1. Ambassadors for Freemasonry

2. Ambassadors for Freemasonry
A brief introduction
Some suggestions and ideas
The myths about Masonry
Question & Answer session
Open Forum – what do you want to see next ?

3. Ambassadors for Freemasonry.
The aim is to help all Masons, including
the new Mason, to talk about Freemasonry with his family and friends.
The intention here is that we should all feel able and willing to talk comfortably and confidently about our organisation, and thereby act as
Ambassadors for Freemasonry.
It is perfectly acceptable to appoint your Lodge Mentor immediately

4. Ambassadors for Freemasonry
So how do we do that ???
The help is already there !
Group Officers
Group Mentor
Lodge Mentor
Personal Mentor
Lodge members

5. Ambassadors for Freemasonry
A new approach to communication is needed
Integrity
Kindness
Honesty
Fairness

6. Ambassadors for Freemasonry
Help from Grand Lodge
Freemasonry – What’s it all about ?
A new leaflet written in plain language
A Short Talk to be delivered in Lodge, or at the Festive Board, on speaking freely about Freemasonry

7. Myths about Masonry
The wonderful thing about the miracle of the internet is the total freedom for anyone, around the world, on any continent, at any time, to be totally at liberty to contribute absolute rubbish about any subject, including Freemasonry, on the world wide web, without any shred of proof or substantiation
Many people have taken full advantage of this freedom !
This doesn’t mean any of this electronic “publishing” is even partially true, educational or in any way helpful

8. The 3 AAAs of Masonic Myths
Allegedly (insert allegation here)
Apparently (insert apparent fact here)
According to (insert name of “expert” here)

9. So where do myths come from ?
The age-old fight of Knowledge vs Ignorance
Where knowledge is lacking, this leaves room for Suspicion, Supposition and Stupidity !!
We are now starting to provide the knowledge to break down this ignorance more publicly than ever before

10. Masonic Myths We are not alone in being
subjected to this kind of thing !
It would be horrible to feel
we have been left out !

11. Other Myth Recipients !
All Presidents of the USA are apparently reptilian (seriously?) members of the Illuminati (yawn), and oh yes, Masons ( sometimes true !)
The Police and Armed Forces are allegedly puppets of some vague, shadowy multi-national organisation who wish to create chaos
The particle accelerator at CERN near Geneva was going to destroy the earth by creating black holes – yes, the conspiracy theorists even take on advanced particle physicists
Even some numbers get a rough press !

12. So what do “they” say about us ??
It is hilarious to ask friends and family what they have heard
It is real fun to investigate on the www 5,820,000 results !
So this is going to take some time or is it ? Draw on your OWN experiences to dispel these myths with non-masons

13. Top 10 Masonic Myths
Thankfully not ! – we take an oath not to discuss religion or politics when we join, to avoid disharmony; and we are not linked with any one religion, whilst a belief in a Supreme Being remains a condition of membership. We also talk about Integrity, Kindness Honesty & Fairness – hardly proper behaviour for any
self-respecting evil-doer !
1) Are Masons Occultists, Devil Worshippers or Cult Followers etc etc etc ?

14. Masonic Myths 2) Are we trying to take over the world ?
Probably not – who on earth would want
Honesty, Integrity, Kindness and Fairness
to mess up the world ??
There are many Grand Lodges and types
of Masonry, with no mechanism to contact
or control them all. France has just fallen
off the map Mon dieu !
And don’t forget, each Lodge is a private Lodge

15. Yet more myths ! Oh, for goodness sake !
3) Are we a branch of the Illuminati ?
Oh, for goodness sake !
There was a Bavarian Illuminati
organisation which died out in 1784
Since then, they have probably struggled a bit on recruitment And no, we are not a branch of theirs, even if they did exist !

16. More myths
4) All World Leaders are Masons
Not true –
President Obama is not a Mason. Gerald Ford was the last US Presidential Mason.
No other World Leaders are currently Masons. A clear recruitment opportunity Brethren!

17. Partly true, but co-incidental Myths.....
5) Masonic Symbols are everywhere
Many of our symbols come from a
period before Masonry was even invented.
The all-seeing eye was put on the Dollar Bill by artist Pierre Du Simitiere, who was not a Mason.
The pentagram is much older than Freemasonry, and took it’s link with the occult only in the 19th century.

18. Another myth ! 6) We are a Secret Society
No, we are a society of men, with certain modes of recognition (in the form of a handshake) for use within Freemasonry, that we keep private. After all, even KFC keeps the ingredients for their recipe private .
Our meeting places are often opened to
the public for social events, weddings etc.
and many of our own functions welcome
family, friends and non-masons.
We openly exhibit at the Southport Flower Show !

19. Myths, myths, more myths 7) Do we only look after our own ?
Yes we do help our members, BUT we also give generously
to non-Masonic charitable causes.
In West Lancs, the Lodges and Chapters, and community grants from Province, give similar amounts to Masonic and non-Masonic causes.
Grand Lodge Charity - 51% Masonic, 49% non-Masonic

20. Not many myths to go now - Number 8
Are we all Solicitors ?
Bank Managers ?
Business-men who help each other ?
Do you need to be rich to join ?
A show of hands here would be helpful – who is a Solicitor, Bank Manager, Businessman ?
Who is rich ???
Today, Freemasonry welcomes ALL occupations, religions and races

21. The Penultimate Myth Do we have a funny handshake ?
We don’t call it a funny handshake !
We do however have certain methods of recognition, just like any society of men.
The army has ranks, uniforms and salutes
We also have badges, jewels and regalia
Most of these are now available to view online

22. Myth number 10 We roll our trouser legs up?
Oops, sorry, this myth is true ! But we only do it early in our Masonic careers, and like all our ritual, it is rooted in tradition, with an historic significance
Let’s remember that not all myths are untrue –
Some Masonic myths come from time immemorial, and have been changed in the telling over many generations

23. Myths are usually just that
The myths about Freemasonry often show a real contrast to what has recently been uncovered by serious research by a totally impartial body......
We now challenge these misconceptions more than ever. Nigel Brown, our Grand Secretary, has recently toured around 60 radio stations and press offices, willing to answer all questions

24. Enough about myths, now for some facts !
Everything in this presentation is absolutely true, firm, solid, unequivocal, and is not open to speculation, interpretation or doubt !
INCORRECT !

25. Masonic Misunderstandings?
Most of the following “facts” and “answers” are open to personal interpretation, as Masonry often evokes different emotions and meanings in different people; we could have many different answers to the same question !

26. Enough about myths, now for some facts !
So why do we roll our trousers up ?
When initiated, we must be free men, of the full age of twenty one years.
Historically, the trouser leg was rolled up to ensure there was no chain from a jail still attached, or the marks left by a chain !

27. Do we always obey our own rules ?
Is 21 still the lower age limit ?
Surprisingly, this is 18
Any man can apply to join by dispensation when he is 18. University Lodges are the most common instances of this rule, and probably could not exist without it.
This is not always a bad thing – our Provincial Grand Secretary, Geoffrey Lee, joined at the tender age of 18

28. Why do we meet monthly ?
Traditionally, each member of the Lodge had to make his way there on horseback.
Many Lodges took advantage of the full moon to make the journey easier, and called their meetings to coincide with the best public lighting available at the time !
There are still some Lodges which meet on the full moon, but this does make scheduling very difficult
This fact contributed by W Bro Rowand Tait PJGD Queensland, Australia

29. Common Words, with uncommon meanings
Just Perfect and Regular
Like much of our ritual, we have heard these words on many occasions, but what do we think they mean ?

30. Common Words, with uncommon meanings
Just
Justice
Judiciary
Judicious
The Volume of the Sacred Law

31. Common Words, with uncommon meanings
Perfect
The DC ?
The Treasurer ?
The elder brethren ?
A Lodge cannot be perfect without a quorum, or number of members to fill all the offices i.e. 7, WM through Tyler

32. Common Words, with uncommon meanings
Regular
Monthly ?
Held at the same time of day ?
Sticks to the rules and regulations ?
A lodge cannot be regular without a warrant

33. Different Lodges with differing customs
Many Lodges expect the brethren to always square the Lodge whenever they walk around it.
Is this something we all have to do, and if so, why don’t we do it at Provincial meetings ?
According to the Emulation Ritual book, the only time we should square the Lodge is during the actual ceremonies. After that, it has been extended by many Lodges as the correct way to move around the room. As Province does not conduct ceremonies, there is no squaring the Lodge at Provincial meetings
Contributed by our Royal Arch Provincial DC, Mark Dimelow

34. Where should we put a DC? Where it is most convenient for the Master !
Usually on the Master’s right and slightly behind him, in the East.
But what if the WM is deaf in his right ear ?
Kindly contributed again by Mark Dimelow, Past PrDC of West Lancashire

35. Masonry is a progressive science
Why does the WM seem to be above us all ?
Because he is - his Chair of King Solomon is, in most Lodges, placed on three steps, that of the SW on two steps, and the JW on just one step.
Contributed by W Bro Damon Tait PPrGSuptWks, N. Fylde Group Mentor

36. Questions for a changing world
Are we open to all religions ?
A belief in a Supreme Being

37. Questions for a changing world
How would we decide ?
Are we limited to “recognised” religions ?
Always seek the guidance of Province before things progress too far – always good advice !
Would we admit a Druid, who takes his oath on a block of wood to represent Mother Earth ?

38. Questions about our Lodge room
What does the G mean in our Lodges ?
Some say God, whoever your own God may be
Some say Geometry, or Grand Geometrician
Why does it always face the Senior Warden ?

39. Questions about our Lodge room
Why do we have a black and white or chequered carpet ?
The Mosaic or chequered pavement represents this world, the light and darkness and the joys and sorrows of our chequered existence
Poetically contributed by Peter Bentham, Blackpool Group Chairman

40. Questions about our Lodge room
Is this the only reason we have a black
and white or chequered carpet ?
W Bro Duncan Smith, our Provincial Senior Grand Warden, says this represents the floor of King Solomon’s temple.

41. Questions about our Lodge room
Why do the Grand Officers , Provincial Grand Officers, and Past Masters always sit in the same place in Lodge ?
Tradition again, but this is slowly changing in some Lodges
Installations are more formal and should remain so perhaps
We have to make our visitors and newer Brethren feel welcome
Commented on by our Provincial DC, Keith Kemp

42. Questions for the future
Why did you join Freemasonry ?
Never ignore the power of your own story
It may lead others to the same decision

43. Questions for the future
How do we speak about Freemasonry to others ?
How has this changed over the last few years ?
Are we comfortable to acknowledge our membership ?
How does this differ between the newer and more experienced Mason ?

44. Questions for the future
Do we all agree that it is now acceptable to discuss Freemasonry openly ?
Do we all agree with this latest initiative ?
Do we really have anything to hide ?

45. Questions for now
How do we look after our newer members?
How have we done this in the past ?
Was this working ?

46. Questions for the future
Within 4 years we lose around a quarter of our new brethren

47. Facts and figures
Losses

48. The future is here already
So, we probably need to change as an organisation...

49. Mentoring can help !
Once our newer members are looked after properly, these losses will drop
And we will have a new generation of Masons, who are better informed, and more knowledgeable about Freemasonry than ever before, and better equipped to share that knowledge.

50. And progress to be better Men, Masons, and........

51. Ambassadors for Freemasonry