Bloomsday 2013-Freemasonry

One of my Bloomsday 2013 activities in Dublin was a talk by Des Gunning entitled "James Joyce's Freemasonry" held at the Freemasons' Hall at 17-19 Molesworth.  If the street sounds familiar it is because Bloom in the "Lestrygonians" episode of Ulysses helped a blind stripling cross the street at Dawson and Molesworth.  This is a photo of the exterior of the Freemasons' Hall:

When I arrived I was directed downstairs where people were assembling---tea and cookies were being served.  After about thirty minutes we were all directed upstairs to this room in which the talk was given--a photo.

I will not be able to do Gunning's talk justice, but he did cite instances in which "Freemason" is used by Joyce.  

In the "Cyclops" episode in reference to Bloom, 

"What's that bloody freemason doing, says the citizen, prowling up and down outside?" 

Molly in the "Penelope" episode says, "I put him up to that till the jesuits found out he was a freemason thumping the piano."

The following passage from the "Lestrygonians" episode is significant because Bloom's interior monologue tells about Falkiner who was a leading freemason of the day.  One of those full-length portraits in the photo above is of Falkiner and this was pointed out by Gunning in his talk.  

Note the reference to "a dirty jew," which seems strange since it is narrated in the interior monologue of Bloom.

"Sir Frederick Falkiner going into the freemasons' hall. Solemn as Troy. After his good lunch in Earlsfort terrace. Old legal cronies  cracking a magnum. Tales of the bench and assizes and annals of  the bluecoat school. I sentenced him to ten years. I suppose he'd  turn up his nose at that stuff I drank. Vintage wine for them, the  year marked on a dusty bottle. Has his own ideas of justice in the  recorder's court. Wellmeaning old man. Police chargesheets  crammed with cases get their percentage manufacturing crime.  Sends them to the rightabout. The devil on moneylenders. Gave  Reuben J. a great strawcalling. Now he's really what they call a dirty jew. Power those judges have. Crusty old topers in wigs.   Bear with a sore paw. And may the Lord have mercy on your soul."

Near the end of the "Circe" episode Bloom murmurs, "swear that I will always hail, ever conceal, never reveal, any part or parts, art or arts."  According to Gifford this is the oath of secrecy required of all Freemasons as a condition of initiation into a lodge.

Then in Bloom's last vision in the "Circe" episode, which is of his late son Rudy, Bloom is described as, " (SILENT, THOUGHTFUL, ALERT HE STANDS ON GUARD, HIS FINGERS AT HIS LIPS IN THE ATTITUDE OF SECRET MASTER)."  Gifford explains that the "secret master" is the fourth degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Both of the above items "oath" and "attitude" suggest that Bloom was a Freemason.

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The following quotation from  A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man represents the Catholic belief that freemasons were atheists.

"The formula which he wrote obediently on the sheet of paper, the
coiling and uncoiling calculations of the professor, the spectre-like
symbols of force and velocity fascinated and jaded Stephen's mind.
He had heard some say that the old professor was an atheist freemason."

***

The aunt's belief in "Araby" about freemasons is explained in the annotation that follows the quotation.

"The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me. I asked for leave to go
to the bazaar on Saturday night. My aunt was surprised and hoped it was not some Freemason affair."

Gifford annotation: "the Masons were regarded as vigilant and subversive Protestant enemies of Catholicism."

***

The following quotation from "Ivy Day in the Committee Room" has Hynes speaking in jest as he enters the room in which only Catholics are present.  Hynes is mocking the practice of secrecy that freemasons presumably demand.

Mr. O'Connor shook his head in sympathy, and the old man fell
silent, gazing into the fire. Someone opened the door of the room
and called out:
 

"Hello! Is this a Freemason's meeting?"

"Who's that?" said the old man.

"What are you doing in the dark?" asked a voice.

"Is that you, Hynes?" asked Mr. O'Connor.

"Yes. What are you doing in the dark?" said Mr. Hynes. advancing

into the light of the fire.

Gifford annotation: "the Masons were reputed to conduct their meetings in cabalistic secrecy."