Freemasonry on the rise in Asia

From the Daily Telegraph

Freemasons grow in popularity in Asia

'Secret' society the Freemasons is expanding in Asia, as expats look to join its ranks.

Thriving: many young professionals working overseas join the Freemasons Photo: PA

The Freemasons are thriving in Asia as expats look for a ready-made network of professionals to help them settle into a new country.

The supposedly secret society, which dates back to the 18th century, is seeing a lot of young blood join its ranks overseas to help break the stuffy image of retired old judges meeting behind closed doors.

The numbers of young professionals signing up to the Freemasons is helped by the fact that the fraternity is on a drive to become more “relevant” and “open” in its dealing with the public.

Nigel Brown, grand secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, said: “We have always been open but want to be more pro-active in doing this, such as being recognised for our charitable work and donations. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the Freemasons which we need to get rid of by helping people understand what we do and cutting out the jargon we use.”

Mr Brown was last week in Singapore to reopen Freemason’s Hall, a heritage building gifted by Queen Victoria to the Freemasons.

British-born Australian Nick Jacobs, 41, is an example of the new breed of Freemasons helping to grow the membership. He said: “It definitely has an attraction to expats as you get to meet up with people in a strange city and very quickly they are like brothers to you. And these are people you wouldn’t normally be friends with as they are outside the expat community.”

He added: “There are many older gentlemen who are active Freemasons in Singapore but we are finding that we are also attracting a much younger demographic of expats and locals.”

Freemasons in Asia regularly take part in social activities such as inter-lodge paintballing sessions and pub quizzes.

Singapore has eight English lodges and is part of a district that includes Malaysia and Thailand. Many countries in Asia are seeing a spike in popularity for the Freemasons, especially those nations with colonial roots and established lodges.

Dennis Heath, a British expat and Freemason in Singapore, added: “We see a lot of expats passing through Singapore who want to come to the lodge where they know they will be welcomed warmly. We also have expats who were previously part of a lodge back in the UK, along with those joining for the first time. The traditions and history of the Freemasons has a strong appeal in the fast-paced, digital world we live in”

But he admitted: “There is still a certain mystique, and many false myths, about joining the world’s oldest fraternal and charitable society.”

Nazi research brings reward for mason

From the Bucks Herald

 

Bucks freemason gains rare membership into world’s pre-eminent research group, Quatuor Coronati, for Nazi investigation

David Peck

Published on Friday 7 December 2012 15:17

A freemason has won a top award for historical research on the Nazis.

David Peck, 68, of Haddenham, has been honoured for his exploration of the Nazi threat to British Freemasons in World War Two.
He has received the Norman B Spencer Prize, awarded by the world’s pre-eminent masonic research group, Quatuor Coronati Lodge in London.
Mr Peck, a former BAE SYSTEMS project director, of Wykeham Gate, Haddenham, won £100 for his efforts – and, more significantly, has been invited to join the research group.
He said: “It is a great honour. I am so pleased. I am the first member of Bucks Freemasons for many years to be asked to become a member of Quatuor Coronati.”
The research group has an important position in world freemasonry, as the exact origins of the craft, as it is known among members, has been lost in the shrouds of time.
Written records of very early masonic meetings were either not made or have not survived.
Mr Peck adds: “Freemasonry is all about friendship, decency, and charity, so it is important for future generations that historians document and examine the challenges the movement has had throughout its existence.
“Possibly the biggest threat it has seen in the last century was that of the Nazis. Far too many freemasons ended up in concentration camps as the German tanks rolled in, across national borders, throughout Europe.
“There is every reason to believe that we would have suffered similar persecution in England if Operation Sea Lion – Hitler’s plan to invade England – had gone ahead.”
The head of Bucks Freemasons, Gordon Robertson, says: “David is a wonderful advocate for our core values of friendship, decency, and charity, so I am delighted that his many years of devotion to the cause have been recognised in this way.
“He is the go-to guy for anyone in Berks, Bucks, and Oxon who wants to learn about the history of freemasonry.”
Mr Peck is a former master, or chairman, of Haddenham Lodge, which he joined in 1982. It is based at the Masonic Centre in Thame High Street, Oxfordshire.
He is chairman of the Bucks Association for Masonic Research. His previous projects include investigating the order’s origins and development in Malta.
Mr Peck is a chartered engineer and a Bradford University graduate. He has lived in his current home in Haddenham for more than 30 years.
He went on: “I shall donate the cash to the masonic library at Freemasons’ Hall in London, which is a mine of information about the craft.
“And I shall continue to research as much as I can. It’s a bug.”

Masonic membership packs

 From the Daily Telegraph...

Freemasons sell Christmas membership packs for £80

Its 'secret' handshakes and elaborate rituals have long been a mystery to outsiders, but the world of freemasonry is opening up by selling membership Gift Packs for people to give their loved ones for Christmas.

Membership to the Freemasons is now available as a Christmas gift  

The Masonic Christmas Gift Pack costs £80 and includes a tour of the local Masonic Lodge, an invitation to meetings with masons, and – subject to approval by the local Lodge - a year’s membership to the group.

The British Federation of Co-Freemasonry described the pack, which is available until the end of December, as “truly a life-changing gift”.

The federation is one of a number of freemasons’ groups that operate worldwide. It was founded in 1893 and has been operational in Britain since 1902. The federation is open to both men and woman and is open to people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Freemasons are networking groups and charitable organizations who convene in local ‘Lodges’, or meeting houses. They are non-religious and non-political, and membership involves taking place in a series of rituals and ceremonies.

The British Federation of Co-Freemasonry is different to the United Grand Lodge of England, where membership is limited to men only.

The British Federation of Co-Freemasonry said it is the first Masonic organisation to make membership available as a Christmas gift. It said that the initiative is part of a wider campaign to raise awareness amongst the general public.
A spokeswoman said that new members applying to join through the Christmas Gift Pack initiative will have their application confirmed after an interview by members at their nearest lodge.
She said: “We are hoping to reach some people who perhaps have never considered becoming a Freemason before. It seemed to us that Christmas was the perfect time to offer a Masonic Gift Pack and we hope many will take it up to surprise a loved one.”
“It is certainly a unique Christmas gift – to our knowledge nothing like this has ever been done before. Of course, if they subsequently change their minds before joining, we will provide a full refund. Equally if their local Lodge feel they aren’t suited to becoming a Mason we will fully refund the package as well.
The spokeswoman said that there are “huge benefits” to becoming a freemason.
“It provides a wonderful spiritual framework for life. We are hoping many more people will get the chance to experience it for themselves by being gifted our packs this Christmas,” she said.