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Masonic Tattoos — Are we going too far?

Masonic Tattoos — Are we going too far?

Reflections

By Bro. Vincent Lombardo

July 2019

I have read recently an article written by a Brother and published in a most respectable Masonic Newsletter, which identity of both I do not disclose, so not to undermine their otherwise excellent reputation.   In it, the author praises highly his many tattoos depicting Masonic symbols, and even suggesting the members of a lodge should consider a "pet tattoo" exclusive to their lodge.   He takes his inspiration from Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol," where Mal'akh is covered from head to toe in tattoos depicting Masonic symbols and motifs, and calls himself "a Masterpiece."

This masterly engraved Brother goes on saying: "Of course you will not be provided with a tattoo when joining the Society of Masons, [thank God!] however, some brothers decide to show their affiliation in the Fraternity by conspicuously sporting tattoos."

After serious reflection, and in my old-fashion opinion, I find this exibitionism to also meaning to publicly advertise our membership in the Order, practice which in many more refined countries is considered in bad taste, since, by their logic, our actions and lifestyle as just and upright men should suggest and distinguish us as Freemasons, and not what we wear in symbols and paraphernalia.

In our Jurisdiction this exhibitionism is rampant with the wearing of baseball caps, hoodies, gloves, rings, lapel pins depicting the Square & Compasses, also on the cars we drive — all of which is not even as skin-deep as the tattoo … portraying vacuity, and betraying an immature maturity on the part of the wearer, an insecure desire "to belong" and — worse — an attempt to claim preferment from the brethren.   Fortunately, our brethren here wear these articles only or mainly at lodges' events, so the bad taste is kept in-house.

But why do people voluntarily "paint" themselves in pain? asks the author, and follows up with an erudite explanation of the tattoo:

The History of the Tattoo

"Thousands of years ago, people used different ways to decorate their bodies.   Mostly this was done to express the affiliation to a group or to a certain stage of life.   The skin pictures played an important social role in individual cultures and were often components of rituals.

For a long time, the tattoos from the ancient empire of the Egyptian civilization were the first of their kind.   Around 2000 BC, tattoos finally reached China and later Greece.   The spread of "body art" was unstoppable.   Eventually it also reached Japan.   There, tattoos were used mainly in religious and ceremonial rituals.   And in Borneo especially, women were considered great tattoo artists.   They created the designs, which were assigned to the individual stages of life and which represented the tribal affiliation.

Although tattoos were very popular, at that time they were often associated with infections that often ended in death.   Sterile work and disinfection did not matter at that time.   The wounds that were added to the body during tattooing and dyed with charcoal powder inflamed and scarred.   Those "surviving" this dangerous ordeal continues to be considered by some cultures as a sign of growing up and of the favor of the gods.

In 1765, British Captain James Cook introduced the word "tattoo" into the English language.   In his notes during his travels to Polynesia, Cook described people who painted their bodies with paint, calling them "tattoos."

One of the oldest archaeological finds of a man with tattoos is certainly the glacier mummy Ötzi.   He carries more than 60 predominantly geometric figures as well as lines and dots on his body.   These were, as is common nowadays with some primitive peoples, carved into the skin and colored with carbon powder.   Controversial here, however, is the meaning.   Some researchers see it as "pure body painting," others recognize it as a type of pain therapy, similar to acupuncture.

The leap into modern times was made by the new possibilities of electricity and precision mechanics.   If the subjects were still under the skin with needles and cuts, a man named Samuel O'Reilly revolutionized tattooing.   He had opened a shop at Chatham Square, New York, where electric tattoo machines had already been used.   This machine relied on Edison's electric needle, where a needle point creates a puncture.   The electric tattoo machine consisted of mobile coils, a needle bar and a coil.   To date, these parts are still the most common components of a tattoo machine. This tool, also known as "gun", is still the most common and efficient way to decorate the skin with a picture.

Asocial and criminal?

Well into the end of the last century tattooed people were still regarded as "anti-social" and "criminal."   The reason is certainly to be seen in the fact that members of various gangs and criminal groups made their affiliation visible through tattoos.   For example, one is the most well-known Japanese mafia organization, the Yakuza, whose different bands are defined by different symbols.

This association leads to curious events today.   People who wear large tattoos on their bodies, like myself, are not allowed to go to public baths in Japan.   The connection to the Yakuza is anchored here too strongly in the image of society.

Masonic tattoos.

The history of Masonic tattoos is largely in the dark.   There are no records of our ancestors.   So it's a relatively new phenomenon.   However, we know of statements from older brothers who fought on the European fronts during the Second World War.   Similar to sailors, Masonic motifs were found on soldiers' skin.

With the increased acceptance of tattooed skin in the past 20 to 30 years, the number of people with tattoos in society has also skyrocketed.   Soon they were no longer the hallmarks of a particular sworn group — such as sailors or prison inmates.   Tattoos became a lifestyle phenomenon.   People want to decorate themselves with motifs that have a deeper meaning for themselves.   Signs that give the wearer personal strength and faith.

Masonic motifs are very popular as tattoos especially with our brethren in the USA, and have found in recent years more and more lovers in Germany.   Some of them are small, discrete characters, partly large-scale pictures that are very artfully designed and executed.

Motives and motivation.

I already had some tattoos before joining the Fraternity.   Immediately after my initiation, I had the typical Square and Compasses motif added on my forearm.   At that time tattooing was very traditional by a tattoo artist in Thailand, with bamboo needles and no machine.   A short time later came to some brothers of my mother Lodge the idea of designing a common tattoo in the style of the "Masonic covenant [Bible] with the rising sun" and to make it as part of a joint visit in a tattoo studio. Either you leave it at one tattoo or you keep on doing it.   Then it becomes almost like an addiction.   Finally, my two arms and my upper back are provided with motifs of our Association.   I now stand out, even in public.   I like to stand up for our values and ideals, which I also try to impart to others, when I am asked about my tattos and my motives, and Freemasonry in general.   Away from "conspiracy theories and mysticism" to a solid foundation of facts about the Fraternity."

Gradually transforming our Royal Art from esoteric to exoteric. — What will they think of next?