Masons examined

Press, 23 October 1984, Page 11

Masons examined

The TVNZ documentary, “The Beginner’s Guide,” on One at 8 o’clock tonight, examines Freemasonry. lan Johnstone starts by asking the common questions about the Masons: How do you recognise the handshake? Are you really anti-Catholic? What is the significance of goats? Next he tries to get into a lodge room, but is not allowed because he is not a Mason. Johnstone then goes to interview a Mason to get him to explain about their re-

galia, the background to Freemasonry and its secrets. Johnstone, .who is also producing this series, says “The Beginner’s Guide” deals with serious topics, but not necessarily in a serious, or sombre, fashion. “There are certain subjects that people nurse secret fears and apprehensions about. It is these subjects with that certain mystique about them that we look for,” he says. “Our style is to have a

gentleness of approach that reassures someone who is having to face something — to let them know what experiences other people going through the same thing have had. “Our initial approach to a subject is always, ‘What if this were to happen to me?’ ” The topics in this second series are Freemasonry, cancer, visiting a marae, representing the people, and breaking up.