5th Annual Provincial Church Service a great success

Over three hundred Freemasons and their families from all over South-East Wales descended on Brecon on Sunday 22nd October 2006.

The occasion was the 5th Annual Provincial Church Service which was held in the town's Cathedral. The services have been held on a three year cycle at Llandaff, Gorseinon and Brecon. Like the first visit to Brecon in 2003, the weather was grey and damp but, as usual, the warmth of the welcome and the chance to renew old friendships - and make new ones - made that seem unimportant.

The Cathedral's regular Evensong attendance was swelled beyond recognition with Brethren, and their families, of many faiths coming together in this act of of collective worship.

Provincial Grand Master, Hywel Davies, who has lived in the town and worshipped at the Cathedral for over three decades was delighted with the level of support. Speaking after the service he said

'It is heartwarming to see such a large number of people making what, for most of them, will have been a long journey north to join together in a tangible and public demonstration of the spiritual dimension of Freemasonry. Belief in a Supreme Being, by whatever name is appropriate to the individual's religion, is a prerequisite to membership of our fraternity.

'This is a fine example of the enduring legacy of our Freemasonry in the Community initiative by which our members are encouraged to proudly say, "here we are, these are our values, this is what we stand for". I look forward to our next service in a year's time, in the west of the Province, when we can unite in this wonderful way yet again. Other Provinces have longer traditions of such services, but our geography has been an obstacle with more than 80 miles separating the far north and the extreme south of our area. We seem to be have been able to overcome that difficulty in recent years and long may this continue.'

Landmark Court Ruling upholds the integrity of Freemasonry

There have been very few cases under English Law which have directly considered the place of Freemasonry and Freemasons in public life.

Conspiracy theorists and an ill-informed media (and Freemasonry itself must take some responsibility for the latter) have often questioned the partiality of Masons and, indeed, the alleged effect of movement itself in public affairs.

However, the case of Regina (Port Regis School Ltd) -v- North Dorset District Council [2006] EWHC 742 (Admin) directly addressed not just the particular case, but the whole subject in principle. Mr Justice Newman's full written judgment can be viewed here.

This ruling sets out once and for all the true nature of Freemasonry and its effect upon public life. Mr Justice Newman (who is not a Freemason) acknowledged and accepted that:

'Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society; he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he resides or which may afford him protection, and he must never be remiss in the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land'.

He considered that a fair minded appraisal had to be made of (amongst others) the following:

1. The Masonic principles of mutual defence and mutual support did not suggest unquestioning support under any circumstances. For instances, a mason 'must not engage in offences contrary to the laws of God and the ordinances of the realm'.

2. The information and guidance given to Masons includes advice on the need for declarations of interest to be made including, where appropriate, membership of Freemasonry.

3. The councillors in question were required by law and by their Freemasonry to adhere to the legal obligations imposed on them by the Local Government Act.

4. Freemasonry does not require a Freemason in local government to be partial to any other Freemason. Freemasonry underpins the requirements of impartiality and fairness set by the law.

5. Lord Bingham in Locabail (UK) Ltd v. Bayfield Properties Ltd [2000] 1 All ER 65 considered that ordinarily, Masonic associations would not require a judge to recuse himself. Also, Lord Irvine, former Lord Chancellor, did not accept that the oaths of mutual assistance were incompatible with the judicial oath.

In the circumstances, Mr Justice Newman concluded in the circumstances of the particular case that the Freemasonry of the members in question did not give rise to apparent bias in the decision of the full Council to grant the planning consent it did.

Port Regis is significant for us since it addresses directly the issue of Freemasonry in local government decision-making (and, one would hope, beyond). We would, however, always advise our members to proudly declare their membership, especially where there may be a perception of bias. Any such incorrect perceptions should then be challenged - exactly as was done in this case.

Bigotry reigns as Assembly caves in to the inevitable!

At about twenty past four on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 April 2005, the National Assembly of Wales brought an end to its shameful discrimination against Freemasons.

The Standing Order that was abolished required Assembly Members who were Freemasons to register that fact or face sanctions under the Criminal Law! No other UK legislature or assembly had seen fit to take such powers for itself; and furthermore, no other organisation was proscribed in that way - not even the Ku Klux Klan ...... or Al Quaeda.

The old requirement was something so eminently worthy of Nazi Germany - where Freemasons were also persecuted - that it was perhaps grimly ironic that that this iniquitous rule was overturned on Adolf Hitler's birthday!

Freemasons will still be required to register (and we have never suggested that that they shouldn't) but so will members of a large range of other organisations. Our objection has been to being singled out for discrimination.

The amendments mean that:

1. All references to Freemasonry are to be removed from the Standing Orders.
   
2. It would be replaced by a requirement for Assembly Members (AMs) to register membership of all organisations where a candidate for membership (who otherwise meets the entry requirements) can be vetoed by existing members or by a selection committee.
   
3. Where an AM fails to register the fact that s/he is a Freemason (or a member of one of the newly defined organisations), s/he would no longer be de-facto guilty of a criminal act. S/he would instead be subject to internal NAW sanction and resulting public opprobrium.
   

Many of the contributions to the debate could be described as spiteful and grudging - even from some of those who subsequently voted in favour of the motion. It was clear that in many cases, support for the amendment was motivated only by the prospect of almost certain defeat at the European Court of Human Rights.

Some members displayed what can only be described as breathtaking ignorance of, and antipathy towards, Freemasonry. Such ignorance really cannot be excused because for over four years we have repeatedly offered each AM the facility of having their questions answered - and/or to visit a Masonic premises. The antipathy could therefore be said to fuelled by willful ignorance.

Freemasonry does not involve itself in politics - except when Freemasony itself is the subject. It is to be hoped, therefore, that this is the last that the National Assembly for Wales will see of us.

However, there was some suggestion during the debate that the new Standing Order might be applied selectively. We will be keeping a keen eye on its application; being particularly alert for disparity in any penalties imposed by the Standards Committee.

David Melding AM, made a very appropriate contribution when he said that sanctions imposed by the Standards Committee should be determined by the motives or reasons for any breach.
We would add that the nature of the organisation must have no bearing on the Committee's deliberations.

The European Court of Human Rights awaits.