Freemasons defended and accused

IN 'I'HE INTEREST OF truth, Michael Petek's letter on freemasonry (Catholic Herald, 15 July) cannot go uncorrected.
Freemasons do not swear oaths; they make serious promises (obligations) regarding their duties to God, the law, their families and society in general.
Those obligations no longer contain physical penalties, which had always been symbolic.
Freemasonry does not claim "to be the custodian of spiritual secrets or mysteries".
In Freemasonry, the word "mysteries" is used in its medieval sense of a trade or handicraft secret.
The "secrets or mysteries" of Freemasonry are simply the modes of ,recognition (signs and words) used as a proof of membership when visiting a lodge where you are not known.
Freemasons do not bind themselves not to disclose internal lodge affairs.
Official spokesmen have on many occasions, both in print and on the air, discussed what happens at meetings and Grand Lodge has readily assisted many authorities enquiring into Freemasonry in general or specific allegations of supposed Masonic corruption.
JM Hamill Librarian and Curator Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England London
As A CATHOLIC AND Freemason with a clear conscience, I would like to reply to the rather uncharitable letter from Michael Petek (Catholic Herald, 15 July).
His argumentp are, I fear,
i
based on false p emises.
To say that the Masonic initiate binds I himself to unlawful penalti just plainly untr so, the rest of does not hold w Further, a F expected to uph the land on pain Even the Cathol longer goes this Freemasonry, organisation i members raise their own reso than from outsi
In 1993, just Charity helped poor circumst tune of L11,594,1 housing £50,00 Cancer Fund £100,000 betw Aged and Ag £250,000 in fn. 274 registered £175, 300 to 139 hospices including many under Catholic jurisdiction, none of which refused donations due to their source.
If supporting eh a worthy organisation is "grave sin", then I am p oud to be condemned b him, well knowing that n the final event, God will e my judge. Douglas E' Jug/es ta
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£100,000,
en Help the Concern. or grants to arities, and Guiseley, Leeds