Cross & Crescent

Dr. John E. “Jack” Mason Jr. (Pennsylvania 1913), Lambda Chi Alpha’s spiritual founder, died of viral pneumonia 60 years ago on June 1, 1946. His unexpected death brought to an end the life of a man who converted the dream of our founder into a fully functioning fraternal organization.

Researching Rituals

Mason was the principal author of our ritual, the primary designer of our badge and insignia, and the founder of our various publications. His scholarship and devotion to research was easily recognized by his closest colleagues and friends during his lifetime.

One of his peers was Raymond H. Ferris (Pennsylvania 1912). In a tribute to Mason, Ferris stated that Mason was a prolific and tireless worker, and that he was considered “a recognized authority in ritual and history in the fraternity world.”

“Deep research was made of old manuscripts, both in this country and in Europe, during his writing of our ritual,” wrote Ferris. “Translations were made by him from documents written in Early Provencal and Old French,” and an infinite number of sources were consulted, which enriched the esoteric side and symbolism of Lambda Chi Alpha.”

The November/December 1929 Purple, Green, and Gold article, entitled “Fraternity’s Ritual of Ancient Origin,” summed it up nicely by simply declaring Mason’s Ritual a thing of beauty.

New York Debut

Our original ritual, created by Founder Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912), was an amalgamation of features found in the rituals of the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) and Gamma Eta Gamma Professional Law Fraternity.

According to the article’s author, the Cole Ritual was first used on October 3, 1910. In 1913, part of the current ritual concerning the coat-of-arms was presented to a group of men initiated by our Pennsylvania chapter. This explanation of the symbolic meaning of our coat-of-arms is nearly identical to our present teachings.

The article also claims that the first initiation under the Mason Ritual “was at the Hotel Breslin in New York in 1913, when a member of Sigma at the University of Michigan was initiated.”

Dr. Charles S. Peyser (South HON) and Ernest Vargo III (Akron 1978) wrote in The History of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity that “our initiation ritual was conceived within the tradition of the Episcopal Church; our associate membership ceremony (a condensed version of the initiation ritual of Theta Kappa Nu) arose within the tradition of American Protestantism.”

Tozier Brown (Denver 1936) further stated that “one of the greatest points of pride in Lambda Chi Alpha is the authenticity of our initiation ritual, for it was not created from imagination alone; rather, its major components have been brought down to us from specific, authenticated practices and teachings of ancient orders. Lambda Chi Alpha owes a debt incapable of repayment to Jack Mason, who was principally responsible for the assembly of our initiation ritual.”

Establishing Standards

It must be noted that Mason was primarily responsible for transforming Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity from what was essentially a social club, with little philosophical or religious substance, to an organization with a decidedly Christian character.

Though belief in Christianity is no longer a prerequisite for membership, it is very clear that the Christian belief system permeates the fundamental teachings of the Mason Ritual.

The impact of the Mason Ritual is profound. Brown once asked, “What makes a Lambda Chi different from other men?” His answer, which still rings true to us today, focused on the standards found in our ritual.

“The real bond of Lambda Chi Alpha, which every brother should feel throughout his life, is that he pledges to certain ideals, and that he has the strength and brotherly sympathy of a large body of men all over the country in back of him, to aid him in his struggle to live according to these ideals,” wrote Brown.

“The distinction between the man he meets every day, and his fraternity brothers, is not an arbitrary one of clique or social set,” says Brown. “It is simply a trust in the man pledged to a definite standard as against the man who has not that binding moral pledge as a bond of brotherhood.”

While men like Cole and Albert Cross (Pennsylvania 1913) worked to build a large roll of chapters, Mason concentrated his efforts on building our symbolic and practical structure.

A number of Mason’s hand-rendered drawings and sketches remain in the fraternity’s Indianapolis archives. Few details were overlooked as he brought a high degree of order to the operations of our young organization.

Many of his original concepts are still used. He devised such things as the titles of our chapter officers, our membership card, the High Pi appointment process, a written description of our officer’s duties, chapter manuals, and the process for revoking a chapter’s charter.

Mason’s Legacy

Born in Philadelphia on January 21, 1892, Mason was the son of Matilda Thoburn Sterling and J. Edward Mason.

Mason graduated from the Philadelphia Public School System in 1910. He completed an A.B. degree in 1913 (after just 2.5 years of study), an A.M. degree in 1914, and a Ph.D. in 1930. Along the way, he gathered a Lambda Chi Alpha badge and a Phi Beta Kappa key.

He served in World War I and was a member of the Houston Post of the American Legion. Mason was an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, serving as the Worshipful Master of Continental Lodge #738, F.& A.M. of Pennsylvania in 1934. Later in his life he became a member of Philadelphia Lodge #51.

Never married, Mason devoted much of his life as an English Language Arts teacher, drama coach, and curriculum and publications specialist for the Philadelphia Board of Education. He died at the age of 54.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Clarence E. Tobias Jr. Tobias was a member of Philadelphia Masonic Lodge #51 and National Vice President of the Acacia Fraternity. The funeral was held on Wednesday, June 5, 1946, at the Bair Funeral Home in Philadelphia. Mason’s remains were cremated and then buried in the Woodlands Cemetery.

Lambda Chis from across the nation attended Mason’s funeral. The National Interfraternity Conference, now known as the North American Interfraternity Conference, was represented by Maurice Jacob of Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity.

In 1946, the 20th General Assembly authorized the establishment of the John E. Mason Memorial Foundation to commemorate his many contributions. In 1968, the Mason Memorial Foundation, the Duke Flad Memorial Fund, and the James T. Chirurgs Scholarship were merged into the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation.

The most fitting monument, however, to Mason’s great talent remains the Ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.