"RIDING the GOAT" Very strange Fraternal Lodge Initiation, 1928.

Extraordinary Fraternal Initiation ritual from 1920s, United States. http://www.juliasuits.net Behind the secret doors of the Shriners, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Order of Moose, Woodmen of the World,and Elks are some very strange goings on. A mechanical goat on wheels is anticipating his bout with an unsuspecting candidate for Fraternal Lodge membership. But this goat is WILD; and the frailer, shyer man needs a gentler ride! It is wise to avoid injury and a lawsuit, so exercise your "Billie" beforehand and get the fleas off his back.

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  Film & Animation

[AerialTheShamen]

In Don Quixote the hero is blindfolded and instructed to ride an artificial horse (moved around by helpers) filled with exploding fireworks to send him on an imaginary adventure trip. As a kid I found this a quite strange idea.

Now I see that many freemason initiation stunt rituals function surprisingly similar. The mechanical goat is a blatant example.

[extraordinarycatalog]

It's important to note that Freemasons DID NOT engage in the goat-riding ritual. Freemasons often made allusions to goat-riding in their secret ceremonies, but that was a joke played on the general public and esp the anti-Masonic detractors, to help keep secret the *real* goings on, which were austere and stately. Freemasons did not condone pranking of any kind in their rituals. That's why a few Masons formed the Shriners--so that they could have fun at meetings.

[SpecialAgentOrange1]

What is this videos origin? assuming it is legit ament and not manufactured.

[extraordinarycatalog]

The costumes, goat, crank magneto are all original items made/manufactured by the DeMoulin Bros. Co. This is a reenactment that I filmed and coedited with a friend. Some of it was shot a few blocks from the DeMoulin factory, which still exists, in Greenville, Illinois.

[UtSupraItiInfra]

Is that so? I'm a Freemason. In fact, I'm also 32nd degree and a Knight Templar. At NO point did I ride a goat, nor has a goat EVER been part of our ceremonies. I know it is pointless to tell you this, but I'm going to tell you anyway.

[dennis day]

right on no idea at all

[40sreddoll]

The Elks use the same joke

[Andres Pereyda]

fake

[StrangelyPolitical]

I thought it was because the goat eats ivy and ivy eats grape vines therefore making the goat a symbol of the protector of ecstasy for the dionysians during their orgiastic festivals.. which later originated theater using satyrs as the chorus.ive read freemasonry has roots in the dionysian artificers?

[Andgrey]

"no"

[MrThisislame]

you mean "no" idea?

[MrThisislame]

LOL, you have no clue. Formed the shriners to have fun at meetings........That's precious.

[Andgrey]

haha! you guys have know idea

[AerialTheShamen]

Here is a very detail thread "Masonic Goat Riding":

forum . davidicke . com / showthread.php ? t=84188

It is quite long but contains (among angry flames and nonsense) also a very comprehesive and serious explanation on Page 4 (see posting #61). E.g. apparently the ancient Greek temple builders guild had the Capricorn (ibex) as their symbol (because it ascends steep stone walls). That's why the goat symbol found its way into freemasonry.