SEVENTEEN

     The second project of the semester is a lodge for the Freemasons. "Freemason" is a broad term which describes a group of fraternal organizations based on the masons guild of the medieval ages. I've chosen to build a guild for the American Scottish Rite guild of Freemasons. The Scottish Rite appeals to me because of their theatrical rituals. While most people think that the rituals of Freemasons are impenetrable secrets, they have actually been published and are available to the public, granted, copies of these are difficult to find. The Scottish Rite hold themselves to a high moral standard. Their are 29 levels that can be achieved within the organization. These levels are not levels of enlightenment or power, as most people think. Instead, the levels indicate a comprehension of morality, much like high school measures intelligence with grades. All rituals within the Scottish Rite involve an individual Mason, or a group of Masons passing from one level to the next level. Similarly, high school and university graduation is celebrated with a ceremony, though these can be elaborate, they lack significant metaphor. A Scottish Rite ritual is both elaborate and filled with metaphor. Simply stated, the ritual is an elaborate theatrical production which TEACHES a moral value or lesson to the successor- one that they must exemplify to be truly successful within their newly assigned level. Calling these rituals theatrical productions is no loose term. These rituals (in the early 20th century) were just that! The rituals took place in theater-esque auditoriums inside Cathedrals (the name given to a Scottish Rite place of meeting because of their visual similarity to cathedrals, and the traditional marriage of stone masons and middle age cathedrals) complete with stage, proscenium arch and tiered seating. These theaters were often better equipped than the any other theater. Elaborate lighting, special effects, backdrops, set pieces, music and staging were among the highest quality of live production of the time. The extent of these production was such that exclusive Mason theatrical production companies were created, and they thrived! It was the entertainment value of these rituals that drew so many men to the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Public theater was becoming the realm of women, something that was usually dominated by a group of boisterous men. The Rituals and social programs of the Scottish Rite gave men an arena of entertainment and social interaction that was being taken away from them outside the walls of the cathedral. Cathedrals, therefore, were male-exclusive social clubs, often having smoking rooms, billiard rooms, libraries, outdoor gardens, exercise rooms, elaborate dining/banquet halls, and, of course, the theater. From my research, "One way to think about fraternal organizations is as alternative environments, fantasy worlds for men, by men, and about men. The increasingly theatrical quality of the rituals of the Scottish Rite drew new members by the thousands precisely because it heightened the affective powers of a fantasy world that had considerable appeal when it was established and that increased over time." - Kenneth L. Ames, 'The Lure of the Spectacular' (1996)

While conflict about the impersonal spectator nature of the rituals plagued the Scottish Rite, its explosive growth in popularity in the early twentieth century is almost solely credited to the theatrical rituals. Traditionally, these dramatic rituals would be performed BY the masons achieving a higher level, instead of the higher level masons who were closer to actors with moral convictions than any kind of authority figure. The equality of the fraternal brethren was an important part of the rituals, something that was lost with the transition to performance ritual from the more traditional and personal "floor work" which would take place in a small rectangular room with the observing masons seated around the edges facing each other.

    Though the above is only a small fraction of the research I've done so far, it gives a good idea of the direction in which I wish to take my design. I want to design a men's social club with a ritual room that hearkens to the glory days of the elaborate theatrical rituals of the early twentieth century. The exterior will be built using all configurations of marble stone. It will be elaborate and reminiscent of the cathedrals of the middle ages. The interior will be equally elaborate. A challenging aspect that I wish to address is the de-masculinization of society that Freemasonry seeks to counter. Though this borders on sexism, I'd like to clarify that I want my structure to embody masculinity, possibly regaining something that was lost. I am not attempting to establish a precedence of masculine superiority over femininity.

     All in all, the masonry project has piqued my interest, and I am finding designing a Scottish Rite Cathedral to be fascinating! Lets hope this thing turns out well!