Regarding Masonry

[Spinster]

I've followed the thread of Masonic material culture with much interest.

Some years back, another lady and I attempted to properly appeal in a period setting to a Mason for aid---alas, it was likely that the man in question was simply carrying a canteen he perceived as "cool" rather than actually having any knowledge of the organization.

There's a plethora of modern books purporting to tell all sorts of things, good and bad, about Masonry.

What I want to find though, is period reference materials and books---what would a woman of reasonable education known about the Masons?

What religious or cultural factors and folklore would have made her respect the Masons, or what common knowledge factors (however untrue) would have made her fear their influence in society?

What I'm really trying to accomplish here is to locate, if it exists, a popular period book on Masonry that would have been widely available.

For much the same reasons that I hate using a modern hymnal for fear of tainting my 19th century memorized hymn words, I'd rather not pick up one of the modern tomes at Books A Million.

[Bushrod Carter]

Re: On Masonry

Ms. Lawson,

You ask a very good question, and one that does not have a simple straightforward answer.

Yes, there are people in this hobby that by wearing a square and compass on their uniform will help define/sharpen their impression - whether they have taken any Masonic degrees or not. So, membership in the Craft isn't proved by the mere presence of a Masonic pin or patch. To this point those of us that are members of the Craft have VERY SPECIFIC and time honored ways of revealing a tried and true Brother. Of course those will not be discussed on this thread, this forum, or in any other manner than we swore to communicate them.

On the subject or period books - there are MANY that can be found with some ease. A quick search on ABEbooks.com (the used book specialists) should turn up quite a few. Most of what you will find will be what is known as a Monitor - a ritual book very similar to what is used today. These publications will have everything that is Masonically "legal" to print. They won’t have any of the "secrets" in them, however.

As to the question of appealing for aid at an event from a Mason, well, this is a sticky situation. As Masons we take what we have sworn to do seriously -- in the context of our daily lives. As much as we all love and enjoy or hobby, that is exactly what it is, a hobby. To appeal for add form a Mason because it is something that may be considered an opportunity to heighten an experience at an event, or because it would be something cool to do in a period context, IS NOT a legitimate call for assistance or aid. Sorry, but it isn't. I'll further answer that question with this: Masons are taught a way to identify themselves when in extreme peril and need assistance. There are numerous accounts of Masons doing this during the war, for the right reasons. I've reenacted for 20 years and have been a member of the Craft for 19 of those years. I have NEVER seen a Mason at an event identify himself, as such. EVER. There are certainly times in our hobby when it would be something that could be done to interpret Masonry during the War. However, every Mason knows that our time honored traditions are not in place for enjoyment or interpretive purposes within a hobby or otherwise.

Also, when speaking of Masonry in a period context, it is almost impossible to differentiate from the present. Masonry has changed very little over the last 270 years. What we discuss about Masonry during the Civil War are still the things that attract men to the Craft today. How men “exercised” their Masonry then are STILL the way members practice their Masonry today.

So, if you appeal to a Mason for help at and event because you want to heighten an experience or just experience something cool without having a REAL need to call for a Mason’s aid, don’t be surprised if your calls go unheeded – by those who have taken obligations and those who just think its cool to wear a square and compass.

These are just one Mason's thoughts. I'm sure others will chime in.

[BrianHicks]

Re: On Masonry

Bro. Craddock is correct in his post above. As Masons, we are enjoined to answer all legitimate calls of distress. But more so... we are admonished to give that call only when in true peril or need, or when instructing another in it's methods, and for no other reasons. In other words, it's not to be taken lightly, or done indiscriminately.

As to period incidents: I recall two or three narratives in which a residence was being ransacked by soldiers, during which a Masonic apron, ring or a picture of a person wearing the same was found, and brought to the attention of a fellow soldier (usually an Officer) who was also a Mason, and upon recognizing the residence as being that of a Brother, the site was then protected by placing sentinels without, and securing the place without further harm or damage. I also recall having read about a time when a Woman approached an Officer, and showed him a masonic ring, and asked if he could direct he to someone who knew of it's significance. He sent her to another Officer who was a Mason. She stated the ring belonged to her father, and that she had been taught that if she ever needed help, that she was to show it to another who knew it's meanings, and the help would be rendered. I honestly don't recall what she was seeking in the way of aid, but I do recall that she received the help she was looking for.

Another thing in which Mr. Craddock was correct on, is that Masonry, and the way in which we conduct our Masonic activities, and adhere to our Masonic standards, has not appreciatively changed during the past 145+ years.

[hiplainsyank]

Re: On Masonry

I would imagine that your impression's religious background would give you guidance on whether you reacted to Masons positively/neutral or negatively. If I recall you are a modern LCMS, which I know has had a negative view of Masons, and had a rule in the 20th century that Masons could not also be members of Missouri Synod churches. Other Lutheran groups have also wrestled with this question, although I do not know if the modern debates were a reflection of earlier assumptions, but my sneaking suspicion that if you are portraying a Lutheran woman of the 1860s, the odds are you would not regard Masons positively. It also seems to me that Roman Catholics at various times have also regarded Masonry with suspicion, although I am not 100% certain on that.

For those who actually are Masons now, I don't know much about Masonry in general, but would I be correct in saying that if a person during the 1860s was Protestant and from a more British Isles-type ethnic background, and were middle class, they would be more likely to have been a Mason than others?

Since it sounds as if you are approaching this from a middle-upper class background, than I would argue the key would be your religious background. To answer part of your question, Mrs. Lawson, unless one is from a religious background which actively frowned on Masonry, I would think it reasonable that an educated woman (more from a middle class background) would be more likely to have a positive view of Masons. You would presumably know more Masons, and know their outward charitable acts than lower class and uneducated inviduals.

[Spinster]

Re: On Masonry

. If I recall you are a modern LCMS, which I know has had a negative view of Masons, and had a rule in the 20th century that Masons could not also be members of Missouri Synod churches. .

Sorry Mrs. Grimshaw---I'm not a modern LCMS. I do have the better part of a mainline Protestant seminary education, a number of months spent in a Roman Catholic Benedictine covent, and a good start on the conversion process to Reform Judaism. As a result, I can and do portray a variety of religious leanings---and yes, that fact would be integral to one's attitude towards Masonry.

Thank you Mr. Craddock for the direction---I was seeing a bit too much of the modern conspiracy theory stuff in the bookstores, and needed something not tainted with that foolishness. I do have access to an 1850s Monitor--I'll just have to pry it from a relative's hands;)

As for our particular appeal at the time--we greeted the man in a manner she knew from Eastern Star and I knew from Rainbow Girls. Our need was genuine. He was clueless.

[Hank Trent]

Regarding Masonry

What I'm really trying to accomplish here is to locate, if it exists, a popular period book on Masonry that would have been widely available.

There are quite a few books online, but the problem is, never having put much study into that part of the 19th century, I don't know which would have been widely available in the period, and what sort of person would have been most apt to be exposed to which books. Hopefully someone else can comment on that. But here are some random examples:

The Universal Masonic Library: A Republication in Thirty Volumes of All the Standard ... By George Oliver, 1855

The Masonic Vocal Manual By Robert Macoy, 1859

The Masonic Manual: Or, Lectures on Freemasonry, Containing the Instructions, Documents, ... By Jonathan Ashe, 1855

The duty of the master in the government of a masonic lodge... (Victoria freemasons). By John Fitzhenry Townsend, 1857

World's Masonic Register: Containing the Name, Number, Location, and Time of Meeting of Every ... By Leon Hyneman, 1860

The Freemason's Monitor: Or Illustrations of Masonry By Thomas Smith Webb, Robert Morris, 1859

The Master Mason's Guide: Containing All the Monitorial Instruction in Blue Lodge Masonry By Andrew J. Utley, 1865

The freemason's manual; or, Illustrations of masonry By Jeremiah How, 1862

THE HISTORY AND ARTICLES OF MASONRY By MATTHEW COOKIE 1861

Ignorant learned; or, Researches after 'the long lost' mysteries of free-masonry. By Henry Saxelby Melville Wintle 1863

The freemason's treasury, 52 short lectures on the theory and practice of symbolic masonry By George Oliver 1863

Tales of masonic life.: By Rob Morris, 1860

The masonic manual,: a pocket companion for the initiated;/ ...Comp. and arranged by Robert Macoy. 1867.

The mysteries of free masonry; containing all the degrees of the order conferred in a master's lodge,
Morgan, William, 1774-ca. 1826., Crafts, George R. [185-?]

The lights and shadows of freemasonry.: Consisting of masonic tales, songs, and sketches, never before published./ By Rob. Morris 1852

The principles of masonic law: a treatise on the constitutional laws, usages & landmarks of freemasonry. By Albert G. Mackey 1858

Richardson's monitor of free-masonry; Richardson, Jabez 1860

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: On Masonry

I found this, be it legend or truth, there is no doubt that some folk of that period had some levels of suspicion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William..._Morgan_affair

The anti Masonic movement was around at some level in the us in the 1820s.

Thanks for the post, this has caused my own curiousity on the matter, I look forward to reading more as I really know little about the fraternity. My only personal experience is that we had a foreign exchange student from England who was a member of the park district in the UK which was very anti freemason apparently the two competed against eachother in benevolent activities.
Other than that, I don't know anything and look forward to hearing more on your research in order to improve certain impressions.

[hiplainsyank]

Re: On Masonry

Sorry, Mrs. Lawson!

I just realized I was confusing you with someone else who had stated they were LCMS.

My apologies.

Other than goofing on that tidbit, I guess the rest of my post stands, that one's religion would probably play the largest part in their approach to the Masons.

[vamick]

Re: On Masonry

[QUOTE=Bushrod Carter;65985]Ms. Lawson,

Yes, there are people in this hobby that by wearing a square and compass on their uniform will help define/sharpen their impression - whether they have taken any Masonic degrees or not. So, membership in the Craft isn't proved by the mere presence of a Masonic pin or patch. To this point those of us that are members of the Craft have VERY SPECIFIC and time honored ways of revealing a tried and true Brother. Of course those will not be discussed on this thread, this forum, or in any other manner than we swore to communicate them.

!!!!,,,people are such strange creatures!..why in the world would somebody wear a symbol pretending to be something they're not, and that fact so patently proveable by those that are???

[Barry Smithson]

Re: On Masonry

!!!!,,,people are such strange creatures!..why in the world would somebody wear a symbol pretending to be something they're not, and that fact so patently proveable by those that are???

Perhaps for the same reason that I wear a Texas Star when I portray my primary unit of the 8th Texas Cavalry. I am not a Texas Ranger but that is my impression. More likely it is ignorance of the Craft.

Are we Brothers accommodating our modern affiliation with the Craft to our impression or is our impression driving it?

Bro. Barry Smithson
Washington Lodge #5 F&AM
Keller Lodge #1084 AF&AM

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: On Masonry

I don't know if this is appropriate to ask, please let me know if I am out of line. Simply curious. But for the Freemasons in this discussion, what motivated you to petition for membership in the first place? I guess it would help me to understand all of this if I know what brought you to it in the first place.
Mods if this is too far off topic, I apologize.

[Will Eichler]

Re: On Masonry

Brett,

I'll jump in here and tell you a bit about my reasons. Some are very personal. However, the one's I'm willing to share you might find insightful. While I was growing up in the thumb of Michigan I constantly saw a few fellows who really made things happen. They weren't the ones who had their pictures in the paper when the big doings were accomplished and accolades were being handed out. Rather, if you saw them in that photo, they were in the background or even headed the other way! Still, it was well known that these fellows had a huge hand in making the small town I came from work. As I grew, the husband of the lady who babysat for me as a youngster introduced me to a few of them. They were his friends. He is a mason. So are they. My respect for them as individuals and as a group caused me to ask how to join. I was told to wait til I was old enough. I did so and now they are brothers.

I only hope I live up to the example these men set before me......

My .02 - hope you find it insightful.

Will

[1stMaine]

Re: On Masonry

Comrades,

My own interest is similar to Bro. Eichler's. I kept seeing the same set of folks involved in making things work. When something needed to be done, they were somehow always there. I asked questions. Then I asked to join.

The rest is history, as they say.

Respects,

[Spinster]

Re: On Masonry

Brett,

A word from the peanut gallery---and why I continue to encourage young men of quality to explore this option:

My own grandfather often said "Not all Masons are good men, but ALL good men are Masons".

We have few places left in our society where men are allowed to be men, and taught how to be men. As a result, we've lost something.

This is one of those last places, and that which is taught is good for you and good for society.

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Regarding Masonry

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question. I do find interest especially in the Masons role in our revolution and the instances of benevolence shared between masons across the battle lines of the civil war. I do find this all very interesting from a perspective of an outsider who is interested in the history of the nation.
Again I appreciate your time.