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

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Chapter 10 - Conclusion
would disgrace a convention of Indian warriors at their 'scalp dance.' " 2030
Witnessing the initiation ritual, the Englishman describes the French custom of
at first conducting the candidate into the chamber of reflection, where he has to
make his will and write down certain answers which are to be read out in lodge.
He was then brought in and placed on a stool in front of the Venerable,
and for nearly half an hour had to undergo a running fire of cross
questioning from Orateur and others on sundry points of theology,
politics and morals. Many of the questions were calculated to excite the
risible faculties of an Englishman, and we confess to having given way
to a smile now and then [...]. 2031
The visiting English brother ironically continues that monsieur had
successfully passed his examination, and afterwards was put through a variety of
performances unknown to English Masonry, which must have been so bad that
he says they "would be more honored in the breach than in the observance." 2032
He calls the French candidates "Les Pauvres Diables" and satirizes the French
initiation ceremony by stating that "Punch's advice to persons about to marry -
'dont' [sic] - would be pretty much our own to any dear friend who wished to
unloose 'the mystic tie' under such circumstances." 2033
There have been many attempts to create a unity of ritual. An example in
England is the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, having been established
together with Stability Lodge of Instruction and Lodge of Perseverance "for the
purpose of carrying on the movement for the unification of the work of the
United Grand Lodge of England." 2034 As mentioned in the "notes on Ritual and
Procedure" prefacing the Emulation Working, 2035 the Lodge of Improvement
"has always had the reputation of resistance to unauthorized and inadvertent
change in the ceremonies," its Committee being considered as the "custodian" of
the ritual. Despite this watchfulness, however, as Coil puts it in his Masonic
Encyclopedia,
[t]hese lodges carried on for some years, but were never able to unify
the English work. Showing how disorganized the English administration
was is the fact that the Hemming work became the medium of Stability
Lodge of Instruction, while the work of Williams, who was Hemming's
assistant and successor, was taught by Emulation Lodge of
Improvement. 2036
2030
Cf. Moore, Masonic Review, N° 36, 1869, p. 187.
2031
Moore, Masonic Review, N° 36, 1869, p. 187.
2032
Ibid, p. 188.
2033
Ibid.
2034
CME, p. 226.
2035
Emulation Working, p. 12.
2036
CME, p. 226.