The Meaning of Masonry to You

An introduction by Robert Lomas

On 13 April I went on the Gary Robertson Show on Radio Scotland to talk about why I had decided to write Turning the Hiram Key to explore what being a Freemason means to me.

I spoke of Freemasonry being a positive influence on my life and how the ritual contributed to this. After the show I was really surprised by the number of emails I got from Masons saying that they had felt similar things about their Freemasonry and agreed with some of my comments. They also added different ideas to those I had explored.

On Sunday the 26th of June on BBC1's Heaven and Earth show and amazing thing happened. Both Martin Faulk and I were invited to talk about what Freemasonry meant to us. I spoke about the tolerant spiritual tradition that I have found in Freemasonry and what a positive effect the Craft has had on my life as a scientist and a teacher. I pointed out that Freemasonry is a society where people of all religions and races can be together to consider the big questions of life. Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Where are we going? It is an organisation where all creeds and religions can join together in prayer. And that is something special in these times of great religous Intolerance.

Martin stood in front of the TV cameras in the Grand Temple at Freemasons Hall and spoke from the heart about what it means to him. "Its all about self imporovement, Freemasonry is about building yourself in to the most noble are honourable person you can be," he said.

For years we Freemasons have been describing ourselves as a friendly society or a body of people with charitable aims. Now for the the first time on national television, we were able to make clear to non masons what we are all about. "in Freemasonry we slowly transform or vices into virtues" Martin went on to say.

That's what I think Freemasonry is about too. But I would also like to know what other people feel about Freemasonry

If you would like to post a comment then here are some of the themes which have caused the greatest interest:

• Should Freemasonry be secret, or should we be more open about it?
• Is a member of your family a Freemason, and how do you feel about that?
• If you are a Mason, what does Masonic ritual mean to you?
• How did you feel when you were made a Mason?
• And what role has Masonic ritual played in your life since?
• Do you feel it is something which can not, or perhaps should not, be put into words?
• Do you think Freemasonry benefits society?

You don't have to be a Freemason to hold an opinion about it. You make have negative views about Freemasonry. What ever you opinions I would like to hear them. All I ask is that they are politely expressed. Join in with this survey of the state of the Craft.

You may want to send emails to your friends and invite them to read the statements and contribute their own thoughts.