Chapter Thirty-Nine
Aaron continued running each morning. As the days became closer to summer, the mornings became warmer. She had ordered several pieces of clothing from the His ‘n Hers catalogue. She ordered several Balls-In-Running-Shorts, several more Balls-In-A-Brief, and even a jock strap to hang in the bathroom when Gordon was visiting. Her body was lean muscle. Her running had continued to help her disguise her true gender as her body took on the shape of a young man.
Running also helped clear her mind of the grip she felt the Mason was beginning to have on Aaron. The Rituals were so mesmerized as to hypnotize the candidate. The Temple was so grand, the Ritual so mysterious, the lectures so intent on changing the lives of the candidates.
She only wanted to infiltrate the Brotherhood, not be taken in by it. But, she knew she was a lot deeper into the Masonic cult than she had ever intended to be and that scared her. She didn’t know how long she could keep up the farce of being a man. Some day, Gordon was going to make a move on her and what would she do then?
Aaron’s gender tool collection was becoming too much to hide under her mattress anymore, so she found a locker that fit under her bed. She had the items under lock and key. She could take no chance that Gordon might come upon them by mistake. What would the Masons do to her if they indeed found out she was a woman and her induction into the Masonic order was a joke? She shuttered to think what the Worshipful Master would do to her.
Gordon continued to come over every night to give her instructions. The Third Degree – The Master Mason Ritual was very complicated. A great amount of knowledge was to be learned by the candidate in a very short time. Gordon carefully instructed Aaron with information on the Duegard, password, grip, and sign of the Master Mason.
The Duegard sign positions the hands at the waist, elbows bent, alluding to the position of both hands resting on the Holy Bible, the Square, and Compasses. Drawing the thumb quickly across the waist to the right hip then dropping the hand to the side makes the sign of the Master Mason. This action shows the stomach being ripped open and alludes to the penalty of the Master obligation, “to have my body cut in two, my bowels removed and burned to ashes which are then to be scattered to the four winds of heaven.”
The password and pass grip is Tubalcain. After giving the Tubalcain grip the real grip is learned. The real grip is called the Mahabone. The Master candidate grasps the right hand of a fellow Masons. The thumbs of both hands are interlaced. The first Masons presses the tops of his fingers against the wrist of the fellow Masons where it unites with the hand. The fellow Mason at the same time presses his fingers against the corresponding part of the first Mason’s hand and the fingers of each are somewhat apart. This grip is also called the strong grip of the Master Mason or the Lion’s Paw.
It was a very windy, wet spring evening in Oregon when Gordon gave instruction to Aaron about the Legend of Hiram Abifff and the initiation of the Five Points of Fellowship. Gordon and Aaron sat cross-legged on the floor with books spread opened before them.
“Aaron, the first thing I would like to do today is give you a gift,” Gordon said as he handed Aaron a rectangular box. The gift was wrapped in plain brown paper. The symbolism was not lost on her as she remembered the box and diamond parable Gordon told her.
Aaron carefully unwrapped her gift to reveal a box worn with age. She slowly opened the box as she looked at Gordon with anticipation. “I haven’t received a gift in a very long time. What is the occasion?”
Aaron found inside the box a Bible—the Holy Mason Bible. It was an old Bible, probably handed down from generation to generation. She carefully pulled the Bible out of the box and examined it slowly.
“Gordon, this is gorgeous. Wherever did you get it?” She opened the cover and found a page of names. All the surnames of the Bible’s heritage were Gibson. The last entry was Gordon Gibson. “This is yours?” she asked. “Gordon, I can’t accept this. This is your heirloom.”
Gordon smiled. “I know. It is only a loan until I can get you one for yourself. Each name listed on the register in the front of the book received the book when initiated into the thirty-third degree—the Sovereign Grand Inspector General Degree.”
“Thirty-Three Degree Grand Inspector General?” she laughed. “I am duly impressed your holiness. I had no idea you were up there among the elitists. Should I bow or something?”
Gordon was embarrassed with Aaron’s fawning even though he knew she was kidding with him. “No, but you can kiss my ring,” he joked back, holding out his hand. There, adorning his index finger of his left hand was the ring of the Thirty-Third Degree Masons.
“Wow,” Aaron said as Gordon held the ring up to her. “When did you get that?”
“Just last year,” he answered. “There are only two people in our Lodge that have gone on to receive their 33rd Degree—the Worshipful Master and myself. We take turns conducting initiation rituals, but I am your instructor, so our town Mayor will be the Master throughout all you rituals.”
“Did it take you long to get to 33?” Aaron asked.
“After the Third Degree, you can start lumping several degrees together and climb pretty fast. The Third Degree is the big one. Then the Seventh, Nineteenth have major significance. Then, of course, the pinnacle is the 33rd Degree. I completed mine in two years. That is the plan I have for you also.”
“Me?” Aaron acted surprised. “You are planning to instruct me to the 33rd Degree?”
“Absolutely,” Gordon answered. “You are the perfect candidate. Look at all you have had to endure so far and you are still eager to learn more. The Masonic Order could not ask for a better candidate to become the next Sovereign Grand Inspector General.”
“So lets get started,” Aaron said. “If I’m going for the gold, I had better get studying.” She couldn’t believe her fortune. She had in her possession, the Mason Holy Bible and a promise to be instructed to the 33rd Degree. She was very excited; this was more than she ever imagined could happen.
“OK, Aaron,” Gordon started. “Whatever religious dogma you may have been exposed to in your other life, you are about to learn the way of the Mason. Are you ready?”
Curiously, Aaron answered, “Let’s do it.”
Chapter Forty
“In the Second Section of the Master Masons Ritual, after you take the Master Obligation, you will take part in a play, of sorts. You will be playing a Junior Warden and placed in his station. The Junior Warden has a certain jewel that adorns him around his neck. Each officer has a different jewel. You will be proven a fake because you cannot possibly be this Officer because you have not yet attained the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. You will then be sent out to travel and work in dangerous and perilous conditions. This is all symbolic, of course.
“You will be blindfolded and asked to kneel and pray to God for his blessings to accompany you. Then you will change your identity to represent our Grand Master Hiram Abiff, who was the Grand Architect at the building of King Solomon’s Temple.
“It was his custom of this great and good man, at high twelve—noon, when the Mason was called from labor to refreshment, to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum, or the Holy of Holies, to offer up his adorations to the Deity and draw his designs on the Trestle board. After imitating this, you will go through the south gate and meet a ruffian named Jubela.
“Jubela confronts you, Hiram Abiff, and demands the promise given by you to the workers—when King Solomon’s Temple was complete—to reveal the secrets of a Master Mason. The ruffian tells Hiram Abiff that the Temple was about complete and they had received nothing. He demands the secrets of a Master Mason.
“You, being Hiram Abiff, tell the ruffian that you cannot give them the secrets. The ruffian will ask you three times and your will refuse three times.
“The ruffian will attempt to pass through the west gate and so do you. Another ruffian named Jubelo then meets you. He also demands to be given the secrets of the Master Mason. You, as Hiram Abiff, refuse to give the secrets to this ruffian.
“The ruffian then tells you that your life is in danger, all the avenues of the Temple are securely guarded and escape is impossible, and he demands the secrets again. The second ruffian demands the secrets for the third time. You tell the ruffian he can have your life but never your integrity. The ruffian then attempts to flee out the east gate and you follow where a third ruffian meets you named Jubelum.
“Jubelum explains to you that he has heard you talking with Jubela and Jubelo and escaped without giving the secrets to them. He then raises an instrument of death—a club and asks you three times to reveal the secrets of the Master Mason under penalty of being murdered.
“Three times Hiram refuses to reveal the secrets. The third ruffian, Jubelum, strikes you across the forehead causing you to fall backward into a large canvas that you can be carried in. The ruffians are scared because they have murdered you. They take your body into a remote corner of the unfinished Temple and bury you in the rubbish. He is soliloquized as a martyr. Hiram went to his death never betraying his sacred trust, surrendering life itself, power, wealth, everything—yet holding fast to his Mason faith.
“The ruffians return the next day to the Temple rubble where they have buried the body. They dig a grave atop a hill six feet deep east and west and six feet perpendicular. After burying the body, they escape out of the country.
“The ruffians attempt to escape to Ethiopia, but cannot because they do not have papers to leave the country. So the ruffians return back into their country.
“There is confusion at the Temple because Hiram is missing and the workers don’t know what to do next. There are no drawings from Hiram. King Solomon orders a search of the Temple, but they cannot find Hiram. They fear that some fateful act had befallen him. Twelve Fellow Masons in white gloves and aprons, asked for an audience with King Solomon.
“The Twelve Fellow Masons confess to King Solomon their intent to try to force out the secrets of the Master Mason from Hiram Abiff then leave the country to travel abroad. They confessed they were ready to take Hiram Abiff’s life to obtain the secrets. But, after reflecting on their intentions, the twelve did not carry out their plot. They tell King Solomon that they feared the three others might have persisted in the plot to kill Hiram Abiff. They ask for forgiveness and pardon.
“The Grand Secretary takes roll of the Masons. Jubela, Jubelo, and Jubelum are found missing. When asked to confirm the identity of the three involved in the conspiracy, the workmen agreed the three names were the missing men. The Worshipful Master divides the workmen into three parts and sends them off to find the ruffians.
“The workmen find out the ruffians have returned to the country. The Worshipful Master instructs them to divide and find the ruffians or they would be charged with the murder. The workmen come upon the sprig of acacia that the ruffians had used as a grave marker. They hear the voice of Jubela recanting the obligation of the Fellow Mason. Then they hear the voice of Jubelo. Then they hear the confession of Jubelum that he lent the fatal blow that killed Hiram Abiff.”
Gordon rose from the floor, stretched and paced. Aaron laid on the floor to stretch out her back. She put her hands behind her head. “This is quite a story. So I actually play the part of Hiram Abiff?”
“Yes, Aaron,” Gordon continued. “It is very important as you will find later in the Ritual.
“Three of the workmen confront the three ruffians, seize, and bind them. They then bring the ruffians, who have confessed the killing, to the Worshipful Master. Asking them of their guilt, the three confess again. King Solomon then orders their execution. King Solomon then send the workmen off to find the body of Grand Master Hiram Abiff and to see if a Key to the Master’s Word is on or about him.
“They open the newly made grave, but the body is decomposed beyond recognition. They can find no Master’s Word or Key to such but they do find a jewel. They remove the jewel and carry it to King Solomon.
“King Solomon recognizes the jewel as that of Brother Grand Master Hiram Abiff. It confirms the death of Hiram. The King and the workmen travel to the grave to raise Hiram for a more decent interment. The King noted that because the Master’s Word was now lost, it was his order that the first sign given at the grave, and the first word spoken after the body is raise until future ages shall find out the right words.
“This will be done over your now still body. The Worshipful Master will reach down and grasp your right hand with the real grip of a Master Mason, and as he raises you up, it is done on the Five Points of Fellowship. The Worshipful Master then whispers a word into your ear. Ma-Ha-Bone, which is a Hebrew word and signifies ‘What! The Builder?’”
Aaron, now tiring from the instructions and wondering what the point is, asked, “OK, I give up, what are the Five Points of Fellowship?”
Gordon continued, “Stand up, Aaron, and I will demonstrate. Just remember, foot-to-foot; knee-to-knee; breast-to-breast; hand-to-back; and cheek-to-cheek, and mouth-to-ear. When we get in position whisper the Master’s Word—Mah-Ha-Bone.”
Aaron rose from the floor. She was thinking this was kind of weird. Gordon went to her and put out his hand to receive the Real Grip. Aaron responded by holding her right hand to Gordon’s.
“Put your right foot in front of you and I will do the same as we touch foot to foot. Now lean toward me breast-to-breast while putting your hand around me and rest it on my back. I will do the same to you.”
Aaron felt like they were in some kind of dance ritual. “OK, Aaron, put your cheek to mine.”
As Aaron did as instructed, she felt her cheeks blush with heat. Gordon leaned into her ear and whispered, “Mah-Ha-Bone.”
Aaron whispered back the same in Gordon’s ear. She leaned away from him, looking into his eyes. She could see the desire rising and before she could move any faster, Gordon leaned down and kissed her mouth.
She thought that if she were to ever get in this position again, she would pull away. But she seemed to be frozen in place—paralyzed by desire herself. She returned his kiss passionately. Both of Gordon’s hands came up and cupped her face. When he felt her respond, his kiss grew in intensity. His kisses slid down her cheek and onto her neck. Aaron held her head back in an agony of desire.
“Oh, Aaron,” he whispered. “I have wanted to do this for so long. I want you so bad I feel like I am going to explode.”
Sensing what was coming next, Aaron pushed Gordon away from her. “Gordon, we can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t just now.”
Aaron turned so she wouldn’t have to see the hurt in Gordon’s eyes. “I feel like such a fool. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that.”
Gordon swung Aaron around and looked into her eyes. “Aaron, I’m falling in love with you. If you are not ready right now, I will wait. I don’t want to, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“Gordon, you are my best friend. But I’m not ready for a relationship right now. I’m dealing with my angel from God remember.” Aaron tried not to retch in front of Gordon while talking about the monster. “It will be many months before I can even think of a deeper relationship with anyone. Do you understand?”
“I do. You must remember I have been through this too. I understand completely. When the time is right, we will both know.”
Gordon started gathering up his instructional aids. “I think we should call it a night. We can pick up where we left off tomorrow. I just want you to think about all that I have told you about Hiram Abiff. This is an important lesson and will lay a good foundation for the rest of your instructions. The password and the Five Points of Fellowship you just learned represent the death, burial, and resurrection of Hiram Abiff.”
“Resurrection?” Aaron asked. “You mean like Jesus? Hiram Abiff is Jesus?”
“No, the Masonic Order believes that we should imitate our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, in his virtuous conduct, his unfeigned piety to God, and his inflexible fidelity to his trust. Then by his imitation, when we die, we will be entered into the all-perfect celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.”
“So, that is why we can’t speak of Jesus in the Lodge. The Mason believes it is Hiram Abiff who is our savior?” Aaron asked.
“That is our plan of salvation. We do not believe Jesus of Nazareth is our savior. We believe that Jesus was born, but not as the Son of God. He was just a man, a brilliant man, but nonetheless, just a man. The Masons recognizes him as a scholar and nothing more.
“Both Hiram Abiff and Jesus were killed, buried, and resurrected. Each religion has its own savior. Krishna is a savior for Hindus, Jesus is a savior for Christians, and Hiram Abiff is a savior for the Masons. But, unlike Christians, the Masons teach that redemption and salvation are both the power and the responsibility of the individual Master Mason.
“Saviors like Hiram Abiff can and do show the way, but men must always follow and demonstrate, each for himself, his power to save him. Every man in essence is his own savior and redeemer. And if he does not save himself, he will not be saved.”
Upon hearing the Mason doctrine from Gordon, Aaron was obviously upset and paced the floor. “So what you are telling me is that Jesus and Hiram are two separate people. That Christians believe in Jesus as their savior and the Masons believe we save ourselves. Is that right?”
“Simply put, yes, that is right. There are many other faiths that do not believe in Jesus. Jews, Moslems, Hindus, all have no faith other than in a Supreme Being. They all believe they will be entered into heaven upon their death.
“The Masons, believes its faith and redemption is the perfect one. We join in faith with the Jewish, Moslem, and Hindus. We believe that one day the entire world will be one religion. And we believe that religion will be the Masonic Order.”
“I am stunned,” Aaron answered. “The Masons actually believe it will take over the religious world, make one religion under God, and that Jesus of Nazareth will be just a footnote in the history books?”
“You’ve heard of the new world order?” Gordon asked.
“I’ve heard of it, but really don’t know what that means.”
“The goal of the new world order is one world government and one world religion,” Gordon explained.
“That is a pretty big task, isn’t it?”
“It’s an evolution. But go to bed tonight and think about what is happening in the world today. Think about those things that are happening that are all evolving toward the goal of one world government:
Abolition of all ordered government.
Abolition of private property.
Abolition of inheritance.
Abolition of patriotism.
Abolition of the family, through the abolition of marriage, all morality, and education of children.
Abolition of all religion.”
“Who is doing all this?” Aaron asked.
Gordon kissed Aaron on the forehead. “It looks like we are all doing this. Good night.”
Chapter Forty-One
Aaron took the oath to forever conceal and never reveal any of the secrets belonging to the Degree of Master Masons she had received, was about to receive, or hereafter instructed in, to any person unless it was a worthy Brother Master Mason, under penalty of having her body severed in twain, her bowels taken thence, and with her body burned to ashes, and the ashes thereof scattered to the four winds of Heaven. She was officially on her way to illuminated Degrees in the Mason with the blessings of the Worshipful Master, Mayor Henry Gaines.
As Aaron completed her Fourth (Secret Master), Fifth (Perfect Master), and Sixth (Intimate Secretary) Degrees, summer came and went. Fall was approaching and the university became alive with students anxious to begin another year of instruction. Gordon and Aaron spent the entire summer together studying and Aaron was becoming quite a scholar in the Mason. Her monster angel came to visit her after each Degree. She had only one more Degree and she would be rid him. At least she hoped so.
In preparation to receive the Seventh Degree, the Provost and Judge Degree, Gordon was instructing Aaron in all the hidden meanings in the Mason’s many symbols.
“Probably the most recognizable Masonic symbol in the world in the double-headed eagle,” Gordon started. “Most people will assume that the two birds are Eagles, but such an assumption is wrong. The two birds are indeed the Phoenix Bird of Ancient Egyptian Mythology. The Phoenix’s size and shape resemble the eagle, but with some differences. The body of the Phoenix is covered with glossy purple feathers, and the plumes in its tail are blue and red.
“The head of the bird is light in color and sports a circlet of golden plumage. At the back of the Phoenix is a crest of feathers of brilliant colors. Ancient writers say the Phoenix lives for 500 years and at its death, its body opens and the newborn Phoenix emerges. But, because the Phoenix, which we believe to be a divine bird—a symbol of our God, has such a bad reputation as an occult symbol, the Masons changed the image to an eagle. The eagle, as well as other Masonic symbols, has also become the symbol of our United States of America.
“In the Seventh Degree, Aaron, you will be Born Again much like the Phoenix. You have learned about your death, burial, and resurrection in the Third Degree; now you will find out about after the resurrection—rebirth. You will discover a spirit in this Ritual of the Seventh Degree and it will be clear to you how the Mason has become the all-perfect and powerful religion. You will see how the Mason will become the one world religion.
“The name of our God will be revealed to you sometime during the evening of your Seventh Degree. I cannot tell you our God’s name before you have risen to the Seventh Degree. But just remember the Phoenix is one of the great symbols of our God.
“The Triangle is another great symbol of the Mason. A triangle with its point downward represents the Deity and is called the Deity’s Triangle, or the Water Triangle. With one point up, it is called the Earthly Triangle, or the Fire Triangle. The triangle that points upward represents the Perfect or Divine Man. Many scholars describe the Upright Triangle as Set or Shiva. The Shiva is worn on foreheads in India. Set and Shiva are both another name for our God. This will become clearer as we go along in the instructions.”
Aaron sat upright. Set and Shiva? She had learned those names in her Mason research. They were both another name for Satan. Aaron suddenly felt uneasy. She got up and retrieved two beers from the refrigerator. She handed Gordon one bottle and twisted off the cap of her longneck.
Aaron took one long pull on her cold beverage and sat back in her chair. Cautiously, Aaron said, “Go on Gordon.”
“When you unite the Water (upward) Triangle with the Fire (downward) Triangle, you form the six-pointed star; we refer to as the Seal of Solomon.”
Aaron stopped Gordon with a question. “Isn’t that also the Star of David, a Jewish symbol?”
“It is but with one exception, our seal, or hexagram, is formed by interlocking the triangles and the Jewish Star of David’s lie flat against each other.”
Aaron interrupted, “666.”
Gordon asked, “What?”
Aaron said again, “666. That is what the hexagram contains, a 666. Right? Satan’s most powerful symbol.”
“There’s an ancient myth that the hexagram is used by cults to call up demons and to place spells and curses on a victim. The word, Hex, comes from this mythical practice.”
Aaron interrupted, “And sex. The female symbol is the triangle pointing downward and the male symbol is the triangle point upward. When joined together, they intertwine and you have the male triangle penetrating the female triangle. I learned about these symbols in college. Myths and Demons was the class. But it was all about witches and the devil. Not about Freemasons. Not about a religious sect.”
Aaron finished her beer and took it into the kitchen. She needed some time and space from all her instructions to think. The devil? That would explain the “Angel.” No, don’t think. You are not here to judge, you are here to learn.
“Sorry, Gordon, I got a little carried away. I am not here to judge, but to learn.” She hoped that sounded convincing.
“Not at all, Aaron,” Gordon continued. “By discussion and debate, we can come to a deeper knowledge. Remember the box with no label on the outside. That is what we are doing here. Digging deeper and deeper inside the box to discover the riches awaiting us.”
“OK. I’m settling down and ready to hear more. But I may still blurt out something as we go along. A lot of this is pretty freaky to me right now.”
“Understood.”
Gordon opened his manuals and then closed them. “You seem to have had enough illumination tonight, haven’t you? Let’s just leave it for another time. Your Degree Ritual is tomorrow night and you want to be fresh.”
“Sounds good to me, Gordon. I am really looking forward to tomorrow night. One big secret to be revealed, right?”
“Right, my friend,” Gordon answered. He gathered his books, kissed Aaron on the forehead, and left for home.
