Masons appeal for new recruits

THE VEIL of secrecy that has shrouded Freemasonry for centuries has been lowered further after the ancient craft placed its first newspaper advertisement for new members.

The unprecedented appeal follows a fall in membership, which a spokesman for the United Grand Lodge, the Masons' headquarters, said yesterday was mainly due to changing modern lifestyles.

Other Masons, particularly those in police and local government, have resigned recently amid increasing polit- ical pressure on employers to disclose details of staff who are members of secret societies.

The advertisement appeared in the Manchester Evening News after membership levels slipped drastically in Lancashire lodges.

It read: "Have you ever thought about becoming a Freemason? Would you like to join a society of men who place a high value on truth and morality and work for charitable aims. If you are interested there is a Manchester Lodge who may be interested in you."

A lodge must have a minimum of seven men to perform its ancient ceremonies. A master, senior and junior warden, treasurer, secretary and two deacons are required for the secret rituals, which involve wearing ceremonial garb including aprons and white gloves.

Alan Garnett, provincial secretary for East Lancashire, said: "Membership is also dwindling in the church, Round Table and Rotary."

John Hamill, of the United Grand Lodge, said membership levels had been affected by the changes in British working patterns over the past 15 years.

He added: "People, especially in the professions and management, find they have less spare time and there are far more distractions to fill that time."

He said other "membership organisations" including the Independent Order of Odd- fellows, were experiencing similar problems. Mr Hamill pointed out that no newspaper advertisement had been placed before, although some lodges had advertised in regimental or school magazines, if they drew the bulk of their members from such institutions.

The newspaper adverts might catch on, he said, if they were successful, but some masons would frown on the exercise, believing that a prospective Mason should not be pressured but should apply to join of his own volition.

Masonry enjoyed a boom in membership immediately after the Second World War when many men were looking for "greater stability" in their lives, said Mr Hamill. Natural causes meant that some of these members were now being lost.

Others left the craft after last year's Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into Freemasonry led to calls for membership lists to be made public.

Some Masons felt their career prospects could be harmed because of the suspicions of Freemasonry that remain in some sections of society.

Despite local problems, about 11,000 new members registered with the United Grand Lodge last year, and there are a total of 350,000 Masons among the 7,800 lodges in England and Wales.