Traditionally, Freemasonry under the United Grand Lodge of England has been restricted to men. The early stonemasons were all male, and when Freemasonry was organising, the position of women in society was different from today. However, Freemasonry these days, like most things, is not solely a male preserve. In Mumbai and in many other cities of our country there are Lodges that are exclusive ‘Women only’ lodges.

Freemasonry embraces all men who believe in God. Its membership includes Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsees and others. The use of descriptions such as the Great Architect prevents disharmony. The Great Architect is not a specific Masonic god or an attempt to combine all gods into one. Thus, men of differing religions pray together without offence being given to any of them.

Emphatically not. Freemasonry requires a belief in God and its principles are common to many of the world’s great religions. Freemasonry does not try to replace religion or substitute for it. Every candidate is exhorted to practise his religion and to regard its holy book as the unerring standard of truth. Freemasonry does not instruct its members in what their religious beliefs should be, nor does it offer sacraments. Freemasonry deals in relations between men; religion deals in a man’s relationship with his God. In a world where there is presently such intolerance, we take great pride in our members who are able to meet together in friendship whatever their faith. In our Lodges it is quite common to see Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, Parsees, Christians, Jews and other religious denominations all working towards the practice of every social and moral virtue.

No. From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved in charitable activities. Since its inception, Freemasonry has provided support not only for widows and orphans of Freemasons, but also for many others within the community. Whilst some Masonic charities cater specifically but not exclusively for Masons or their dependants, others make significant grants to non-Masonic organisations. At the District Grand Lodge of Bombay, we have the District EC Grand Charity which is specifically aimed at external charities. On a local level, lodges give substantial support to local causes.

Freemasonry endeavours to teach moral lessons and self-knowledge to new members, however, it is one thing to have aims and ideals and quite another to impress them upon the minds of the members. So, in our Lodge rooms we enact, for the benefit of the new member, what can be likened to the scenes from a play. The scenes are called degrees, because Freemasonry is a progressive system. The play is centred on the building of King Solomon’s Temple where every part of the building and every implement used is given a deeper moral or spiritual interpretation, which is explained to the new member.

New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in Lodge and in society. Each member also promises to keep confidential the traditional methods of proving that he is a Freemason which he would use when visiting a lodge where he is not known. Freemasons do not swear allegiances to each other or to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in times of need, but only if that support does not conflict with their duties to God, the law, their family or with their responsibilities as a Citizen.

The secrets in Freemasonry are the traditional modes of recognition which are not used indiscriminately, but solely as a test of membership, e.g. when visiting a Lodge where you are not known.

The prevailing impression of a secretive society is difficult to dispel. We are most certainly not a Secret Society. It would be a very curious Secret Society, which published as much about itself as Freemasonry and had its addresses and telephone numbers in every Directory. Truly “Secret Societies” would not think it appropriate to have their own website, like the one you are presently looking at. They would not publish and distribute a contact details and addresses of Secretaries of Lodges. Or large parts of its Mentoring and Oration lectures. Like many other organisations, it is a private, member funded, voluntary association.