Subject: freemasonry

Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 17:48:59 +1000

From: Alan and Lyn Bromage <>

To:

Please feel free to add it to your site.

Alan

Forgive me for corresponding in this way but as a new netter I am unsure how to access
newsgroups.

I have just read one of your articles on freemasonry attached to the John Marks page
and wish to comment as follows

Freemasons do not (at least in Australia) consider it to be a religion. Freemasons
believe in the universal brotherhood of man and to be a freemason must believe in a
supreme being, however he is known in his own faith. The answer to the question, "in
whom do you put your trust?’ is only "God" in jewish or christian
countries. In countries where other faiths are practiced the answer is different. It would
also be different in Australia if the candidate was not of the jewish or christian faiths.

In our lodges we have open at each meeting the books held "holy" by the
adherents to every faith represented by its membership. In some asian countries there may
be seven or eight "volumes" open in the lodge in deference to the mixture of
faiths. This represents the "multicultural" spread of freemasonry – a feature
many strive to recognise within our society in australia.

This does not mean that we consider all religions equal, but only that we believe every
man is enjoined to live up to the ideals of his own faith. In fact, we are enjoined to
refrain from discussing religion or politics in Lodge.

Is fremasonry compatible with christianity? Among its members in Victoria, Freemasonry
can boast members of the clergy of many denominations. Last year, the Grand Masters in
three Australian states, including Victoria, were clergymen

Please accept this as my humble defence of freemasonry (if anyone considers it needs
defending)

Alan Bromage (Yes! I am Andrew’s father)

Alan & Lyn Bromage