The Goat or the Pig?

A few nights ago, we had an initiation in the local Florida Chapter of OES which I often attend.  I filled in as AC—the first time that I had done this duty for degree work in a very long time (ten years)…although I had done it many times before that.  After I finished my lecture to the candidate and we were waiting, she started a conversation.  Someone had told her about the GOAT that she would ride.  Laughingly, I said to her that I thought it was a PIG. She was on her way into the initiation.  No goat.  No pig.

Apparently, traditionally many potential members are jokingly informed that our initiation includes either riding a cantankerous goat or a very squiggly greased pig.  This tradition has been going on for years and years.  And it is not limited to a region or area of the country.   I have heard about one of these critters in both Florida and New England.  Nor is it limited to one of the many organizations under our wonderful Masonic umbrella.

I have several stories about the goats and pigs.  The first has to do with yours truly over fifty years ago.  I joined the International Order of Rainbow for Girls at the age of twelve under my father’s suggestion and guidance.  It was one of the best things in my life.  Not only are the ritualistic teachings important for growth in one’s own life (lessons in Love, Religion, Nature, Immortality, Fidelity, Patriotism, Service, Faith, Hope and Charity), but it gave me a self-confidence that a girl in their early teens usually lacks.  Many of the lessons, both tangible (from the ritual) and intangible have made me a better person.  I thank God for having given me this opportunity.

Back to the story…all the girls wore white.  Sometimes there would be white gowns; sometimes dresses or skirts and blouses…but always white.  It is tradition for someone to sit with a new person  (people) before the initiation starts (both OES and Rainbow and possibly for other organizations under the Masonic group).  The lady that sat with me became a wonderful friend over the years.  She was a little old lady—very Victorian in her manner and style.  Very serious and straight laced, but very nice.  I had heard that there were seven degrees.  Some of the older kids told me about the goat, pig and the cold spaghetti through which I needed to walk.  What could possibly be the other four degrees?  I was scared.  I verbalized my thoughts to Bessie, who laughed heartily and said in her most prim and proper voice, “Young lady, do these girls look as though they are dressed to handle a greased pig?”  No, I thought, they do not.  This calmed my fears.  No goat! No pig! No spaghetti!  Better than any of that was a wonderful set of lectures/lessons.

Well, a year or two later, I signed a petition for my father’s boss’s daughter.  She had been told about the PIG!  In our Assembly, we had a piggy bank that we filled with pennies on our birthday…one penny for each year.  It was a fun thing.  The night that this gal was initiated, whoever set up the assembly had forgotten to bring the bank out.  Feeding the bank was always done near the end of the meeting.  After she finished her degrees and was seated in the Assembly, someone realized that the bank had not been included when they set up took place.  The presiding officer looked at our Assembly “Dad” and said, “Dad, would you get the pig!”  Remember, this gal had been told about the pig and now through this statement thought it was real.  She turned bone white.  I am probably the only one that noticed, since others had no idea how frightened she had been by the pig riding statement.  The poor kid was highly distraught.  Great relief appeared on her face when our PIG came into the Assembly room.

I rarely perpetuate this bit of “fun,” probably because I had been scared and so was this young lady.  However, I am not totally a good girl and do occasionally mention it especially if it is to someone I know well.

When my friend in South Florida was ready to join OES, someone told her about one of the animals.  She asked me about it.  Her Dad is a Mason.  She had been in Rainbow briefly.  I told her it was the same one she had to ride when she had joined Rainbow.  She stated that she did not remember either animal.  I said, “Exactly!”  At which point, she got it and was relieved.  But, she decided to bring the critter to life when her husband joined the Masonic Lodge a couple of years later.  I thought it was rather funny that he really thought he was going to have ride the goat.  A retired Navy guy, he had no fear of it, but perhaps just a whisker of concern.

Several years ago, when I was at my home Chapter in New England, we were having an initiation.  I was asked to sit outside with the new person.  The devil got into me, I guess, and I mentioned the pig.  She kind of blew me off, but I think a small part of her thought it might be true.  Now, every time I see her (which is not often), one of us mentions her pig ride.  We both laugh.  Nobody else gets our joke.  It has created a special bond between us (goofy as that may sound).

So, I guess this bit of chicanery is going to continue forever. Long live our wonderful Order!  And the pig!  Or, the goat!

Rob Morris Celebration

Members of the Order of Eastern Star all over the world celebrate Rob Morris.  He and his wife were the designers of our wonderful Order.  He wrote our ritual.  He was born August 31, 1818.  In Florida, the tradition is to celebrate his birthday on the Saturday or Sunday closest to the anniversary of his birth.  In some jurisdictions such as Connecticut, his birth is celebrated at the meeting closest to his birth date which usually means the first meeting in September as many jurisdictions do not meet in the summer.

A good biography can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Morris_(Freemason)

And some of his poems may be caught at http://www.masonic-poets-society.com/MorrisR.htm

The Florida celebration is generally in form of a picnic in each district.  District 13 which is made up of Dunnellon, Ocala, Inverness, and Bell View.  Hosting rotates between Chapters.  This year Dunnellon was the official host.  

The picnic, held indoors where AC reigns, comes in the form of a covered dish aka "pot luck."  The food is always abundant and yummy.  I was the last person in line.  And, although some of the pots were empty, there was still plenty of food for me to have lots of choices.  I am glad, however, that I snatched a deviled egg when the line started as they were long gone by the time I reached them.  Steve, on the other hand, much closer to the front of the line managed to get one (or was it two).

The hosting Chapter is responsible for meat, rolls, and entertainment.  The WM Joan L. asked me if we could do a Murder Mystery. 

One more time I hauled out The Good, the Bad and the Guilty, a murder surrounding the death of Judge Waylon Paine, presented by the low life of Wyoming territory in the 1880's in the town of Roadkill. 

Props included the Judge's desk and ransacked room, Wyatt's Rent a Horse corral, Helena's cattleranch,  a miniature gallows with eight nooses made by Steve,  Adela's residence, church and graveyard, and, of course, the dead horse in the road. Most of the characters were gun--tooting villians...among the green and brown plastic guns were two real ones--one a nine-shooter and the other an 1856 reproduction Navy colt six-shooter. 

Costuming was western.  Adela and Helena wore primarily black as they were both in mourning--one over the loss of her husbands and the other over the loss of her sons.  Elvia wore a bright red hat, off the shoulder top and a pathera of various colored boas.  The Chief had made a head dress.  Cowboy boots.  Old timey shirts, skirts and other fun parts of outfits.  Many of the guests also arrived in western garb.

Jackie was hysterical as Butch Chasity, the leader of an all women's gang of robbers.  She got what seemed the most laughs.
In addition, the other low life of the area which produced lol:
Adela Dee Murante (Day of Death) local Preacher and Undertaker (jobs left to her by two of her three husbands)--Nancy.
P'Elvis Swaggerin--a stranger in town--Georgia.
Chief Breaking Wind, the CowPai Chief, town barber and dentist--Arlene.  (Several people joined in fanning the air when the Chief walked by)
Wyatt Hertz, the local Rent-a-Horse dealer and former sheriff and gunslinger--Swede.
Elias Trusties Heath (He's liest through his teeth) a ne'er do well former army cavalryman and foster son of the Judge--Charlie.
Helena Handcart, owner of a large cattle ranch and mother of thirteen boys--all who were gunned down at the Parkay Corral--Cathy.
And, of course, Elvia Lynn-Fection, well, you can imagine who and what she was by her name--Joan C. 

All did a great job!  Dessert was served after the last round just before the solution was given.  I did my regular job of Director/Bailiff/Coach.

The laughter indicated that a good time was had.

We know that Rob had a serious side, but some of his poetry indicates that he also had a sense of humor.  We hope our presentation would have made him proud and given him a few laughs.

pictures coming soon.

Coming Soon

Wyoming Grand Chapter OES
Floirda Grand Chapter OES

Corner Stones

And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. 2 Chronicles 3:17

Peter (I Peter 2:6) quotes Isaiah 28:16.  Jesus is the Messianic cornerstone.  Why a cornerstone?  Rejected and then chosen to be the most valuable stone in a structure.  The cornerstone is important in a building...it must be flat and level, straight and square.  The completion of the building has depended upon that stone.  Buildings that lean (with apparently the Leaning Tower of Pisa as an exemption form the rule) are not likely to endure.

 

In our travels, Molly likes to find cornerstones, especially in capitol buildings in each state.  She is on a pilgrimage to see all fifty capitols.  She has been to sixteen.  Me, not so many.  We have found that the Grand Lodges of Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri and Oklahoma (and others that I am sure we have not yet found) laid the cornerstones for the capitol buildings in their respective states.  We know this as the cornerstones are carved as such.  In addition, the "Old Capitol" building in Mississippi has a new cornerstone as major renovation was done this century.  However, a portion of what we believe to be the old cornerstone for that building is near the entrance about eye level.  The date on it, surprisingly (or maybe not) has a year that begins with five thousand.

 

We also found that the first high school (now a fancy hotel) in Cripple Creek, Colorado had its cornerstone laid by the Grand Lodge of Colorado. 

 

She has missed some as she visited the capitol before she started looking for these stones.  Or, the building was in some stage of restoration and the staging prevented getting close to the building.

I find this rather interesting that these stones were laid by a brotherhood--obviously invited by the state--that so many people today think of us as a "cult."  Some cult!

Wyoming's Masonic Life

Independence Rock

Independence Rock is a twenty-plus acre of rock outcrop which can be seen for many, many miles.  It was a landmark that followers of various pioneer trail followers (Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail and even the Pony Express) watched day by day.  It was the goal of these pioneers to reach Independec Rock by the Fourth of July in order to be able to get over the mountains before the heavy snows.

It was the place of the first Masonic meeting in Wyoming.  It is marked in our time frame by Masons from all over the world who meet at the rock every ten years, celebrating with a meeting and degree work.  This occasion for this ten year period happened earlier this year.

I am told it is something that should not be missed.  I know that it is a long time in the future, but I would suggest that you make some kind of notation (on a future calendar??).  Check the website in 2019 (or whatever modern technology we have by that time).  And head to Wyoming for the 2020 meeting at the Rock.

Learn about more of your Masonic heritage!

www.wyomingmasons.com/