One apologist above said: "But folks do like to deal with like folks whether it's the local Morris team, golf club, Am Dram society where they meet or not." And this goes to the heart of it. Masonry in the UK remains, on the whole, secretive (unlike morris teams and the like) and thus it is possible for jobs, lucrative contracts or whatever to be steered towards fellow brethren without this interest being known or declared.

A "club within a club" is a parasite on the main body, as is a political party that operates within another political party. UK masonry is a "society within society," and is just as insidious. All credit to those who have foregone the privileges and dubious benefits of membership in order to fight against it - sometimes successfully, hence the declining membership.

But as I might be labouring under some misunderstandings here, perhaps I could apply to Alan or one of the other UK freemasons here for membership, so that in future I can speak with authority. (Just a detail, Alan, but how will you establish whether I have a criminal record?)

Q: Guest Richard H asked what the consequences would be of revealing the secrets.

A: TTOBTR* I'm afraid.















*Tongue torn out by the roots