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

702
Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals
right! You might even have to pack your bags and leave
town! What do you mean you might join the Hell's Angels?
Coy! Don't you hang up on me! Hello, hello…Don't you
crank that motorcycle! Who's that gigglin' in the
background, Coy? Hello, hello operator! Yeah, we's cut off!
Room 321. Dad blame it Coy! You don't hang up on the
illustrious Potentate! I said the illustrious Potentate! This is
Bubba! Bubba! Coy!…………."
This satire shows that the pompous and grandiose names like "Grand Mystic
Royal Order," "Nobles," and "Illustrious Potentate," are merely a faςade for
trivial social amusement, illustrated by a "fez with a propeller on top," etc. The
colorful clothing of the Shriners, the parade, the Motorcycle Corps make the
"local hearts swell," the Americans are proud of their "typical phenomenon." The
sincerity demanded of the members by the Illustrious Potentate, the highest
officer, is only a fake since he himself uses vulgar language, curses, and swears.
The main activities of the so-called "pillars of the community" seem to be eating,
drinking, riding motorcycles, and having sex. The fact that the secret password
has been betrayed to a "cowan," even to a girl, appears less a crime since the
secret code can be changed in the next meeting. Thus, it becomes obvious that
the alleged "secrecy" does not veil anything of importance; the arcana is
replacable and consists merely of a word. Likewise, the secret meeting "in the
dead of the night," where mysterious sanctimony and dedicated caution
accompany a time-honored ritual, is the stage for banality - the "grave matters"
that are discussed consist of nonsense like whether or not to "spit in the ocean."
The misbehaving Noble is threatened to be expelled from the Order of the
Mystic Shrine, but his expulsion is described as a procedure of "having to turn in
his ring and tie tack" - as if there were no moral value within the organization,
just outward appearance, decorations, and worldly things. For the Noble himself
who is going to be "blackballed," this punishment is of no real importance, for he
already considers joining a bikers' gang instead. All in all, Ray Stevens has rather
created character assassination with his persiflage, but he did it with enough
humor so as to receive but friendly reviews from the Shriners themselves.
8.6 Secularization
Religion touches everything, but it must be understood that
Freemasonry is not 'a religion.' As a whole it has no dogma, nor
theology. It has no plan of salvation and most importantly it claims no
divine origin. To tear out the religious threads from the fabric of
Freemasonry would almost destroy the garment just as removing all
religious and philosophical thoughts, works, and ideas from any library
would empty the shelves. Freemasonry is a learning place open to all
men of good report and inventions. It teaches universal moral principles.