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

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Chapter 5 - Technical Terminology
meant that this lodge belonged to the kind of Masonry working only the three
degrees:
The name, St. John, came to be used for what is sometimes called
Ancient Masonry or Pure Masonry or Craft Masonry, meaning that
which had not been despoiled by innovations, particularly those of the
high degrees. In the 18 th century, many lodges, possibly most lodges,
had no names, only numbers, names often being attached to them by
common usage. In that way, some lodges were called St. John to
indicate that they were of the Craft type, working the three degrees of
St. John Masonry. 999
32. Profane
"Profane" is the Masonic technical term designating a non-initiate or non-
Mason. The word comes from the Latin meaning "standing in front of the
temple," that is, being yet uninitiated and having not entered the temple: "Profan
(lateinisch), eigentlich: der vor dem Tempel (fanum) Stehende, der nicht
Eingeweihte. Im freimaurerischen Wortgebrauche daher zur Bezeichnung des
Außenstehenden, z. B. in den Verbindungen: profane Welt, profane Presse, der
Profane." 1000 It is interesting that Coil, in his Masonic encyclopedia, maintains
that the term "profane" is politically incorrect is in poor taste, and declares this
expression obsolete. This instance of Masonic tact seems not to be universally
observed, since other dictionaries, like the German one, still use this term, and it
continues to be used in Masonic literature.
999 CME, p. 590.
1000 IFL, p. 1256.
1001 CME, p. 489.
A term much used in the 19 th century to refer to all outside of the
Society. The word was too presumptuous and ostentatious to last and is
now fortunately obsolete. Strange to say, the good sense to put formal
quietus on that verbal monstrosity was found in the far-off Philippines,
where the Grand Lodge resolved in 1926: 'That the use of the word,
profane, when reference is made to persons not Masons, be avoided
whenever possible by the use of some other word or expression in its
stead, such as uninitiated and non-Masons.' 1001