A political issue that can often be heard bubbling under the surface of Cayman Islands politics entered the public domain during a recent debate held at the University College of the Cayman Islands.
Five candidates were asked whether they should be required to declare their membership in private groups “that are often deemed secret” prior to running for office.
At present, Cayman’s Register of Interests Law requires political candidates and elected politicians to declare all directorships, whether they are compensated or not. However, membership in organisations such as the Masonic Lodge, often referred to as the Freemasons, is not disclosed.
Of the five candidates participating in the recent UCCI debate, only one, Wayne Panton, a People’s Progressive Movement candidate in Bodden Town, said he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, although “to the discontent of the membership” he said he had not attended a meeting in years.
“If there are potential conflicts in relation to directorships which relate to interests with government, yes [those should be declared],” Mr. Panton said. “I don’t see that there’s a need to go beyond that.
“In relation to the Masonic Lodge and things of that sort, I don’t see what bearing that has … any more than it has with somebody who is Rotarian or a Lion or anything like that.”
Calling the societies “secret” in the 21st Century information-driven world may be a bit of a stretch. The district Grand Lodge of the Freemasons in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, for example, has its own webpage defining Freemason as “a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols”.
The website contains the names of some of the group’s leading members and also a phone number to contact for those seeking more information.
“You will find that freemasonry is not a secret society at all; proudly and publicly tracing its heritage back hundreds of years,” the website states. “We take good men and make them better. Freemasonry is a lifelong commitment to improving the individual, and by extension therefore, the environment and communities within which we live.”
Mr. Panton echoed the sentiment: “Anybody who understands what the lodge is, it’s about improving people, improving their character. That’s all it is.”
However, those browsing the political literature available in the public domain will quickly find that membership in such “secret societies” is often discussed during campaigns such as this submission from the Australian website, the Age: “In Britain [in 2001-2002, some interest has been expressed about the role of the Freemasonry in the police force and judicial system. No skeletons have been unearthed, but the matter was considered serious enough to warrant examination by the House of Commons home affairs committee.”
In the Cayman Islands context, Deputy Premier Rolston Anglin said the discussion of secret society disclosures wasn’t a major issue.
“Am I a member of a lodge? No, I’m not a member of a lodge,” Mr. Anglin said. “Whether a person is a member of a lodge or not, it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans in my opinion. Let’s deal with public policies; what’s going to be best for education, best for health services … best to build this community.”
The other three candidates who participated in the debate, the Coalition for Cayman’s Roy McTaggart and Jacqueline Haynes, as well as the PPM’s Marco Archer, said they were not members of any Masonic lodge or “secret society”.
“I don’t even think I’m even allowed to be in the lodge,” Ms Haynes joked, although it does appear from the Freemasons website that only men are allowed as members.
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This is a very interesting debate raising its head now in the Cayman political arena, given the penchant for rumours and ‘marl road’ gossip in Cayman.
The whisperings on the streets about Masonic Lodge existence and activities has been going on for generations…its nothing new.
People are best of doing their own research on issues like these, where the veil of ‘mysteriousness’ can be removed and the known facts can be examined on their own merit.
Mr. Panton’s explanation would probably be the ‘standard’ answer given by any member of a ‘secret society’ but as he well knows…
Joining a Masonic Lodge is not as simple a process as just showing up, plunking down your membership fee…and saying…
I wanna join up, here’s my money !
NOTHING EXCITES MEN’S CUROSITY SO MUCH AS MYSTERY. My opinions on this topic would be, that all declaring candidates, staying within the arm of the Law should declare all directorships and envolvement with Private secret Groups such as FREEMASONS, ROTARIANS, LIONS etc; These secret Societies breath corruption, and we have knowledge of it taking place right here in this small Island.
Mr Panton, saying that you have not been to a meeting in a year does not exclued your position as a Mason once you are paying your fees, besides being a member of the Freemason is much more than you describe it as inspiring people in their character.
Minister Rolston Anglin it is obvious that you do not know anything about Freemason, and I am ashamed that you of all people who is the Minister for Education would say the discussion of being involved in a secret society is not a major issue. Brushing it under the bed. Yes it is a big concern to the community of the Cayman Islands.
Most people who join Freemason organizations have no idea what Masonary actually teaches. Most join for social reasons, while others join for social reasons and prestige. CURISORITY OF THE UNKNOWN has sent many of us in direstions we do not want to go. If one studies Masonic Literature, it is quite obvious that there are DEFINITE CONFLICTS between Christianity and Freemason. The book of James Chapter 5 verse 12 tells us above all things SWEAR NOT neither by heaven or by earthneither by any other oath. Which is in violation of God’s word This is the first area of conflict between Christanity and Freemason. Already in Government and private sectors all over Cayman and the world we have these hidden secret societies which has been reigning from the days of old, but the words on the lips of people has always been been that nothing but corruption evolve being in these societies. Should persons in House of Assembly declare their connection publicly? My answer is YES. IF THERE IS NO SECRET TO BE HIDDEN WHY WORRY.
Most people who join Freemason organizations have no idea what Masonary actually teaches. Most join for social reasons, while others join for social reasons and prestige.
‘Most’ people do not join a Masonic Lodge, period.
You cannot ‘join’ a lodge…you have to be invited and sponsored into membership by an established member or members who vouches and takes responsibility for the new recruit.
And those new recruits are not just ‘joe blow’ off the streets….they must bring something of value to the table that warrants membership.
Most of these secret societies either originated from ancient religious orders from past times…or skilled-workmen guilds who banded together to keep their doctrines and teachings…and skills, secret…for economic and commercial purposes.
Just for purely educational purposes, for Caycompass’s readers who do not have either the time or inclination to do any deeper research on the topic…
The so-called origin of Masonic beliefs and practices are said to originate in the architectual and geometric concepts used in the building of the original Temple of Solomon, in Jerusalem.
IMO, Masonic Lodge membership is a very relevant topic in the context of Cayman’s politics at this particular time.
I too would be concern as an elector! Being a member in a secret group means you are in partnership with people the public dont know anything about! So I would too would be concern. Why would they need to join a secret organization in the first place? And just who are they rubbing shoulders with?
I want someone who will represent ME – not certain people of wealth that I dont know anything about!
Why limit this to politicians?
The same question should be asked of police officers, civil servants, the Judiciary, even the Governor and his staff.
Freemasonry can be beneficial to society but it also has a darker side as reported by the Guardian in the UK – http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/08/phone-hacking-scandal-jonathan-rees
Very few people of the Cayman Local population is aware of the secrets of Freemason. First of all find out the position of the SERPENT is it prevalent and important in Masonry. Look at the inside walls of the Temple to receive a 33rd degree. See if it is not decorated with SERPENTS of all kinds, large and small. Answer these questions. Does the Masonic testimony state that the SERPENT OR SATAN (Lucifer) should be worshiped. What is the Lost Word of Masonary has to do with Satan
The majority of Masons in the first few degrees ARE NOT AWARE OF the God of Masons. Look at the back of the the American dollar bill you will see MDCCLXXV1 and the words NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM. The Pyramid with the All seeing eye. Find out what it all means. Find out if there is definately a direct conflict between Masonic and Christianity, yet we may ask are,nt the Masons good, moral living people and dont they teach Bibical principles like honesty? That is a good question. Yes Masons are on the surface a system of Morality, but are may we ask, are they veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols? If you are a Mason who is also interested in following Christ, you have a decision to make EITHER you can continue on in Masonry and pay homage to LUCIFER or you can renounce your membership and follow Christ. Many Caymanian young men have been invited by others to join this secret society and they know nothing about it. So the question is why have they done it. Because they want to be a part. Part of What? They really do not know anything.
Right there…
I know now Mr Panton is not a man of TRANSPARENCY. For if I or anyone would ask him the simple question WHO along with him has membership in the Lodge, I bet you, he will not DISCLOSE IT, BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN HIDING.
SO THERE GOES MY VOTE FOR MR PANTON. MY VOTE IS FOR SOMEONE ELSE… NEXT !
If anyone thinks the Freemasons are secret in this day and age they are ignorant. Check out http://www.dglijamaica.com/ to see pictures of some of the members of this so called quote secret society unquote and see the full list which outlines the dates for their meetings in the Caymans and Jamaica in 2013. One should also read the other information on the site and compare it with the Rotary, Lions and Elks.
Oh please, Hunter, dont make this into a Masonic versus Christianity thing, because in Christianity you have cults, you have Catholic orders that hold secrecy, and you have people using the garb of Christianity for money-making and seeing how they can constantly fool people. They are just as bad.
Garfield – that is a website showing names. I am sure there are members on that site that are not disclosed. If you follow everything you see on the internet, it is you who not being well informed.
Sir Turtle,
So you really think the Lions and Rotary Clubs are secret too? They also do not disclose all of their members on their website.
Respectfully,
Garfield
AL SUCKOO I was made to understand that you are also planning to run for the district of Bodden Town. Now can you please declare to the reading public the truth, like Panton did, that you have also recently joined the Masonic Lodge.
Do you have a good reason? Well if it is no secret then the public is waiting to hear, and who invited you in. Why should the people of Cayman vote for you all, when already you seem to be forming a full secret society in the Legislative assembly.
I was a Freemason in London for a number of years, being nominated by my father who loved it.
There are several degrees that lead up to the rank of Master Mason, which I achieved.
The rituals are just plain silly. They point to silly diagrams and go on about Hiram Abif who was some sort of master architect. He was attacked by some of his workers who tried to extract from him construction secrets.
I was bored stiff.
At the dinners afterwards I never heard anything more sinister than discussions on who would win the world cup.
I moved to Cayman and that gave me a good excuse to resign.
I think Freemasonry is just an excuse for grown men to get away from their wives.
To the tin-foil hat crowd–Membership in the masons is not a secret. Lots of them wear rings or lapel pins in public. They do charity work in public as well. If you want to join you have to ask, they do not solicit. Joining is simple. You have to believe in a supreme being, be of good character and be voted on by the membership. The meetings take place with a bible open in the room. Women can join the Eastern Star. Snakes are not a masonic symbol. The Temple of Solomon is a masonic symbol. The carpenter’s square and compass are masonic symbols. Members are supposed to try to improve themselves as persons by reflecting on the meaning of the various symbols. The Catholic church prohibits membership and created the Knights of Columbus for Catholics. The only secret is the ritual, all of which is designed to make you a better person (and is not actually all that secret since there have been tv programs showing most of the details.)
I was asked many times by several Masons to join the Lodge. Judging by the people who are members, I wanted no part of it. You see people who are supposed to be better and yet outside the lodge some of them are weed heads, alcoholics, wife-beaters and the like. This secret society has been known in the past to cover up the bad deeds some of their members have done and in Cayman I can think of a couple that have always been rumored to be a Lodge cover up. I was also once told that you can’t get ahead in business around here if you’re not in the Lodge. That to me seems like people join thinking they are going to get something out of it so NO MR. PANTON, IT IS NOT ABOUT IMPROVING PEOPLE because it certainly has not helped some of the people I know. Except in their thinking they can get away with anything they do and bullying others. This question about membership in the Lodge should be put to all candidates.
My question is if the Masons have several people get in the Legislative Assembly, who will rule their decisions, Lodge? Will important decisions be made at Lodge first. Remember that they swear oaths of secrecy and protection of their brethren. PEOPLE, BE CAREFUL WHO YOU ELECT.
To SirTurtle. on 3/12/2013 10:54:05 AM
I give you a hand shake and two thumbs up on this comment…I know now Mr Panton is not a man of TRANSPARENCY.
Al Suckoo I am shocked at you…you too were made redundant by this same man.
If he didn’t stand up for Caymanians on their jobs how can we trust him to run our country?
Guess what bobo…I can’t vote for you and even if I could I won’t.
To: Caymaniantothebone, There have been many comments in the past about Mr. Panton holding back other Caymanians while he was partner in a law firm. I would be interested to hear from those people now to see if there is actual truth to this. Obviously, Mr. Suckoo was at least one of his casualties.
To tintin on 3/12/2013 1:40:32 PM
All the comments you heard in the past are TRUE!!
What makes you think that my previous post is untrue. Why would I post information that I don’t have facts about?
I was the original person who posted the question at the UCCI forum and quite frankly, I was amazed that it was asked, so I would like to give them kudos for that.
I would also like to show respect to the Compass and Mr. Fuller for bringing this very important matter into the public eye which was my original intent.
To the ignorant people who think that belonging to a Lodge is an inconsequential joke, allow me to enlighten you. The Lodge is a very serious business among those who are senior members and have gone on to the Higher Degrees. It is these higher adepts who control the footsoldiers who make it appear that the Lodge is a social club. Imagine an office clerk formulating company policy? It just doesn’t happen.
The lower masons are called porch masons because they have not really entered through the door. Those who have entered through the door are very serious about their religion (or craft).
They are usually well-educated and highly intelligent. They have been very dilligent to study their craft and are some of society’s most successful people.
Throughout history, people have searched for the truth, otherwise known as illumination. Unfortunately, evil disguises itself as light and Jesus Christ himself spoke through time to warn us that this would happen. He said, if the light that is within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
He was speaking directly to the secret society of his day known as Kabbalism (and indirectly to all future secret societies). He knew that through pride, power, traditions of men and greed, these men were controlling innocent God-fearing people. He declared that the light within their souls was indeed darkness and as such they had become blind to the true light of God’s love. (So they killed him….)
The same is happening today and as an aside yes, many church pastors are Lodge members as well.
I recently posed an unpopular question on Cayman News Service saying that candidates should clarify their positions about God and the understandable consensus was that religion and politics should be kept separate.
I find that quite amusing because based on the following quote from an eminent Freemason, Albert Pike, it shows clearly that any politician who is a freemason would be incapable of separating his religion from politics.
Lucifer, the Light-bearer ! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! It is he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual or selfish souls? Doubt it not!
Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, p321, 19th Degree of Grand Pontiff
Here is another quote: When the Mason learns that the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his craft. The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onwards and upwards he must prove his ability to properly apply (this) energy.
‘Lost Keys of Freemasonry’ page 48, Manley P Hall 33rd degree.
On the other side of the coin, if your candidate laughs off the significance of the masonic connection, I would suggest that this person is either a closet mason or simply not equipped to deal with such a great responsibility of representing a trusting people. Certainly all candidates who are not Lodge will face tremendous pressure from those who are.
Regardless of what you may see in public, Lodge membership is more binding than party affiliation and even stronger than national patriotism. A Caymanian politician who is Lodge would be incapable of resisting a directive from a more senior, foreign Lodge, which unfortunately is treason to Cayman, yet loyalty to the Lodge.
I must repeat myself and say THAT is why we must have transparency about where our candidates stand.
If you know that they are Lodge and you vote for them, then democracy is the winner. However if you do not know these facts before you vote and knowing them would have caused you to vote differently, then the winner is deception.
I do not write these words idly, nor do I condemn the Lodge. My hope is that these precious souls will see the true light and abandon the lure of temporal power, money, lust and greed for the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
I sincerely thank you all for your time and ask Cayman one more time, Democracy or Deception? Choose wisely.
May I suggest that all of you look at http://www.whale.to/b/33.html. Though you may disagree with some of their political views the individuals listed do cover the political and social spectrum and the majority have achieved great political success and in many cases have changed the world.
What a shattering load of hot air this thread is! Don’t please let anyone get near facts as opposed to thrilling conspiracy rumours. Wasn’t Sir J Savile of the UK a Mason?
EagleWing, what you just posted will be an excellent ViewPoint on CNS. Please post it again on CNS and see the responses. I am sure it will generate sensible conversation. More people need to be educated on the hidden dangers of secret orders.
Old Hand – This is a serious issue that the UK House of Commons has grappled with in a Select Committee. The following is a quote from the former Home Secretary Jack Straw. I hope it makes it clear why this is important:
‘The Masonic Lodge are a society which is very secretive at the moment and that has given rise to suggestions of improper influence. Not just to suggestions in some cases. The Callis case which arose in my constituency was a scandal, let us be clear about this. What happened, for those who are unfamiliar with this story, was that there was a father and son Callis who were business people from Leicester who were staying at what was then the Moat House Hotel in Blackburn. They were going up the stairs and met eight men coming down the stairs. The eight men were members of the local police freemasonry lodge. An altercation took place and the result of this was that the two Callis’s, father and son, were charged with assault and the case went to Lancaster Crown Court. There the judge was quite explicit, he said that you either believe the police that two men going up the stairs started a fight with eight men coming down the stairs, in which case you will convict on the charges, or you will believe the Callis father and son, in which case you have to conclude that these police officers were lying and that they had got together to concoct a story. The jury acquitted the Callis’s and they have since received a fairly large sum by way of compensation from the Lancashire Constabulary. It was a most unsatisfactory story. It also raised questions about the way in which in those days Lancashire Constabulary ran its disciplinary process. I used to get two line letters from the Deputy Chief Constable about what was happening. There is a reality here. The conclusion of the Committee last year in paragraph 49(f) was there is a widespread public perception that freemasonry can have an unhealthy influence on the criminal justice system, and we certainly believe that one of the main reasons for freemasonry’s poor public image is a perception that it is a secret society…
‘If you talk to police officers who served in the Metropolitan Police for 20 or 30 years they will tell you that in their view the principal way in which you could at the margin gain promotion was by being a member of the freemasons and this was unacceptable. It was made less acceptable because the freemasons were a secret society’.
Interesting discussion and so relieved to see others willing to question true honesty of these politicians. Of course some groups, even those with secrets, will have good and bad members. Sadly too many may feel, and from what I’ve heard, that joining any group especially the secret ones will assist them with financial goals no matter what they have to do to get that.
Remember now, in Cayman, threshold of wealthy has risen to high level….i.e. DART.
So yes, Politicians if you all want to WORK for us, to be hired by the people to work FOR the people, then yes we want to know.
Therefore, Jude, Winston, Al, Dwene, Woody etc, step up to the mic and don’t forget the Ladies……….let’s be fair and ask them if they belong to secret groups.
They need to understand the public associations for so many is not enough, as a voter I want to know to whom are my representatives obligated, plain and simple.
@lontermresident….excuse to leave their wives? lol and hang out with their buddies hmmmm sounds like the Catholic priests eh? oh dear
Garfield on 3/12/2013 3:35:10 PM
You will tell me who they are, you will tell me what they’ve achieved, but not what they believe… surely you do see the problem with that. But what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 16:26
Now, whether you are a Mason or not I don’t know, whether you have already seen for yourself that it is Luciferian (according to Albert Pike himself) I don’t know and I don’t care. Why? Because the Son of God has shed his blood for me and though you or any Mason for that matter may not believe or even like it, He has shed his blood for you too. And His forgiveness, mercy, and ability to free you from oaths, threats n what-have-you is just as available to you as it is for anyone else.
Don’t believe? See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ird-BKuPRlw
Adolf Hitler changed the world as well…and others before…and after…him.
Have they changed the world for the better for others ?
Answer that question before you seek to exalt these mere men…regardless of their Freemason or any other kind of human power.
There is ONE power to which ALL flesh is subservient…call it what you will in any religion or spiritual doctrine…
There is an Almighty that rules the universe and directs the affairs of men, whether you believe this to be true or not.
Eaglewing…
If you are indeed the person to raise this issue, I would like to thank you for your courage in bringing this issue into the public realm in Cayman, a place not known for its open and frank discussion of controversial topics.
This is a very complex and complicated issue that you’ve raised and challenges many areas of belief in not only Cayman’s but the world’s societies as well.
As you would be well aware, the conclave of the Roman Catholic cardinals are meeting, as we speak, to elect the next Bishop of Rome, or Pope, as he is popularly known.
It would seem that at this particular time, the doctrines of Judaism, Christianity and secularism are about to meet, clash and quite possibly converge, all at the same time.
The Kabbala that you’ve referred to in your post is a system of the Jewish ‘mystery’ 72 names for God(Yaweh in Hebrew)and is not or ever was any manifestation of any secret society.
That the Jewish religious and political systems have always been involved in world politics is beyond any doubt and could very well be involved in Freemasonry as well but the real question to be answered is…
Do these secret societies have any agenda for world power…
And what is it ?
Bodden @3/12/2013 4:56:50 PM
Thank you for the suggestion. I have followed through on your recommendation and requested to CNS that they publish my post. You are a true Caymanian patriot and as such, I salute you.
Looks like the brotherhood and sisterhood were called in to give thumbs down…….too late, we’re demanding the truth.