New Grand Master Khris Albano dispels some of the myths about Freemasons

A new leader of the Freemasons in NSW and the ACT is keen to clear up the myths behind the rituals, special handshakes and hidden symbols of the mysterious brotherhood.

There will be a lot of secret handshakes exchanged at Sydney Town Hall on Saturday night, when more than 1300 Freemasons from around the world attend the appointment of the state’s new Grand Master.

In his new role, Sydney businessman Khris Albano believes it is time to lift some – but not all – of the mystery that surrounds the organisation in an exclusive interview with The Saturday Telegraph covering some of the inner workings of the centuries-old fraternity.

“There is a misconception Masons are a secret society involved in mythical things and conspiracies, which is very far removed from the truth.

“Our Grand Lodge, here in the heart of Sydney, is called the Masonic Centre and our existence has been known for hundreds of years,” he said, but agreed there were many parts of the brotherhood still secret.

The spiral stairs leading down three floors in their Goulburn St lodge are designed specifically to have a symbolic significance which is only known to Masons. There are special knocks before a door at the lodge is opened to allow entry and, more famously, the Masons’ secret handshake.

Grand Master elect Khris Albano at the Masonic Centre in Sydney. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There are many unique gestures that identify you as a Mason or what level you are in the society, but the real purpose is to convey two Masons have been through the same experience, share the same values and regard each other as equals, whether they are a CEO or a cleaner,” he said.

“It is actually an ancient form of trade certificate, like what you’d get after completing a TAFE course. In those times there was no internet to check if someone was a qualified stonemason and paper wasn’t readily available.

“They came up with a special handshake to prove your bona fides.”

After a three-hour ceremony not dissimilar to a coronation, Mr Albano will be dressed in full regalia, where he will kneel before Grand Master Les Hicks and swear a passage of obligation on the Bible.

Afterwards he will be addressed as Grand Master when spoken to by fellow Masons.

The installation ceremony, as it is called, has always been in public at Sydney Town Hall for most of the Freemasons’ 136 years in Australia.

“Which is another example that the society, or fraternity as it is also referred to, is not secret,” Mr Albano said.

“But there are many traditions and ceremonies which have been handed down and still strictly adhered to which are not shared until you are a Mason.”

Many of the teachings in Freemasonry are about morality, helping those less fortunate and self-fulfilment.

Australia has more than 20,000 members, with about 7000 in NSW and the ACT, which are now in Mr Albano’s jurisdiction.

There are more than 200 lodges but numbers are dwindling from the society’s heyday when there were that many in NSW alone, due to past generations being so secretive.

“There were many fathers who would not even tell their sons they were involved in a lodge, we need to change that,” Mr Albano said.

To be a Mason you have to believe in a supreme being and be of good character, and male. Women have their own form of Mason called the Order of the Eastern Star.

“People believe you have to be invited to be a Mason, which is not right,” Mr Albano said.

“We don’t issue invitations, it’s actually prohibited. The first step is simply go to our website and apply and that begins a process.”

All prospective members are vetted through a police check before they meet with a district manager who will then introduce them to a lodge where they may have to attend two meetings to be questioned by the members.

“If Freemasonry is a mutual fit between you and the lodge, you will go through an initiation ceremony, which is like a play, except you are the main character who doesn’t know the script, although we give you your lines,’’ Mr Albano said.

“The purpose of becoming a Mason is to be productive in the labour of self-improvement and helping your lodge improve.

“It is also to bring purpose and fulfilment to your life.”

Members must pay fees once they are accepted.

Sydney Masonic Centre in the heart of the CBD.

After the initiation, Masons enter the lodge as an entered apprentice and have to pass small tests before going on to higher levels. Details of those examinations are secret but are very much about the Masons history and other philosophies.

The NSW Fire Brigade, as well as the navy and army, have their own designated lodges. While the NSW Police force does not have a designated lodge, there are many active members, including some in senior ranks.

For decades there were legendary power struggles in the police force between the Catholics and the Masons, with promotions often relying on which camp you were in when whoever was in power.

Former Police Commissioner Tony Lauer was Grand Master of the United lodge in NSW and the ACT from 2004 to 2006.

While actual detail of what happens in meetings is still not openly talked about, there are many ceremonies involving altars and vessels.

“We do not discuss politics or religion. Each lodge has meetings, generally one a month or so, where business is discussed or we communicate with other lodges,” Mr Albano said.

“People gather for friendship, learn from each other. There is also a lot of charity work, particularly for those lesser known ones

“As a brotherhood we are about making good men better. The purpose is to be productive in the labour of self improvement and helping your peers and your lodge improve.”

Originally published as New Grand Master Khris Albano dispels some of the myths about Freemasons