IN his outspoken views on Freemasonry (MET, May 4) the Rev John Corbyn, of St Gabriel's Church, Blackburn, remarks: "I know that many Freemasons say they are churchgoers, but if all the Freemasons in Blackburn and Darwen turned up to church on Sunday, the churches would be rather more full than they are."

But you don't have to go to church to find Christ. He is with us always and it is up to the individual to find him.

I have been a church sidesman and school governor for many years and would say that 50 per cent of people who go to church on a Sunday do so for only one reason - to get their kids into a Church of England school.

It's a form of church blackmail: Don't come to church and there is no place at school for your child.

The good vicar should get his act together and fill his church with the word of God, and not go around insulting good people who do a great deal of work in helping others.

To be a Freemason, you have to be asked to join. Maybe Mr Corbyn is upset that he has never been asked.

So, please, will one of you Freemasons out there go and ask the good vicar to join, so he will then give it a rest.

JACK LORD, Geddes Street, Cherry Tree, Blackburn.

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