This animal skin waistcoat was the one worn By Michael Caine in the 1975 film The Man Who Would be King, and is being sold by Bonhams in London.
Caine played the character Peachy Carneham. It is estimated to sell for £300-£400.
On the website of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon it records the film as: "Based on a Rudyard Kipling story. Mercenary soldiers convince Kafiristan tribespeople that they are gods after discovering masonic symbols on religious artifacts. Sean Connery, Michael Caine. Directed by John Huston. 129 min. UK/USA, English, Colour. (Drama/Action)"
It's out with the old at the Freemasons as the international society looks to boost the numbers of young people joining its ranks as it works to survive in the modern world.
Founded in the 19th century in Europe before being exported to the U.S. and worldwide, freemasonry is also known as "the craft," in homage to its roots in stonemasonry.
It portrays itself as a "fraternal society" where its members support one another, providing a space for like-minded people to socialize at "lodges" and carry out charitable works, while enabling its six million members worldwide to improve themselves on a moral level.
Famous Freemasons have included presidents and prime ministers, from Winston Churchill in the U.K. and George Washington in the U.S. and famous businessmen such as Henry Ford and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Mozart and Buzz Aldrin were also members.
The group also has strong links to the British royal family, with the Queen's cousin, the Duke of Kent, the current patron, or "Grand Master," of the U.K.'s Freemasons.
However, the society is not without its detractors who accuse it of being a secret society, where its predominantly male-only lodges use "funny handshakes" and "secret symbols" to recognize one another. Furthermore, it has been accused frequently of being an "old boys network" where members use their connections for personal gain.
In a bid to quash what it calls the "myths" surrounding it as it heads towards its tercentenary in 2017, the United Grand Lodge of England and Wales (UGLE) – the governing body of the U.K. Freemasons which oversees around 8,000 lodges – has undergone something of a re-branding exercise.
"We want to be seen as a more relevant society," said Nigel Brown, Grand Secretary (or chief executive) of UGLE told CNBC.
"There's no doubt that the majority of our members are older but young people have a huge amount to offer to the mix within lodges - the older members might have more life experience but the younger ones have new ideas and it's the combination of that that's important."
The organisation has tried to raise awareness of its existence and activities among young people as its existing membership ages. In 2005, it set up a "universities scheme" to "establish and/or enhance arrangements and opportunities for undergraduates and other university members to enjoy Freemasonry," as the scheme's website says.
At its post war peak, there were in excess of 500,000 Freemasons in the U.K.. By November this year, there are 214,000 – which had fallen from 228,000 in 2011. But the latest figures give some promising reading for the society.
Although in November 2013, the 21-30 age group represented only 2.07 percent of the total membership of U.K. Freemasons while all other age groups have declined in numbers, the range of younger members has increased.
Membership among the 21 to 30 age group has increased 7.65 percent over the last two years while membership in all other age groups decreased; The 40 – 50 age group has declined just over 10 percent, around 7 percent among 50 to 60 year olds and is down almost 10 percent between 60 to 70 year olds.
Since the launch of the universities scheme, forty lodges that either operate in university towns or are attached to universities to cater mainly for students or alumni have become involved. Masons that CNBC spoke to insisted that the scheme was to "raise awareness" about the group and not to actively recruit more members – which is against the group's ethos.
Alistair Townsend has been a Freemason for 22 years and is the Secretary of Isaac Newton University Lodge (INUL), a lodge attached to Cambridge University principally made up of past and present students.
He told CNBC that there had definitely been an increase in younger members within his lodge of 200 members. "Older members within INUL are definitely aware of the importance of recruiting and retaining younger members," he said.
"Young people bring new ideas. We can get all the 60 year olds that we want but it's important to bring in people with new ideas. Unless we get that, the way we interact with the outside world, freemasonry is not going to change."
Membership costs around £100 a year for a regular member but students pay around a quarter of that figure. Asked what the organisation actually offered young people, Townsend said it enabled young people to feel connected to the past, a sense of tradition and formality which was "now missing from life and the world."
"We've got to find a way to show young people that we are inclusive, without losing those qualities," he added.
Claims of inclusivity and openness have been countered by accusations that the group is male-dominated, however. Women can become Freemasons, but can only join "orders" which are separate from the mainstream male-only lodges.
Interestingly, female members call each other "brother" and the head of the lodge is called the "Worshipful Master" like their male-only counterparts.
The "International Order of Co-Freemasonry" – also known as "Le Droit Humain" - is open to men and women but is not widely approved of among many masons.
With the organisation's main entrance requirement hardly taxing -- the only pre-requisite for joining being that applicants have some belief in a higher being – there could be concerns that younger members don't take the group seriously.
Furthermore, the Freemasons have been dogged with an accusation that they operate as an "old boys network" in which members give each other an unfair advantage in the world of business or politics – something else that could attract some young people looking to get ahead in a more hostile world where the competition for jobs is rife.
INUL's Secretary Alistair Townsend said it was important to meet younger applicants before they were accepted into his – or any lodge – to make sure they were suitable for membership and were joining for the right reasons. UGLE's Nigel Brown, meanwhile, said that "if a member came to me expecting some kind of leg-up he'd be struck off immediately."
With thousands of other university societies operating in the U.K. that offer students the chance to socialise, practice a hobby or learn a new skill, joining the Freemasons might not be the obvious choice to engage in such activities – unless they did see some kind of personal advantage.
One active young Freemason conceded that some people did join for the wrong reason.
"Some people make the fundamental mistake of believing that the freemasons are essentially a networking club," Sanjay Mody, a doctor who counts himself among the 21 to 35 age group of Freemasons, told CNBC on Monday.
"But it's not all, it's about fellowship and camaraderie."
Mody joined the group in 2001 when he was a medical student in Scotland. Having lived and worked in the U.S. and Cayman islands, he's attended not only his "mother lodge" in Scotland ("Lodge Ancient No.49") but many abroad.
"As corny as it sounds, for me joining the masons was like a "calling".
The masonic values matched what I was looking for and I found that a lot of my friends at university were in it already."
The latest event to harness the influx of younger members is the forthcoming "University Lodges Ball," a 150-year-old society event that has been resurrected by the "Apollo University Lodge" of Oxford and Townsend's Cambridge lodge to be held this weekend in London.
One of the organisers of the ball, which is open to members and non-members alike and being held to make money for a veterans' charity, said that it was a way for the organisation to promote itself among a wide range of young people.
"I think what's happened with freemasonry, like a lot of large companies or organisations, is that the world has changed around us and it's just taken us slightly longer to adapt and change with it," Freemason Daryn Hufton-Rees told CNBC.
"We're not some weird, secret society," he said. There are no Illuminati roaming about or funny handshakes involved -- although, by the way, it's a grip, not a handshake -- We're an organisation with moral codes and people join us for the sense of camaraderie, the opportunities to learn and charitable giving."
Here is an article from the Daily Mirror about Hillsborough and Freemasonry.
Hillsborough: Freemason cops banned from working on criminal probe into cover-up
The revelation adds weight to the theory that members of the secretive organisation suppressed the truth after 96 Liverpool fans died in 1989.
Hillsborough Tragedy
Mirrorpix
Police officers who are Freemasons have been banned from working on the criminal investigation into the Hillsborough cover-up.
The revelation adds weight to the theory that members of the secretive organisation suppressed the truth after 96 Liverpool fans died in 1989.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission took the unusual move after families of the football fans who died in the disaster demanded that no members of a lodge be involved.
All of the employees in the IPCC investigation have also been told they cannot be from South Yorkshire or Merseyside, where the tragedy occurred.
Former West Midlands Police officers have also been banned after their force carried out a review that led to the flawed inquest verdicts being quashed last year.
Officers from the force have also been accused of changing witness statements.
The probe into the police’s role on the day of the disaster – codenamed Operation Resolve – employs 170 people, including 70 officers. The latest review, led by former Durham chief constable Jon Stoddart, was expected to report soon but the team has been swamped with evidence and has to interview 237 officers who were on duty at the match.
A source close to the probe said: “We have been told that no Freemasons are allowed on the investigation.
“One theory at the time was that the whole conspiracy was covered up by the group’s members as there are so many Masons in the police.
“The families have raised concerns… so we have prohibited them from being part of the investigation team. The deadline that officers were working towards is impossible and the review’s findings will be delayed.”
An IPCC source confirmed that Freemasons and former officers from the three forces had been banned from the probe.
The investigation team, while independent from the fresh inquests into the deaths, is helping coroner Lord Justice Goldring to prepare for and carry out the inquests, set to start by March 3, 2014.
Hillsborough was Britain’s worst-ever sporting disaster. Thousands of fans were crushed on the Sheffield Wednesday ground’s Leppings Lane terrace during Liverpool’s 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Last December verdicts of accidental death from the original Hillsborough inquest in March 1991 were quashed.
The action was taken after the Hillsborough Independent Panel reported that there had been a huge cover-up.
The IPCC has previously revealed that statements given by witnesses could have been changed by police.
Secret society pervades the establishment
The Freemasons is a “fraternal brotherhood” dating back to the 14th century. It started as an organisation to monitor the qualifications of stonemasons.
But in modern times the organisation is seen as an elitist group that has been dogged by allegations of corruption.
The all-male group, governed by the United Grand Lodge of England, has 250,000 members. Many figures in authority are Freemasons. The first US president, George Washington, and another leading American revolutionary, Benjamin Franklin, were Masons. Today a significant proportion of the Royal household are members, and the Duke of Kent is grand master of the UGLE.
Despite royal patronage, and their presence in the judiciary and the higher reaches of the City, the Masons deny being an underground arm of the Establishment.
That's right, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was of course connected to Freemasonry!
Well that is the claim of various conspiracy theorists, one of whom has written a book on the subject and says:
"An unusually high number of Masonic organisations and individual
Freemasons appeared out of nowhere to help the McCanns evade any
litigation in connection with the disappearance of their daughter. A
London law firm with numerous prominent Masonic clients set up the
Madeleine Fund."
On October 21 1805 Nelson led his British fleet to victory over the combined French and Spanish navies.
Here is an account of the history of Lodge of Trafalgar in Leith, Scotland, taken from the Grand Lodge of Scotland website.
TRAFALGAR HALL, LEITH : A CENTURY NOT OUT
by Brother W S Paton P M No 223
During 1988, Trafalgar Hall, Leith, the premises of Lodge Trafalgar,
No 223 will be 100 y'ears old. The Brethren of 223 believe that
their hall is unique, in that it must be one of the few built
specifically as a Masonic Temple The following article traces the
search forr preinises culminating in the building of this unique
hall, and the Brethren whose love and generositv over a century has
given it a character of its own.
Based on a "History' by Brother W S Paton P M No 223 Hon. Grand
Bible bearer Grand Lodge of Scotland edited by Brother A. McKinnon,
P. M. No.223
Being a major port in the nineteenth century, it is not surprising
that Leith should provide men for the crews ("press-ganged", no
doubt) of the ships engaged in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Shortly after that battle a number of Masonic Brethren of the port
of Leith decided to form a new Lodge to be named "Lodge Trafalgar"
in commemoration of the great victory at Trafalgar Bay.
The petition to form such a Lodge, having been granted, Lodge
Trafalgar was opened on 8th February 1808 in a house in Rotten Row
(now Waters Close). In this part of Leith the houses were of such
splendour that Mary of Lorraine, mother of Mary Queen of Scots, had
a house built in Rotten Row as a place of retreat and a royal
refuge. Mary Queen of Scots herself stayed either in this house or
"Andro Lambis" house (Lamb's House) when she landed at the Shore
from France in 1561.
Lodge Trafalgar fell dormant during the years 1837 to 1858.
On being resuscitated on 22nd February 1859, Lodge Trafalgar took up
residence in the New Ship Hotel, Shore, Leith. This obviously did
not live up to the grand beginnings in Rotten Row, as the Brethren
were soon on the move, and in 1867 moved their activities to 89
Constitution Street, then in 1872 to the glasswork company's
schoolroom in Salamander Street. This company undertook the
education of the large number of boys they employed; also the site
of one of the earliest Sunday schools in Leith.
Two years later a short return to the New Ship Hotel preceded the
move to 54 Bernard Street on 15th December 1874. This hall is now
used as a warehouse, above the entrance of which can still be seen,
cut in the stone, the coat of arms of Leith, and the motto
'Persevere". Negotiations to purchase the Bernard Street hall
failed, and prompted the Brethren to seek an alternative site.
After attempts to purchase the Old Market in Tolbooth Wynd likewise
fell through, they finally acquired a piece of ground in St Anthony
Place, and on this ground it was decided to build the future Lodge
Trafalgar No.223, Masonic Temple.
On this site in 1430 the Preceptory and Hospital of the Blessed
Confessor St Anthony, near Leith, was founded by Sir Robert Logan of
Restairig.
NOTE: near Leith, not in Leith, as in 1430 the St Anthony district
was outside the Port of Leith; this is borne out by the inscription
on the seal now in the Antiquarian Museum in Edinburgh, which reads
"S Comune Preceptorie Sancti Anthony Prope Leicht", which translated
means "The Common Seal of the Preceptory of St Anthony near Leith".
This Catholic Hospice served as a home for the aged and infirm.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone on this historic site
began with the Lodge being opened on 17th March 1888 at 15.00 hrs,
then the procession forming in Bernard Street; representafives of
the Forresters, Free Gardeners, Oddfellows, Society of Mechanics and
36 Sister Lodges were present, with Trafalgar Lodge following in the
rear. Several bands made up the procession. As is their traditional
right, the Working Tools were carried by the Right Worshipful Master
and Brethren of the Lodge of Journeyman Masons, No.8. The route
taken by the procession was by way of Cohstitution Street, Great
Junction Street, Henderson Street to St Anthony Place, where a large
crowd awaited their arrival.
After the laying of the Foundation Stone, with full Masonic honours,
by the Right Worshipful Master, Brother G. Craig, the procession
re-formed and returned to Bernard Street, when the Lodge was closed.
The silver trowel which was used was presented to Brother G. Craig,
and was returned to the Lodge in 1958, and is now in the Lodge
museum.
It is our good fortune that the then Right Worshipful Master,
Brother G. Craig, was an architect by profession. His design and
layout has given us what must be one of the finest purpose-built
Masonic Temples in the country.
The carved finials of the Sun, Moon and Stars which stood above the
entrance unfortunately had to be removed a few years ago, due to
weathering and decay. Carved into the stonework on the front of the
building are copies of the marks of the Right Worshipful Master and
the Brethren of the Building Committee.
On completion of the Temple, the inauguration ceremony of Trafalgar
Hall, Leith, was performed on Monday, 22nd October 1888. Once again
the Lodge was opened in Bernard Street at 19.00 hrs by Brother G.
Craig, Right Worshipful Master. The Brethren then marched in
procession to their new Lodge. The effect must have been very
striking in the poor lighting of the day; preceded by a few Brethren
on horseback, then the Tyler, in full naval uniform, and carrying a
drawn sword, next to Lodge Standard (not the present one), borne by
the Lodge Standard-bearer, the Lodge Brethren followed by the
Office-bearers were next, with the Right Worshipful Master taking up
the rear, each Office-bearer carrying the emblem of his office, with
the Secretary in charge of the Lodge Charter. Then followed a pipe
band. The long parade in full Masonic clothing, the red, white and
blue regalia, flanked by blazing torches, must have been a
picturesque scene. The whole route was heavily lined with spectators
and, in St Anthony Place once more, they met a densely packed crowd.
On arrival at the new Lodge, the Brethren formed into a double line,
through which the Right Worshipful Master and his Office-bearers
marched.
On reaching the door, the Right Worshipful Master gave the knocks to
demand admission, then the door opened to admit the Brethren for the
first time into their new home. After taking up their rightful
places in the Lodge the Right Worshipful Master received a
deputation from the Metropolitan District Committee, headed by the
Chairman, Brother R. Crichton. who then performed the ceremony of
consecration.
This momentous occasion in 1888 is the reason for the present
Brethrens' wish to celebrate the lOOth Anniversary of the opening of
Trafalgar Hall, Leith. Starting with a rededication ceremony, to be
conducted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland,
Brother James Malcolm Marcus Humphrey of Dinnet.
Buildings, however, are merely a collection of stone, wood and
various assortments of building material. The life and character
comes from the people whose contributions of time, money, work and
thought, built up over the years, makes the building a living
vibrant institution.
During the hundred years of its existence, our Temple has been the
subject of continuing generosity by Brethren whose efforts and
presentations have over the years added to the Masonic and seafaring
character of Trafalgar Hall. It would be wrong in an account of our
hall's development not to mention some of the major items which can
all too easily be overlooked.
One strong tradition which started in 1905 was the celebration of
the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar; this included a church
service held in St John's Parish Church, our own Brother The Rev. J.
Park officiating. We now hold an annual "Trafalgar Night" on the
third Tuesday in October in Trafalgar Hall, Leith.
Any self-respecting Masonic Lodge with new premises must have their
own crest. This was introduced in 1912 along with the motto "At Home
and Abroad".
Our Lodge museum contains enough items of interest to warrant an
article on its own. Pride of place for a Lodge with our background
must go to two letters: one written by Lord Nelson to Lord Elgin on
4th November 1799, presented to the Lodge on 26th November 1920 by
Brother E. J. Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin, and 14th Earl of
Kincardine, Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason. The other, written
by Lord Nelson in 1801, presented to the Lodge on 7th February 1890.
H.M.S. King George V was a battleship which was in action at the
Battle of Jutland in May 1916. The wheel from the bridge of this
ship was presented to our Lodge on 25th October 1965 by Captain Adam
Tait, H.M. T/S Dolphin. This wheel can be seen in the West of our
Lodge where, with port, starboard and masthead lights, form the
bridge of a ship, with a naval ensign in the background. To complete
the bridge hangs a ship's bell, presented to us on 26th February
1918 by Brother J. H. Dormer, H.M.S. Repulse, on behalf of his
Masonic Brethren of that ship. Brother Dormer explained that the
bell had come from the foundry in a crude condition and that his
shipmates had applied the finishing touches. The beautiful bell-rope
which now adorns the bell. is the work of our present Tyler, Brother
D. W. Brownhill, P.M. The bell was hung with ceremony, and Brother
W. Fergus Harris, I.P.M., was given the honour of being the first to
strike the bell, in accordance with Lodge custom at four bells
(10p.m.). This is now the custom at Harmony, in remembrance of all
Trafalgar Brethren wherever they be, "At Home or Abroad".
In October 1913, Brother Sir Robert Maule presented to the Lodge
seven oak stall-chairs, which now grace our dias. Also an oak
pedestal for the Right Worshipful Master. These chairs replaced the
original oak chairs presented by a Brother (unknown) in 1870. The
W.S.W., W.J.W. and Chaplain now use these chairs.
These presentations ensure that we can boast one of the most
impressive Easts in Freemasonry, while the view from the East is
unique and is probably unrivalled anywhere in the world.
A further presentation made by seafaring visitors, again in thanks
for the hospitality they received from the Brethren of Lodge
Trafalgar, was from Brother Eng. Lt. Willcock, H.M.S. Tyne, on
behalf of his Masonic submariners (H.M.S. Tyne was berthed at the
Imperial Dock during the war), they gave us a magnificent door
knocker in 1919. This was recently refurbished by seafaring Brethren
based in Rosyth.
Our Lodge banner was presented by our own Brother Captain W. B. W.
Lyle on 1st March 1966. This beautiful banner adorns the wall in the
South-East of the Lodge beside the oak table and chairs presented by
his father, Brother W. W. Lyle in 1921, for the use of the Secretary
and Treasurer.
The year 1955 almost proved calamitous for our hall, with the
discovery of dry rot. Prompt action by our members, whose work and
donations, along with contributions from Royal Arch Chapter
Perseverance and Preceptory of St Anthony, also our good friends
Lodge Trinity, No.885, enabled the rot to be eliminated. At the same
time a Canadian pine floor was laid in the Temple, an improvement on
the old knotted one.
Presentations of the material kind are only part of our Lodge's
character. In 1980, Brother J. B. Linton, P.M. donated a Holy Bible,
its presence during our ceremonies is a memory to the late Brother
J. C. Hackland, P.M.
Demolition work by South Leith Parish Church of the old Kirkgate
Church Hall, which adjoined our hall, meant that this wall had to be
made safe. The Brethren once more had to contribute, and the work
has been carried out to the satisfaction of the Lodge.
The last few years have seen further positive contributions to our
Lodge's future, including the recording of our Lodge history by
Brother W. S. Paton, P.M.
Under the stewardship of Brother D. W. Hogg, Right Worshipful
Master, and Brother G. Ritchie, Immediate Past Master, the last two
years have seen the start of a programme of modernisation to ensure
that the second century of Trafalgar Hall continues with the present
Brethren, following the footsteps of our forebears, and thus keep
our unique building to the fore in Scottish Freemasonry.
