Institutional Work in Freemasonry: Secrecy and Masonic Ritual

Johnson, David

Abstract

Secrecy shapes both behavior and interactions within organizations, emphasizing that secrecy is much more than a static tactic of information concealment but is instead a social process that is at the heart of the microfoundations of organizations. While often associated with negative connotations, secrecy can indeed be a force of good and necessary for effective organizational functioning. The significance of secrecy is amplified through the rituals surrounding it. Unfortunately, our understanding of secrecy, and its relationship with ritual, at the institutional level remains limited. Accordingly, I investigate the characteristics of secrecy and ritual within institutions, exploring their interactions and influence on institutional maintenance. I engaged in a 48-month ethnographic study of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland (GLoS). Data collection consisted of field observations, 8,255 surveys responses, 15 supplementary interviews, and access to GLoS strategic documents. Findings shed light on the role of secretive performances, secretive enhancement, secretive continuity, secretive implications, and boundary spanning secrecy, in maintaining institutions. By revealing how secrecy and ritual interact to maintenance (secretive) institutions, this study contributes to both institutional maintenance and hidden organization scholarship.

Citation

Johnson, D. (2024). Institutional Work in Freemasonry: Secrecy and Masonic Ritual. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024(1), https://doi.org/10.5465/amproc.2024.10640abstract

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 29, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 9, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 15, 2024
• Journal: Academy of Management Proceedings
• Print ISSN: 0065-0668
• Electronic ISSN: 2151-6561
• Publisher: Academy of Management
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2024
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amproc.2024.10640abstract
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2584295