The public will have a rare opportunity to enter one of the private halls of the Freemasons next week.
Tsawwassen Lodge No. 195, in association with Melrose Lodge No. 67, will have a free information session at its Delta hall to let people know more about the fraternal organization known as Freemasonry. It’s aimed at letting people know what they’re all about as well as dispelling some of the myths and conspiracy theories.
The Freemasons are the oldest and most widely known fraternal organization in the world, reportedly with origins from the stonemasons’ guilds during the Middle Ages. The language and symbols used in the fraternity’s rituals come from that era.
Freemasonry has since developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement and social betterment via individual involvement and philanthropy.
“There’s actually quite a bit of interesting history and there’s all kinds of artifacts and times of history, poems and things like this, to try to understand where this all came from,” said Delta resident Greg Nicholls, past worshipful master of Tsawwassen Lodge No. 185 A.F. & A.M. (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons). “And, of course, there’s all kinds of that conspiracy stuff that goes along with it.
“There’s really no wrong questions to ask and we’ve got nothing to hide,” Nicholls said.
As far as Freemasonry being often referred to as a secret society, the organization notes any social group or private business is “secret” in that its business meetings might be open only to its members. In Freemasonry, the process of joining is also a private matter. Its members are pledged not to discuss with non-members certain parts of the ceremonies associated with the organization.
“What we tend not to do and why this conspiracy belief seems to carry on is that we’re not out there to get into argument or debate with anyone. It’s not worth having that type of debate and it’s sort of an unspoken rule to not get into an argument nobody is going to win,” Nicholls noted.
Freemasons are a worldwide organization and have contributed to the fabric of Delta for longer than the municipality has even been incorporated, Nicholls said.
“We also have some really cool artifacts and representative of the people who were in that room were leaders and creators of our community.”
The presentation, Origin of Freemasonry: Myths, Theories, and History, by W. Bro. Jonathan Silveira, takes place Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at 4873 Delta St., Ladner.
The Freemasons will be in their full attire and the dress code for everyone else, including prospects, is regular business attire.
To register attendance for the event, visit http://tinyurl.com/Tsawwassen-Lodge-Presentation.
