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

Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature 783
in the work no reference to a goat or anything that resembled a goat was used.
That about covers all I know about this subject." 1941
Grand Chaplain Gallagher evokes in an oration a meeting with a young
Mason who
[...] had been in Masonry a year and had not forgotten how unmercifully
the brethren had tried to fill his mind with dread apprehensions of his
approaching experience. It was all lost on him, however; he was a
college man and understood what initiation into Greek letter societies
means. "But imagine my surprise," he said, "when I found that from
beginning to end of the Sublime Degree dignity of language, coupled
with an almost funereal solemnity, prevailed." 1942
Here, the candidate has expected to be dealt with like in college initiations,
for it is well known that fraternities and sororities apply certain tests of courage
which often include giving the newcomer a cold shower. That the goat riding
practice must have been introduced at some time or another to the astonishment
and dismay of the elder brethren, is proven by the following poem by Frank
Kirk, published in The Lodge Goat in 1907. 1943 Here, the candidate is surprised
that he has to ride the goat during the Third Degree initiation ceremony and
claims that the lodge is different than it was twenty years before.
Dwenty Years Ago
I vent and shoined a nodder Lodge, Den ven I dake der first degree
Id vose der same olt show; I dink id vosh in May,
I lishened to der same olt charge Efry ding shust seamed der same
I hurt long year ago; Like in der olten day;
Old Santy Claus he vose der same - Der same olt vords dot ve must reep,
His speech vose waful slow, Der dings we always sow,
Der obligation vos der same, like Id dook me pack to olten days
Dwenty years ago. Some dwenty years ago.
Den in der second I vos schered, Und now my liber friend, I dink
I cand dell der reason why Dot man knew vot he said,
Bud id made a lump come in my troat, Or mapy dot olt Dutchman vos
I feal shust like I cry. Completely lost his head.
He said before I dake der next He dold me I must dake a bath
Dot I musd learn to know, In voter vorm ash snow;
Dot der Lodge vos running different now. Now, I do n't remember doing dot
Dan dwenty years ago. Boud dwenty years ago.
1941 John Williams, in a letter to Christina Voß dated Sept. 27 th , 2000.
1942 Myler, Jewels of Masonic Oratory; p. 149/150.
1943 Pettibone, p. 536/537.