Rudyard KIPLINGS begins The Man Who Would Be Kings by quoting an expression commonly associated with Masonic Order. The story also contains many Masonic references like the degrees, recognition forms, the Lodge hierarchy, certain aspects of initiatory processes, and other Masonic terms. Freemasonry, sometimes called the Craft, includes not only the formal elements but also all aspects of Masonic culture and traditions. These aspects of Masonic Subculture are essential to the plot of this story. The narrator is also a Freemason, as are the main characters. This essay will give background information to the Masonic terminology, imagery, and context that is used in The Man Who Would Being King. However, the essay doesn’t attempt to explain the deeper meanings and condemnation of Freemasonry. It also does not provide any additional information on the Craft than is required to understand Kipling’s story.
The Man Who Would Be a King sees Daniel Dravot, Peachey Carnahan and Peachey Carnahan traveling to Kafiristan. This fictionalized version is located in northeastern Afghanistan, which was once known as Nuristan. They want to be kings over this territory. They do this by posing as having magical powers and firearms. They find evidence of Freemasonry being introduced to local men in a distant past. However, only the Second degree was allowed. Since then, it has been out of common use and has become almost a cult-like religion. Peachey demonstrates knowledge of Masonry that is specific to Kafiristan and impresses local men. Peachey and Dan don’t want to correct the mistake and instead use the Craft to consolidate power until Dan becomes too arrogant and is exposed as a mere mortal. Peachey was the only one to survive the rebellion of the Kafirs. For those not well versed in Masonic traditions and culture, Kipling’s story seems like a thrilling adventure novel. It is, however, a Masonic morality story with a predictable ending. The Masonic Order was an all-male fraternal organisation that was founded in 18th century. It is based on the traditions of older secret societies like the Knights Templar or medieval trade guilds. Masonry’s current structure has three levels of initiation. Each level confers more knowledge and responsibility. An applicant for admission may be made by any Mason, but the Lodge must sponsor him in order to allow the Lodge members to vote on his acceptance. If accepted, the sponsor of the applicant is held partly responsible for his conduct and initiated into First Degree through a special ritual. The First Degree is followed up by the Fellow Craft Degree ritual. He may then be “raised,” which is another ritual.
One Mason can recognize the degree of another Mason in several ways. These forms are kept secret so that no one outsiders can see them. These are given during the degree ceremony. Masons must learn them and then prove their identity by using these recognition methods. Kipling describes two types of recognition in his story.
Secret handshakes can be referred to as grips. They can be used in public by two Masons. It is not obvious enough that they will be seen as if they are just shaking hands. They are not accidental, however they are distinctive enough that they can be performed in public between two Masons. Each grip has a response to allow the man giving it a try to determine if the other is correct. Each degree is unique in its grip. Peachey is able to recognize Billy Fish when he holds his hands and gives him the Grip. Peachey attempts the Fellow Craft grip, and Billy correctly responds. He is now a Mason at least of the Second Degree. Peachey doesn’t respond to the Master Grip Third Degree. Peachey concludes that Billy could be a Fellow Craft Mason. He then asks Dan if he knows the Word.
Another type of recognition is what Peachey asks about the Word Peachey. Each degree has a secret word. It is similar to the Grip. These words aren’t language-specific, but are universally understood by Masons from any degree.
Dan asserts Billy knows the Words and Second Degrees. Dan says that he has seen “marks” on rocks that corresponds to symbols associated Second Degree Masons. Peachey also hears that local chiefs or priests can conduct Fellow Craft Lodge ceremonies.
Dan and Peachey will be trouble if they say “in an way that’s quite like ours”. They were surprised to find people who appeared to be Freemasons. However, they do not belong to a recognized or regular Lodge. While they may have a basic understanding of Masonry and the rituals used, they do not know how important they are. They are not bound to the same obligations or oaths as Dan and Peachey. Masonry, as it is practised in Kafiristan, functions more like an occult. Local “Masons” don’t believe that Dan or Peachey have mastered the Third Degree. It is evidence that they are gods and not just that they know more about the Craft. The coincidence seems to have been a fortunate break, as Dan and Peachey have tried to make themselves gods since entering Kafiristan to force the local population to submit to their rule. It is actually a trap.
While the Masonic Order has members around the world, it maintains a more hierarchical structure. The “Lodge”, which is a group of Masons that meet at a particular location, often a hall or building specifically for this purpose, is the core unit of the organization. The “officers” are men who manage lodges and perform administrative tasks similar to those of business officers. The Grand Lodge is governed by the administrative bodies Dan Dravot and Peachey Carnahan. A Grand Lodge is an administrative organization that sets standards and approves or denies applications for opening or closing a Lodge. The Grand Lodges around the world are also overseen by the Mother Grand Lodge of England. This is essential because it confers legitimacy. There are many groups that pretend to be Masonic and are not recognized or acknowledged in the other lodges. If a Grand Lodge or Mother Grand Lodge does not recognize a lodge, it is most likely that there is something seriously wrong. Masons are forbidden from engaging in Masonic activities if they are not associated with recognized lodges. But this is precisely what Dan Peachey does.
Peachey and Dan discover a group of polytheistic men in Kipling’s Kafiristan. They have very different priorities and beliefs than their English visitors. Their Freemasonry is now more religious and cult-like. They were not awarded their degrees by any lodge that was recognized as a regular Masonic organization and they are considered irregular Masons and outsiders. Therefore, Dan and Peachey are prohibited from participating in Masonic rituals alongside them.
Dan claims to be a Grand Master of the Craft. He asserts that he will establish a Lodge at the Third Degree in order for the local priests and chiefs to become his. While casual readers might think Dan has some authority beyond that of the Third Degree, the text clearly shows otherwise. Peachey says that Dan and he have never held office at a Lodge. This implies that Dan’s claims to be a “Grandmaster” or his introductions as “Past grand-masters” cannot be believed.
A Lodge’s “officer” is someone who has specific responsibilities. He has the authority to fulfill those responsibilities. The Lodge’s Worshipful Master is the most senior officer. This is elected by men. After his term ends, he is elected a “Worshipful Masters”, and in some cases, may become a “PastMaster”. Grand-Master is a Grand-Master. The title of the “PastGrand-Master” is an existing title in York Rite Freemasonry. Peachey assumes the title of “Senior Warden” during Dan’s Lodge ceremony.
The Worshipful master’s second-in command is. Masons have to fulfill several other office requirements before they can be considered eligible for the Senior Warden and Worshipful Master positions. Also, there are more service opportunities than men who are available. The two can read and both Peachey can read, so it’s quite arrogant of them to be in the highest positions.
Peachey knows the extent of Dan’s ambitions. Peachey says that opening a Lodge would be “against the law” because he is not qualified and has not obtained a Grand Lodge warrant. Dan, however is not going to be denied. Peachey takes over the temple at Imbra and makes it appear to be a Masonic ritual space. The customary decorations include black and white checkerboard tile and special decorated aprons. The Master Mason symbol Dan’s Apron bears corresponds to the Temple of Imbra hidden symbol. The Kafir men believe Dan and Peachey, because they know and possess the secret symbol. Since Daniel Dravot entered Kafiristan, Dravot has tried to present himself as a god. He uses their credulity and seizes temporal power to expand his authority in the region.
English adventurers name each Chief and priest in English, but don’t bother learning their real names. Billy Fish is an example of a chief who was a big part of the first valley Dan, Peachey, and Peachey occupied. Peachey is willing to raise Billy Fish and other chiefs/priests to the third degree without knowing their real names. It’s almost absurd, as it is to try and lead a Lodge in a local language. Masonic rituals always take place in the language used by Lodge members. Dan speaks fluently but understands some words after a few months living in the country. Peachey does not learn to speak with the Kafirs. Peachey lacks the communication skills necessary to communicate anything important, like the obligations of Master Mason.
Masonic Lodge ceremonies include Degree rituals. They are full of words. There are many details that must be communicated to the initiate to the First Degree, the second degree or the third degree. He must understand his obligations in plain English. It takes a lot practice and memorization to make a Degree ritual plausible. While Dan and Peachey know the symbols and forms that can be recognized, they lack practice. Peachey says he “fudges” the Ritual to make it seem more complicated, even though he serves as Senior Warden (a title that refers to a role within a Masonic ritual). Dan and Peachey can do this mainly because the local priests don’t have as much practice as they do. Peachey admits that the Third Degree ceremony they created is “not according to Ritual”. It was done to consolidate their power base and raise the status of ten important priests and chiefs in the area.
The Masonic Order can also be called a fraternal Order. Masonry includes the obligation to treat Masons like brothers and offer reasonable assistance to anyone in need. Peachey asks narrator for help “for my mother as well” at the beginning of his story. Peachey suspects that his narrator may be a Mason. He therefore has a brotherly duty to Dan at that station to at least relay his message. While the narrator may have this belief, Peachey and Dan do not share the responsibility of the narrator to blackmail the leader of a neighboring government. A Freemason’s fraternal bonds do not negate his civic, religious, or military responsibilities. Masonic brothers don’t have to assist each other in illegal activity. Indeed, the story’s first line contains the phrase “if the man deserves it”. The principle is understood by the narrator: once Peachey has delivered Dan’s message, his responsibility towards the travelers ends. He does not believe that the two vagabond conmen (who are Masons) should be allowed to use his protection or cooperation while they pursue their extortion plan.
He is required to notify Dan and Peachey in advance because of his civic responsibilities and basic decency. This is one of Masonic core principles. The narrator respects the law and authority in his own country. The narrator is not expected to assist Dan and Peachey in their illegal shakedown plot.
Freemasons have no obligation to support or agree with each another. The Lodge observes pax templi (“peaceful temple”): All disputes, including those involving legal battles or political differences, are not allowed. Talk of controversial topics, especially politics and religion, is strictly forbidden. It is not uncommon for Masons to take sides in wars, even if they are found in countries that do not have Lodges. Masons, outside of the Lodge, are expected not to violate the laws or military responsibilities of the country. They may even be required to fight or kill another Mason in combat if they are on the side against the enemy. Masonic culture is characterized by the obligation to assist others, even other Masons. However the duty to do so should be accompanied by the greater duties of a man to his family and nation or to God. Peachey and Dan also make mistakes in this area. The contract they have with one another requires them to stand by each other in any trouble. Peachey, Billy and Dan make a serious mistake by choosing to stay with Dan because of his megalomania. Peachey is crucified and Billy is killed by the rioting tribesmen.
One of Daniel Dravot’s greatest mistakes is to believe that he has a brotherhood of Kafir men who will protect him if he ever exposes his lies. The Kafir men are ritualistic cult members who observe Masonry in their ritualistic polytheistic religion. Dan lies to them about being god when he is exposed. His Mason status is not affected by his lying. The Kafirs do not make such distinctions. Even if they have taken the same oaths (which isn’t at all clear), Dan is now considered an impostor god by the Kafirs. Peachey & Dan don’t expect this type of reasoning. Because they are European-looking, the Kafirs will be able to reason like Europeans. The resemblance between the two is superficial.
One can be a king’s brother, but a human being cannot be a god’s brother. There are responsibilities and expectations that come with the godhead privileges. Peachey is expected to be able, among other things, to know what gods are capable of doing. Two men are not even familiar with the Kafir way their gods should behave. For example, they don’t know that intermarriage is forbidden and that they should be immune to injury. Peachey especially feels his limitations. He is reminded that there are some facts or mysteries about the Third Degree that have been lost over the centuries. Peachey may be able to tell the truth and say that the knowledge was lost without his permission.
It should now be apparent that Dan and Peachey violate Masonic traditions and rules in numerous ways. They also participate in Masonic rituals that involve irregular “Masons”. They founded a Lodge with no authorization or charter. They might have been excused if they had done this to promote Freemasonry and help Kafir men improve themselves. They are not. They use the Craft to commit massive blasphemy in order to gain material wealth. Masons are, by definition, monotheists. Therefore, a Freemason can be considered a Mason.
Peachey and Dan have broken their own first duty to God and their religion. The Man Who Will Be King is an entertaining adventure story that many will enjoy, but it also has a morality message.
Sources of information
Harris, R.V. The Meaning and Usefulness of Masonic Obligations. Designs upon Trestle Board, Vol. 2, pp. 71-77. 1984.
Retrieved at
http://www.masonicinfo.com/recognition.htm
http://www.masonicinfo.com/fakemasonry.htm
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/glossary/glossary_index.htm
http://phoenixmasonry.org/meaning_of_masonic_obligations.htm