Jurat-elect David Hodgetts in the Masonic Hall at St Martin's.
GUERNSEY’S newest jurat, who narrowly avoided being blackballed, has dismissed suggestions it had anything to do with Freemasonry.
Provincial grand master David Hodgetts got through Wednesday’s uncontested election by just one vote, thought to be an unprecedentedly close result.
Needing votes from more than half of the 101 members of the States of Election who were present, he received 51.
Mr Hodgetts said being involved in the centuries-old fraternal order, which has historically generated controversy for its secrecy and influence, would not in any way impact on his ability to fulfil jurat duties.
‘Do you know that [his Freemason position] is the one thing that has not been mentioned by anyone,’ he said. ‘I have never made a secret of it and I have not been afraid about it. I think that’s the one thing I have got across to people – that it would not matter if you were in a golf club, the Freemasons or whatever.
‘But seeing as the Freemasons are primarily about charity, it would not in any way impact one’s ability to be a jurat.’
Mr Hodgetts said he was extremely proud to have been elected, despite the poor show of support.
‘I had thought about whether one should continue with the role if the support was equivocal, but I’m not happy to get into a great discussion about the vote,’ he said. ‘I have had more than one person say that they will not vote if it is an uncontested election, which I think is a bit unfair on the poor person put forward.
‘It’s not my fault that I was the only person put forward. I would have welcomed competition in the election.’
Mr Hodgetts had lots of messages of support and congratulations yesterday.
‘One is proud to have been put forward and proud to have been successful,’ he said.
It was unclear why nearly half the States of Election returned their ballots blank – effectively a vote against the candidate.
It is understood that some States members were unhappy that the election was uncontested. However, one source speculated the lack of support could have been a result of another nomination coming from Chief Minister Lyndon Trott.
Education minister Carol Steere said she would have preferred a contested election.
‘I think it shows that anyone who is interested in becoming a jurat should approach States members because I would be more than happy if someone approached me and said they had something to offer,’ she said.
Regarding the vote on Mr Hodgetts, she said: ‘I think there could have been a feeling, I cannot speak for all the others, that it may have been a bit of an old boys’ thing.’
Deputy Matt Fallaize said he had heard only one or two deputies discussing the Freemasonry issue.
‘I think the single candidate issue played more of a role,’ he said.
And Housing minister Dave Jones said that people had individual views on who they believed would make an acceptable jurat.
‘I know that at every jurat election, people have very strong views about who should be appointed because it is the highest accolade an islander can receive and the States of Election takes it very seriously,’ he said.
- Mr Hodgetts spent yesterday morning at the Royal Court being briefed on his jurat duties. He was also fitted for robes and will be sworn in on 7 December. Among his charitable work he is chairman of Dee Caf, on the committee of the Cheshire Home, a consultant for Downside Up and was also chief fund-raiser for the Maison Million Home Appeal.
Article posted on 27th November, 2009 - 2.29pm
14 Article Comments
What an amazing sight that was all those pigs flying across the sky last evening.
Well that is just as gullible as other postings on this medium.
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Mr Hodgetts said being involved in the centuries-old fraternal order, which has historically generated controversy for its secrecy and influence, would not in any way impact on his ability to fulfil jurat duties.
He would say that wouldn’t he.
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He’s going to look a bit silly on the bench with his left breast exposed
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I am opposed to Freemasonry for a number of reasons however on this occasion I wonder whether his Masonic connections would have been raised if he had been elected by a large majority? It doesn’t seem to me that Mr Hodgett’s lodge connections did him a huge amount of good – after all he only scraped through with the narrowest of margins.
Whilst on the subject of Masonry, one has to question what “benefits” the order provides that enable it to persuade respectable men to make complete fools of themselves with their bizarre rituals. That is the real issue here I think.
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On a more interesting level, the Bailiff is a leading freemason. Candidates are usually approached and invited to become jurats. It will be interesting to see what happens next time.
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I don’t see why his membership in Freemasonry would even be brought up. It seems that it was not an issue to anyone involved. It seems that there was more concern over the fact that there was only one candidate. Unfortunately, the real issue was not addressed in the article.
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The Lions Club, Rotary, Round Table, Ladies Circle are also ‘primarily about charity’ but we can see their work, they make no secret of it.
I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a Masonic Scout minibus or seen posters for one of their fund raising events.
I had one grandfather in the Masons and one in the Loyal Order of Moose. I can only recall the public charitable work of one.
Upon the death of the Masonic grandfather his lodge we certainly generous towards my grandmother so maybe their charity begins at home and is less public?
Unfortunately with secrecy comes suspicion and the integrity of the judiciary should be beyond doubt. Whether the public perception is right or wrong, Masonic membership does unfortunately call into question that integrity.
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Jurats are masons
The Bailiff is a mason
Many senior politicians are masons.
Many senior advocates are masons,
The list goes on and on……..
Of course there’s nothing whatsoever to worry about, this concentration of power amongst a group of people who enjoy dressing up in god-knows-what and sacrificing goats (or whatever it is they do) is perfectly acceptable. Not forgetting of course their pledge to look afer each other, which of course couldn’t possibly impact on their ability to discharge their duties.
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The last 10 jurats have all had co-op numbers. I’m outraged!!
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Jurats with Co-op numbers, dosen’t take long for a discussion on a serious subject to turn into rubbish does it. Perhaps thats the intention.
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What’s all the fuss about?
My Dad was a freemason and all he did was to trot off once a month with his trowel and blue apron and “ride the Goat” as he put it.
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I too have often wondered what it is that Freemasons believe they gain from membership. What would persuade you to indulge in the playacting, ritual humiliation and the risk of public ridicule?
You don’t need to be a mason to be generous to charitable causes. As has been said there are many other less contreversial organisations you could join. There must be some special advantage to being a mason. Can any mason tell usw what it is?
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Free Masons should be barred from all Govt Jobs that will never happen of course.
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“Free Masons should be barred from all Govt Jobs that will never happen of course. ”
These govt jobs that will never happen, are they the same as the ones that should be competent and not self serving, and nothing to do with Trott and Flucket?
Freemasons in Europe are quite highly respected, preserving some ’secret knowledge’ of some sort (the moon is made of hubristic green cheese mebbe). Over here it’s a gentlemen’s club comparing “club” sizes and how many “cars” they’ve “owned”. In an accent learned from a 1940s public service announcement.
I’m still here all month. Bookings for weddings, funerals and GIBA ‘meetings’ are discounted.
Oh please publish it, it’s saturday, it’s TISWAS.
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