Sir, - I refer to a most misleading report in your edition of Saturday, August 1st, headed "Masons will not reveal judges' names". In fact all members of the British judiciary are to be asked directly by the Lord Chancellor to declare whether or not they are members of the Masonic Order; or whether they elect not to make any declaration.
It is this discrimination which Lord Farnham finds to be "offensive, arbitrary, oppressive and without justification". Indeed, it rings warning bells of the fascism of Nazi Germany, Italy and Spain in the 1930s. How about, for "Freemason", substituting the word "Jew", or "Gypsy", or any other class or classes of individuals which are deemed to be politically incorrect by the powers that be? Freemasons first, apparently - who next?
The reports states that the grand secretary refused to divulge "which members had been involved in a serious miscarriage of justice in 1974". This implies that members were guilty of something and that the grand secretary knew who they were.
Actually, at that time names were requested by the Home Affairs Select Committee in connection with the Stalker affair in Manchester, the Birmingham bombing and the West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad. No charges had, or have, been laid against any of the names submitted. It is thought likely that Mr Chris Mullin MP was on a fishing expedition to see what links he could make between the names on each list.
The figures were: Stalker: seven names supplied, of whom two were or had been Freemasons.
Birmingham bombing: 66 names supplied (covering police, judges, magistrates, lawyers and journalists), of whom eight were or had been Freemasons.
West Midland Serious Crimes Squad: 96 names, of whom seven were or had been Freemasons.
Although the Home Affairs Select Committee has had the names since March of this year, it has made no comment on them. At one of its public meetings in June, members went over the Stalker affair with the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester but there was no reference to Freemasonry. I trust that this will provide a little clearer perspective in the matter. - Yours, etc., Michael W. Walker,
Grand Secretary, Freemasons' Hall, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.