(by The Midnight Freemasons, Aaron R. Gardner, 32º)
Why do we use a goat in our jokes about Freemasonry? Our Fraternity is scrutinized due to having secrets. This [Fraternity] is against God according to many religious organizations. But, so much of our ritual and requirements involve the belief and fear of a higher power, or of God. We pray to the Grand Architect or designer of the Universe. Many of our brethren follow a Christian theology and have taken oaths on the Holy Bible.
So, why is it so many God fearing men, in the Biblical sense, make jokes about our beloved fraternity, that incorporates a symbol of impurity, like the goat?
It is true that our fraternity embraces symbols that have previously been revered and celebrated, but in today’s society may be demonized. It is in our nature to understand symbols for all they mean, and to have an uncommon knowledge of them and their esoteric knowledge.
Case in point would be the Pillars at the Temple. We know their names, we know the meaning of their names, we know how tall they are, and what was or is inside them. But, we also know the symbol attributed to the Holy Saints John and how they may represent the longest and shortest day in the year. We also know that what happens between…
