Introduction

The Great Western Stage Equipment Company collection and the Holak collection reflect the involvement of fraternal organizations as one of the major purchasers of stage scenery at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Theatrical Settings Used in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

The rise of fraternal orders and societies in this country was phenomenal during the late 1800s; more than 6 million Americans had become members by 1907. These societies were formed to study social issues, to promote certain political viewpoints, or to provide philanthropic frameworks for the distribution of financial aid to their members.

Surprisingly, some of the biggest of these organizations arose out of the theatrical community. For instance, the Benevolent and Protected Order of Elk grew out of an association of New York minstrel players and managers, while the Fraternal Order of the Eagle was initially a coalition of theatre producers who joined together to fight the musicians' union. It may have been these ties to the theatre that led many societies to create elaborately costumed and staged initiation rituals.

Of the orders to do so, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Temples of Freemasonry made the most extensive use of scenery, costumes, properties, and elaborate lighting in their initiation rituals. During these ceremonies, members organizing the initiation donned costumes to portray roles in theatrical productions of historical or biblical stories. Each different "degree" or level of initiation required specific symbols to be incorporated into the scenic backgrounds.

The majority of Scottish Rite Temples in America were constructed between 1880 and 1920, during the scenic studios' heyday. Used only a few times a year and never taken out of the temple, these painted drops have been preserved and protected and are still used today in Scottish Rite Temples for fall and spring "reunions" of members and candidates for membership.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry adopted "conferral," or dramatized degrees with full theatrical accoutrements during the late-nineteenth century. The transformation of ritual from the lodge room floor to the stage in many ways attempted to promote the willing suspension of disbelief that would reinforce the moral instruction apparent in each degree. What once took placed in the midst of members became elevated to the stage, thus converting the candidates into both a performer and participatory spectator.

Theatrical scenery was sold to additional branches of Freemasonry to support their complicated systems of staged ceremonial degrees, including: the introductory level, or Blue Lodge, of Freemasonry, the York Rite of Freemasonry; the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (M.O.V.P.E.R.) Grottos, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Dramatized degrees and their portrayal of history remained consistent within the theatrical setting upon the nineteenth century Western stage. A central backdrop, framed by a series of painted side wings, emulated the nineteenth-century-accepted presentation of a realistic illusion. Printed source materials became major inspiration as theatre artists sought to communicate greater Victorian realism throughout costuming and scenery. Similar design sources were utilized for both public and private stages.

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URL: http://digital.lib.umn.edu/scenery/masonic.htmlLast Revised: April 24, 2001