I popped to the trade session of Stockport Beer and Cider Festival yesterday afternoon.
With Stockport County now a Football League club again, and looking to redevelop their ground as they seek further promotions, it hadn't been possible to reach an agreement to hire Edgeley Park, the festival's home for the past couple of decades, so a move away from it was forced upon the organisers, to the Guildhall on Wellington Road where it was last held thirty or so years ago.
I'd seen a bit of chat online about potential crowd issues at the smaller venue, and also felt slightly uneasy as both a Catholic and lefty at entering a Masonic building for the first time, but the rooms were surprisingly spacious, with a large outdoor area and marquee also to the rear, and little evidence of secret rites about the place.
I drank a pale ale, porters and mild from local breweries Beartown, Runaway and Stockport Brewing, and also picked up a few of my favourites from Fuller's and Schlenkerla at the bottled beer bar.
I expect that the festival will return to Edgeley Park next summer once financial terms have been agreed with Stockport County, but with its more intimate and laid back atmosphere this venue made for an enjoyable interlude this year.
The philosophy of freemasonry is that there is a grand architect of the universe, whose truth is revealed through the religion you chose to ascribe to. In the case of a catholic member that would be the Latin bible. In my case an Anglican bible. There has never been a ban on Catholics joining masonry but the pope frowns upon Catholics joining a fraternity that he considers a competing faith. Masonry isn't a faith but a philosophy that men of all faiths can develop friendship in peace and fraternity. The idea that God represents all mankind and not just the members of a particular religion has been historically radical and religions that claim to be the single source of truth tend to frown upon it.
ReplyDeleteThere is no religious practice but there is ritual in and around the life of the Master Mason that built King Solomon’s temple, the first mono theistic temple that is revered by Jews, Muslims & Christians. His life of service in building a temple to honour God involves understanding that his position and prosperity in life came through service.
There really is nothing about it to make a Catholic nervous unless that were a person that baulked at attending a friend’s wedding in an Anglican church, mosque or synagogue.
As for politics. There is no politics in Masonry but there are ideas that were once considered radical in and around education, opportunity and valuing the potential of a man to learn and progress in life as to his abilities rather than background. Ideas which these days are fairly mainstream and not as radical as they were century ago. It is possible to argue that the governments that have best implemented these ideas in Britain were the labour governments that expanded the educational opportunities of working-class people and enabled social progression. There is of course the once radical idea that all men are equal under God, an idea incompatible with the divine right of Kings. Such ideas underpin both the American constitution, the supremacy of Parliament here in Britain, and played a part in the abolishment of slavery. All once dangerous radical ideas but now accepted.
An interesting article Matt. I have attended some of the previous festivals at the Football Ground and always ended up sitting in the stand. On a good day it's a nice venue.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the festival at the Masonic Hall was a financial success for CAMRA? I attended a festival there approx 10 years ago. I don't think it was CAMRA but it was not well attended and I heard a lot of beer was thrown away. Just wondering if it worked out as it's a bit out from the bus and train station.
I wasn't scared by the Masons either, in fact they were making a play for one of our gang to join.
Don't know about the financials, but the trade session I went to on the opening afternoon seemed to be equally well attended as last year's. I'm not sure there's that much in it with the distance between there and the stations compared to Edgeley Park.
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