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

Chapter 6 - Peculiarities of Masonic Language 361
6.12 Masonic Summons
Both in French and American early Masonry, during the 18 th and 19 th
centuries the brethren seem to have had a mode of recognition by folding the
paper in a peculiar way when writing each other letters. Such incidents have been
collected and reproduced in Nocalore, vol. XV, p. 92 in the ironical chapter
"Paper Missive." Thus, in the Dukinfield Ritual of the Mark Degree can be read
after an explanation of the Masonic Alphabet:
As M. M. M. we have a mode of communicating with each other
without the use of written characters by means of a paper missive. On
receiving a paper folded in this peculiar manner you will understand
that a Bro. M. M. M. wishes to see you personally. Should it be
inconvenient on your part to see him you will return the missive folded
a second time thus..., but should the Bro. Return it to you refolded you
must consider that a preemptory summons and it will be your duty as a
M. M. M. to obey such summons. 1133
This passage can be found almost word for word in the 1874 edition of the
Perfect Ceremonies of the Mark Master Mason and R. A. Degrees, whose
introduction speaks of a system of correspondence practiced in some Lodges. 1134
It comments on the "ridiculous" Dictionary of Signs forming part of the Briscoe
pamphlet, which contains the following paragraph: "To send a piece of paper
done up like a letter, tho' there is nothing writ in it, signifies the member to
whom it is sent must be at the Buffler's Head Tavern by Charing Cross at Four of
the clock in the afternoon." 1135 The secret communication is also achieved by the
following means:
In "Solomon in all his Glory", in the section of explanation of Songs
and Inscriptions [...], we have: "When freemasons [sic] write, they fold
their letters in the shape of an angle." The text of the original, "Le
Macon Demasque," [sic] from which "Solomon" was taken, translated
reads: "When Freemasons write to one another, they fold the paper
length wise to bring it to the width of an inch, and then tie it in the
middle, so that the two ends take the form of a square." 1136
This peculiar Masonic custom inspired The Freemason in its 1723 edition to
let loose a satire:
1133 Nocalore, vol. XV, p. 92.
1134 Cf. Nocalore, vol. XV, p. 92.
1135 Ibid.
1136 Ibid.