I am not a mason and, as an agnostic, would be inellegible to join. I do however, sympathise with many of their (openly declared) ideals. The fact that they do not shout about their good work is, in my view, a commendable thing as it is suggestive that they are doing charitable work more for the sake of that work than for their organisation's benefit. After all, look at the charitable work done by the forces (less now than used to be done) - we publicise it at least at a local level in order to gain good
PR for us. Suspect motivation? Certainly works well come ACR time!
Before 'buzzwords' were invented, one of the buzzwords of the armed forces would have been 'service'. Admittedly that now appears to have been replaced by 'retirement options'. However, as masonry encourages tolerance, support of others (including, but not exclusively, other masons) and a high moral code, surely a mason's code would be something we would want to see in our officers. Could be that we wouldn't be in the awful state we are if more of our leaders, at all levels, applied the same standards to themselves whether they were masons or not. Every mason that I have met in the forces (that has admitted to be a mason, anyway) has been a decent sort. Paul W did some free consultancy for me to help me win a small claims court case when I lived opposite him and his actions are typical of everyone I have known to be a mason. (There Paul, now you know who I am! Normal email is
[email protected])
Are a disproportionate number of our promoted also members of the brotherhood? Possibly, possibly not, but it's impossible to tell either way unless we conform to Jacko's plans for registering all members. Even if it were the case, does it prove that the secret connections enhance professional advancement or that decent blokes that give a damn about other people get promoted ahead of others? If it's not the case, it shows that being a mason brings little personal gain other than spending time with like-minded people. I have seen some total wasters get promoted - we all have - but they have been the type that has ignored their primary
One aspect of their 'secret society' status that I do appreciate is that I have NEVER had a mason try to ram their involvement down my throat. Hurrah! Unlike other serving Born Again Christians, New Labour members, card-carrying Tories and Man U supporters. I have seen all these other groups give overly generous reports to their unofficial 'members' and have had all of these groups annoy the hell out of me by being overly public. Especially the Man U fans who really should be secret, silent, outlawed and ashamed of themselves! ;-) Whilst I support their right to their own beliefs, I object to being a subject of a conversion crusade.
Finally, Jacko, since I have been on this board you have come across to me as a rarity - a reasonable and thoughtful journalist, open to sensible debate. Sadly, on this thread, your bigoted and unreasonable posts have sullied much of your good image in my eyes. And probably in the eyes of others too.
[This message has been edited by opso (edited 08 April 2001).]