Freemasonry Portrayed in Television

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Wayne Greenley

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a big book worm, in fact I’m typing this article out in a Library. I found out about Freemasonry through reading books. Not everyone’s a bookworm such as myself and for some, television is the first exposure people will have with the world of Freemasonry. This is an article which identifies some television shows and an analysis as to how we are portrayed. I’m just using six television shows I’m familiar with. Whilst researching I found that the website of the Grand Lodge of British Colombia and Yukon has also created their own list of television references. I haven’t tried to plagiarise their list and I believe I have one or two shows which aren’t on their list. They are more than welcome to add from this list to their own.

The Simpsons 

Ok so we’re all familiar with the infamous episode of the Simpsons (season 6 episode 12) which features the secret society the Stonecutters, so I’m not going to say much about. I may critically analyse the episode in another article later down the track. I do want to mention that, however it may have positively or negatively been received by Freemasons back in 1995, in the present day it is generally accepted in the wide scope of the masonic society. It’s laughed at, parodied and comically embraced. 

The picture on the right is of two prominent Freemasons in Queensland. Dressed up for a charitable rally in Australia known as the "Shitbox Rally". A rally in which teams of two, buy a cheap second hand cars and drive them a long distance. These two brothers named their team the Stonecutters and were able to raise money for charity. The car even had a large Square and Compass on the front. This is just one example of how Freemasons have comically embraced the Stonecutters. You can donate to their charity by clicking HERE.

Besides how its effects Freemasonry, the general public appears to strongly associate the Stonecutters with Freemasons, indeed on a few occasions when I’ve told someone I’m a freemason they started singing “We do”. A somewhat partial representation of what our society is, especially when Homer decides to direct the Stonecutters to do good. It’s not a 100% correct though, we’re not always getting drunk and singing at the festive board …… Right? Well maybe the Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks do.

Inspector Morse

My second favourite murder detective, right after Hercule Poirot. Season 4 has a whole episode dedicated to Freemasonry and we not portrayed as the antagonists. Episode 4 “Masonic Mysteries” begins with Morse rehearsing in a production of ‘The Magic Flute’ when his love interest is murdered. Morse is considered a potential suspect and as such isn’t permitted to investigate her murder. He is replaced by Chief Inspector Bottomley (a Freemason) whom Morse dislikes, especially when his Detective Sergeant is given to him.

Morse: Better start rolling up your trouser leg Lewis, you’ll find Chief Inspector Bottomley a Grand Master, much grander than me.

Lewis: Oh, like a game of chess do you sir?
Through a series of events, Morse becomes paranoid and believes the Masons are trying to frame him for her murder. In the end however it turns out an old nemesis of Morse (played by Ian McDiamid) was attempting to frame and humiliate Morse for revenge and used Freemasonry as a cover.

This episode was shown in 1990 and in some ways shows the journey a person goes through when descending into a paranoid fear of the conspiracy revolving around Freemasonry. Although in Morse’s case he had genuine reason to believe the Masons were after him.

The well cultured theme of the show Inspector Morse always includes classical and operatic music and this episode is no exception. The Masonic Opera the Magic Flute is constantly referenced throughout the whole episode:

• Morse believes he’s being initiated through a ritual of Fire and Water as described in the Opera. 
• A password to a computer is Pamina, the heroin of the show. 
• The famous Queen of the Night song “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” is played loudly in Morse’s house without his knowing. 
• The arson attack on Morse’s house was brought on by a tampered tape of The Magic Flute, conducted by Arturo Toscanini (Adding insult to injury as Morse considered it to be the worst recording of the Magic Flute and wouldn’t even let a copy in his house) 
• The music at the beginning of the episode is the Overture of Opera. 
• When Lewis find evidence Morse is innocent of a crime, Tamino song “Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton” is played. 

There are probably other references in there as well that a more learned Brother who is familiar with this German Opera will pick up on.

Though this episode does at points put Freemasonry in a negative view with hints of stalking and murder, they are all debunked when its proven that Freemasons are not involved at all. Although Morse does prove one Mason a fool. Morse pretends to be a Brother with a handshake, when the police officer/brother believes him he laughingly responds “If you people seriously think your childish handshake is a secret, I wouldn’t put any of you on security”. In my opinion if a person who was ignorant to Freemasonry watched this episode, they would not be over all, put off with the fraternity and may potentially end with a positive view.

Birds of a Feather

One of the top British sitcoms from the 1990’s. Season 1 Episode 5 introduces the, let’s say rambunctious, neighbour Dorian Green’s husband Marcus. Dorian invites Tracey (one of the main characters) to a lady’s night at a masonic lodge. Though later on it appears to a festive board type dinner before an installation as Marcus says he can’t leave the dinner as he is the incoming master of the lodge and it’s the biggest night of his life.

It’s nice a television show portray the “normality” of what happens outside a lodge. Meaning not a society of secrets or a wacky conspiracy story, but more of a social group which really isn’t seen much in any medium. Brother Marcus Green, however is a poor representation of what a Freemason is. When his wife stated she was unwell, he didn’t care and is more concerned about his speech. He refused to take her home, in real life that type of behaviour would not be tolerated, placing the lodge before family. Also later on, Marcus tries to make the moves on Tracey. Hopefully when viewers watch this type of conduct being solely isolated to the character Marcus and not with the fraternity itself.

Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries 

See that certificate on the wall? This was seen on Season 1 Episode 10 “Death my Miss Adventure” on the wall of Detective Jack Robinson’s office. Whether the certificate is placed there intentionally to prove he’s a Freemason or if the props people didn’t know what they’d placed on a wall is unclear. It is nice however to see a little mini Masonic Easter egg that only we might spot.

Hale and Pace

Two of Britain’s finest comedians. I don’t know which episode of their show it comes from, however I implore you all to watch the video on youtube. This skit is a full parody of a masonic initiation. “Do you want to be a handy man?” Watch it and you’ll know it had to be a Freemason who wrote it, or at least had some input. I’d suggest you watch it in a place you can laugh, unlike me who was in the library.

Hopefully, the outside world understands this is a parody and not a true portrayal of Freemasonry. I hope not anyway ☺

Only Fools and Horses

Finally we come to Brother Boyce from Only Fools and Horses, who in my opinion is one of the worst characters to portray a Freemason. In Season 5 Episode 10 “Dates”, Boyce states "I am not a Buffalo, I am a pucker (meaning proper) Mason, secret handshakes, initiation ceremonies, the works … it is a great honour to be chosen it is not something you turn down likely. It’s changed my life, I’m involved in a lot of charity work these days helping the local needy and under privileged. It’s got its good side as well of course. Us masons vow to help each other in business whenever humanly possible". I hope you will all agree with me that that last sentence is the complete opposite of what being a Freemason is. In this episode, Freemasonry is basically portrayed as a white collar business society, that’s all about doing business favours for other brothers. The main character Del petitions later on to become a Freemason just for personal gain, to be given a favour from one member. Later on, Del was blackballed by practically every member of lodge.

Thought a comical character, Boyce is sometimes portrayed a fraudulent, money scheming and a cheating antagonist at times. You can be sure I would not sit in a lodge next to a guy like Boyce. This episode is nearly 28 years old, so it doesn’t really pose a threat to the integrity of Freemasonry. Back in 1988 however I guess it might. A man watching this would may have believed Freemasonry was all about personal gain, not about brotherly love, relief and truth.

This show, though one of the greatest English classics, does not correctly portray what being a Freemason is.

~WG

Bro. Wayne Greenley is member of Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 361 and research lodge Barron Barnett Lodge No 146 both holding under the United Grand Lodge of Queensland. Currently he is studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business at QUT. In his spare time he likes to read, listen to music and research the Craft. He is looking forward to joining other orders when he’s permitted to in the next year and also to soon begin his journey through the progression of officers starting off with the Inner Guard.

Stick A Freemason In It...

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, 33°, FMLR

"I was a Freemason before it was trendy." ~Mr. Burns, The Simpsons

Oh, Freemasonry is trendy, all right; and the "modern" trend, in my estimation, began November 19, 2004.  That's the day a blockbuster film, National Treasure, had its United States debut.  The movie takes you on a wild adventure as competing groups track down and rediscover history's greatest treasure.  Adding to the mystery of the search is the revelation that the loot is the fabled Templar Treasure, hidden and guarded by none other than those enigmatic Freemasons.  The popular film sparked an interest in Freemasonry, with Grand Lodges reporting an increase in inquiries and petitions.

Soon afterward, author Dan Brown released his national bestseller, The DaVinci Code.  The book contained Masonic symbolism and references, some disputed, but once again, interest in Freemasonry surged.  Hollywood, ever mindful of the financial benefits of capitalizing on a popular trend, took notice.  The DaVinci Code movie soon came out, followed by the sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Brown followed with Angels and Demons, another book with Masonic allusions, with a film that followed.  Finally, Brown published his long-anticipated Lost Secret.  In all of these works of fiction, the Masons were generally, but not always, the good guys.  They were also cloaked in mystery.  The Masonic ritual in Brown's books had many inaccuracies, but the general public would not know that.  The end result was that Freemasonry found itself on a pop-culture roll that continues through today.

Now, a slew of Hollywood writers have jumped on the bandwagon.  It seems the new theory is this: to make a story (good or bad) more popular — stick a Freemason in it.  Freemasons are popular and mysterious.  Fiction writers know they can weave interesting, even supernatural, tales into shows involving Masons and, since they are perceived to be so secretive, who is to dispute what is and is not fact?

Apparently viewers are eating it up.  The History Channel, A&E and others are replete with Masonic programming ranging from documentaries about the Freemasons to sinister "exposés."  Even CBS recently tossed its hat into the ring with a segment about the Masons on its popular Sunday Morning show.

Prime-time TV has seen new shows that have followed the trend.  This season alone, at least three popular dramas have gone the "stick a Freemason in it" route.

Sleepy Hollow is a modern-day rendering of Washington Irving's classic short story of the same name.  In the new version, Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman return to life in the 21st century to continue their dichotomous and apparently never-ending battle representing good vs. evil. Crane teams up with a female lieutenant in current-day Sleepy Hollow's police department to fight against the forces wreaking havoc on the town.  Perhaps an interesting enough scenario to those enjoying the genre, the authors have stirred the pot further by making Crane a Freemason.  The series depicts the Freemasons as having mystical powers with secret and magical tools to help ward off the evil forces.  Additionally, it turns out under the leadership of George Washington, they were the architects of a plan to thwart the Apocalypse.

Castle is an ABC crime drama now in its 6^th season.  Its premise: a best-selling novelist, Richard Castle, teams up with a New York homicide detective so he can do research and, together, they end up solving crimes.  It does not have any sort of Masonic undertones but this season, in an episode entitled "Get A Clue,"  the pair are thrust into a case reminiscent of The DaVinci code and Lost Symbol.  The episode weaves a tale with the protagonists bouncing from one Masonic clue to another, culminating in the discovery of a Masonic treasure.

White Collar debuted in 2009 on the USA network.  In this series, a former criminal gains an early release from prison by agreeing to help the FBI solve crimes.  Several episodes this year have chronicled a case guided by an ancient Masonic codex which leads the pair through several Masonic venues, ultimately leading to the solution of the crime and recovery of a great treasure, the sister stone of the Hope diamond.

Without going into too much detail, let's just say none of these shows gets Freemasonry right.  In Sleepy Hollow, we learn Freemasons have tools like "hex candles" with magic powers.  In Castle, we see "Masonic symbols" that aren't Masonic symbols.  In White Collar we find "Masons have their hand everywhere including all the Masonic symbolism on Michael Jackson's Dangerous album cover."  We also learn asking a reluctant Brother — and I quote exactly — "Who will help the widow's son," will induce him to offer minor assistance, in this case a drink of water.

In addition to all this, the granddaddy of all the media attention coming our way this season is a new movie simply called The Freemason.  It's different from the other shows.  It's producer, Joseph James is, in fact, a Freemason.  He didn't "stick a Freemason in it;" he wrapped the entire film around Freemasonry in a well-produced nail-biter of a who-done-it.  Brother James has acknowledged some of the Masonic events and symbolism in the film aren't exactly as you might expect, but that's on purpose: there were some things he felt he shouldn't put in a film.  Yet, more than other shows it's true to the Craft and — big spoiler alert — the Freemasons are the good guys.  

So there you have it.  Pop culture may or may not be getting it right, but trendy we are.  The question is, so what? Are Freemasons prepared for this?  How do we deal with it?  Do we continue to ignore it? Can we take advantage of it?  Do we have a (gasp!) plan?

This trend isn't going to go away anytime soon.  Plans to release films like National Treasure III and The Lost Symbol are in the works.  Maybe it's time we bite the bullet and come up with that plan —  perhaps a plan to help make future Masonic references more realistic; or to help dispel some myths; maybe one to subtly promote the fraternity.

Y'know, when Hollywood makes a medical show, producers hire doctors as consultants.  For legal shows, they consult with attorneys.  How about a few Freemasons as consultants in shows with a Masonic theme?  And just maybe we should work with producers like Brother Joseph James and writers like the Midnight Freemasons' own novelist Todd Creason who know the fraternity and are already casting it in a good light. In fact, maybe we should encourage Brothers James and Creason to team up... that would work for me.

~SLH

Steve Harrison, 33° KCCH, is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri. He is the editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine, author of the book Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research and also its Senior Warden. He is a dual member of Kearney Lodge #311, St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite, Moila Shrine and is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor.