Norfolk Freemasons reveal all
Source: EDP24
STEVE DOWNES
14 January 2009 08:17
It is a mysterious world which is usually only open to the initiated.
But yesterday the Norfolk headquarters of the county's 4,200 Freemasons was opened to the public for first time in years.
The opening, to launch the 250th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Masonic province of Norfolk, revealed a spectacular complex of pristine rooms.
Chessboard floors and colonnaded walls gave a hint of the intricate rituals that take place behind closed doors, and which give such a cloak and dagger feel to Freemasonry.
The doors were opened 250 years to the day since January 13, 1759, when Edward Bacon, MP for King's Lynn and Norwich, was appointed the provincial grand master for Norfolk.
Yesterday, the 20th provincial grand master, John Rushmer, was at the Norwich Masonic Centre on St Giles Street for the launch of a programme of events to celebrate the special birthday.
Civic dignitaries from across Norfolk attended the event, where Mr Rushmer presented £1,000 cheques to representatives from The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House and Swaffham and Litcham Hospice.
He also announced that he was asking Norfolk's 75 lodges to fundraise throughout the year to pull together £100,000 for the Norfolk Hospice Tapping House Appeal.
The lodges will also be offering 250 £250 donations to small community charities in 2009.
Other planned events include the 250th provincial grand lodge meeting in St Andrews Hall, Norwich, on May 28, a summer ball at Sprowston Manor Hotel and a service of thanksgiving at Norwich Cathedral on September 6.
As mayors and council chairmen were shown around the grand Norwich complex, including its chess board floors and uniform seating plans, two members were on hand in 18th century costume to give a hint of what Masonic membership was like in 1759.
Mr Rushmer, who is three years into a 10-year term as Norfolk's Masonic leader, told the gathered throng he was “proud of our heritage and continued existence”.
He told how the first Norwich lodge was formed at the Maid's Head Hotel on May 11 1724. A flurry of Norfolk lodges followed, often named after their pub meeting places - including the Rampant Horse, the Unicorn and the Flower in Hand.
Members were keen to stress there was nothing sinister about the Masons, and said persistent accusations that they favoured each other in jobs and contracts were “absolutely not” true.
A “your questions answered” booklet said all members entering into the brethren had to state “unequivocally” that they did not expect material gain from their membership.
# Norfolk charities that would like to apply for £250 should write to the secretary of the Norfolk Masonic Charities Committee at 47, St Giles Street, Norwich, NR2 1JR.