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Masons in the palace
Secret society defies royal aides to set up lodge
THE QUEEN: She won't be amused
POINTED: Masonic symbol
ROYAL flunkeys have defied their bosses and set up a freemasons' lodge at Buckingham Palace.
The branch of the controversial secret society was officially consecrated this week.
It has male Palace servants and royal protection squad cops as members.
But the move will infuriate officials and senior royals, who blocked plans for a group called The Royal Household Lodge when it was first proposed earlier this year.
So the defiant masons simply changed the name to Mulberry Lodge - a reference to King James I who grew silkworms in a royal palace mulberry garden in the 17th-century.
Police
A royal source revealed: "They won't be meeting on royal property because all masons have to meet in a masonic hall. But the lodge will be open to male members of the royal household - not just Buckingham Palace, but every royal residence from Balmoral to Windsor and the Tower of London."
"It's all being driven by cops in the Metropolitan Police royal protection squad.
"The lodge has a cop as the grand master and another as the secretary."
Although the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent is head of English freemasonry as its Grand Master, Palace officials had hoped plans for the lodge would be dropped. They felt a society whose members indulge in bizarre rituals was out of place.
And it is the last thing the Palace needs at a time when it is trying to be seen as more modern and open.
The Masons have long been accused of being of being a secret society that indulges in bizarre initiation ceremonies and traditions.
They acknowledge each other through peculiar handshakes and wear aprons at meetings.
And they have been accused of furthering each other's interests through the sect.
The founding of the lodge has alarmed some royal staff who fear they will be overlooked for promotions if they don't join.
Women staff are said to be angry because although there are freemasonry organisations for women, this branch is a men-only institution that will not admit them.
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This article has 11 comments
The Archbishop of Canterbury is right about freemasonry. It's very odd that these police officers are so arrogant now about their rites that they don't even need to cover their tracks. Honest police officers are not masons, but here are the very people who are supposed to protect our Royal Family flaunting it. Do you feel safe and protected by these people, who are very good at protecting people like Thomas Hamilton and Harold Shipman - but not their victims.
By David Tyne.. Posted January 8 2009 at 10:35 PM.
The only researchers who have ever concluded that Freemasonry is related to devil worship and don't realise that Albert Pike was an obscure American Mason (who died over 100 hundred years ago) tend to be the same people who have a penchant for wearing snug little hats made out of tinfoil and worrying about the New World Order watching us all on CCTV.
By Mike Martin.. Posted December 24 2008 at 10:06 PM.
much research has been done wghich shows masonry to be a secret church to the devil.
Much stuff ablut albert pike, kkk and his chums on google
By mason buster.. Posted December 21 2008 at 4:38 PM.
The rituals of Masonry are anything but bizarre. Through its ceremonies, teachings, and associations, this world class fraternity transforms men from the impetuosity of youth to mature masculinity. The rituals of Freemasonry take a man on the journey to responsible and accountable adulthood. Every culture needs good adult male role models. Freemasonry facilitates this yearning through its many moral and ethical teachings. Its approach may seem eccentric on the surface, but we , but it has improved men for over 400 years.
By Robert Davis.. Posted November 26 2008 at 3:00 AM.
Perhaps I shouldn't say this but there are ladies only lodges around too!
By Peter.. Posted November 26 2008 at 1:00 AM.
Ban Freemasonry.
By Hiram Abif.. Posted November 25 2008 at 11:30 PM.
congratulations from west yorkshire freemasonary.
By david.. Posted November 25 2008 at 3:15 PM.
Great to hear another Lodge being opened. The Masons make good men better!
By WB D. S... Posted November 25 2008 at 3:10 AM.
Congratulations. To Worshipful Master and the officers for the coming Masonic year.
By WB V. Vukovic.. Posted November 24 2008 at 9:06 PM.
what about opus dei and Knights of St Columba when will they make their membership open?
By Keith.. Posted November 23 2008 at 4:36 PM.
You forgot to add that a Freemason swears an oath of allegiance to the Crown and uphold the laws of the land.Something so odd about that?
By johnny mack.. Posted November 23 2008 at 4:34 AM.