Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/662

 648 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

representation prevails in the higher lodges, usually termed grand (state) and supreme (national) lodges. Elementary lodges, or lodges of the first degree, have various names in dif- ferent fraternal societies. There are camps, castles, chapters, clans, colonies, conclaves, divisions, rulings, hives, and tents. Lodges of the higher order generally have the same name, modi- fied by some syllable, word, or phrase ; such as high, superior, supreme, grand. Other societies have adopted special terms for their compound lodges. The higher bodies customarily exercise some supervision over the lower, and are legally responsible as principals of the latter.

The highest lodges usually meet biennially, the intermediate ones annually, and the local lodges weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Numerically the biweekly meetings appear to pre- vail. At the local meetings routine business is transacted in a manner similar to that in which any other society would do its business. Initiations and the granting of degrees are accom- panied by ritualistic exercises. The rituals of fraternal societies are based upon sacred as well as secular themes, the latter being rather the exception. Among the former may be mentioned : the story of the cross, the building of the temple, David and Jonathan, Joseph, Maccabaeus, Ben Hur. Facts of United States history, the life of the nomad, the friendship between Damon and Pythias, are employed by other societies for their rituals. It has been said that most rituals are the very quintessence of dryness. In reply it may be urged that rituals are not to be read in one's study, but that they must be seen and heard in order to be appreciated. The ritual aims to reach the human soul through both the avenues of sight and hearing. By appeal- ing to two senses at the same time the impression is likely to be much more abiding. Ritualism cultivates certain attitudes of mind and leads the participant mentally through scenes and experiences associated with lofty themes. It arouses the imagi- nation and teaches objectively what many a learner through ritual could scarcely acquire through private reading, even if he possessed both ability and time, neither of which is probable. The value of ritualistic exercises can be properly estimated only