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

Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature 781
The Short Talk Bulletin of November 1936 (The Masonic Service
Association of the U.S., Vol. 14, N°. 11) argues that the idea of goat riding as a
part of Masonic initiation has soiled the order's reputation in many minds,
because many people believe that Masonic initiation ceremonies are humorous in
character. The article further states that "[t]he same idea is sometimes carried
into Lodge rooms, where one of the most beautiful of ceremonies is occasionally
butchered to make a holiday for those who cannot or will not see its sublime
symbolism."
In his book A Master's Wages, which was written in 1924 as a guideline for
young Master Masons, Carl Claudy protests against the use of lodge goats,
underlining that Masonry "is not a joke, not a foolish fun organization, not a club
of "good fellows 1934 ," but of a dignified, beautiful, and impressive ritual with real
meaning. He advises the brother-to-be:
Take from your mind and cast away forever all thought that there is a
"lodge goat" awaiting you, or that your friends are going to "have fun
with you." In the Shrine, the Grotto and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon,
yes. These are fun loving organizations which cast aside solemnity and
spend most of their evenings in laughter and play. But in the Blue
Lodge, never! [...] There is no "horse play" or other unhappiness
awaiting you. 1935
Although he states that "[a]ny attempt to 'scare' a candidate for the Masonic
degrees is unworthy of Masonry. A candidate should come before the Altar of
Masonry with fear of God, not man, 1936 " Claudy has to admit that
[y]et there are Masons so coarse-grained that they can find a place for
levity in the Sublime Degree, and who apparently enjoy robbing the
Mystic Shrine of a little of its thunder to make a Blue Lodge Holiday.
This is wrong. It is hurtful to Masonry, it is disrespectful to the
Master and the brethren, and it is in direct conflict with the ideals of
every Grand Lodge. 1937
He calls these brethren misguided, because they make the Third Degree
ceremony less dignified than it is meant to be, as a presentation of the character
Hiram Abiff, whose role is played by the candidate, the latter showing in a
practical way that which may have happened to his original. Claudy further
rejects statements that other tests are applied in Masonry, like stepping over
ropes. He underlines that Masonry has no initiation like college fraternities who
prove the candidates by physical or mental tests.
1934 Claudy, A Master's Wages, p. 8.
1935 Ibid, p. 8/9.
1936 Ibid, p. 12.
1937 Ibid, p. 11.