Freemasonry's Flack

They are best known for secret handshakes, embroidered aprons and the dire penalties reputed to be inflicted on those who break their oath of secrecy. But today's Freemasons insist that tattletales are no longer—if ever they were—subjected to "having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out ... and buried in the sands of the sea." In fact, so eager are Britain's Freemasons to dispel the sinister associations that still cloud their reputation that the United Grand Lodge of England (UGL) whose 300,000 members represent 90% of the Masons in England and Wales has hired a public relations agent.

Mike Dewar,...