It was always going to be the case that an offer of a donation from the Freemason's Grand Charity would polarise opinion and this short letter is unlikely to alter entrenched views. However, there are some important general points to be considered. The democratically elected College Council has, by a large majority, agreed to take consideration of this idea forward. The College has very clear guidelines about accepting donations and this offer is within those guidelines. To reject such an offer on grounds outside the guidelines would be to repudiate those guidelines. Freemasonry is perfectly legal and in the view of many is at worst harmless and at best respectable. The Grand Charity is itself a registered charity and, like the College, must work within the rules set by the Charity Commissioners. To equate the Grand Charity with a drug baron is frankly offensive. Every year thousands of ordinary freemasons give money to the Grand Charity in the belief that it will assist worthy causes. The idea that the upper echelons of freemasonry exist in a shadow world of plotting and intrigue will, I am sure, be news to HRH The Duke of Kent, who is the Grand Master, and to the numerous bishops and archbishops who have graced the order.
Freemasonry is certainly a society with secrets but since there have been a number of reasonably accurate televised exposures and since any member of the public can order books from any bookseller that deal with freemasonry in detail, it is hardly a secret society. Furthermore, most masonic halls have open days and are available for use by members of the public. The sort of blood-curdling oaths referred to in Chris Barry's letter were commonplace in all sorts of organisations when the masonic ritual was written several centuries ago but they have long been removed and are now of only historical interest.
I believe that the College needs to be very careful before passing judgements on organisations based on hearsay and incomplete understanding. The College officers have carefully investigated the Freemason's Grand Charity and the Council appeared to be much more anxious about appearing unreasonably prejudiced than about joining the Royal College of Surgeons in considering, and possibly accepting, money from this source.
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2004.
