Chain of Union

The Chain of Union is one of the oldest and most significant practices in Freemasonry. It consists of a ritual formation where Freemasons join hands in a circle, symbolizing the universal brotherhood of the craft. The practice dates back to operative masonry and appears in the earliest known Masonic ritual documents.^[1]

History

Early Documentation

The first Masonic description of the Chain of Union appears in the Edinburgh Manuscript of 1696, one of the oldest known ritual documents. The manuscript describes a specific ceremony for making master masons and fellow crafts:

"But to be a master mason or fellow craft there is more to be done... First all the apprentices are to be removed out of the company, and none suffered to stay but masters... Then the masons whisper the word among themselves beginning at the youngest... afterwards the youngest mason must advance and put himself into the posture he is to receive the word and says to the eldest mason in whispering 'The worthy masters and honorable company greet you well, greet you well, greet you well.' Then the master gives him the word and grips his hand after the masons way, which is all that is to be done to make him a perfect mason."^[2]

The practice is further documented in Anderson's Constitutions of 1723, where it appears in a Masonic song expressing fraternal unity:^[3]

"Then join Hand in Hand, T'each other firm stand, Let's be merry, and put a bright Face on: What Mortal can boast So NOBLE a TOAST, As a Free and an Accepted MASON?"^[4]

Ancient Origins

The Chain of Union has roots predating organized Freemasonry. The practice comes from operative masonry and can be traced back to the Phoenicians and Egyptians. In ancient Egyptian culture, ropes, representing being united, held great ceremonial significance, as evidenced by a carefully preserved ritual rope discovered in Tutankhamun's tomb.^[5]^[6]

Ritual Practice

Forms of the Chain

The Chain of Union can be performed in two distinct ways:

The Short Chain is formed with members crossing their arms before their chest, the right arm over the left. Members stand close together, feet at right angles, with each member's right foot touching their neighbor's left foot. This formation takes place at the center of the lodge, around the mosaic pavement.^[7] Another variation of the short chain is to place the left arm behind the back of the person on the left and to have the right arm on top of the right shoulder of the person located on the right.

The Long Chain is formed without crossed arms, allowing members to stand further apart. The right hand gives (palm downward) while the left hand receives (palm upward), symbolizing the transmission of Masonic light and knowledge. This form is typically used when the assembly is particularly numerous or during special ceremonies such as initiations.^[8]

Ritual Timing

The Chain of Union is used in most blue (craft) Lodge rituals and can occur at specific moments in Masonic ceremonies. For example, craft lodges working the Scottish Rite is performed twice during initiation ceremonies: first, when receiving a new initiate into the brotherhood and again at the closing of the works. The chain is also formed during table Lodge (ritual banquets) where members may incorporate their table napkins into the formation.^[9]^[10]

Symbolism and Significance

Spiritual Dimensions

The Chain of Union operates on multiple symbolic levels. The warmth of handclasps and muscular movements create a tangible connection between neighboring brothers on the physical plane. On a more subtle level, participants experience what Masonic writers describe as particular vibrations that envelope the group, creating a shared harmony or egregore.

The silence maintained during the ritual allows members to listen and feel the magnetic field created by their union. This silence also serves to "Religare" (reconnect), linking members to their lodge's egregore—the collective spiritual force built up over time through ritual work.

Medieval Building Tradition

The powerful fraternal chain that united medieval master builders explains the remarkable similarities found in European architectural monuments. These builders observed the same laws of architecture and geometry, directing their work according to esoteric principles and traditions. Through their Chain of Union, masons spread throughout Europe and maintained constant contact, sharing improvements in technique and integrating the knowledge of the entire guild.^[11]

Modern Practice

In contemporary Freemasonry, the Chain of Union continues to be seen as a vital moment of communion. When members join hands, their physical connection creates what is described as a fluid energy that spreads throughout the chain. The left hand receives while the right hand gives, establishing a circuit of transmission that strengthens the entire group.^[12]^[13]

Masonic tradition holds that this energy should not be used solely for members' well-being but must radiate into the profane (external) world. This interaction between the inner world of the lodge and the outer world is considered essential for progress toward universal brotherhood.^[14]

In freemasonry, the chain is never broken but instead opened, typically with three gentle movements of the arms. This practice symbolizes that while the physical circle may disperse, the spiritual bonds between members remain unbroken.^[15]