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

476
Chapter 7 - Rituals
your resolution to deserve that life by Innocence and Virtue. (I., p.
37/38)
In Craft Masonry, the white lambskin apron alludes only to purity and
innocence, and not to the hope of eternal life; its meaning has been enlarged
here. While Craft Masonry draws parallels to the myth of Osiris (cf. the character
of Hiram Abiff), the creator of the Rite of Adoption has chosen the wife and
sister of Osiris, namely Isis, as central figure. This is also a great difference to
the Order of the Eastern Star and the Amaranth, which employ Biblical
characters and do not dwell in ancient mythology - despite of the greater
tolerance towards non-Christian members when using the latter. In the lecture
which concludes the initiation into the first degree, the candidate will be told the
reason for choosing expressively this Egyptian goddess as key figure of the rite:
Freemasonry [...] is an association of men alone, from which, by its
ancient and immutable laws, those of your sex are excluded. It is the
successor of the mysteries of OSIRIS, ORPHEUS and DIONUSOS. But
these were not the only mysteries of those ancient times. There were
others, sacred to the Goddesses: to ISIS, CYBELE, CERES, and
DIANA; and those to which females were admitted were not less
venerable and mysterious than the others. These are revived and their
ceremonies shadowed forth, in the Rite of Adoption. (I., p. 40)
Afterwards, the candidate receives the jewel of the Order, the Trowel of
gold 1425 , one of the chief symbols of Freemasonry, which she is permitted to
wear as a token of her association by adoption with the Brethren of Freemasonry,
in their exercise of "Charity and Patriotism" (I., p. 38):
To us, as to them, it is a symbol of Harmony and Unity; being used to
spread the cement by means of which the building has cohesion and
solidity, and is able to resist the fury of the storm and the wasting
influences of Time. As an emblem of labor, also, it is honorable to those
who wear it worthily, by devoting themselves faithfully to the
performance of Masonic duty [...]. (I., p. 38)
The candidate obtains a pair of white gloves for herself, in order to accept
them "as an earnest of that brotherly affection and esteem which each Son of the
Widow will hereafter feel" for her (I., p. 38). Then follows a curious parallelism
to Craft Masonry - just as the male Freemason used to receive a pair of white
gloves for the woman of his heart, the female candidate receives an extra pair of
white gloves for a man, "to him whom you may think most worthy to wear them"
(I., p. 39). Hereafter, the candidate is given the "kiss of peace" 1426 by the
1425 This is another difference to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Amaranth, for the latter have
their own jewels and badges, and do not employ Craft symbols like the apron and the trowel.
1426 This ceremony does not exist in the Eastern Star or the Amaranth.