Confessions of Aleister Crowley

438 I was brought up with a considerable shock within the next few months, when, chancing to discuss the subject with some broken-down gambler or sporting-house tout --- I forget exactly --- I found that he would not "recognize" me! There was some trivial difference in one of the grips or some other totally meaningless formality. A measureless contempt for the whole mummery curled my lip. I squared the matter (as already related) by having myself initiated in Lodge Number 343 "Anglo- Saxon" in Paris. What that led to I have recounted elsewhere and now quote: I happened to know that the chaplain of the British Embassy in Z--- was Past Grand Organist of a certain English province. He proposed me, found a seconder, and I was duly initiated, passed and raised. I was warmly welcomed by numerous English and American visitors to our Lodge; for Z--- is a very great city. I returned to England sometime later, after "passing the chair" in my Lodge, and wishing to join the Royal Arch, called on its venerable Secretary. I presented my credentials. "O Thou Great Architect of the Universe," the old man sobbed out in rage, "why dost Thou not wither this impudent impostor with Thy fire from heaven? Sir, begone! You are not a Mason at all! As all the world knows, the people in Z--- are atheists and live with other men's wives." I thought this a little hard on my Reverend Father in God, my proposer; and I noted that, of course, every single English or American visitor to our Lodge in Z--- stood in peril of instant and irrevocable expulsion on detection. So I said nothing, but walked to another room in Freemasons' Hall over his head, and took my seat as a Past Master in one of the oldest and most eminent Lodges in London! Kindly note, furthermore, that when each of those wicked visitors returned to their Lodges after their crime, they automatically excommunicated the {695} whole thereof; and as visiting is very common, it may well be doubted whether, on their own showing, there is a single "just, lawful and regular mason" left on the earth! By the end of 1910, thanks to my relations with the Grand Hierophant 97° of the Rite of Memphis (a post held after his death by Dr. Gerard Encausee, Theodor Reuss, and myself), I was now a sort of universal inspector-general of the various rites, charged with the secret mission of reporting on the possibility of reconstructing the entire edifice, which was universally recognized by all its more intelligent members as being threatened with the gravest danger. I must briefly explain the circumstances. (a) There is a great multiplicity of rites. (b) There is a great multiplicity of jurisdictions. (c) Even where rite and jurisdiction are identical, there are certain national jealousies and other causes of divergence. (d) The Progress of feminism has threatened the Craft. (The meaning of the 3° having been totally lost, orthodox freemasons are unable to explain why women cannot become Master Masons. They cannot. I, the fiercest of feminists, say so.) Co-Masonry, under Mrs Besant, whose hysterical vanity compels her to claim any high-sounding title that she happens to hear, Le Droit Humain in France, and similar movements almost everywhere, were bringing masonry into contempt by their sheer silliness. They were so obviously exactly as good as real freemasons.