FREEMASONRY

In the early 18^thC freemasonry changed from being a craft activity within the building trade into being a social activity that drew together men from diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds. In large part, it was symptomatic of a divided and rapidly changing society's need to overcome its own internal tensions.

Roman Catholics played a leading part in early freemasonry. Scottish Jacobites helped spread it to France. In France and southern Europe it developed into a politically active form. In 1738 Pope Clement XII issued the Papal Bull In eminenti apostolatus, which barred their participation in the movement within the Papal States.

Catholic writers could not understand how the French Revolution could have occurred. Attributed it to a Judaeo-masonic conspiracy; Nazis took it up. In 21^stC Britain left-wingers feel at ease criticising masonry without appreciating how for some people it is closely linked to the fascist myths about Jews.

In England before the Second World War very much part of the civic life of the towns. Participated in parades to show professional standing. In Scotland a working class, Protestant movement.

There are roughly 8000 lodges in England and Wales, of which about 1500 are in London. There is a concentration of them in the City of London. Members of the more staid and hierarchical professions seem to be drawn towards freemasonry. Recruits swear on pain of death and ghastly mutilation not to reveal masonic secrets to outsiders. Morality, fraternity and charity are the brotherhood's stated aims.

The traditional pattern of recruitment was very low-key. In 1994 the society made noises about seeking to recruit members more widely than it had done hitherto. At the time there were about 300,000 freemasons in Britain.

In 2018 the Freemasons decided to admit women if they had joined the organisation when they had been men. Legally, they were obligated to do so by the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 and the Equality Act of 2010.

Location: Juxon House, St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8BU. A plaque commemorates the foundation of the Grand Lodge of English Freemasons in 1717. This is located at the east end of the colonnade that fronts the ground floor of the building. (purple, orange)

Freemasons and The Police

Two of the concerns about police officers being freemasons were that they might have unduly assisted the promotion of fellow masons over non-masons and that they might be members of lodges of which criminals were also members.

In April 1995 the metropolitan police commissioner ordered the removal of all freemasons from Scotland Yard's anti-corruption squad. This followed the abandonment of an investigation after its existence was leaked at a freemasons dinner.

In July 1995 the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee voted to launch an inquiry into the influence of freemasons in the judiciary and police.

In September 2003 it was reported that the government had dropped its plan to require freemasons within the police service and other part of the criminal justice system to register their membership of the movement. This followed a claim by the united grand lodge that legislation requiring such registration would be a breach of the human rights act.

In 2017 the retiring chairperson of the Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file police officers, stated his opinion that freemasons were responsible for thwarting efforts to try to advance women and ethnic minorities within the service.

See Also: THE POLICE

'Nobby' Pilcher

In the late 1960s Detective Sergeant Norman 'Nobby' Pilcher (1935-2021) developed a media profile through appearing in newspaper photographs of his arresting pop stars for possession of drugs. Claims were made that he had planted evidence on those he arrested and that he secured information about dealers from other dealers in return for not arresting them. He was always to be adamant that he had behaved properly.

In 1972 Robert Mark was appointed to be the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police with the express commission of rooting corruption out of the force. He declared that he would arrest more criminals than he employed. The following year Pilcher was tried for perjury at the Old Bailey. He was convicted and given a four-year-long prison sentence. He was prosecuted because he had fabricated evidence in his police diary, he was to claim that it was a practice that his managers had encouraged him to develop. At the time, he was phlegmatic about what had happened to him, however, with time he because increasingly bitter and came to vent his anger at what he regarded as an institutional practice and the freemasons within the force, he never having been one.

Freemasons' Hall

The first Freemasons' Hall (1776) was designed by Thomas Sandby. It was built to the east of the present Hall on the site of what is now The Connaught Rooms, which incorporate some of what was the Second Freemasons' Hall.

Location: Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, WC2B 5AZ (red, yellow)

Website: www.ugle.org.uk/freemasons-hall www.museumfreemasonry.org.uk

Samuel Morse

Samuel Morse wrote a book about the supposed machinations of the freemasons. It was published in 1835.

The Societas Rosicruciana In Anglia

The Societas Rosicruciana In Anglia is an independent order of Rosicurian freemasons. It was founded by Frater Wentworth Little in 1867.

Location: 88 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1RE. In 2002 the organisation moved its headquarters to 2022.

Website: https://srialondon.org www.sria.uk.com

David Backhouse 2024