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

722
9.1.1.4 "A Gift in Secret...":
Balloting for a Jew
Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
The seventh drama of the Doric Lodge series, also a one-act play, was
published and copyrighted in September, 1942, and is of interest here because it
discusses the admittance of a Jew into the lodge. Even though Doric Lodge is
situated in rural America, and not in fascist Germany, and even though it is in
Masonry, the Jews were dealt with differently. Claudy is aware that not all
lodges think alike in this matter, and, in order to avoid offending any Grand
Jurisdiction practice, he apologizes for his drama of tolerance by stating: "The
story is set forth only for the human values, and with no intent of argument for or
against any idea or practice therein developed. If readers will think of the drama
as belonging to the mythology of humanity, rather than to Masonic reality, its
spirit will be preserved." 1778
Thus, it merely teaches a lesson of humanity, without wanting to hurt other
Masonic viewpoints. Although Claudy, for sake of his objectivity, pretends that
this drama is rather intended to be fiction than fact, the reader can well imagine
that such discussions have actually taken place among Masons.
The play begins with the Opening Ceremony in Doric Lodge, and the
Worshipful Master announces that his nephew, who is an agent of the FBI, will
be a visiting brother that night (here, it is mentioned in passing that "Brother
Hoover" is the chief of the FBI). This nephew is to present an unusual
"entertainment" to the members, but their Master does not reveal any further
details. The Secretary reads the lodge minutes which deal with the "Unknown
Benefactor," famous for his anonymous gifts both to the community and the
lodge, who has sent a check to the lodge's charity committee, so that it was able
to purchase an artificial leg for a maimed brother. These secret money orders
come in envelopes with type-written addresses, each signed by a different name
and giving different hotel address of the sender. The strange thing is that the
amount is always just enough to purchase that what is needed. The brethren have
already supposed that the strange benefactor is a lodge member who exactly
knows their needs, and that he must be a citizen of Aaronton. But since they
believe that typewriting is not traceable, they are afraid that they will never be
able to resolve this mystery.
The Master invites his nephew to begin with his promised entertainment, but
there is protest from the brethren, since they believe the correct order of business
at Stated Communications is that balloting on petitions comes before
communications and new business, and there is a petition for the Entered
Apprentice Degree of a certain Otto Lubeck to be made. However, the
Worshipful Master cites the by-laws from the code book which say that the lodge
has to yield to the Master's inherent right to arrange the communications. Then
there follows a short discussion on this Otto Lubeck, the owner of a store of out-
1778 Ibid, p. 153.