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Freemasonry and Public Affairs
Introduction
The following text examines the attitude of
regular Freemasonry to public affairs. The picture on the right is of
Freemasons' Hall in Great Queen Street, London. This building is open to the
public for guided tours and is regularly used for non-Masonic functions as well
as TV and Film locations.
Regularity
The basic principles or rules governing the recognition of a Grand Lodge as regular were codified by Grand
Lodge and the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland (the 'Home Grand Lodges') in
1929. They include a requirement that the 'discussion of religion and politics
within the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited'. The phrase 'within the Lodge'
should not be interpreted narrowly but extends to Masonic circumstances
generally, and must be read in the light of paragraph 6 of Aims and
Relationships of the Craft.
Aims and Relationships of the Craft
The aims and relationships of the Craft (i.e. Freemasonry as practised under a Grand Lodge) have been
explained from time to time in the Press in the British Isles, particularly in
formal statements (in identical terms except for national names) issued by the
Home Grand Lodges in 1938. Relevant paragraphs of Grand Lodge's statements are
as follows:
1. While English Freemasonry thus inculcates in each of its members the duties
of loyalty and citizenship, it reserves to the individual the right to hold his
own opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in any Lodge, nor at any
time in his capacity as a Freemason, is he permitted to discuss or to advance
his views on theological or political questions.
2. The Grand Lodge has always consistently refused to express any opinion on
questions of foreign or domestic State policy either at home or abroad, and it
will not allow its name to be associated with any action, however humanitarian
it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable policy of standing aloof
from every question affecting the relations between political parties, or
questions as to rival theories of government.
3. The Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist bodies, styling themselves
Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles, and while that attitude
exists the Grand Lodge of England refuses absolutely to have any relations with
such bodies, or to regard them as Freemasons.
In 1949 the Home Grand Lodges formally confirmed that they stood by their
statements, particularly paragraph 2. Their opinion has not changed.
Public Affairs
The basic principles and the statement of Freemasonry's aims show that the
rule that forbids Masonic discussion of politics is designed to prevent regular
Freemasonry becoming involved in any way in affairs of State, whether they are
domestic or external. Great care must be taken to ensure that nothing is done
that might allow it even to seem to be so involved.
Grand Lodges which ignore these principles are not conducting themselves
regularly and cannot expect to be or to remain recognised.
References
The full 'basic principles' and the statement on the aims and relationships
of the Craft are printed in Grand Lodge's Book of Constitutions and Masonic Year
Book.
Basic principles are re-stated in Grand Lodge's leaflet 'Freemasonry's External
Relations'.
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