4. Candidate

I was finally invited to the ceremony at which my Freemason candidacy was confirmed. This ceremony is the first step in becoming a Mason. It is the First degree. I was told to wear a jacket and tie, but I would have anyway. This is something instilled in me by my father. It is a sign of respect.

I arrived at what I thought was the right time. I tried the front door, but it was locked, so I went around to the side. Candidates were already gathered in the vestibule there, and a Mason was explaining the upcoming ceremony.

I had been told by the Lodge Secretary that one person would be the Exemplar; he would undergo the ritual while the rest of us watched. With nine Candidates, the ceremony would have been long if all nine had to go through the rituals one at a time. I do not know how the Exemplar was chosen but he had been through two rehearsals with, I gather, all of the relevant Lodge Officers.

The Mason, another Past Master, reiterated the message that the Exemplar would not undergo any discomforts or embarrassments, nor would the rest of us either. It was not a hazing. That sort of stuff is malarkey. I would have left if there were such silliness.

We were brought upstairs and waited outside the Lodge Room. The Exemplar had to change into I do not know what to call it, a long shirt. One of his shoes was removed, and he was hoodwinked: blindfolded.

When he was ready, he knocked on the doorknocker (or someone did, I could not see). Someone within asked who was there, he answered, and we entered.

I forgot to mention that by the other entrance to the Lodge Room sat a Mason. He was the Outer Tyler, or sentinel. I do not yet know where that term comes from. I mean I do, because much of the terminology of Freemasonry comes from the stoneworkers guild. But I have yet to do my homework. The one on the inside answering the knocks was the Inner Tyler.

Okay, so we enter. Now that I think on it, I guess the Exemplar has yet to enter. The rest of us come in and sit in the seats on the North side of the Lodge.  Seating was arranged so that each of us had a Mason as a neighbour. This Mason assisted us in following the ceremony properly.

Once we were settled, the Exemplar entered, with ceremony. It was quickly clear that the ceremony was a performance. All participants had lines, all was performed with formality and drama. It was further clear that this was a way of teaching.

The wording of everyone’s lines, if I can put it that way, are anachronistic, originating in pre-Colonial days when Freemasonry began in this country. This anachronism provides a sense of wonder, one might say. Shifted from present day vernacular, the vocabulary is straightforward yet grounded in a timeless sort of imperative. It is how the King James version of The Bible differs in impact from the more modern translations.

I envied the Exemplar. I would have liked to experience the ritual first hand. A Mason (the Marshal, I think) led the exemplar by hand throughout the ceremony. The symbolism of moving from darkness to light was powerful. The Marshal led him to the various stations in the ceremony, and helped him kneel when that was required.

I cannot repeat from memory all that went on in the ceremony.  The Exemplar was quizzed by an officer. I am still unclear on all the Masonic offices, so I will not try to specify who did what. The Exemplar was asked, essentially, why he wished to become a Mason. The implication is that the Candidate is an infant, ignorant, waiting for light.

Much of the ceremony was at the center of the room, by the altar. The altar has the Bible, and the Masonic square and compass. A spotlight is directed on the altar.

The Bible is, in this jurisdiction (Massachusetts), the standard holy book on which Masons swear, but each person can choose which holy book to use, Quran, Talmud, Book of Mormon, or I do not know what else.

There is an organ on the North side of the Lodge. The Organist played music when people moved from place to place. His selection of music struck me as odd. I recall “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Edelweiss”, the same sort of music you might hear at a roller rink. I would expect classical music, but who is to say?

Eventually, the hood was removed from the Exemplar, as he entered the light of Freemasonry. I am reminded of William Blake’s Poems of Innocence and Experience. I wonder if Blake was a Mason. He was probably too poor, and I do not see him joining organizations, but it certainly was possible.

The rest of us Candidates were brought before the Master, who shook our hands and presented each of us a packet including the Freemasonry handbook, the Lodge newsletter, and a card indicating that we had passed the initial step, or degree, in Freemasonry.

The handbook is not secret, and in fact we are encouraged to show it to friends and family. It provides a history of the organization, information on how Freemasonry works, explanations of the degrees, and descriptions of the organizations affiliated with Freemasonry, like the Shriners, Eastern Star, and Scottish Rites.

We were also given aprons, such as stonemasons used. These are worn at Masonic ceremonies. We will wear this initial apron three more times, and at our funeral, if we choose to have a Masonic funeral. As one goes up in degree one gets different aprons. I hope I am not too far off in my information.

When the ceremony finished, we went to the big room for dinner. The Candidates were not allowed to pay for the meal, everyone else paid $5. It was a simple meal of ravioli, meatballs, and salad. I sat with several of the Candidates. We were eventually joined by a Mason, or Brother. The conversation included Freemasonry but ranged into gardening, weather, and such.

After the meal, we went back to the Lodge Room for the second part of  the meeting. An Officer explained the ceremony to us, doing so verbatim according to the ritual. A lot of memorization is required in these ceremonies. Whenever someone went up on their lines, a specific Officer—and  sometimes other Brothers—would supply the hint.

Following the explication, the meeting moved to routine Masonic business. A couple of new officers were conducted around the Lodge Room to applause. Two other Brothers were acknowledged as having risen in degree.

There were votes on a couple of issues. One vote was for two prospective Candidates.  I guess such a vote already occurred for me and the other Candidates. These people were not in attendance.  My memory fails me, but I think this vote was by black ball. Brothers lined up, reached into a wooden box containing black and white balls, and deposited their choice somewhere in the box. A black ball indicates NO.

This voting was another example of streamlining the process. With multiple candidates, one still voted with one ball only. If a black ball appears, some procedure is followed to determine which person received the black ball. I think it is rare that a black ball is employed. I am afraid I cannot remember if the results were announced. I think they must have been.

The other major business was a vote on whether to disperse money from a fund to pay for the new game room. The sum was substantial. One Brother was concerned that there was no breakdown of the expenses. Another stated that repairing the elevator should take precedence. There are many older Brothers, as well as others who have difficulty with stairs.

The concerns were well answered, if I may be allowed to say so. The fund would be paid back by donations from a list of already committed Brothers. The elevator repair was already in process. A Brother, the Past Master who sponsored me, spoke against the lack of trust evident in the request for a breakdown of expenses. He put his trust fully in his Brothers working on the game room. And he believed strongly in the worthwhile nature of the project, of Brothers getting together to work on the Lodge. It was stated that whatever funds remained once the game room was completed would be returned to the fund. The debate got a little spirited, but the vote, by raised hand, was overwhelmingly in favour of releasing the funding, and the storm blew over. The Candidates, I should add, were not allowed to vote. A breakdown of expenses was promised.

The meeting finished with ceremonial flourish. Candidates were advised that there was Cypher Training coming up on Sunday, which we were required to attend. Cypher Training, then, is my next chapter.