The Freemasons sought to be entitled to rating relief as having the purpose of advancing religion. To belong to the Freemasons a person did not need to practise any religion providing he believed in a Supreme Being and lived a moral life. This was viewed as laudable but not the same as advancing religion. It was noted that it might be argued that religion can be advanced by ‘example as well as precept’ but there was no evidence before the Court that the main object of Masons was to go out in the world and, by their example, lead persons to one religion or another. There was ‘no religious instruction, no programme for the persuasion of unbelievers, no religious supervision to see that its members remain active and constant in the various religions they profess, no holding of religious services, no pastoral or missionary work of any kind.’
Held: The Court defined ‘advancing’ religion as meaning ‘to promote it, to spread its message ever wider among mankind; to take some positive steps to sustain and increase religious belief.’ This was said to be able to be done ‘in a variety of ways which may be comprehensively described as pastoral and missionary.’
[1957] 1 WLR 1080, [1957] 3 All ER 281
England and Wales
Rating
Leading Case
Updated: 01 November 2021; Ref: scu.570864
