Alan - I am indeed very interested in the historical background to the rituals and symbols and their links with the ancient mysteries. Following on from this thread and the article I read in the Guardian, I've been doing some reading around and have come across the "Droit Humain" organisation of "Co-Freemasonry" - i.e. mixed lodges of freemasons, which appears to put particular emphasis on the spiritual aspects and is strongly linked with the Theosophy movement and the theosophical view of life. Here is a link for anyone interested:

Very interesting.

- jeanie