The Masonic Goat

I have heard that a "goat" is an ancient lifting/moving device or crane consisting of two parallel uprights with one end on the ground, and with a cross arm joining the tops (something like an upside down capital "U").

A rope is attached to the centre of the cross arm and fixed to the stone (via a lewis?).

The whole assembly is then swung up and over past the centre, by means of ropes secured to the tops of the parallel posts, thus moving the stone forward a short distance, equal to the length of the two upright poles.

Something similar is seen on the backs of those rubbish trucks that carry a metal skip, only they didn't have hydraulics in the old days to do all the hard yakka.

cheers

zambuk

Author	Message
Terry	Posted 01/06/2009 10:31:23
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 08/01/2011 05:46:01 Posts: 586, Visits: 765 748	Could someone please explain to me how and why "The Goat" is linked to freemasonry Regards Terry Tamworth 652 Australia
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Vintagemalt	Posted 01/06/2009 10:58:24
Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 19/01/2012 12:21:24 Posts: 774, Visits: 2,399 1,119	Sorry Terry I really have no idea, but here are links to a couple of articles you may find enlightening.. http://www.masonictravels.com/2006/08/masonic-goat.html http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/goat.html or maybe not... Stephen Stephen
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zambuk	Posted 01/06/2009 12:02:28
Apprentice Group: Forum Member Last Active: 20/05/2011 00:29:55 Posts: 46, Visits: 343 106	I have heard that a "goat" is an ancient lifting/moving device or crane consisting of two parallel uprights with one end on the ground, and with a cross arm joining the tops (something like an upside down capital "U"). A rope is attached to the centre of the cross arm and fixed to the stone (via a lewis?). The whole assembly is then swung up and over past the centre, by means of ropes secured to the tops of the parallel posts, thus moving the stone forward a short distance, equal to the length of the two upright poles. Something similar is seen on the backs of those rubbish trucks that carry a metal skip, only they didn't have hydraulics in the old days to do all the hard yakka. cheers zambuk WM Lodge Thespian Lewis No.804 SD Lodge Carlton Kogarah No.305, Treas.Lodge Concord Technology No.432 Treas. St Andrew Phoenix RAC No.2 Treas. City of Sydney RAC of R&I No.101 ProvGStd Royal Order of Scotland - ProvGL of NSW 30° A&A Scottish Rite - Province of NSW PDGIW USGC of NSW & ACT PDGDC UGL of NSW & ACT I'd get Divorced if I joined any more!:w00t:
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bob c	Posted 01/06/2009 13:31:46
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 2 days ago @ 16:35:29 Posts: 518, Visits: 1,564 798	Many scottish freemasons will have "ridden" the goat during their 3rd degree. Some lodges don't carry out this part of the ritual but it is all about putting your "faith and trust in God". regards bob
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dp	Posted 01/06/2009 13:53:32
Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 08/01/2012 18:59:22 Posts: 1,082, Visits: 3,065 1,259	I have heard that in an old ritual the candidate had to swear to the "God of all things" or G.O.A.T Don't know how plausable that is though...
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wolfy	Posted 01/06/2009 16:42:01
Journeyman Group: Forum Member Last Active: 25/07/2011 09:46:54 Posts: 180, Visits: 376 276	zambuk (01/06/2009) I have heard that a "goat" is an ancient lifting/moving device or crane consisting of two parallel uprights with one end on the ground, and with a cross arm joining the tops (something like an upside down capital "U"). A rope is attached to the centre of the cross arm and fixed to the stone (via a lewis?). I suppose this isnt the place to talk about a "handy billy"? ;) look that one up! S+F James K U.G.L.E Stella Maris 7279 MMM, OSM
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Terry	Posted 01/06/2009 22:33:05
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 08/01/2011 05:46:01 Posts: 586, Visits: 765 748	bob c (01/06/2009) Many scottish freemasons will have "ridden" the goat during their 3rd degree. Some lodges don't carry out this part of the ritual but it is all about putting your "faith and trust in God". Bob c, could you please enlighten me re your 3rd degree, PM if you wish, VM, many thanks for the links, and to the other Bros, thank you, certainly gives me some thinking to do Regards Terry Tamworth 652 Australia
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M Perrott	Posted 01/06/2009 22:51:27
Fellow Group: Forum Member Last Active: 21/12/2011 00:19:49 Posts: 339, Visits: 2,530 573	wolfy (01/06/2009) zambuk (01/06/2009) I have heard that a "goat" is an ancient lifting/moving device or crane consisting of two parallel uprights with one end on the ground, and with a cross arm joining the tops (something like an upside down capital "U"). A rope is attached to the centre of the cross arm and fixed to the stone (via a lewis?). I suppose this isnt the place to talk about a "handy billy"? ;) look that one up! I thought someone from the Senior Service would have brought that up so let it go. Nice to see it has been mentioned.
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cube	Posted 02/06/2009 09:06:43
Apprentice Group: Forum Member Last Active: 05/01/2012 23:29:31 Posts: 29, Visits: 1,850 154	Could it possibly be due to misinterpretation of "G.A.O.T.U." ?
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Roy V	Posted 02/06/2009 10:03:33
Master Group: Forum Member Last Active: 2 days ago @ 13:42:01 Posts: 773, Visits: 1,439 993	"handy billy"? It's all about ropes and (wooly) pullies (it gets cold at sea ;) ) on boats. And Mark, don't get the wrong idea about Wolfy - he's only a sailor on pleasure boats, not the Ark Royal! The possible dyslexic interpretation of GAOTU has been wilfully misused in anti-Masonic websites, thereby attempting to link FM to goats, cloven hooves, Satan, Baphomet, and even wooden wedding rings for all I know. PM 5770 Middlesex
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