Freemasons’ open door policy to recruit new members
Freemasons are known as a male-only society, with a reputation for secrecy, but the Brethren are on a campaign of openness and awareness in search of new members.
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They are known as a male-only society with a reputation for secrecy, but South Australia’s Freemasons are on a campaign of openness and awareness in search of new members.
Beginning in Europe in the 14th century, Freemasonry thrived for generations, but numbers have been in free fall across the globe for decades.
Local insiders say times are changing and a new level of transparency is the only way forward.
Led from the top by SA/NT Grand Master Dr Neil Jensen, the organisation is keen for the public to understand the organisation’s traditions and charter to do charitable works.
This week, the masonic lodge complex at Clarence Gardens will throw open its doors to the public, including women and children.
Brethren in full regalia will present the pomp and ceremony of a typical Freemasons meeting.
Members from four lodges, Edwardstown, Edwardstown Lewis, Glenelg, and Thespian — a lodge exclusively for musicians and performers — will be available to answer questions. Or as many questions as the Freemasons’ long-held traditions permit.
“The Freemasons are not a secret society, but we are a society that does have secrets,” says director of community relations Gary Pusey.
Mr Pusey, who is the serving Worshipful Master at the city-based St Andrews Lodge, says the original Freemasons were illiterate stonemasons.
“They had no certificates to prove their level of expertise,” he says.
“So they were given a secret word and handshake that they could communicate to an employer that they were working at a certain pay grade.
“That system was a way of demonstrating a man was a good person and trustworthy.
“A lot of that gets misconstrued with the public, and all is that left that we have secrets.
“Well, we do, but not at the level most people think.”
Traditionally, there are three degrees of masonry, retained from medieval craft guilds of Apprentice, Journeyman and Master Mason.
In all ceremonies to achieve a new rank, the candidate is entrusted with “secrets”, passwords, signs and handshake grips.
“There is nothing in Freemasonry saying I can’t sit down with you and talk you through the whole of the three degrees,” Mr Pusey says.
“Just as long as I don’t tell you the secrets, as we call them.
“Keeping those things secret has more impact because if we told people what was going to happen in a ceremony, it would spoiled the experience.
“Members wear aprons and different suits and that’s not normal … so when you go in there you actually remember what you are told.
“And what you are told is about how to be a good person and to do good things for others.”
Edwardstown Lodge Worshipful Master Craig Mitchell says the organisation he knows is all about “turning good men into great men”.
“If you want to better yourself, Freemasonry gives you in the tools in life to achieve that,” Mr Mitchell says.
“I want to be a great father to my children, and a great partner, and our teachings are about how to show you the way.”
Aged 50, he is one of the youngest among 70 lodge members.
“Most members are over 80,” says Mr Mitchell, who works as a salesman for an electrical firm.
“Freemasonry has always been regarded as a secret society where it was hard to become a member, but that’s changed.”
Mr Mitchell, who became a mason eight years ago, first tried to join a lodge as a 20-year-old when there was a strict code for entry.
“Back in those days, you had to ask three times to become a mason before they’d take you seriously,” he says.
“But, recently, I got a mate in within a few weeks.
“You get an invite to a lunch or dinner where members will talk to you about your intentions … and then there’s a check of any criminal history or any reason you might not become a member. After you pass that, you’re in.”
Mr Pusey says Freemasonry is a philanthropic movement with a proud history of charity work through The Freemasons Foundation.
The establishment of the foundation’s Centre For Men’s Health in Adelaide is the organisation’s flagship achievement in SA and NT.
The centre, on North Tce, was established in 2009 in partnership with Adelaide University.
Freemasons have donated tens of millions of dollars to the centre which is delivering life-changing research on prostate cancer and anxiety and depression to enable men to live longer, healthier and happier lives.
The foundation also funds annual research fellowships and PhD scholarships.
“There’s some conspiracy theorists out there that think we only benefit other masons, but that’s just not true,” Mr Pusey says. “We want to build a better society.”
The Freemasons may claim to be a non-religious and non-political movement, but they have not been short of internal political battles of late, with some of their dirty washing aired in public.
The Advertiser reported on a tug of war at the highest levels of the SA/NT organisation over the sale of eight of its Masonic Homes retirement villages to a leading property group in 2015 for $75.8 million.
Members battled for three years over the windfall, with a survey in 2018 finally settling matters.
Related to the battle over the sale proceeds, the 2017 election of a new Grand Master for SA/NT was contested for the first time in more than 30 years.
The then-grand master of Freemasons SA/NT, Most Worshipful Brother Stephen Michalak, who will present a brief lecture on the history of Freemasonry at the Edwardstown open night, was involved in a controversy over the appointment of his successor.
Mr Michalak, the first grand master to be sworn-in at a public ceremony in Adelaide, was seen by some members to clearly back his deputy, Bill Merrill.
Mr Merrill subsequently lost the election to Dr Jensen, a renowned Adelaide GP, with a special interest in remote and rural health.
Dr Jensen has a Facebook page that proudly promotes Freemasonry and is at the forefront of the campaign to improve the organisation’s public image and recruit more members.
At the Edwardstown Lodge, Mr Mitchell has got the message loud and clear.
“It’s for all of us to let people know Freemasonry is a great friendly fraternity of people who want to give back to the community,” he says.
“And it works, because when someone become a Freemason they very rarely leave.”
Where: Edwardstown Freemasons Lodge, 146 Avenue Rd, Clarence Gardens.
When: Thursday, January 24, from 6.30pm, including a free supper.
Special Guest: Most Worshipful Brother Stephen Michalak
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