Masonry: Oaths and Penalties

Article: 3901 of alt.freemasonry
From: dryfoo@mit.edu (dr foo)
Subject: taking the oath (was: FAQ:B2B)
Date: 11 Apr 1995 20:36:12 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lines: 88
Sender: dryfoo@athena.mit.edu (dr foo)
Distribution: na


In article , steve@hakatac.almanac.bc.ca (Steve Deluca) writes:
|> bishop@tde.com (Charles Fretwell) writes:
|> > What type of oath do Masons take? 
|> > A Mason must state his belief and trust in God, to follow the laws of his 
|> > country and state, to be a good citizen, to aid to those in need that he deem
|> > worthy. 
|> 
|> I think you forgot a few :-)
|> Like the oath not to reveal the secrets on pain of having your
|> tongue cut out. Also, you neglected to mention that you are
|> blindfolded with a dagger at your chest while swearing the oath.
|> 
|> I am not judging here, just observing.

_What_ you say is slander. Whether you're saying it out of simple misinformation or willful malice, I will make up my mind which depending on your reply.

Those points have been carefully and truthfully explained repeatedly. Unfortunately, newcomers to this list may believe you, and your protestations of "not judging".

Obligatory Actual Facts: (Do I need to repost this every week, Steve?)

As I have previously pointed out, in many juridictions, Masonic oaths include sections where the candidate says essentially, "I feel so strongly about keeping this oath that I would rather have [insert some gruesome fate] done to me." These gruesome fates are referred to as "symbolic penalties". Their repetition is an assertion by the candidate of his own serious intention.

NOWHERE does anyone tell the candidate that these things will be done to him. In fact he is specifically assured that they will not. There is NOTHING in the ritual about doing these things to Masons who violate their obligations. Because we don't do them.

As every candidate is clearly told, the penalties for violating a Masonic obligation are possible reprimand, suspension, or expulsion. That's right, the worst horrible secret dangerous Masonic penalty is that we don't let him have a dues card or come to meetings anymore. Period. That's it.

Also, because of slanders like the ones you are here repeating, many grand jurisdictions have even taken the "symbolic penalties" out of their oaths, replacing them with the actual ones. Some Masonic authors say that each of the symbolic penalties had the purpose of warning the candidate of the kinds of psychological and spiritual dead-ends they would encounter in their own lives if they ignored the lessons taught in that degree. So as far as I'm concerned, in a mistaken and futile attempt to ward off slanders like the ones you've posted, Masonry has damaged its own ritual.

Finally, in Massachusetts, except for the tyler (usually an old man outside the door of the lodge, holding a scabbard that sometimes has an actual sword in it, and sometimes not), there are no daggers anywhere in our work, and no one holds anything to the candidate's chest while he takes the obligation. I have visited lodges in several states around the country, and the same is true in each of them. In fact, here is some of what the Master says to the candidate just before he takes his final obligation as a Master Mason.

"...we propose to lay you under a serious and solemn Obligation to keep sacred and inviolate the secrets of this degree. This Obligation, like those you have previously taken, will not improperly affect any duty you owe to God, your country, your neighbor or yourself. With this assurance, are you willing to receive it?"

Sorry. No torture, No murder, No daggers, No coercion, No extortion.

Is it fun to let your own dark side create scary pictures of us in your imagination? Is that just more fun? Is that why you say these things?

-- dr foo