Digital handshakes - Freemasons take to Twitter

Here is the full text of an article that ran in the Sunday Express...

Digital handshakes – Freemasons take to Twitter

Freemasons are continuing to break free from years of secrecy and have embraced social media, especially Twitter, in startling way.

It is part of their determination to correct the misunderstanding in public perception that arose from the persecution of Freemasons by the Nazis.

This necessitated keeping membership a secret in case of invasion.

The impression of secrecy then arose, which had the effect of making the organisation a subject for bizarre conspiracy theorists.

The mysterious fraternity is now revealing itself to the world via the most unlikely of mediums.

In the last 18 months, lodges and individual Freemasons have taken to Twitter in large numbers, all with the encouragement of the hierarchy.

The organisation, which in England is headed by the Grand Master, the Duke of Kent, has its own Twitter account, @UGLE_GrandLodge. And every day more lodges and Freemasons are joining.

There are about 200,000 Masons in 8,000 Lodges across the country – and those using Twitter are linking up with other Masons around the world.

It is thought that embracing Twitter will also help engage younger men who might wish to join the fraternity that has seen numbers declining on the back of the myth of secrecy.

Some lodges use social media to advertise their meetings, which attracts visitors and thereby boosts numbers and the amount raised for charity.

One of English Freemasonry’s most vocal supporters of the use of Twitter is Michael Wilks, the Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

He openly extols the benefits of social media and encourages his Lodges and the individual brethren to take advantage of what is effectively a free means of communication.

He said: “It is absolutely vital to our future to make use of social media, and Twitter in particular.

“Social Media helps publicise Freemasonry to the wider world, breaks down prejudices and brings it to the attention of those who otherwise would never be made aware of it.

“I visit many lodges in my province and urge them to make the most of this platform and to ensure that their social media activity is open so that the public can see that we have nothing to hide.

“It connects people, keeps brethren in touch and encourages members to visit other lodges, which is one of the great things about Freemasonry.”

Already the signs are that Twitter is having a beneficial effect with the positives far outweighing the negatives and the belief is that it could help prompt a Masonic revival.

The values of Freemasonry are based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness.

Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole – both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.

Members are taught its principles by a series of ritual dramas – a progression of allegorical plays which are learnt by heart and performed within each Lodge.

They follow ancient traditions and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides.

It is a little known fact that the information on Freemasonry, including their whole Book of Constitutions, has been plainly available in the public domain since 1723. So much for secrecy!