Aprons in Asia: How Freemasonry Colonised the East

Details

Speaker: Godfrey Moore

Title of Talk: Aprons in Asia: How Freemasonry Colonised the East

Date: Thursday, 17 July, 2025

Time: 2:30-4.00PM

Venue: Conference hall

Moderator: Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

Speaker's Bio:

Godfrey Moore had a successful career in writing advertising campaigns in London and Singapore for major brands such as Singapore Airlines, Australia Tourist Board, Mercedes-Benz, and Mitsubishi. He has lived in Asia since 1979, moving to Melaka in 2017, where he wrote his first book, The Story of Malacca. While researching his second book, he fell in love with Penang and moved to Batu Ferringhi in 2024 with his wife and two dogs. Aprons in Asia (Castlewood Books, 2025) follows an earlier publication, The Story of Penang and Kedah (Castlewood Books, 2024).

Abstract of book/book talk:

They came to Asia bearing the authority of the mighty East India Company and the flag of the British Empire, but these Englishmen also carried secrets which they had sworn under dire penalties never to reveal. They were members of a fraternity called the Freemasons, whose membership crossed national, ethnic, and religious boundaries. In 1803, the ‘brothers’ set up the first lodge in Malaya, located in the flourishing trading post of Penang. In the years to come, many prominent citizens would wear the apron of a masonic lodge. How influential were the Freemasons and what role did the lodge play in their lives? The author will discuss the importance of Freemasonry in establishing the British colonies and developing trade. He will also offer insights into this historic fraternity and its origins. He will also address some of the myths attached to Freemasonry and reveal at least some of the ‘secrets’ of this mysterious brotherhood.

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