were singled out and mentioned by name by Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes in open lodge. He invited us to stand to receive the applause of the assembled brethren for our fundraising to support the Surrey 2019 Festival in aid of RMBI. This, I later found out, is something that is very rarely done.

After Grand Lodge, I was invited by fellow Surrey Freemasons to join them at the Union Jack Club near Waterloo, where I attended a Surrey Grand Officers’ mess. This was very well organised by WB Bruce Perry PGADC and I am sure others; my fellow Master Masons and I had an enjoyable meal seated with our Grand Officers, Provincial Officers and other distinguished brethren from around the Province. For us it was a wonderful chance for us to talk and discuss things with our hierarchy.

After the meal, Andrew and I were summoned before RWB Ian Chandler, who presented us with Festival President’s Awards and told the brethren about all of our achievements, after which we received a standing ovation. I wanted at the time to say a few words, but emotions got the better of me, so I here’s what I should have said:

‘Thank you all for your congratulations. This award is not just for myself, but also for my wife, Sandie, who has not only supported me over my four years of being a Freemason, but also joined me and many Surrey Freemasons and their partners in doing the zip wire in Wales. As some of you know, the last year has not been a good one for us, and we both struggled, but we were supported not only by Willow Lodge, No. 6051, but also by the Provincial Executive and fellow Freemasons within the Province, and for that we thank you all.

‘This award is also for YOU, the Freemasons of Surrey, who have all contributed in some way towards attaining the amazing total of over £3.3 million. As Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes said in Grand Lodge, “Masonry is not an I, it is a WE”, and therefore this award is accepted on behalf of you all. Thank you, and bless you.’ Phil Warnes, Willow Lodge, No. 6051, Surrey

Air ambulance support

Sir, I was made WM of Eliot Lodge, No. 1164, in St Germans, Cornwall in December 2018. Having been airlifted by Cornwall Air Ambulance following a bicycle accident, I decided to name it as my charity for the year. In particular, the money raised would go towards the new helicopter appeal.

Being so spread out, Cornwall has a particular need for an effective helicopter, including as it does the Isles of Scilly. We are not a big lodge, but with a lot of support from members we raised more than £2,000 towards the charity. Our picture (below) shows myself, Richard Saw, Mike Foottit (both of whom are pilots themselves) and John O’Neill presenting the cheque in December 2019 to some of the crew.

While I’m writing, thanks for producing an always interesting read. Chris Redgrove, Eliot Lodge, No. 1164, Cornwall

The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Grand Lodge of England. All UGLE members’ letters printed are appended with the contributor’s name, his mother lodge name and number, the town where that lodge meets, and the Province; please include these details at the foot of your letter. Please enclose an SAE for any items sent by mail that you wish to have returned.

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