Freemasonry.

This is a subject of interest to me as a Freemason and a subject which often generates more heat than light on the www.

I am a member of a Freemason's Lodge in Brisbane, Queensland Australia.

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the western world with proven existence to the sixteenth century, and probably before.

Until 1717 it was a truly secret society - this was for many reasons, not least of which was to avoid persecution - in the middle ages by the church and, later years, by various political and religious authorities.

Because it was then a secret society, it's origins are somewhat of a mystery.
Nevertheless, dozens, even hundreds of books have been written to explain its origins.

For example, an excellent recent book is "The Shadow of Solomon" by Laurence Gardner.
Others are Lomas and Knight's "Hiram Key", "Second Messiah", "The Invisible College", "Uriel's Machine" and "The Book of Hiram"; also Baigent et al's "The Temple & The Lodge" and John Robinson's "Born in Blood".

All of these books try to shed light on the mysterious past of the Craft, as it is known.

Is Freemasonry still a secret society?

Members will aver that it it not and that, while there are certain matters which are kept private, such as certain passwords and means of recognition, such devices are analogous to a debit/credit card "pin number'.

Members will say that it is not a "secret" society but a private society - after all, any group which holds well publicised meetings in well-defined and well-identified centres, and whose acts of benevolence and charity are well publicised can scarcely be called "secret".

Neither are Freemasons averse to identifying themselves as such nowdays.

Besides, all of the so-called secrets have been published again and again over the last three hundred years and are usually readily available in any good public lending library in the English-speaking world.

Books such as "The Brotherhood" by Stephen Knight, however are infuriatingly inaccurate and dishonest. As a Mason, I can attest that a lot of what it and similar books say is total nonsense.
I believe I can defend that statement.

In the last 20 years Freemasonry has become increasingly open to scrutiny and increasingly willing to respond openly to questioning.

One of the biggest gripes I hear against Freemasonry, as a father of two grown daughters, is that it does not admit women.
This is not completely true - there are orders of Freemasonry which women may join.
Furthermore, just as Freemasonry is a Fraternity, so there are Sororities admitting women only.

For example, I belong to a golf club which is run by women - although I pay virtually the same membership fees as the ladies, I and other men (male members predominate, no pun intended) don't have a vote or say in running the club.

I would like to hear from any who are interested in learning more about Freemasonry and sharing their "balanced' views on the Fraternity.