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

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
Our hope is in the aftermath -
Our hope is in HEROIC MEN,
Star-led to build the world again.
To this event the ages ran;
Make way for BROTHERHOOD - make way for Man 1579 .
The symbol of "building the world again" is an idea which the Woodmen
have in common with the Masons. The metaphors "clearing the way" and
"breaking the dead branches from the path" stems from the Woodmen
terminology and mean to purge and prepare for a new world created by
heroes/brethren led by a star, i.e. under God's guidance.
Contrary to Freemasonry, the Closing Ceremony of the Woodmen is held in a
rather casual tone. Thus, the closing of the Camp is executed with the fraternal
greeting "Good night! Good night!" (p. 13), a familiarity not to be found in
Masonry. Likewise, the often encountered exclamation "All is well" (p. 9) is
opposed by the serene "So mote it be" of the Masons. Corresponding to a
Masonic lodge, the Woodmen also have a Closing Ode:
Long live our order bright,
Offspring of truth and right,
Sent from above.
Long may our Neighbors stand,
A firm, united band,
Strong pillars in our land,
Our pride and love.
The image of a brotherly band and of being the pillars of society is conform
with the Masonic imagery. The order also conceives itself as being God-given
and the offspring of truth and right, which are tenets of Freemasonry.
Opposed to Freemasonry, the Camp of the Woodmen is a place of fun and
frolic, thus bearing slight resemblance to the Grotto and the Shrine. In the
Fraternal Degree, several tests are made with the candidate, however, the use of
the Ferris-wheel goat, of spankers, judgment stand, trick chair, electrical
appliances, and other appliances which could harm the candidate are strictly
forbidden (cf. p. 50). The candidate is placed upon the Camp goat (cf. illustration
in chapter 9.3, "Riding the Goat") and ridden around the hall. Then there is the
sawing test, which is to demonstrate the candidate's ability to earn his living by
manual labor: he is placed at a sawbuck with a tough stick of wood which he has
to saw as quickly as possible. Afterwards, he is tested as to his ability to act
wisely in danger: the candidate is given an iron wedge which he has to place
upon a hook attached to a rope running through a suspended pulley. Then the
candidate is placed beneath it, however, the metal wedge has secretly been
1579 It might seem as if the ritual were a little sexist; this is not the case. According to p. 17, it is
prepared "for use in men's Camps. However, it may be used in mixed Camps by changing the
pronouns [...]."