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

Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals 659
internal market, that is trade between the brethren which could exclude and
economically damage non-Masons. Does a strong fraternal bond induce
nepotism? Is a brother obliged to deal with another because of the common oath
at the altar? Claudy, in A Master's Wages, gives the following information to
young and inexperienced brethren:
The young Mason is faced with a problem [...]; 'must I trade only with
Masons? Is it unMasonic to trade with the profane?' [...] Masonry is not
a mutual benefit society, in the sense that the Rochedale Cooperative
Society is one. That, and similar organizations, are formed for the
purpose of promoting trade among members; they offer financial
inducements to trade with their members. There is nothing like that in
Masonry. There is no Masonic obligation taken at the Altar which even
hints that a Mason must deal only with Masons. There is no Grand
Lodge law, nor any lodge by-law, which compels such trading. It is
therefore, not a violation of any Masonic law or obligation not to trade
with a Mason. 1620
This sounds almost too positive to be credible. However, Claudy continues:
"But there is the obligation of brotherhood." 1621 This would suggest in-group
preferences again. With unbiased logic, Claudy argues that every individual
brother has to decide for himself how far the obligation of brotherhood is to be
applied. In his eyes, when a brother has the choice between two merchants, he
should follow his common sense. That is, when he has an offer from a profane
selling the same article as a Mason but at lower cost, then the profane's offer
ought to be accepted, of course. However, Claudy also states clearly that "[a]s
between two merchants, one a profane, the other Masonic, both giving the same
goods at the same price [...], the Mason should receive the Mason's trade." 1622
The trade which has developed around fraternal societies and their outfit and
emblems is amazing. A vast amount of Masonic book traders exists, and dealers
for regalia offer their products in elaborate catalogues. Petty articles like
(bumper) stickers, t-shirts with fraternal logos, lighters, suspenders, etc. are sold
at auctions, in esoteric shops, or by online trading. This includes fun articles like
tie tacks or cooking aprons with the emblem of the "Knife & Fork Degree," or
humorous postcards, depicted elsewhere in this paper, to name the least sincere
products. Let us view some bumper stickers acquired at a German store for
Masonic goods:
1620 Ibid, p. 65; bold print added.
1621 Claudy, A Master's Wages, p. 65.
1622 Ibid.