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Despite being one of the UK's largest charitable organisations, few people know, or understand, the inner workings of the Freemasons.
The fraternity traces its roots all the way back to stonemasonry in the 14th century, but is these days all about a shared ambition to uphold moral principles and help communities.
The Jersey branch is no exception to this, having recently raised over £75,000 in its Christmas Appeal for six local charities: Les Amis, Brightly, Autism Jersey, Cheshire Home, Caesarea Association and the Jersey Beekeepers' Association.
It's for reasons like this that the local group's most senior member, Provincial Grand Master Kenneth Rondel, describes his role as a "privilege".
Pictured: Ken Rondel is Provincial Grand Master of the Lodge of Jersey, the most southerly of the 47 Provinces of the United Grand Lodge of England.
"Freemasonry has always been about making good men better men, and our members aim to shape their lives round five core principles; integrity, kindness, honesty, fairness and tolerance. Although our families come first, we believe in playing a key role in our communities and for centuries have given time and money to charitable ventures," he explained.
Despite a strong interest in their communities, the body is strictly forbidden from expressing views on government policy, with discussion of politics prohibited at all Masonic meetings. Asked the five things he would change about Jersey, Ken kept Freemasonry's core principles in mind as he gave his personal views...
My family are the single, most important factor in my life, but I, like many find the ever-increasing demands of the workplace, together with instant communication 24/7, make it increasingly difficult to switch off from work and make space for quality time to spend with family and friends.
Pictured: Nothing beats quality time with family and friends, according to Ken.
A cultural change is needed to recognise the importance of rest and relaxation, and the beneficial effects this has on overall work performance, health and family wellbeing.
I would like to see significant investment in cycling infrastructure as is found in many European countries and parts of the UK. At present our approach is piecemeal and, pun intended, not joined up.
Pictured: There are many reasons to get cycling - both for the environment's sake and for health reasons, Ken argues.
Cyclists are at huge risk when riding on roads and the intolerance exhibited by some motorists, as well as a number of cyclists, serves only to exacerbate this risk. Cycling not only benefits health directly, but indirectly for everyone by reducing pollution. Cycle racks are cheaper than car parks and take up less space, cycling tourism is becoming ever more popular and the ready availability of e-bikes cuts the number of excuses for not taking the two-wheel option.
‘They paved paradise and put up a parking lot’ - so sang Joni Mitchell in 1970, and this has been Jersey’s response to manage increased vehicle traffic ever since. Indeed, the £11million profit from a recent office block sale looks set to continue this policy.
Pictured: Ken wants to break the "vicious circle" of encouraging car use through the building of more car parks.
Let’s break the viscous circle of encouraging car use by increasing parking opportunities and look to invest in viable and sustainable alternatives. Schemes such as park & ride, hopper buses, tramways, cycle lanes (see 2 above) and enhanced rush hour bus services work successfully elsewhere in the world, why not in Jersey?
Jersey’s charity sector carries out truly amazing work meeting an apparently limitless variety of needs. Our charities’ records are to be envied and the generosity of islanders, including my fellow freemasons, is truly humbling. Yet, one is prompted to ask, why, in one of the world’s most affluent jurisdictions, are so many fundamental services largely, or even entirely, dependent upon public generosity to be able to function?
Pictured: The trend for dependence on charities is increasing, which is "worrying" according to Ken.
I know from the many petitions Jersey Freemasons receive each year that dependence on public munificence is increasing. That trend is worrying as for many resources are finite and the fear of donor fatigue is ever present.
I am an advocate of social media for its ease of communication and ready dissemination of news and knowledge. These are positive values, but social media has a dark side whereby anonymous individuals are free to post falsehoods, fake news and, more disturbingly, pernicious and unprovoked attacks against individuals and groups, often causing distress and psychological damage.
Pictured: Social media has a dark side, Ken says, but we can counter that by showing tolerance.
Jersey enjoys an enviable reputation for the quality of its education, safe environment and peaceful way of life. As a society we can, and must do more to identify what underlies such damaging behaviour and live by those five principles mentioned earlier: integrity, kindness, honesty, fairness and tolerance.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not of Bailiwick Express.
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