-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- (from The Australian (Melbourne) 17.2.00) Freemasons open to a grand new era NATALIE O'BRIEN FREEMASONS have long been associated with mysterious ceremonies and secret handshakes, but yesterday the Grand Lodge in Perth opened the doors on its secret society for the first time in its 100-year history. Embracing a new open policy for one of the world's oldest men's organisations, the Grand Lodge has launched a publicity campaign to revamp its image and a membership drive to attract younger members. The newly elected grand master of the Grand Lodge, Peter Stokes, who will be installed in a public ceremony next week, said there was still a great lack of understanding of freemasonry and its values of brotherly love, relief and truth. "I believe it is the responsibility of the grand master to make the changes necessary to promote the craft widely," he said. As part of that open-door policy, members of the Grand Lodge turned out yesterday in full regalia, including gloves, aprons, elaborate collars and jewels, to explain to the media the duties of office-holders, their charitable work and the workings of the lodge, which they say is no longer kept under wraps. The outgoing grand master, Archdeacon Stanley Threlfall, said the only things that were secret now were their signals (handshakes, words and movements), which made them immediately recognisable to other freemasons. Freemasonry dates back to the 1600s in Britain and Europe, when stone- masons and, later, other tradesmen formed their own guilds to look after themselves and their communities. It became perhaps the world's best-known secret society because of the past persecution of its members. However, in more recent times it has been negative publicity that has made members reluctant to speak out about the organisation. In the past few years, the only publicity it has received in Perth has been about an unfair dismissal claim brought by a former grand secretary and the discovery of Aboriginal bones used as a teaching aid in one of the north-west lodges. But with membership of the society in steady decline since World War II, the Grand Lodge, which governs the state's 176 lodges, is determined to promote its good works, which include providing scholarships and donations of hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities and people in need. At next week's ceremony to install Mr Stokes, which coincides with the centenary of the Grand Lodge in Western Australia, the Freemasons will make a $1 million donation to the state. "It's a good organisation which does good for the community and for the individual, but it hasn't been good at talking about it," said grand secretary Peter Bloor. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
