Claims extracted
22
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 22 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject · beta estimate
Publisher signals
64/100
Daily Mail's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
It is one of the oldest brotherhoods in the world, with a shroud of mystery lingering over its operations.
asserted
shroud → linger → operations
But now Scotland’s Freemasons have broken with centuries of tradition by opening their doors to women for the first time.
asserted
Freemasons → break → time
Since 1736, the Grand Lodge of Scotland has been an exclusively male organisation, refusing to allow the fairer sex to take part in or even witness the rituals of the secretive society.
Seeking to dispense with its image as a misogynistic ‘old boy network’, it has now signed an accord with the Order of Women Freemasons, inviting them to use its premises for meetings and ceremonies.
asserted
it → refuse → meetings
However, the invitation does not extend to women being asked to join the organisation as members.
asserted
women → extend → members
The Grand Lodge of Scotland has also joined the Council for Freemasonry in Great Britain in the hope of attracting new members.
asserted
Lodge → join → members
Senior members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland during filming for the BBC show 'Secrets of the Masons'
William Semple, grand secretary, said: ‘Before we became members of the Council, there was a real myth that we were part of an old boy network, a male-only club.
asserted
we → say → network
‘This has gone a long way to dispelling that situation or that rumour.
asserted
This → go → situation
We have male-only lodges and female lodges, but we work very closely together.’
asserted
we → have → lodges
The former Tayside Police detective superintendent added: ‘We make premises, masonic lodges, available to women Freemasons to hold their meetings.
asserted
premises → add → meetings
It has brought everything closer together and cleared the atmosphere to quite a great extent.’
asserted
It → bring → extent
Alexander Moncrieff, Scotland’s grand master mason, highlighted overtures that have been made to a women’s masonic group in the Lothians.
asserted
that → highlight → Lothians
He said: ‘We have offered them the use of some of our premises.
asserted
We → say → premises
They have been considering possibly having their annual meeting here in Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh, which would be wonderful.’
uncertain
which → consider → Edinburgh
However, he insisted there was no prospect of women being allowed to join as members.
asserted
women → insist → members
The Perthshire landowner said: ‘It is a wonderful organisation where we can say to the world, “Here we are as Freemasons - either as men or as women”.
asserted
we → say → women
We are happy to be single-sex organisations and that’s how we intend to be.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
‘I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying that men enjoy spending time with men.
asserted
men → think → men
It’s completely natural and women enjoy spending time with women.’
asserted
women → ’ → women
Illustrious members of the Grand Lodge of Scotland have included King George VI, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
asserted
members → include → VI
The Grand Lodge of England already has close ties with Order of Women Freemasons, sharing venues and taking part in joint open days and university freshers’ fairs.
However, two years ago they issued a joint statement stating that each branch will not admit members of the opposite sex.
asserted
branch → have → sex
Two years ago, the society altered its constitution to lower the membership age from 21 to 18.
asserted
society → alter → 18
The once publicity-shy organisation has also been openly advertising at galas, fêtes, markets and community events.
asserted
organisation → advertise → galas
The Aporia
