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

618
Chapter 7 - Rituals
The candidate is introduced to the Chief Patriarch by the Junior Warden as a
herdsman who has faithfully served in the field, who has been admitted to the
rank of a Patriarch, and who has learned to offer hospitality, now being desirous
to be taught the principle of toleration. Then, he is obligated and instructed in the
"golden rule," which consists of the maxim to do unto others as we would have
them do unto us. The very lesson commences quite roughly: the candidate is
assaulted by the First and Second Watches, who play the character of
Mohammedans, while the Third and Fourth Watches rush to the candidate's help,
for they represent men of his own faith. The Junior Warden explains the situation
to him:
Before him have gathered the different peoples of the earth: The white race,
stemming from ancient Asia, the region "once occupied by Adam, Noah and
Abraham" (p. 189), has been overrun many times in history by semi-barbarous
hordes of different religions and customs. Some of these whites cling to Judaism,
some to the crescent, and some to the cross, the latter prevailing "where
civilization exists" (sic!, p. 190). In spite of this, its devotees are subdivided into
many sects.
The following description of the races is rather a rough generalization more
marked with prejudice than being a lesson of toleration, and mirrors the limited
view Americans hat of other peoples in the late 19 th century: The brown race
living in parts of southern Asia with its far advanced arts and sciences has a
"Paganistic religion" (sic!, p. 190), a social system defined by strict and rigid
caste, and beautiful temples of worship. The yellow race, the Mongolians of
Asia, is represented as "votaries of Pagan rites, according to the teachings of
Confucius" (p. 190), with great mental power and skill at handiwork. The red
race consists of "unlettered savages," roaming the pathless wilderness and
chasing the deer with quiver and bow (the Odd Fellows' symbols!), adoring the
myriad of stars as symbols of an eternal Great Spirit (cf. p. 190). The funniest
and most intolerant description is reserved for the black race:
And there you behold the BLACK RACE. It inhabits, as hordes, the
wilds of Africa. In general they are barbarians and monsters in the
practice of the most dire rapine; yet some of them are more gentle - as
the Nubians, who dwell upon the burning sands of the Equator and
dance to the music of a reed beneath the spreading palm. (p. 190)
The candidate learns that here have assembled men of different creeds, like
Christians, Pagans, and "the intolerant and persecuting Mohammedans, who are
ever ready to immolate the man of another creed upon the altar of their own
peculiar faith" (p. 191). To illustrate this better, one of the "Mohammedans"
approaches the candidate, asks him about his mother country and religion, and
then his band cries out, "Seize him! Bind him in chains! Cast him into prison!
Put him to the sword!" (p. 191). The Mohammedans attack the poor candidate, a
like number of the "Christians" rushes to save him, and a general confusion
ensues, which is broken by the Chief Patriarch, who calls them to order with his