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

Chapter 5 - Technical Terminology 279
souvent rapproché de celui de la houppe dentelée qui décore les loges écossaises.
[...]" 805 Whereas, "[m]any foreign language lodges in the United States used the
Mystic Chain during the closing ceremony." 806
Generally - if it is not "long," 807 the mystic chain is exercised in the following
fashion (as for example in the Royal Arch Degree):
A circle is formed with the companions facing inward, each crossing his
arms in front of his body and, with his right hand, grasping the left hand
of the companion on his left and, with his left hand grasping the right
hand of the companion on his right. Also retaining the same positions of
hands, the companions may kneel and, rising again, are dismissed. 808
Scottish Rite bodies use other forms of chains. The IFL explains that a
German Mason has only completed his initiation when he has lived and
experienced the chain of brotherhood, feeling himself being a part of it:
"Bruderkette, Symbol der Verbundenheit, der Brüderschaft der Menschen. Die
Aufnahme des Neophyten in den Freimaurerbund wird erst dann zur wirklichen
Einweihung, wenn er die geistige B. durch Erleben erfaßt, sich in dieser weiß,
auch wenn die Kette äußerlich unvollkommen, ja gesprengt erscheint." 809 In
English Masonry, and therefore in Emulation working, too, the mystic chain is
unknown. 810
11. Passing the Chair
There exist several Masonic sayings with regard to the "chair," for example
the "chair in the East" which is the Master's seat, "passing through the chair" 811 ,
or the German expression for Worshipful Master, "Stuhlmeister" or "Meister
vom Stuhl." In this case, "passing the chair" means to introduce a newly elected
Worshipful Master into his office: "The ceremony of inducting the Master-elect
of a Lodge into his office is called 'passing the chair.' He who has once presided
over a Lodge as its Master is said to have 'passed the chair,' hence the title 'Past
Master.' " 812
805 Ibid.
806 CME, p. 126.
807 Cf. DFM, p. 91.
808 CME, p. 126.
809 IFL, p. 226.
810 Cf. DFM, p. 91.
811 Cf. Section 10.3 on Masonry in folk-art.
812 EOF, p. 140.