THE COWAN AND THE EAVESDROPPER By Kevin Hampton
Funk and Wagnell’s describes the Cowan as someone who builds walls or fences without mortar, also known as a “dry diker”. The Eavesdropper: Someone who listens secretly to conversation. In Freemasonry these words have a different meaning. In the operative days of Masonry the Tyler’s duties were quite different. Workmen upon the structures held their meetings in a building erected for them—the lodge. Operative Masons of the day had secrets of great value to the craftsmen, the Master knew the geometrical method of “trying the Square”, all of those who presented their “Masters Pieces” and had also satisfied the Master’s of the Craft of their proficiency were given the Masters Word that would enable them to travel to, and attain work in foreign countries as builders and earning themselves Masters wages. The Tiler of these days was charged with protecting the Lodge and these secrets. When Speculative Masonry made its appearance, they added those secrets that only Masons possessed. Of course, several people desired to obtain these secrets any way possible. These were divided into two classes the “Eavesdropper” who listened under the eaves of a building to the conversations within and thereby receive “the droppings from the roof”, and the Cowan, the person who impersonates a Mason or, also a partially instructed Mason. To trace the origin of the word Cowan - it may have come from the French word “conyon” meaning a coward or a” Base man”, or from a Swedish word “ kujon” meaning a silly fellow. As far back as 1589 {Schaw Manuscript} appears a passage: “That no Master or Fellow of the Craft shall receive any Cowan to work in his society or company. Nor send none of his servants to work with Cowan.” Mackey traces the word to Scotland. In Scott’s Rob Roy, Allan Inverach says “She does not value a Cawmill mair as a Cowan.” Scottish use of the word Cowan is a term of contempt, a mason who builds dry walls, without mortar, or an uninstructed Mason. In the days of operative Masonry, the Tyler of the Lodge may well have been armed with a sword to defend himself and the lodge in which his fellows were meeting from the encroachment of Cowans and Eavesdroppers who wanted the secret of the square and the word of a 104 Fall 2007
Master Mason without serving a prescribed time as an apprentice and laboring to produce a suitable “Masters Piece.” Today’s Tyler keeps the Cowan away by simply refusing to admit those he does not know. If they still desire to be admitted through the tiled door, they must be either vouched for by a Brother of the Lodge, or they may request a committee. The sword of the modern Tiler is but an emblem of his authority; as the gavel is the symbol of the Master of the Lodge. Some Cowans move through the West Gate, and are duly and truly prepared, initiated, passed, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason and never become true Master Masons.” How can this happen?” you ask. This happens when the investigation committee and the Brothers of the Lodge do not heed the symbolism of the Tyler’s sword. Some of us Brothers know of some Brothers that would have been better left among the uninitiated and profane. They represent poor judgment beginning with the investigating committee, and then of the Lodge. Had all of the Brothers used their symbolic Tyler’s sword, investigated the petitioner as the Tyler does the "would be entrant" to the lodge, these Cowans would not be admitted and become a determent to the Lodge and the Fraternity. The Eavesdropper is not really feared in modern Masonry as our Lodges are seldom built so that anyone can listen to what goes on within. The modern day “Eavesdropper” is the innocent profane who is told more than he should hear; usually by the too enthusiastic Brother Mason. In the monitorial charge of an Entered Apprentice, we are told “Neither are you to suffer your zeal for the institution to lead you into argument with those who, through ignorance, may ridicule it.” In closing, I would like to point out the admonition of the emblem of the Book of Constitutions - guarded by the Tyler’s sword as it applies here. “We must be ever watchful and guarded of our words and actions, particularly before the enemies of Freemasonry”. Let everyone of us wear the Tyler’s sword in our hearts and set the zeal of circumspection on our tongues, and let us guard the west door from the Cowans as loyally as the Tyler guards the Lodge. Remember that every Profane who learns more than he should is an “Eavesdropper.” Only by doing so, may the integrity of our beloved Order be preserved; the honor, glory and the reputation of our Fraternity be firmly established; the world convinced of its good effects, and the Brotherhood become a shining beacon; which attracts the good men who will make this Fraternity and World of ours a better place for all of Mankind. Kevin Hampton is Junior Warden of Kearney Lodge #311, where he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in February, 2006. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Kansas City, where he serves as Captain of the host, Lodge of Perfection.
THE MISSOURI FREEMASON