The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 3 - Overview of Rites
dysfunctional [...]. But despite them, the Masons have been concerned
and involved in their communities, especially in relation to the white
society. The role Prince Hall has played is one the Masons can be proud
of; its achievements no one can take away from them. 287
However, apart from authentic job opportunities granted by the fraternity, we
must not neglect the impact of an inherent fiction. Psychologically, one can
assume that the Order's "role playing" and "disguising" has served much in
establishing race pride among the black adherents, who were denied such
aspiring roles by the white community. Thus, Prince Hall Masonry has become
both an outlet and compensation for frustrations experienced in the social and
political environment. By pretending to be someone else with a high-sounding
title, wearing the insignia of power, of kings and queens (a photograph of the
latter is included in our ritualistic chapter on the Heroines of Jericho), black
Masons could live out their human needs:
Observers of black society have often talked about the importance of
social clubs or fraternities as an outlet for psychological frustrations of
blacks. People who are denied the opportunity to "be someone" are able
to adopt fancy names, glamorous gowns, and compete for long-winded
titles as a way of compensating. Many authors have gone so far as to
postulate certain "human needs," such as the need to play politics, and
have assumed that when such needs are frustrated in one area they must
come out in another - such as the fraternity. 288
Thus, the blacks are staging their social aspirations in Freemasonry. Although
it cannot be denied that several offices of Freemasonry do not include real power
but are merely executive, ceremonial, and "for decoration only," there are other
lodge offices that demand greater responsibility and ability of their occupants.
Membership in the Order brings another advantage - the Masons have learned
"how to behave." The codex of Masonry demands a refined behavior: "The
requirements for becoming a Mason force the initiate to handle himself calmly
before a group of people, to speak well, to commit to memory and retain a
substantial body of information, and to generally acquire 'social grace.' " 289 These
qualities are the same as required to become popular in any social undertaking
outside the fraternity, and thus enhance the prestige of the members.
Another outward sign of prestige is of materialistic structure - the Masonic
temple. In black Freemasonry, this building has acquired an even more important
meaning than in white Masonry, with a real temple building fever resulting from
the commonly accepted notion that in capitalistic America, neither a man nor a
race is anything unless he or it is a property owner. Thus, the jurisdictions
compete in erecting the most bombastic, colossal, and beautiful temple to
287 Muraskin, p. 236.
288 Ibid, p. 123.
289 Muraskin, p. 131.