The Cult of Southern Brotherhood:
Freemasonry in the South

Sherman ordered the town leveled. As troops passed through Sandersville, Georgia, in November of 1864, they burned every building in sight-except one. Two Methodist ministers were able to convince Sherman to spare one of the most important "public buildings" in town. This replica of the Temple to Athena, built by slaves in 1840, was one of Sandersville's most influential buildings. The ministers appealed to their brother mason for help and when the smoke cleared the Masonic Lodge was the only building left standing on that fateful fall day. (http://www.oocities.org/Heartland/Hills/6240/orjournal.html). What could cause a man bent on destroying the people of the South to allow such a building to remain untouched? Was not Sherman's goal to destroy the very essence of Southern culture and life? Freemasonry has been one of the South's oldest traditions and has played a large role in Southern life both historically and presently.

"In the rise of the scientific revolution and technology many 'brotherhoods' have disappeared but not masonry-Why?" (MacKenzie 1967:152). What is Freemasonry? Simply put, Freemasonry is "one of the world's oldest and largest Fraternities" (masonicinfo.com). It was started in London, England in 1717 at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern (Mather and Nichols 1995:7). It is a secret society (or society with secrets) comprised only of men although of all races, nationalities, and social classes. "Without secrecy the organization couldn't exist" (MacKenzie 1967:14). Every mason enters what is called the "Blue Lodge" that consists of three phases or "degrees" (Ankerberg and Weldon 1990:19). These first three degrees are in order: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason (Ankerberg and Weldon 1990:19). Becoming the "Master Mason" is the minimal degree required to be a member of the Lodge. After the third initiation, if the mason chooses to continue to move up in the organization, he must choose between continuing in either the York Rite or the Scottish Rite (Ankerberg and Weldon 1990). In either phase, as the mason continues upward, he learns more of the secrets of Freemasonry and, in a sense, becomes more enlightened. This is his goal in the fraternal organization.

The Lodge is committed to "make good men better [through] its bonds of friendship, compassion and brotherly love" (masonicinfo.com). Its teachings include "the universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man" and "reforming personal character and practicing good works [to] secure God's favor" (Ankerberg and Weldon 1990:10). There are five prerequisites to joining the Lodge: "1. Being a man, freeborn, of good repute and well-recommended; 2. A belief in a Supreme Being; 3. Ability to support one's self and family; 4. Of lawful age; and 5. Come to Freemasonry of their 'own free will and accord" (masonicinfo.com). Freemasonry seems to be focused on encouraging the development of good character in the men of society.

The Lodge, like all other fraternities, requires potential members to undergo a secretive initiation that includes a mock death and resurrection (Campbell 1999:125-127). There are many other rites and rituals that the future mason must complete as well as many oaths that he must make. Remembering that one of the foundations of Freemasonry is its secrecy, masons make several "blood oaths" to keep the secrets of Freemasonry secret. Like many other secret brotherhoods, the Lodge has a vast number of symbols and signs (hand signals) that are both important for rituals as well as for recognition of brothers all over the world. These symbols, often displayed on jewelry such as rings and tie tacks, and their hand signals make Masons easy to distinguish among brethren and non Masons.

Masons are also well known for their charity work which is a cause for people mistaking them to be a volunteer organization rather than a fraternity. The Shriner's Children's Hospital is probably one of the most easily recognizable and most admired works of the Lodge. (A Shriner is a basically a high ranking mason. He is one that has continued moving past the Blue Lodge which was discussed earlier.) Other charities include programs to preserve history and providing for the needs of people from food to scholarships for school. (Masonicinfo.com)

It is hard to say whether Freemasonry is more prevalent in the South than the Non South. The statistics for Freemasonry are hard to come by and even harder to interpret for several reasons. The statistics are for the most part given in raw numbers which does not account for differences in population among states and regions. These numbers also reflect total population including women and children and not the population of men. The raw number also leave out Prince Hall Masonry which is basically African American Freemasonry. Another problem is that each Lodge is not required to report numbers to their Grand Lodges because they tend to pride themselves on their autonomy. With this said, it is still reasonable to draw broad conclusions from the numbers that are available.

Although there does not appear to be a significant difference in the Southern Lodge as far as numbers go, there are some noteworthy distinctions within the South. South Carolina and Tennessee masons constitute approximately one to one and a half percent of their population. Masons in surrounding southern states, on the other hand, are in the half a percent to one percent range (www.bessel.org/masstats.htm). This higher percentage in South Carolina may have to do with the formation of the Mother Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Charleston by Albert Pike (who later became a general in the Confederate army). South Carolina was also the first state to secede from the Union and the only one to do so unanimously! Could there be a connection between the strong loyalties to the Confederacy and the devotion to the Brotherhood?

Florida's low percentages cause a rise of the eyebrow. Florida is at the lower end of the scale with its score of a quarter of a percent to a half a percent in the midst of the higher ranking states. Could this have to do with all of the immigration that Florida has experienced from non South regions? Why is it that Florida, which is not considered a true Southern state, sticks out from the rest of the South? While the states with the highest percentages of Masons are in the non South so are the states with the highest percentages of decline! The South appears to be more steady in her membership.

Regardless of the numbers of masons in the South, Freemasonry has played a large role in Southern life. "Of all the fraternal orders now in the South only one, Free Masonry, dates back to colonial times" (Samuel Mitchell 1909:645). One of the largest significances is illustrated with the opening story. What would cause Sherman to allow the Masonic Lodge to remain standing? So what if he was a mason? The South was his enemy. In this brotherhood which transcends all other relationships, even Sherman spared the Masonic Temple but not the churches-notice the ministers did not plead on behalf of their churches, only their lodge. How powerful is the this brotherhood that even a Southern pastor will put it before his religion! There are countless similar stories of the this kind that occured during the Civil War. Many man were saved from the hands of death by flashing one of the masonic distress signals.

Another interesting significance is the seemingly close relationship between the ideal of the "southern gentleman" and the ideal of the Mason. Although there was no specific data linking the two stereotypes, it is a fair comparison. Both have a reputation for doing good, upholding the morals of society, and being outstanding citizens and leaders in their community. Could it be that the "Southern Gentleman" emerged out of Freemasonry? Consider why men decide to join the Lodge. Many men join because their father and grandfather and great-grandfather were all masons. Others join because of their objective "to make good men better" (masonicinfo.com). Some are drawn by the charitable work of Freemasonry. All of these things fit the image of the Southern gentleman.

Today, Freemasonry is still alive and well in the South. As was mentioned previously, Southern states have a steady population of masons with the exception of Florida. Today the Lodge is involved in two major disputes. The question has risen "Is Freemasonry a religion?" The answer to this question as been the focal point of a huge debate. Because of its use of symbols, rituals, altars, the requirement of a belief in a Supreme Being, and its supurb secrecy have caused many to view masonry as a religion and not merely a secret society. In his book Free from Freemasonry, Ron Campbell reveals the connections between Freemasonry and the religions of ancient Egypt. He discusses the connections in symbols between the Egyption religion and the Lodge. The webmaster of masonicinfo.com was adamant about his denial of Freemasonry as a religion. I think this argument is important in the South. Consider the ministers in the opening story. They did not plead on behalf of their churches but on behalf of the Lodge. Their churches were destroyed while the Lodge they defended stands today. This debate no doubt causes a stir of emotion here in the South where religion is so highly upheld. No doubt it has caused an inner struggle for those involved as they have to make peace about these conflicting views.

Page created November 21, 2003.