BBC News | Freemasons

The secrecy that has long surrounded Freemasonry has seen the organisation accused of encouraging corruption and nepotism.

The United Grand Lodge of England says these sinister misconceptions about "the Craft" and its 320,000 members obscure the work the organisation does for charity.

As part of a week of activities allowing the general public to see inside the Freemasons, BBC News Online has been given access to the organisation's London headquarters.


	Internet links: The United Grand Lodge of England The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites		Introduction The secrecy that has long surrounded Freemasonry has seen the organisation accused of encouraging corruption and nepotism. The United Grand Lodge of England says these sinister misconceptions about "the Craft" and its 320,000 members obscure the work the organisation does for charity. As part of a week of activities allowing the general public to see inside the Freemasons, BBC News Online has been given access to the organisation's London headquarters.