Grand Lodge is to hire a young person to reach out to a new generation. With social media it has never been easier to speak directly to those who might be interested.
Here is the article from the Daily Mail...
The notoriously secretive Freemasons are to
appoint their first ever 'youth ambassador' to shake off their stuffy image as
old men with funny handshakes.
The organisation, one of the oldest in the
world, is advertising for an 18-25 year old to appeal to a 'younger generation'
admitting few current members are aged under 30.
Although they are open to anyone over 18, male
or female, masons fear many see them 'white haired old gentlemen in tweed
jackets.'
Esoteric: The square and compasses is the emblem of the
secretive Freemasons society
But they want to attract young blood to make
the organisation 'relevant in the 21st Century.'
The ambassador will be expected to highlight
the good work and other aspects Freemasonry can offer to younger adults and
attend public appearances to recruit new members.
The successful applicant for the UK post does
not have to already be a Freemason though they will be expected to become one
and it is initially a voluntary job.
Whoever applies will be asked for their career
and educational achievements but will also have their Facebook and other social
media activity vetted, the organisation admitted.
Spokesman Julian Rees said: 'Freemasons do
have something of an image problem with most members of the public thinking of
us as a load of white haired old men in tweed jackets.
'We want to say, enough of that, it's 2013,
let's start reaching out to all the wonderful young people out there and let's
start making them aware of how becoming a Freemason can help them in life.
'Freemasonry offers a wonderful spiritual
framework for life without being constrained by any single religious
dogma.
'What's more it is open to anyone aged 18 or
over regardless of their gender, race or religion.'
THE FREEMASONS: A MYSTERIOUS
ORGANISATION THAT CONSPIRACY THEORISTS LOVE TO BLAME FOR MAJOR WORLD
EVENTS
The first President of the United States George Washington
was a Freemason
They plotted the French Revolution, designed
the pyramids and faked the Apollo moon landings.
These are just some of the many conspiracy
theories associated with the Freemasons.
The first Grand Lodge of England was formed in
1717 and over three hundred years has collected an estimated 250,000 members in
England and Wales and six million around the world.
Publicly, the Freemasons insist the fraternity
is a non-religious meeting place for people interested in philosophy,
self-growth and spiritual development.
But due to the mysterious nature of its rites
and rituals it has become associated with secret handshakes and alleged
corruption in police and the judiciary.
Prominent public figures who are known to have
been Masons include the first President of the United States George Washington
and leading revolutionary Benjamin Franklin. The Duke of Kent is known to be a
Grand Master and formed a branch with members of the Royal Household in
2008.
Masons are widely believed to further the
business and professional interests of brother Masons, although they would deny
this and claim it is a harmless social and charitable organisation.
But author and broadcaster Martin Short whose
book Inside the Brotherhood sxposed Mason practices in the UK, insists bizarre
rituals such as the secret handshake exist.
Masons are widely believed to further the
business and professional interests of brother Masons, although they would deny
this and claim it is a harmless social and charitable organisation.
Former Home Secretary Jack Straw tried to
address the issue of Freemasons working in the criminal justice system. In 1999,
new judges were required to publicly disclose whether they were Masons.
