SørenSweR(I)
Registered User
Our buildings have public and private spaces. The tiled room of a lodge is only private when tiled. So interested members of the general public can gather in the other rooms of the building while the lodge is opened. Then the lodge is called to refreshment at which time certain visual secrets are changed to a position that shown on the sign outside the building and the guests are allowed into a room which no longer shows secrets. Later the process is reversed to close the lodge.
But yes, having rooms that are open to the public would seem a bit open to some. We are very open about our Masonry in the US. Having a sign on the outside of the building is similarly open.
Most mason here openly admit to being mason as well. Our lodges all have identifying flags (cross of st. George) and some even the S&C. As evident here: