Letter of the month: July 2002

Message-ID: <000801c23040$0aa12b90$6145d6d1@yourw92p4bhlzg>
From: "STHunton" <sthunton@bellsouth.net>
To: <masonry-ask@mit.edu>
Subject: freemasonry question
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 18:51:51 -0400

What does "Riding the goat" mean?

From: <dryfoo@MIT.EDU>
Message-Id: <200207210253.WAA26315@thelonious.mit.edu>
To: "STHunton" <sthunton@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: freemasonry question
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Sat, 20 Jul 2002 18:51:51 EDT."
             <000801c23040$0aa12b90$6145d6d1@yourw92p4bhlzg> 
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 22:53:58 -0400

It is a term that foolish Masons used to use to tease new candidates about what awaited them during the ceremonies of initiation. The ceremonies themselves are dignified and inspiring, but those Masons too foolish or mentally-blunted to appreaciate them made their own crude entertainment by trying to upset a new candidate.

This kind of adolescent stupity is widely-frowned upon by all responsible Masons, and the phrase itself becomes more obscure every year.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Gary L. Dryfoos <dryfoo@mit.edu>| Ocean Lodge AF&AM, Saugus, MA (PM)
| P.O.Box 425400, Camb, MA 02142  | Mt. Scopus Lodge AF&AM, Malden, MA (PM)
|                                 | Richard C. Maclaurin Lodge, MIT, MA
|  "A Page About Freemasonry"     | Internet Lodge #9659, E. Lancs UGLE   
|  http://mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/ | 32~; MPS; B'hood o/t Blue Forget-Me-Not 
|                                 | RWG Rep.GL Russia near GL Massachusetts 
| "...one sacred band, or society of Friends and Brothers, among
|  whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention,
|  or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree."
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