The Universal Language of Freemasonry ii This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Fachbereich 23, Angewandte Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft of Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz in Germersheim in the year 2003 CE. iii The Universal Language of Freemasonry. A Socio-Linguistic Study of an In-Group's Means of Communication compared with Ritualistic Diction and Symbolism of "Profane" Fraternities, and a Survey of its General Applicability. Christina L. Voss Düsseldorf 2003 iv © 2003 by Christina Voss Düsseldorf All rights reserved PRINTED IN GERMANY v vi Table of Contents 1. Introduction...............................................................................15 1.1 List of Abbreviations...................................................................22 1.2 Notes on Spelling........................................................................23 2. Historical Background: The Relevance of .Ritual and Secrecy at Different Times and in various Geographical Areas.........24 2.1 England, the Isle of Club Life.....................................................46 2.2 Ireland and Scotland....................................................................50 2.3 Masonry and Politics in France and Italy....................................56 2.4 Masonry and Philosophy in Germany.........................................68 2.5 North America: Masonry for the Family.....................................73 3. An Overview of Masonic Rites.................................................78 3.1 Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite vs. York Rite........................78 3.2 Freemasonry and Women: Adoptive Rites & Co-Masonry........81 3.3 "Negro Freemasonry" (Prince Hall) in the U.S...........................87 3.3.1 The Official History of Prince Hall Masonry..............................92 3.3.2 Black Masonic Historical Tradition............................................93 3.3.3 Black Masonic Self-Definition....................................................96 3.3.4 Prince Hall Freemasonry and Rivaling ........................................... Fraternal Organizations...............................................................98 3.3.5 Financial and Job-Related Reasons to Join PHA......................100 3.3.6 Prestige Reasons........................................................................105 3.3.7 Black Masonic Partisan Politics and .............................................. the Civil Rights Movement.......................................................107 3.3.8 Problems of Universality...........................................................110 4. Signs & Symbols of the Three Degrees..................................115 4.1 Rooms and Furniture.................................................................117 4.1.1 The Lodge.................................................................................118 4.1.1.2 The Carpet, or Trestle-Board (Tracing Board)..........................125 4.1.2 The Chamber of Reflection, or Anteroom.................................131 4.1.3 The Hall of the Lost Steps.........................................................135 4.1.4 The Middle Chamber & the Winding Stairs..............................136 vii 4.2 Working Tools of the Different Degrees..................................141 4.2.1 The Square & the Compass......................................................141 4.2.2 The Gavel or Mallet & the Chisel.............................................145 4.2.3 The Trowel...............................................................................147 4.2.4 The Plumb Rule & the Level....................................................148 4.2.5 The 24-Inch Gauge...................................................................150 4.3 Clothing & Equipment..............................................................150 4.3.1 The Apron.................................................................................153 4.3.2 Cabletow, Blindfold, Metals.....................................................157 4.3.3 Naked Knee & Breast, Slipshod...............................................160 4.3.4 Jewels and their Explanation....................................................163 4.4 Sign Language..........................................................................173 4.4.1 Old Builders' Marks..................................................................174 4.4.2 Alphabets & Cipher Writing.....................................................177 4.5 Light Symbolism......................................................................194 4.5.1 Color Symbolism......................................................................198 4.6 Main Masonic Symbols, their Meanings, and ............................... Metaphorical Use in Language.................................................204 First Degree 4.6.1 The Lamb..................................................................................208 4.6.2 Jacob's Ladder..........................................................................208 4.6.3 The Point within a Circle..........................................................210 4.6.4 Personifications: Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, Justice; ......... Faith, Hope, and Charity...........................................................211 Second Degree 4.6.5 The Letter G.............................................................................213 4.6.6 "Shibboleth" - Emblem of Plenty and Secret Password............216 Third Degree 4.6.7 The All-Seeing Eye..................................................................218 4.6.8 The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars.............................................219 4.6.9 The Three Steps........................................................................219 4.6.10 The Bee-Hive and the Pot of Incense.......................................220 4.6.11 The 47th Problem of Euclid.......................................................223 4.6.12 The Anchor & Ark....................................................................225 4.6.13 The Sword & Heart; the Sword & Book of Constitutions........226 4.6.14 The Joined Hands.....................................................................227 4.6.15 The Spade, Coffin, Sprig of Acacia..........................................227 viii General 4.6.16 The Lion....................................................................................230 4.6.17 The 46 Symbols on a Masonic Certificate analyzed.................234 4.6.18 Egyptian & Hebrew Motifs.......................................................239 4.7 Acoustic Signs...........................................................................242 4.7.1 Knocks......................................................................................242 4.7.2 Passwords..................................................................................244 4.7.2.1 Spelling & Halving...................................................................245 4.8 Signs of Touch: Grips & Tokens...............................................245 4.9 Steps, Circumambulations, Perambulations, Squarings, ................ Travels, Formations...................................................................249 5. Technical Terminology...........................................................261 5.1 Architectural Terms..................................................................261 5.2 Behavior, Custom, Proceedings................................................273 5.3 Biblical Terms...........................................................................286 5.4 Books........................................................................................288 5.5 Elements and Nature.................................................................292 5.6 Finances....................................................................................300 5.7 Mock Expressions.....................................................................301 5.8 Names of Persons and Institutions............................................310 5.9 Transcendental Terms...............................................................332 6. Peculiarities of the Masonic Language..................................333 6.1 Abbreviations............................................................................334 6.2 Acclamations.............................................................................339 6.3 Anagrams..................................................................................339 6.4 Catch & Test Questions.............................................................340 6.5 Comparisons..............................................................................341 6.6 Complimentary Titles................................................................342 6.7 Drinking & Toasting Habits......................................................344 6.8 Hebrewisms...............................................................................350 6.9 Masonic Age, Hours, & Calendar.............................................351 6.10 Masonic Jurisdiction.................................................................357 6.11 Masonic Manners......................................................................359 6.12 Masonic Summons....................................................................361 6.13 Metaphors..................................................................................364 6.13.1 God............................................................................................366 6.13.2 Death, Heaven & Last Judgement Day.....................................367 6.14 Numbers....................................................................................368 6.15 Phrases of admission.................................................................372 6.16 Places, Directions, & Measurement..........................................373 ix 6.16.1 The Four Points of the Compass...............................................375 6.16.2 Extent of the Lodge; Open on the Center; Foreign Countries..378 6.16.3 Orient, Valley, Zenith, Nadir....................................................379 6.17 Sayings.....................................................................................381 6.18 Wordplays.................................................................................381 6.18.1 "Two Ball Cane".......................................................................383 6.18.2 Masonic "Tom Swifties"...........................................................384 7. Rituals: Their Purpose and Meaning ......................................... as Embedded in Society..........................................................390 7.1 Male Masonic Rituals...............................................................394 7.1.1 Improvement of the Individual: the Three Degrees ....................... of Craft Masonry......................................................................395 7.1.1.1 First, or Entered Apprentice Degree.........................................399 7.1.1.2 Second, or Fellow Craft Degree...............................................404 7.1.1.3 Third, or Master Mason Degree................................................409 7.1.2 The Keystone lost and found: Mark Ritual...............................419 7.1.3 Royal Arch Ritual: on the Quest for the Lost Word.................433 7.1.4 Abolition of "Cruel Oaths": Emulation Working.....................450 7.1.5 The Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross ........................ of Constantine...........................................................................454 7.2 Fixed Role Conception of the Charity-Receiving and Charity- Giving Women: Androgynous and Co-Masonry......................463 7.2.1 Mysteries of Isis as substitute for "real" Freemasonry: ................. American Masonry of Adoption by Albert Pike.......................464 7.2.2 Five Heroic Biblical Women - Essence of Co-Masonry? .............. The Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star .............................491 7.2.3 The Top of the Hill - but still no Role Change of Women: ........... The Royal and Exalted Degree of the Amaranth......................508 7.2.3 Self-Esteem of African American Women: The "oldest and ......... most perfect of all female degrees" - Heroines of Jericho........524 8.2.5 A Fraternal Christmas Play? The Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem..................................................................................538 7.2.6 Masonic Youth Orders..............................................................545 7.2.6.1 Masonic Boys' Order: "Clean and Manly Youths" Enacting ......... the Trial and Martyrdom of the last Grand Master of the .............. Knights Templar, Jacques DeMolay.........................................546 7.2.6.2 Treasure-Hunting for Moral and Patriotic Values:......................... The Order of the Rainbow for Girls..........................................558 7.2.6.3 Job's Daughters: The Trials of Job Symbolizing the Journey Through Life.............................................................................569 x 7.3 Imitative, Non-Masonic Rituals................................................580 7.3.1 Fun and Frolic on "the Master Mason's Playground" with Dantean Environs: M. O. V. P. E. R., Grotto Forms and Ceremonies.....583 7.3.2 Comparison of Masonry with the International Order of Odd Fellows......................................................................................588 7.3.2.1 Ritual of the I.O.O.F..................................................................595 7.3.2.1.1 Initiatory Degree and First Three Degrees................................598 7.3.2.1.2 Symbols of the Three Degrees..................................................607 7.3.2.1.3 The Three "High Degrees" of Odd Fellowship.........................614 7.3.2.1.4 Symbols of the Third Encampment Degree..............................621 7.3.3 Comparison of Masonry with Rituals of Fraternal ......................... Insurance Organizations...........................................................623 7.3.3.1 Ritual of Modern Woodmen of America...................................625 7.3.4 Knights of Pythias (K.O.P.) Ritual: Funny Tests and Knightly Games........................................................................................636 8. Categorization of Fraternal Rituals in Social Context.........649 8.1 Charity.......................................................................................650 8.2 Commercialization and Marketing Strategies...........................658 8.3 Insurance and Financial Support...............................................672 8.4 Patriotism and Politics...............................................................682 8.5 Publicity and Sociability...........................................................689 8.6 Secularization............................................................................702 9. Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature..................................707 9.1 Masonry & Theater...................................................................711 9.1.1 Carl Claudy's Masonic Plays (1934 - 1945): Trespassing "Masonic Law" in Isolated American Country Lodge..............714 9.1.1.2 Masonic "Healing" in "Greater Love Hath No Man...".............717 9.1.1.3 Admitting a "Cowan" into Lodge: "The Hearts of the Fathers"720 9.1.1.4 "A Gift in Secret...": Balloting for a Jew.............................722 9.2 Anti-Masonry............................................................................728 9.2.1 The Vatican...............................................................................731 9.2.2 The Morgan Scandal in America (1826 - 1836)......................734 9.2.3 Fascism vs. Freemasonry..........................................................740 9.2.3.1 The Ludendorffs' Anti-Masonic Vocabulary: A New Content applied to Masonic Symbols.....................................................742 9.2.3.2 The New Vocabulary of the "Christliche Orden"......................747 9.3 Masonry in Folk-Art: Jokes, Trivialization, and Satire.............750 9.3.1 Masons Mocking the Knights of Pythias...................................766 9.3.2 "Riding the Goat"......................................................................773 9.3.3 Masonic & Anti-Masonic Comics.............................................788