The following notice has just appeared on the Freemasonry Today website of the United Grand Lodge of England in response to the New Year's furore generated by the press, alleging Masonic police officers have blocked reforms within the Police Federation of England and Wales. (See my earlier posts HERE and HERE.) This non-story was first whipped up in The Guardian, but other news sources soon picked up the scent, and it quickly went worldwide (thus making The Guardian story the story itself).
The UGLE letter from CEO Dr. David Staples can be seen online HERE, but I duplicate it below in its entirety.
The question now is, how many - if any - of these very same news sources will bother to report this response? Anyone taking bets? Not that it matters. Once the smear is in the headlines, it bores into the collective minds of the public at large, perpetuating the anti-Masonic myth on into the future.
And that was the intention all along.
The question now is, how many - if any - of these very same news sources will bother to report this response? Anyone taking bets? Not that it matters. Once the smear is in the headlines, it bores into the collective minds of the public at large, perpetuating the anti-Masonic myth on into the future.
And that was the intention all along.
FOLLOWING THE NEWS COVERAGE IN THE GUARDIAN, TIMES, SUN, MAIL ONLINE AND INDEPENDENT ONLINE RELATING TO FREEMASONRY AND POLICE FEDERATION REFORMS, DR DAVID STAPLES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND, HAS SENT THIS LETTER (TAILORED) TO EACH OF THESE NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Dear Editor
I write in response to your articles Freemasons are blocking reform, says police chair and Why the secret handshake between police and Freemasons should worry us in The Guardian on 1st and 2nd January.
The articles show a complete and disappointing misrepresentation of Freemasonry. Furthermore, we understand, having spoken to the outgoing Chairman of the Police Federation, that recent media coverage does not accurately reflect his views.
We are quietly proud that, throughout history, when people have suffered discrimination both in public and social life, Freemasonry has welcomed them into our Lodges as equals. It is a shame that Freemasons are now quite openly discriminated against and that too many of our members, therefore, feel the need to keep their membership to themselves.
The idea that reform within the Police Federation or anywhere else is being actively thwarted by an organised body of Freemasons is laughable and suggests an unbelievable element of will and influence from an organisation which is non-political, non-religious, values integrity and upholds the law.
In 2001 and again in 2007 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Freemasonry was not a secret or unlawful organisation.
There is absolutely no reason why police officers, or anyone from any other walk of life, should not be a Freemason and we highlight our shared organisational values of integrity and service to the community.
Dr David Staples
Chief Executive Officer
United Grand Lodge of England
Dear Editor
I write in response to your articles Freemasons are blocking reform, says police chair and Why the secret handshake between police and Freemasons should worry us in The Guardian on 1st and 2nd January.
The articles show a complete and disappointing misrepresentation of Freemasonry. Furthermore, we understand, having spoken to the outgoing Chairman of the Police Federation, that recent media coverage does not accurately reflect his views.
We are quietly proud that, throughout history, when people have suffered discrimination both in public and social life, Freemasonry has welcomed them into our Lodges as equals. It is a shame that Freemasons are now quite openly discriminated against and that too many of our members, therefore, feel the need to keep their membership to themselves.
The idea that reform within the Police Federation or anywhere else is being actively thwarted by an organised body of Freemasons is laughable and suggests an unbelievable element of will and influence from an organisation which is non-political, non-religious, values integrity and upholds the law.
In 2001 and again in 2007 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Freemasonry was not a secret or unlawful organisation.
There is absolutely no reason why police officers, or anyone from any other walk of life, should not be a Freemason and we highlight our shared organisational values of integrity and service to the community.
Dr David Staples
Chief Executive Officer
United Grand Lodge of England
I like the response by Dr. Staples.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the flip back Masonic ring which allows you to hide the Masonic symbol of your ring while wearing it in public is more popular in England than the United States.