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

Chapter 6 - Peculiarities of Masonic Language 359
France, and still are in Germany, several Grand Lodges in the same
kingdom exercising coordinate powers. 1122
The quotation above is merely a circumscription for another Masonic
technical term, "American Doctrine," or "Territorial Exclusiveness." As defined
in CME, with this is meant the rule that there can be but one recognized Grand
Lodge in a state and that it must have exclusive jurisdiction therein. 1123
It is a curious fact that the old Gothic Constitutions of the operative
stonemasons contained a rule against lawsuits, which the speculative Freemasons
paraphrased in the Ancient Charges of 1723 thus: "If any Mason does you a
wrong, you should apply to your Lodge and, if necessary, appeal to the Grand
Lodge and never take a legal course, except when absolutely necessary [...]." 1124
As Coil states, this rule against lawsuits was really somewhat observed in earlier
times, the Fraternity being small yet, but when growing in numbers, the Masons
became socially more distant and less neighborly, so that this original rule seems
to be "a dead letter" nowadays. 1125 Thus, Masonic bodies are sometimes involved
in litigation in the civil courts, such cases involving the application of either
public law, Masonic law, or both. A valuable piece of research on this subject
was written by W. Irvine Wiest, Freemasonry in American Courts, in 1957. This
is cited in this work in Section 10.2 on the custom of "Riding the Goat,"
mentioning that Masons and Shriners who were hurt in rough initiation
ceremonies sued their lodges.
6.11 Masonic Manners
The circle of people using the Masonic language have not only judicial
customs, but also social conventions. There are fixed rules and By-Laws in
Masonry, but there are also unwritten codes of behavior that have to be obeyed
by the members. These constitute Masonic etiquette, or social behavior, or,
Masonic manners. For instance, there is the custom of "squaring" the lodge
without treading on the floor between the altar and the East. A Mason is not
punished for doing so, but this is a courtesy and should be respected. The reason
for this custom is given by Claudy:
1122 EOF, p. 374.
1123 Cf. CME, p. 36.
1124 Cf. ibid, p. 375.
1125 Ibid.
Masonry has developed its own conventions, by which its members in
lodge and the ante room act. Not to proceed according to their dictates is
not a Masonic offense; it is merely a lack of Masonic manners. [...]
Brethren do not pass between the Altar and the East in lodge. It is a
convention; there is no penalty for its infraction. It is a courtesy offered