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

Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature 785
mourners. It used to be that when the great degree was conferred it was
necessary to have a lot of "funny" business in order to make an
impression - and a few benighted Brethren still think so - but the
tendency and pressure of Craft opinion is against it today; for which we
may be grateful. 1946
The Committee on Masonic Research and Education of the Grand Lodge of
Washington edits small brochures of which we have acquired one titled "On the
Threshold," dating from the 1970's, that are given to men interested in
Freemasonry in order to make them understand the structure and purpose of the
order prior to their actual entrance. It reads in the chapter "preparation":
The Degrees of Masonry are serious and dignified, without foolishness or
jest, trickery or nonsense. You may rest assured that any suggestions you
may hear of goats and horseplay, any undignified reference to the
ceremonies, are not founded on fact, and we suggest that you now resolve
never to be guilty of attempting to play on the fears of candidates by any
such suggestions, because anyone who does so does not fully understand
our ceremonies and teachings. 1947
If it was still necessary some thirty years ago to inform candidates that
nothing will happen to them in a Masonic initiation, we can deduct from this fact
that the saying of Masonic goat riding has not ceased to be popular in America,
even if the actual use of fun devices is now obsolete in Blue Masonry. - Now we
have delved in the entertainment sector of the male Masonic and fraternal orders,
but what about the women? The question remains whether they, too, had to
undergo these trials. These postcards and the following poem by C. R. Gibson
about goat riding in an Odd Fellows' lodge with a hint to the Rebekahs at least
suggest this idea:
1946 Newton (ed.), The Master Mason, 1925, p. 338/339.
1947 Committee on Masonic Research and Education, Grand Lodge of Washington, p. 11.