By Miles Goslett, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:34am BST 27/05/2007

Students and university lecturers are to be encouraged to join the
Freemasons as part of a drive to increase membership.

The organisation, more popularly connected with policemen, lawyers, and
businessmen, has changed its constitution - lowering the age limit of
candidates from 21 to 18 - and established the Universities Scheme.

Seven universities across England have been targeted, with lodges in the
respective cities agreeing to "promote and encourage freemasonry among
undergraduates and other university members". If successful, the project
will be expanded.

"This is a challenge for the lodges that have chosen to participate,"
said David Williamson, Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge
of England, masonry's governing body, discussing the scheme on the
Freemasons' website.

"Young masons under 25 make up only about 0.25 per cent of the
membership of the Craft in this country, so we want to make the Craft
more accessible to young men."

Lodges in Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Manchester and
Sheffield have signed up to consider accepting younger members willing
to declare their belief in a Supreme Being and brotherly love.

One mason from the University of Birmingham Lodge, who asked not to be
named, said it was a two-year scheme which was in the early stages of
development.

"Young members pay half dues and the dining fee is also reduced," he
said. "A few members of staff have been initiated already."

"It's good for undergraduates to join because we have members from all
walks of life - doctors, policemen, magistrates, clerks," said another,
who belongs to the lodge of St Peter in Exeter.

A spokesman for Exeter University said: "The university is not aware of
any official approach being made to senior management or the Guild of
Students under the new University Lodges Scheme. We assume that
recruitment is being done along the lines of individual invitations and
recommendation."

Modern masonry's origins date back to 1646, when Elias Ashmole, the
antiquarian, became the first recorded mason in England. The United
Grand Lodge estimates that there are now 270,000 masons in Britain.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have masonic links dating back
to the 19th century, although the Universities Scheme is being used to
try to increase membership.

A spokesman for Oxford University said: "While it is not a body
officially affiliated with the university, there has been a lodge at
Oxford since 1819. As with any other society, as long as members obey
the law and membership does not interfere with the business or
procedures of the university, then we have no objection to students or
staff joining."

Freemasons have a long history of involvement in education. They operate
The Royal Masonic School for Girls, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and
ran the Royal Masonic School for Boys at nearby Bushey until it closed
in 1977.

The organisation also sponsors the education of many children through
The Royal Masonic Trust.