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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 635
exchanged for a light papier-mâché wedge. Another test is to teach the
"deceptiveness of the wine-cup" and aims to teach the candidate temperance and
sobriety: A false wineglass is given to the candidate which can be held upside
down without spelling its contents. There also is a photograph test in which an
imitation camera on a pedestal, covered with ordinary black cloth, is used, from
which a comic picture instead of the candidate's photo is procured.
There are three optional test appended to the ritual (cf. p. 61-63), one being
the lung test, in which the candidate has to blow into a mouthpiece to show the
capacity of his lungs, but is instead covered with flour. Another test is the boxing
test, where two boxers are blindfolded and wear belts which are fastened on the
floor, so that they cannot approach one another too closely. A referee makes all
the hits, while the boxers just strike the air. The third test is the trick gun test
which evokes the Wilhelm Tell scene, it is to teach the confidence in his fellow
Neighbors. An apple is placed on the candidate's head which a member has to
shoot down, but instead, he shoots water out of the front-action rifle in the face
of the candidate. Then it is the turn of the candidate to shoot down the apple, but
this time it is a back-action rifle, and the candidate gets a free bath again.
All these tests are rather infantile and may have been regarded hilarious in
1945 when this ritual was published. A final trial is applied which is of a more
severe notion. It is to prove the trustworthiness of the candidate:
it is the custom of Modern Woodmen of America, after the candidate
has passed through the ceremonies of his adoption, to administer to him
a final test [...]. A trap is purposely laid to induce him to divulge the
Passwords, which, in his obligation, he has especially promised not to
give. (p. 59)
After the candidate is caught in this trap, the Consul builds up suspense by
stating that he is going to expel the unworthy candidate for a definite time,
during which his membership shall be null and void: "The term of your
suspension during which you shall be dropped will be for the full period (slowly)
of -- one -- second! (One rap with gavel.) The time is up" (cf. p. 59).
This comic interplay is an efficient lesson for the candidate to be careful as to
whom he gives the secrets of the society. In this case no harm was done since the
receiver already was in possession of the same.