New Mason lodge a chip off the old block

THERE’S a new opportunity for Freemasonry in the Loddon region, with members of the Mathew Flinders Lodge splitting off from other, more established ones.

Peter Atkin is acting secretary of the new lodge and a Freemason of 49 years.

He said a growing number of Freemasons in the area have been suspended from other masonic meetings.

“A number of lodges have become disappointed with the direction of Freemasons Victoria,” said Mr Atkin.

“There was an issue where I challenged on Facebook some of the activities of senior members of freemasonry.

“One of them would be the naming and shaming activities where if a person did something wrong, they named them and shamed them both personally and publicly.

“One of the charges was I called it a ‘very un-masonic activity’, that because I did query the naming and shaming activities as shameful, it brought Freemasonry into disrepute.

Mr Atkin said the Mathew Flinders Lodge is one of several independent groups emerging around the country.

“You see Mathew Flinders and Clydesdale and Winton lodges as not in competition with Freemasons Victoria, but complementary to it,” he said.

While the internet provides a variety of explanations for Freemasonry, which is only open to men, Mr Atkin describes it as a fraternal organisation.

“Freemasonry is a group of people who promote brotherly love, relief, and truth,” he said.

“It means that we promote a recognition and understanding and acceptance of all people irrespective of their religion, culture, race, or sexual orientation.”