Today, Fletcher has agreed to explain Masonry to me. For the past 12 years, he has worked for 17 different Masonic groups who want him to tell them why they're losing members. Fezzes, Sphinxes and Secret Handshakes By Peter Carlson November 25, 2001 Down we go, deeper into the weird wonderland. Every day, old Masons die and are no longer replaced by a younger generation. Define Your Path. After the Revolution, Freemasons became the quasi-official ceremonial arm of the new American government, providing colorful rituals for the laying of cornerstones for public buildings. Fletcher is one of them. They designed special "firing glasses" with extra-thick bottoms so they could smash them down on the table after each toast in an attempt to approximate the sound of gunfire. The men hated elaborate initiations and special garb and they detested secret ceremonies: "They just blasted that one.". In an age of religious hatreds, Freemasonry was among the world's first nondenominational organizations. Though some members deny it to the public, the Freemasons have at least one secret masonic handshake. Two-headed stone eagles perch on each corner of the roof and the gigantic metal doors are guarded by two enormous sphinxes, which stare out toward 16th Street, where passing drivers do double takes and mutter, "What is that?". Top 10 Scandalous Freemason Secrets He looks at his watch and hustles off. According to UrbanDictionary, The Dap includes simple to very intricate series of rhythmic hand slaps, clasps, hand and arm gestures exchanged between two persons as a sign of personal greeting, respect and group solidarity. "We're not a secret organization," says Richard Fletcher. "Not one man in a thousand said he was interested in pomp, circumstance and ritual," he says. The rite has lost a third of its membership since 1979. Secret handshake I went back to the search engine and typed in "Masonic secrets." I thought the rule was that you had to ask them. Murder!". The Masonic Handshake is an important symbol used to represent members of the society of Freemasons. And it's been sort of fun.". But it's not over. What changes would appeal to Generation Xers? Though some members deny it to the public, the Freemasons have at least one secret masonic handshake. Despite the Kramer factor, the TV generation just isn't there. On this stage are five throne-like chairs. But they all have one thing in common: Some of them are very old. ", He glances at my tape recorder. "This is the Burl Ives Room," he says. 4) Similarly, the Pass Grip of a Master Mason, also called The Lions Paw, is made by pressing the top of the thumb hard on a fellow Mansons second knuckle. Secret Handshake "Maybe you could invent new titles," I suggest. How did you like the initiation ceremony and those gruesome oaths? Why, Harwood wondered, did so many men join? Also Ty Cobb, Buzz Aldrin and John Wayne. If accepted, the man must pass through the three degrees of the Blue Lodge -- Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason -- each with its own secret ritual, handshake and password. He will be fielding questions and comments about this article at 1 p.m., Monday on www.washingtonpost.com/liveonline. After the 16th formal toast -- "May peace, liberty and order extend from pole to pole" -- the Masons stumbled off into the night, having forgotten to record exactly where they'd laid the ceremonial cornerstone. That, of course, fostered a couple of things: First and foremost, envyno one likes to be excluded, especially among fathers and sonsbut also an overall interest in the way people press the flesh in secretive ways to convey some sort of greater connection (or at the very least, a connection youre not a partof). "No," he says. Secret Handshakes from History. Carrying a ceremonial silver baton, he marches slowly around the room, then stops where Toossi stands. "The degrees are actually morality plays. Has origin in greetings developed and practiced by members of Black Power organizations founded in southern California in the early 1970s and then became commonplace and outlawed practice among African-American draftees and soldiers stateside and abroad during the latter years of the VietnamWar.. WebJoin Shriners. "When he passed away, his family gave his personal collection to us.". After that, his printer's shop was torched. "It's a rare glimpse at the inner chamber," Toossi says. Yikes! "Worshipful Master, behold your brethren!". I read descriptions of Masonic initiation ceremonies that involved the initiate being blindfolded and having the sharp point of a Masonic compass pressed to his naked breast. "Skip, skip, skip to my Lou," Ives sings. He's a short man with thick graying hair. He became a Mason in 1999, attracted by simple curiosity. They are secret. Secret Masonic handshakes, passwords, grips That night, a stranger paid Morgan's bail. Secret Masonic Handshakes "How you get that consciousness is a personal endeavor. We enter the Executive Chamber and gaze on the gold-inlaid ceiling and the purple throne of the Sovereign Grand Commander and my eyes behold the Grand Sword of State, which the Grand Swordbearer carries into each session of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree. They can also involve touching feet, elbows or even a friendly kiss. To wit, 13 signers of the Constitution and 14 presidents (Washington, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Johnson, Garfield, McKinley, both Roosevelts, Taft, Harding, Truman and Ford) were allegedly Freemasons. Nobody in the organization wants anybody bringing bad publicity. For years, they'd endowed a fund to provide scholarships to GW for the children and grandchildren of Masons. Mike Kelly, Ziyara ShrinerS (2021 Potentate) The tradition of fun and fellowship thrives today; as interests have changed through the years, Shriners' approach to fun has evolved as new members bring in fresh perspectives and creative ideas. But now, even its leaders admit that Freemasonry is fading away. ", I pointed and clicked. "If there is," he says, "they're keeping it from me.". At 67, he's got a gloriously craggy face. Handshake WebJoin Shriners. Secret Masonic Handshakes After the Revolution, American Freemasons went bonkers for higher degrees and weirder rituals. Web1) By definition, secret handshakes involve placing fingers, thumbs and/or palms in a particular position to convey membership to a club fraternal orders, fraternities, secret societies, athletic teams, friends, families, etc. Watch the first 7 and a half minutes of this incredible story. Makes sense. Is there really a secret Freemason handshake? Down on the purple carpet, somebody -- maybe it is the grand master of ceremonies -- begins to introduce the foreign dignitaries: "Sovereign Grand Commander, with pleasure I introduce to you the Sovereign Grand Commander of Spain.". I thank him for his time. Then Morgan was arrested on charges of failing to pay a $2 debt. He doesn't look too happy about that either. History democratic -- a secret society that held its own rules higher than the nation's laws. Tonight, he's serving as "tiler" -- the Mason who stands outside the meeting keeping non-Masons away -- and he's not happy about it. Less exuberant Masons -- and independent historians -- have concluded that those claims are baloney. It is fading away. Secret handshakes mean different things to different people and groups, but all are comprised of signature, sometimes complex movements. The music stops. The Masonic Handshake have a secret handshake Being a Shriner has 100% made me a better man. It's gone from 4.1 million to 1.9 million members since 1959. Secret handshakes mean different things to different people and groups, but all are comprised of signature, sometimes complex movements. 15) Nowhere is the secret handshake more ubiquitous than on TV. Define Your Path. As he drones on, the master of ceremonies yawns. "In Freemasonry, you always hear the phrase, 'We try to make good men better,' " Fletcher says. WebYou can also sign in with your email address. Helping the fraternity grow has given me such purpose, and seeing the work that our hospitals do will absolutely inspire you and make you want to do your part to make the world a better place.. They explained all this to Trachtenberg and then, he says, "they invited me to join.". He works out of a modest office in Silver Spring. Richards is the actor who played Kramer, the bug-eyed nut job neighbor on "Seinfeld." He was intrigued and impressed by the colorful pageantry and suggested the fraternity adopt a Near-Eastern theme, and Dr. Fleming agreed. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. First the basics: Freemasonry is a fraternity open to all men over 21 -- 18 in some states -- who are deemed to be of good character. have a secret handshake He doesn't look too happy about the prospect of Masonic metal or Masonic rap or Masonic techno. The Freemasons have a long relationship with George Washington University, which is, after all, named after their most famous Masonic brother. About Shriners The names seem absurd today, random compendiums of pretension and pomposity: The Order of the Heptasophs. Sorry to disappoint you., 11) Although not technically a handshake, some consider the Biblical kiss of Judas, by which he betrayed Jesus, to be a form of secret handshake. Members: Learn About Digital Membership Cards and My FezCard Viewer. Even the type of grip they hold can identify which Masons are of the lower degrees and higher degrees by testing his handshake. I think, Gee, that wasn't too bad. Secret handshake? The secrets of Freemasonry are the various modes of recognition grips (handshakes), passwords and signs (hand gestures) that indicate one is a Freemason. It's very quiet down here, as quiet as a crypt. But giving tours is just a sideline. He says he's been reading Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike, the 19th-century Masonic philosopher and former Sovereign Grand Commander who is buried in the House of the Temple. Outraged, the public demanded justice. 10) For their part, the Freemasons deny the practice. As Morgan walked out of jail, a group of Masons forced him into a carriage and he disappeared, screaming, "Murder! Secret handshake Many members and their families say that they have formed lifelong friendships through their involvement in the fraternity. Then he stops laughing and it gets quiet again, quiet as a crypt. (Not to be confused with the Kevin Sorbo/Amy Grant vehicle, The Secret Handshake, a rollicking family comedy of men and boys learning what it takes to be a man though adventure, laughter and maybe even shedding a tear ortwo.), 12) These days, secret handshakes are more commonly used in informal settings. They're patting each other on the back and they're instant friends. "Skip, skip, skip to my Lou.". He wasn't interested. Take the first step in joining our global community of brothers. 5) Bush Sr.s bossRonald Reaganalso knew a thing or two about Masonic handshakes as he exchanged one with Mikhail Gorbachev during his presidency. Even the type of grip they hold can identify which Masons are of the lower degrees and higher degrees by testing his handshake. The plays are elaborate allegories, sometimes on biblical themes, and they are designed to teach moral lessons that will help make the Masons who act in them, and watch them, better men. In this august company is a painting of Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the president of George Washington University. "They are a collection of nature's noblemen," he says when I reach him, "some of the sweetest people I've ever met.". He looked at me and said, You probably shouldnt have seenthat.. Web870 views, 35 likes, 9 loves, 6 comments, 7 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from El Riad Shrine: Have you seen the new, not-so-secret, Shriners secret handshake? Richards became a Mason a few years ago, about the time "Seinfeld" shut down. secret "It's been declining 4 percent a year for 40 years," says Dudley Davis. So they developed a system of secret handshakes which, much like union cards today, authorized tradesmen to work at job sites. WebMar 21, 2018 - Secret Masonic handshakes, passwords, grips and signs of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft Fellow Craft and Mason Degrees of Blue Lodge Freemasonry Pinterest Today "One: You agree to be a good man and true. For over a decade, Masons have paid Davis for his advice, but they haven't acted on it. Fletcher is the head of the Masonic Service Association, which means he's the official PR man for Freemasonry. . "I thought this might help you," he says. "After the anti-Mason period, the party animals left the organization. The Secret of the Masonic Handshake. He never set out to become one, he says, It happened almost by accident. Hamid K. Toossi will be officially installed as Worshipful Master, the highest rung on the lodge's ladder of seven officers. He decided to take some time off, read some philosophy, do some reflecting. Supposedly, there are even phrases a Freemason can utter when facing grave For Americans, Harwood wrote, ritual exerted a "strange and powerful attraction. "I got a courtesy call from some people who introduced themselves as Masons.". I rang the bell. I climbed the steps and inspected the sphinxes. Then one day, I wandered over to take a closer look. Toossi asked him a question that Masons hear all the time: Is that pyramid with the eye on top that decorates the dollar some kind of Masonic symbol? I'd driven past the House of the Temple countless times and wondered what it was. Then you know their not lying. (All kinds of sic necessary. It's hardly surprising. And some of the new rituals were very bizarre. Once so important to American culture, Freemasonry now seems profoundly out of step. Gradually, the stonemasons invited other men to join their brotherhood and it slowly evolved from a labor union into a fraternity. I decided to call him. Not even close. 8) Hundreds of Masonic conspiracy theories have circulated since the 18th century. Morris steps out of the room. "I see it as a useful tool to understand the nature of symbols. For 25 years, he worked as a cryptographer for the National Security Agency. American men loved the ceremonies, the secrecy, the costumes, the grandiose titles. Soon, there were literally thousands of higher degrees, says Brent Morris, the Masonic historian who took me on that tour of the House of the Temple. Toossi, 48, is an Iranian immigrant, a graduate of Drexel University, the owner of a construction company in Gaithersburg. "Only 33rd-degree Masons would know where that piercing occurs.". A cell phone rings. WebFreemasons often say that they "are not a secret society, but rather a society with secrets". The Secret of the Masonic Handshake. This is how they simply identify who is a Mason and who is not. Their goal is self-improvement through fraternity. Then he starts thinking out loud. Fezzes, Sphinxes and Secret Handshakes Freemasons Hand Shake Most are probably shriners. I thought Masons didn't recruit and never invited anyone to join. The Masonic Handshake is an important symbol used to represent members of the society of Freemasons. It also lost its swagger and much of its macho, tavern-rocking bravado. (Please use your .edu address, if applicable.) Harwood wrote in 1897, the "golden age of fraternity.". He became a Mason in 1956, shortly after he got out of the Army. The problem with ritual is that it's the same damn thing done over and over again. It is getting old. It is a shot of Hoover as a baby, dressed in a long baptismal gown. ), 20) Bingo, replies Ponyfitness. He says he has low blood sugar. Secret The Free and Accepted Order of Freemasons is the oldest fraternity in the world. They are, for the most part, the same reasons cited by Harvard professor Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone, his famous study of the decline in membership in many organizations: Americans work longer hours. He spends most of his time on his job as director of membership development for the Scottish Rite. Then he starts thinking. It is dying out. They spend more time commuting. They stop on the purple carpet, pivot to their left, march a few more steps, stop again, pivot to their right, and march to the spot where the Spanish Sovereign Grand Commander can shake hands with the American Sovereign Grand Commander. It's a tough job, maybe an impossible job. Behind them, marching in slow procession to the stately strains of organ music, come the rest of the Supreme Council, men clad in tuxedoes and robes, ceremonial caps and golden necklaces -- the Grand Minister of State, the Grand Secretary General, the Grand Almoner, the Grand This and the Grand That. It was, as journalist W.S. ", "I've read some gruesome Masonic oaths," I say. Helping the fraternity grow has given me such purpose, and seeing the work that our hospitals do will absolutely inspire you and make you want to do your part to make the world a better place.. They are Challenging Potentate David | By Mohammed Shriners | Facebook. He is a 33rd-degree Mason, and there is no 34th degree. find a chapter. .". WebYou can also sign in with your email address. "For me," he says, "my curiosity started when I was 12 or 13 years old.". A few minutes later, a man walked up to me and introduced himself as Richards's Masonic "mentor." Experience the Brotherhood. Morris cracks up. What we do is private. A handshake is defined as the act of grasping and shaking a persons hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract). WebFreemasons often say that they "are not a secret society, but rather a society with secrets". He smiles. (3) The geezers who wear funny hats and drive goofy go-carts in Memorial Day parades are Masons. I might not have many Masonic friends after that, but my safety would not be in jeopardy.". What is Masonry. Morris leads me down the Hall of the Scottish Rite Regalia, where the walls are lined with photo-realistic oil paintings of the garb worn for each of the 33 degrees -- the aprons, the caps, the cordons, the baldrics, the jewels, the rings, the gloves. There are Christian Masons, Jewish Masons, Muslim Masons, Buddhist Masons. And this: "having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken thence and with my body burned to ashes and the ashes thereof scattered to the four winds of heaven.". It looks like a corporate flowchart of the occult, as designed by Rube Goldberg. Shriners International The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. "Certainly the music we'd offer would have to be different," he says. I'd read about the Hoover biography that claimed the famous G-man had been seen at a party in New York, wearing a wig, high heels and a fluffy black dress. It's a tough job so he brought along a visual aid. The secrets of Freemasonry are the various modes of recognition grips (handshakes), passwords and signs (hand gestures) that indicate one is a Freemason. All I retrieved were three vague factoids: (1) The weird pyramid with the eye on top that appears on the dollar bill is some kind of Masonic symbol. Secret handshake The Scottish Rite is the group with the otherworldly headquarters on 16th Street. Within minutes, I read descriptions of secret Masonic handshakes and learned a couple of secret Masonic passwords -- "Tubal-cain" and "shibboleth." And now I'm following S. Brent Morris down the marble staircase, deeper into the bowels of the Washington headquarters of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry -- the building known as the House of the Temple. In this rite, a Mason can earn 29 more degrees, from the fourth ("Secret Master") to the 32nd ("Master of the Royal Secret"). Case in point: BuzzFeed suggests 11 Secret Handshakes You and Your Bestie ShouldLearn., 13) Another modern interpretation: [A secret handshake is] when your partner will not give it up so you wait for them to fall asleep and then use their hand to crankoff., 14) Dapping, the cooler cousin of the secret handshake, involves a series of knocking fists together as a sign of respect. Start your journey today and explore the brotherhood, fun and philanthropy we have to offer. Poor men used them to get life insurance and burial benefits. They can also involve touching feet, elbows or even a friendlykiss. The Masonic Handshake is an important symbol used to represent members of the society of Freemasons. The secret to the Masonic handshake is not in how it is given, but what it represents. That was back in Iran, during the dictatorship of the shah. 11 Secret Handshakes You and Your Bestie ShouldLearn, [A secret handshake is] when your partner will not give it up so you wait for them to fall asleep and then use their hand to crankoff., the cooler cousin of the secret handshake, In the NBAs ongoing ongoing effort to promote active parenting, The NBA Guide to Creating the Perfect Handshake, writes Beachboy6294 in the Elitefitness.com forums, Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect, Real Italians Put Hot Dogs and French Fries on Their Pizza, The Other Drug War: Inside the World of Counterfeit Viagra, The $65 Million Art Heist That Put Oceans Eleven to Shame. One by one, the honchos from every other country make the same grand entrance -- Venezuela, Portugal, Mexico, Russia, England, Finland, South Africa, the Philippines, the Ivory Coast, and many more -- all of them marching, pivoting, shaking hands. President George Washington himself donned a Masonic apron and presided over the dedication of the United States Capitol. For instance: The Beatles were freemasons and actually controlled by a secret music masonic industry. Join Shriners Secret Handshakes from History. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkdXaa0DRJY. Under 50? Most are probably shriners. America was a "nation of joiners," he wrote decades later. "People wear metaphorical hats -- whatever gives them a sense of definition, a sense of identity and rank.". Secret handshakes mean different things to different people and groups, but all are comprised of signature, sometimes complex movements. Web1) By definition, secret handshakes involve placing fingers, thumbs and/or palms in a particular position to convey membership to a club fraternal orders, fraternities, secret societies, athletic teams, friends, families, etc. The Morgan affair incited a fierce backlash against Freemasonry. Being a Shriner has 100% made me a better man. There is history and ritual and tradition in everything we do in a ceremony. A guard stands at the door of Temple Noyes Cathedral Lodge No. Secret handshake find a chapter. Masonic ritual and symbolism He told his visitors that he was too busy with his presidential duties to attend any meetings. At the end of it is a carpenter's square, symbol of the Worshipful Master's office. 16) Well, maybe sports. Whoops, thought you were your brother, hed say, retreating to the normal, boring, not-your-older-brothers handshake. And how did the pyramid and the eyeball fit into the plot? The Masonic Handshake
Nursing Care Plan For Gastric Perforation,
Marvel Avengers Desert Vault Terminal 5,
Tribute Band Booking Agents Usa,
Articles S