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

Chapter 2 – Historical Background 75
symbiosis of giving and taking - they give charity and in response receive
support from the Masons if they should become widowed or destitute. At least,
this relationship was the original intention of the women's orders. They were not
created to impart any mystic secrets to the women but in order to economically
protect the female relatives of Master Masons. Today, the outcome is similar to a
spare time club with beneficial activities, Christian chants, and happy social
hours. However, the ladies of the Eastern Star and the Order of the Amaranth
also have their rituals, so that everything takes place within the framework of
prescribed ceremonies and drill. The same is valid for the youth orders that are
sponsored by Masonry for men and women. The young people receive a moral,
religious, and also political education, illustrated by many symbols, laid out to
teach the love of God, parents, and country. Other Grand Lodges outside the
U.S. are not so enthusiastic about this "all-round Masonry" and view these
organizations for women and children with a critical eye: "Indeed, the Grand
Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland look upon them with consistent
disapproval, and will not permit their members to belong to them, with the
exception of the Eastern Star in relation to Scotland." 193
Another difference to the form of Masonry practiced in Europe is that
American Freemasonry is more open. This becomes evident when one tries to
collect Masonic materials, secondary literature as well as secret rituals. These are
somehow easy to acquire from the U.S., where Masons seem to be less
scrupulous about what they sell and to whom. As Kischke says, "[d]ie
amerikanische Freimaurerei arbeitet freier und offener als die europäische." 194
He adds that American Masonry does not put such an importance on secrecy as
the more tight-lipped European institutions: "Die amerikanische Freimaurerei -
das stärkste Glied in der Weltbruderkette - wirkt ohne Geheimnistuerei." 195 As in
France, American Masonry does not keep silent when public questions are
concerned. For example, the fraternity unanimously criticized the Ku-Klux-Klan,
calling it an injury to a humanitarian and tolerant way of living. 196
In contrast to European lodges, lodge membership in the United States
generally is very large. In bigger cities, lodges often contain more than a
thousand brethren. If a lodge is reduced to about one hundred members, it is not
uncommon for this lodge to merge with another one. There are two reasons for
this mammoth membership of American lodges. First, there exists multiple
membership. Second, the costs of running lodges and maintaining the temples
are very high, so that a large membership is needed to guarantee a sound
financial position. 197 A negative consequence of large membership is that the
average Mason finds his personal involvement in lodge activities limited. "A
natural question coming from an overseas visitor might well be: 'With lodge
membership as many as one thousand, how can you ever attain office and
193
Henderson and Pope, vol. I, p. 69.
194
Kischke, p. 32.
195
Ibid.
196
Ibid.
197
Cf. Henderson and Pope, vol. I, p. 70.