investigation
Ben Harvey takes a look inside the enigmatic & mysterious world of Freemasonry

A noose is around his neck as a sword is pressed to his heart. A blindfold deprives him of sight as he stands with his left trouser leg rolled to the knee and with his left breast exposed. He waits for two questions he has yearned for years to be asked. Are you ready to come out of the darkness? And are you prepared to protect the secret traditions which for centuries have underpinned the craft? This mysterious scene, one more at home in a Dan Brown novel, is played out regularly in nondescript offices opposite Kings Park in Subiaco. Every day, tens of thousands of people drive past the brown brick building on Thomas Street oblivious to its status as the local headquarters of one of the world’s most secretive and little-understood organisations — the Freemasons. Now, on the 125th anniversary of a grand lodge being established in WA, the order which has given rise to countless conspiracy theories is giving up its secrets. Or at least some of them. “All of the traditions and rituals are there on the internet but they are mixed up with a lot of wrong information,” grand secretary Keith Baxter says when The West Australian toured the lodge. “Only a Freemason really knows which secrets are correct and which ones are made up.” Mr Baxter’s freshly elected grand master, Jim Walker, neither advertises nor hides his affiliation with the world’s most mysterious fraternal association. The revelation that Mr Walker is a Freemason, let alone a grand master in charge of 91 lodges, will surprise many. For others it will make sense; as the boss of Westrac, Mr Walker ran one of WA’s biggest trade apprenticeship programs — and learning a trade was central to Freemasonry. The order’s strange symbols and traditions are derived from medieval stonemason guilds and can be traced back to the days of the Temple of Solomon. Centuries ago, the trowels, squares and compasses now writ large in masonic halls were literal tools. Today they are instructional reminders about the need for moral and ethical clarity in life. And yes, there are those infamous special handshakes, grips and passwords. “These were practical ways for stonemasons to prove their skills when traveling to new work sites,” Mr Walker explains. “It’s a tradition we still learn but to be honest I don’t think I have ever used the handshake outside a lodge ever.” The organisation today uses its code of silence and demand of loyalty to pursue its charitable goals. Think of a Lions or Rotary club crossed with a well-intentioned bikie gang. Like Lions and Rotary, the Freemasons are having to roll with the times in order to attract new members. Hence Mr Walker’s invitation to The West to tour the grand lodge in Subiaco. “They don’t become suspicious; they become inquisitive,” he says when talking about people’s reactions to his membership. “These days we are more open to answering those questions which can dispel the suspicion and generate conversation. “The younger generations, once they find out their grandfather was a mason, start to ask the questions that we are now more than happy to answer where possible.” For Mr Walker, it is a family affair. His father, grandfather and father-in-law were all part of the club. “The family connection, we are finding these days, comes from past generations that were Freemasons,” he says. “As the grandfathers are passing on, their regalia or certificates are being discovered by family members. This has generated interest from those younger family members that now want to know what granddad did on those lodge nights.” At its zenith, the Freemasons had more than 22,000 members in WA, driven by big spikes after the world wars as veterans sought camaraderie in civilian life. They came from all walks of life. Former Governor-General Michael Jeffery, former police Assistant Commissioner Wayne Gregson, former Speaker of Parliament Fred Riebeling, entertainer and former City of Perth councillor Max Kay, retired judge Bill Pidgeon, football legend Graham “Polly” Farmer, Johnny Young of Young Talent Time fame were all masons. Former premiers the late Sir Charles Court and Ray O’Connor, murdered CIB chief Don Hancock, and radio star John K.Watts all took the oath. In 1981 close to one third of WA MPs were Freemasons. “We now have more than 1700 members and are experiencing a small increase, after several years of declining numbers,” Mr Walker says. “That decline is true for all organisations like ours. The secrecy we do not see as a barrier. If anything, it generates interest and curiosity in what we are and what we do. “For many years Freemasonry was not the organisation that craved recognition. It still doesn’t but the mystery is always there. “Today we are far more open to questions about our organisation and our aims. There are so many demands on people’s time now and people are less connected personally to each other. “The social interactions are now fed by social media and so the personal connections are less sought after. But we are finding that there is a need for the personal connection, the interactions between men and the bonds of friendship that are formed are not possible through media platforms.” The three, ancient degrees that Freemasons work through are antithesis to the vagaries of modern social media. The first degree, known as the entered apprentice, is a mason’s initiation and symbolises a new beginning. Fellowcraft, the second degree, focuses on education about masonic teachings. The third degree, master mason, is achieved when a member has achieved a certain level of maturity and wisdom. “By the time you are a master mason you have learnt and understood a huge amount of teaching,” Mr Walker says. “You never know it all though, even now I am still learning.” Mr Walker understands that openness risks the mystique that is part of the Freemason’s drawcard. “It’s a bit of a balancing act,” he says. “Today there is not a typical member, but each member possesses a similar set of characteristics and principles. “Generally, each member is looking to improve themselves, to learn about themselves and their fellow human beings, looking for companionship with like-minded people, to help those less fortunate than themselves. “We are not a religious organisations but you must believe in a higher being of some sort. Mr Walker realised the full gravitas of the institution years ago when he visited the United Grand Lodge of England. The grandeur of Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden has leant itself to many films and TV series. Built as a memorial for fallen soldiers from World War I, its engineering and craftmanship befits an order founded on engineering and craftsmanship. “It can seat 1800 people and the acoustics mean you don’t require microphones and loudspeakers,” Mr Walker recalls. “It’s 68 feet from ceiling to floor. Just being in the building is awe inspiring.” The 2003 novel The Da Vinci Code brought notoriety to an organisation dedicated to charity. Interest in the order reached fever pitch three years later when the Tom Hanks-headlined film of the same name was released. “It may have helped to bring some parts of Freemasonry into the open,” Mr Walker says. “It forced us to talk more openly and to show who we really are. Take the Rosslyn Chapel (in Scotland) for example. The symbols and traditions highlighted in the book and film are rooted in fact. The compass symbolises self-restraint and moral discipline. The all-seeing eye, or the eye of providence, reminds members that their actions are watched by a higher power. Then there are the pillars of wisdom, strength and beauty which were inspired by the Temple of Solomon. The real meanings behind some of these mysterious traditions, ceremonies and ancient symbols remain known only to those who have taken the pledge. “We don’t shy away from pomp and ceremony,” Mr Walker says with a self-deprecating grin. “Knowing you are part of something that has endured secretly for this long is quite humbling.”

investigation
Ben Harvey takes a look inside the enigmatic & mysterious world of Freemasonry

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investigation
Ben Harvey takes a look inside the enigmatic & mysterious world of Freemasonry