I'VE accidentally wandered into a Freemasons' room, set up for chapter'. Michael Drayton, who's giving me a guided tour of the Knole, a Grade II listed building in Boscombe used as a Masonic centre where 1,000 members from 20 local Freemason lodges meet, looks shocked as he flicks on the light.

"You're probably one of the very few outside of Freemasonry who've seen it like this," says Michael, looking a bit unnerved. "Oh well. This is an initiation process that will be going on tonight that recognises the building of the second temple."

It's like stepping into the Alice in Wonderland chess game.

There's a chequered floor, a prayer stool, a bible which the Freemasons call the Volume of the Sacred Law, a large square and compass lying on the floor, and a number of staffs on the outside.

In front of this is what looks like a king's chair where the master of the lodge sits, either side are two small royal looking chairs.

Michael, who's been a Freemason for more than 30 years and was educated by the Freemasons' Boys Trust after his father died in 1937, says that when people are initiated, they are blindfolded and led into the room.

It sounds rather daunting.

And yet 330,000 people currently living in England in more than 8,000 lodges have at one time or another gone through this very initiation.

But numbers of new recruits are falling.

Freemasons fear that the UK largest fraternal organisation is losing its appeal.

It doesn't help that Freemasonry has found itself under attack from groups who find the fraternity sinister.

To most people, Freemasonry is a bizarre grown-up boys' club, where grown men roll up their trouser legs in the name of old-fashioned beliefs.

When the Freemasons opened their doors to the public in 2002, they hoped it would dispel the myths that had plagued them for so long.

Instead their motives were questioned.

Today, to emphasise they are not so-called Satan worshippers or that they practise nepotism, the Freemasons have decided to release information to the general public about their fund raising activities.

Over the past five years Freemasonry has raised more than £75 million for charity.

I'm joined by Rodney Dale. He became a Freemason 35 years ago, at the age of 32 after his boss introduced him to the fraternity in London. Now he's a member of the Bournemouth Masonic Group.

Rodney says: "It's done so much for me as a person. There are all these misconceptions surrounding Freemasonry; this is why we feel the need to tell people about the good work we do."

Until now, Freemasons have kept their fundraising activities under wraps, giving anonymous donations.

"We felt charity was personal to us - but we need to be a little more open about what we do, in the hope that we get better press.

"In June the Bournemouth Masonic Group held its fourth annual celebration evening and presented over £24,000 to 50 charities and worthy causes."

At best, this latest gesture aims to attract people back to the fraternity, at worst, it hopes to eliminate the negative publicity.

Rodney says: "It tends to be difficult to persuade people to join. They've got more commitments and maybe we haven't sold ourselves as far as the benefits of joining are concerned.

"We have to ask, is Freemasonry relevant to today's society?

"We're looking at ways of making it more interesting, but there's not an awful lot you could do or would want to do."

Over the years the Freemasons have tweaked their practices to try and move with a changing world.

Gone are the black ties and the symbolic physical penalties, which were removed from the promises in 1986. But little else has changed.

At one time Freemasons' sons would proudly follow their father into Masonry - today many of the younger generation just aren't interested.

Rodney says: "People laugh at Freemasonry, with the rolled trouser leg - they think it's a bit of a joke. It's not a joke to us.

"When I joined, the man of the house would do it without consultation with his wife. I was like I'm going to join Freemasonry and there's no question about it'.

"Society has changed. Today if the man of the family has two young children and a wife to keep happy, it has to be a family decision.

"There are female Masonic groups, but they aren't recognised by The United Grand Lodge of England."

Rodney also believes that when it comes to financial matters, there's this misconception that you have to be wealthy to join. He says times have changed, but financial pressures still put people off.

Rodney says: "In 1908 the only people who could afford to become Freemasons was a small sector containing lawyers, policemen, solicitors - that's no longer the case.

"You give to charity what you can afford. We pay £125-£135 a year for subscription to the lodge, and for a four course meal we pay £12."

One of the biggest issues surrounding myths in Freemasonry is nepotism. Many believe that people join to further their career.

Rodney vehemently denies this, saying anyone wishing to join for those reasons would be dismissed.

As I wander around one of the great halls in the Knole and look up at the walls, I can't help but wonder whether this has always been the case.

Plaques on the walls feature past Freemasons from local lodges.

A quick glance and I've clocked quite a few names from the local business world.

Michael points up at the walls and says: "That's Sydenham, the timber and building merchants, Fox in 1922 from Fox and Sons estate agents, Harding from what was Goadsby & Harding estate agent and Beale in 1930 from Beales Bournemouth store."

The members are proud to have these names as part of their history.

I ask Rodney whether members have helped each other out.

Rodney tells me that the rules state that misuse of membership regarding material gain results in Masonic discipline.

Flick through their book of constitutions and you'll find a chapter that states strict rules governing abuse of membership can result in penalties varying from temporary suspension to expulsion.

I ask whether this is fair considering members of gyms, for example, will use an acquaintance for a job over a stranger, and would this not be the same thing?

Rodney nods, but doesn't expand. It seems Freemasons have to be on their guard.

A negative connection to Freemasonry is instantly highlighted in the press. Rodney says this is partly why Freemasonry went underground.

He tells me that a demand to declare membership created an inverse situation a few years back.

Michael explains: "It's very tricky. I worked in the courts and I know people in senior positions who were asked to declare if they were a Freemason. Fortunately it was stopped in the end.

"We do object if we're discriminated against. If people ask any employee to declare their membership, there's this fear that if you're a Freemason you will bend the rules and give favours to other Freemasons."

As I wander around the Knole and meet various members, some of whom work full time organising events and charity donations and others who just enjoy being part of a group, I wonder whether there is anything sinister left in Freemasonry, if there ever was.

Rodney says: "It's a secret organisations and we want to maintain an element of mystery - that's part of our appeal - but that makes people suspicious.

"Ultimately we're all about maintaining standards of behaviours in a society where standards are dropping.

"Ultimately it's a support network. But attracting new members is difficult. After all, no one will print something that says Freemasonry broadens your life and expands your vision."