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

Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature 803
were right 1974 with his tale on the origin of the Fez it would have no impact on
Masonry since Fezzes are worn by Shriners who are not a "Masonic"
organization but merely the "Master Mason's playground," a social fun club
without symbolic teaching. Therefore, it also has no impact that the Shriners use
Muslim vocabulary and swear on the Koran. Ed further conceives the apron,
"packed with occult symbols," as an item of witchcraft. As explained in Section
4.3.1, the white lamb skin apron is a symbol of innocence. It is true that
sometimes it is adorned with the symbols of Freemasonry, but they are neither
phallic nor "occult" 1975 nor anti-Christian but have an inherent educational and
moral meaning.
Ed admonishes the Scotts to burn all their Masonic objects, to renounce
Masonry, and to ask God for forgiveness. After they have done so, the hospital
calls and says that their son is awake, hungry as a bear, and wants to see them.
This improbable turn of the story proves the healing effect of Christianity - at
least in the eyes of Chick and Schnoebelen, and other anti-Masons. Visually, the
designer of this comic strip uses an ugly face for the unreformed Mr. Scott and a
pretty, intelligent, and convincing face for "Ed," his Christian reformer. The anti-
Masonic attacks that appear on the level of urban folklore can be refuted by the
unprejudiced presentation of documented facts. In most references to
Freemasonry in this comic strip the facts are occasionally accurate, but the maker
produces no justification for the conclusions he draws from them.
1974 A Masonic defense against this Chick tract at http://www.templarhistory.com/curse states that
this tale of the history of the city of Fez is historically incorrect, and that the author forgets that
Moslems, Jews, and Pagans were likewise killed during the crusades in the name of righteousness.
1975 "Occult" means "hidden knowledge." Interpretations of Masonic symbols are available even for
profanes in illustrated books, for example by Valmy, etc.