Officials from the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the governing body overseeing Freemasons in England and Wales, were visibly perturbed.
David Staples, the Chief Executive of UGLE, expressed his sentiments in a letter to the media, ridiculing the notion of Freemasons obstructing reforms within the Police Federation or any other realm as utterly far-fetched.
Staples stressed the shared organizational values of integrity and community service that bond both police officers and Masons.
However, Freemasonry finds itself grappling with a challenge in maintaining complete transparency.
It continues to be classified as a secret society, often preferring to be labeled as a "society with secrets."
This inherent opacity might leave external observers with negative assumptions, apprehensive that the brotherhood's fraternal connections could potentially facilitate unsuitable conduct within public life.
Insights into Freemasonry reveal a global membership of around six million, with approximately 200,000 in residence across England and Wales.
This data signifies a decline of about 150,000 members in England and Wales over the last two decades.
In Scotland, the active Masonic community comprises around 30,000 members, while Ireland hosts about 25,000, with 70% of the latter located in Northern Ireland.
The fundamental unit of Freemasonry remains the lodge, encompassing roughly 6,300 lodges across England and Wales. Some lodges bear distinctive monikers, such as the Chapter of Sincerity in Norwich or the Swan of Avon in Warwickshire.
These lodges find their home in towns, cities, universities, schools, trades, professions, or even military units. They have also sprouted around shared passions like football, rugby, or specific hobbies.
The Mike Hailwood Lodge caters to motorsport aficionados, while the Lux In Tenebris Lodge – translating to "light in darkness" – was established towards the end of World War I to accommodate visually impaired Masons.
While certain lodges exclusively cater to women under their own grand lodges, those governed by UGLE remain strictly male enclaves.
Despite endeavors to attract a younger demographic, particularly university students, Freemasons predominantly fall within the middle-aged to elderly bracket.
A mere 2% in England and Wales are under 30 years old, while over 10% surpass the age of 80.
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