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

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
Thus, the law has not been broken at all, and all Masons are satisfied. To
make the happy ending complete, Higgins is also healed physically, since a
friend has donated skin. This story shows that sometimes, it is commendable to
break Masonic law if it is for a good cause - but only if "law" can be
reestablished later.
9.1.1.3 Admitting a "Cowan" into Lodge:
"The Hearts of the Fathers"
The sixth play of the series was published in 1939 and consists of one act.
There are two reasons for discussing it here: Doric Lodge again violates two
principal Masonic "laws" or customs. First, the play deals with the antithesis of
initiate and profane, using the Masonic technical term "cowan" for eavesdropper.
A cowan must never enter a lodge, and normally, the tyler with his drawn sword
is placed outside the door to guard it, so that the lodge is "properly tyled." In this
case, there will be made an exception. The cowan is even a women - that is, a
little girl. Second, this play is the only one of the set that requires a costume, as
its story evolves about a peculiar Masonic custom: to be "properly clothed." We
can observe the uneasiness of the properly clothed brethren at the intervention of
an intruder "not properly clothed," which makes him an outsider, although he is a
brother.
The story goes as follows: Doric Lodge celebrates Home Coming Night the
same day a circus is at Aaronton. The lodge awaits a visiting brother, Bro. Henry
Dyke, Junior, a wealthy businessman who has been invited to join his Mother
Lodge on this special evening. Of course, without admitting it the members hope
that this rich man will contribute generously to the lodge fund. But the brethren
fear that there is going to be some discord, since there is also a visiting brother
working for the circus. Bro. Dyke was once married to a beautiful tight rope
dancer from the circus, who had committed adultery, wasted his money,
disgraced his name, and finally deserted him with his baby. The circus now has a
special program in which Elias the Clown catches a pretty, five-year-old tight
rope dancer who falls off the wire. As we can already anticipate, this is Bro.
Dyke's daughter.
Another circus man is brought into the lodge by his companion - it is Elias
the Clown. His function is to ask the real father of the child to take her back,
which Dyke refuses since he has financially cared for mother and child when he
divorced the circus woman, and thinks that the girl goes to school somewhere
instead of acting in a circus. He does not know the mother has died, and he has
cut all bonds with his former family. However, when Elias the Clown asks the
Worshipful Master to call the lodge from labor to refreshment, in order to
introduce a "cowan," and as the father sees his little girl whom he has denied,
and who is to be given into a Masonic home, he clasps her to his breast. The title