Masonic Galateo

The Italian magazine of esoteric and Masonic studies – “Il Laboratorio” [1] published in 2012 an article entitled : “Masonic Galateo – or the manner to best behave in a Masonic lodge”.

The original Galateo is a treaty on  the rules of polite behaviour, written by Giovanni della Casa [2] and first published two years after his death in 1556.  Della Casa described it as being a collection of “pleasant manners that (…) do not annoy any of the senses, nor the desires or the imagination of those with whom we live”.

Nowadays, more than the “senses and desires”  the Galateo is concerned with topics like dressing code, table manners, gestures and speech that avoid  offending others,  because that is the very basic bargain required to live peacefully in communities.

Although written four centuries ago there can be no doubt that that treaty on acceptable  behaviour will  continue to be adopted by Society at large. It will of course change ,  evolve  and adapt but it will never fall in disuse. Who would have thought , for example, fifty or so years ago that we would now all be going about our daily life with a mobile phone in our pocket on which to depend for almost everything and that we might at times forget to switch that  gadget off when inside a Masonic  Lodge ?

I am sure you will concur with me in saying  that our Order enlists some of the best minds around and that amongst us there are individuals who are gifted with the ability of  memorising and reciting to perfection any of the three degrees, whichever office they may occupy on the day. And yet (!) some of them may  be oblivious, forgetful or ignorant of how to behave without being considered disrespectful.

For example, whilst the cacophony of sounds sometimes heard in the  Temple antechamber – where the Brethren meet and dress themselves with the aprons and collars of their respective offices –  can be forgiven as being a display of joy at meeting old friends and lodge Brethren, those that are made inside the Temple  infringe the holiness of the place and are difficult to dismiss.  The Brethren must never be sitting with their legs fully stretched on the chequered carpet. They must not be sitting with their arms crossed or extended to rest on their neighbouring chair in a casual sort of posture.  Instead, the sitting posture  called “of the pharaoh” should be assumed and maintained throughout the ceremony.  Mobile phone texting, chatting with your neighbour or nodding off are considered misbehaviour even in a common boardroom let alone the place of worship of  the G.A.T.U.

Paolo Nardi , the author of the article in the “Il Laboratorio” magazine,  tells us  that  not so long ago at the end of every meeting he would see the Worshipful Master of a lodge take an Initiate, Fellow Craft or even a  Master Mason to one side  and point out to him the sort of behaviour, gesture or verbal expression, that was not acceptable of him  and suggested how to behave in the future. It was a wise, gentle manner to help the Brother  grow and mature. EAF, FC and MM must learn to observe the formal requirements that govern the behaviour in a polite Society as well as in a Masonic lodge. But against those who do not comply  how many Lodge Masters,  Past Masters or Directors of  Ceremony display their dissatisfaction ?

But to return to our subject and close this paper, I should note that most of the Masonic etiquette rules are already  quoted  in our Ritual book albeit veiled in a language that  is initially difficult  , particularly for the initiate,   to grasp let alone to remember.  The importance of mentoring the journey  to occupying the chair of Solomon and beyond ,  is therefore all the more of paramount importance.

There are several books  that cover  this subject in depth and they can be bought from  dedicated Masonic retailers like Allan Publishing Ltd or even found  stacked on a shelf or two at the  “Letchworth’s” shop inside Grand Lodge in Holborn, London.  But for the impatient reader a  good list of rules on Masonic etiquette is published here: http://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/masonic-etiquette.html

Have a good read.

I wish all of you Freemasons, a good Masonic new season !

Aldo Reno

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[1] It translates: “The Laboratory” .  Issue  2014 n. 1-2 – Grande Oriente d’Italia – Collegio Circoscrizionale dei Maestri Venerabili della Toscana

[2] 1503-1556 , Born in Borgo San Lorenzo, a small town north of Florence. He became the Archbishop of Benevento the Papal Nuncio to Venice

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