THERE\u2019S a new opportunity for Freemasonry in the Loddon region, with members of the Mathew Flinders Lodge splitting off from other, more established ones.<\/p>\n
Peter Atkin is acting secretary of the new lodge and a Freemason of 49 years.<\/p>\n
He said a growing number of Freemasons in the area have been suspended from other masonic meetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of lodges have become disappointed with the direction of Freemasons Victoria,\u201d said Mr Atkin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was an issue where I challenged on Facebook some of the activities of senior members of freemasonry.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the charges was I called it a \u2018very un-masonic activity\u2019, that because I did query the naming and shaming activities as shameful, it brought Freemasonry into disrepute.<\/p>\n
Mr Atkin said the Mathew Flinders Lodge is one of several independent groups emerging around the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see Mathew Flinders and Clydesdale and Winton lodges as not in competition with Freemasons Victoria, but complementary to it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While the internet provides a variety of explanations for Freemasonry, which is only open to men, Mr Atkin describes it as a fraternal organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreemasonry is a group of people who promote brotherly love, relief, and truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means that we promote a recognition and understanding and acceptance of all people irrespective of their religion, culture, race, or sexual orientation.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THERE\u2019S 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 […]<\/p>\n