New York Freemasons
Description
Event Involvements
Events with structured involvement data
The New York Freemasons are invoked as the custodians of the George Washington Bible, their refusal or inability to produce it creating the domino that forces staff improvisation and a comic, human counterpoint to the day's strain.
Referenced as custodial gatekeepers of the George Washington Bible rather than present in person.
Cultural/institutional custodians whose control over an artifact exerts minor but real material influence on ceremonial choices.
Demonstrates small institutions' ability to shape ceremonial options and the limits of executive convenience when historical protocols intervene.
The New York Freemasons are invoked as the custodians of the George Washington Bible and as the procedural obstacle that prevented the White House from obtaining that historic volume, forcing the staff into an improvisatory scramble.
Referenced institutionally — through control of an artifact rather than a spokesperson.
They exert symbolic custodial control over a historic object, complicating executive access despite the President's desire.
Their refusal highlights how external custodianship of symbols can interrupt executive rituals and force improvisation, underscoring limits of presidential access to even ceremonial objects.
Not shown in scene; implied conservative stewardship of historical items.
The New York Freemasons are implicated as the custodians of the George Washington Bible and the reason Bartlet's preferred historic Bible is unavailable, introducing an external procedural obstacle that triggers the comic scramble.
By institutional custody and refusal/objection to release the George Washington Bible — their authority is manifested through possession and protocol.
Exerts cultural-ceremonial control over access to historical artifacts; their refusal constrains the President's symbolic choices.
Demonstrates how private custodianship of national artifacts can create practical obstacles for public ritual, exposing the interplay between private institutions and public ceremony.
Not depicted in detail, but implied tensions between custodial pride and public expectation.
The New York Freemasons, through their custodial control of the George Washington Bible, create a practical obstacle to the President's ceremonial preference and thus force a symbolic decision about which Bible to use.
Through the gatekeeping actions of their contact (Mr. Hollowman) who requires notice before release.
Exerts procedural control over a historic artifact, effectively blocking immediate White House access despite symbolic importance.
Their control undercuts the administration's ability to perform expected rituals, exposing friction between private custodians and public institutions.
Implicit conservatism and adherence to tradition; no internal dissent shown in scene.
The New York Freemasons appear as custodians of the George Washington Bible; their control of the artifact and procedural demands (lead time via Hollowman) shape the President's ceremonial choices and force an emotional pivot to a personal family Bible.
Manifested through Charlie's report about Hollowman's conditions for retrieving the Bible.
Ceremonial gatekeepers with obscure but real leverage over presidential ritual; their authority is narrow but decisive.
Forces the President to choose personal authenticity over national pageantry, underscoring how private institutions can shape public ritual.
Not explored in scene; implied rigid custodial procedure possibly prioritized over accommodating high‑profile requests.
The New York Freemasons appear as custodians of the George Washington Bible; their control introduces a procedural constraint that forces the President to choose an alternative and exposes how private custodianship of national rituals can tangibly affect state ceremony.
Through Mr. Hollowman, the custodian who relays that the Bible requires days' notice to be produced.
Freemasons exercise gatekeeping power over a ceremonial artifact despite being outside government; the White House must accommodate their timing.
Highlights how non‑governmental custodians can constrain ceremonial state actions and force administrative workaround.
Not visible in scene; implied adherence to tradition and protocol.
The New York Freemasons enter the scene through their custodianship rules: their institutional regulation (no air travel, escorted transport) creates a comic logistical constraint that briefly displaces inauguration theater with arcane protocol, showing how civic traditions can complicate modern state rituals.
Through an aide's explanation of their travel rules (Charlie) rather than through direct organizational presence.
Civic custodianship exerts soft power over presidential ceremony; their rules constrain the administration's logistical choices but present no political opposition.
Their rules inject an unexpected practical constraint into the inauguration, reminding the administration that non-governmental custodians and traditions can shape ceremonial choices.
Not visible in the scene; implied strict adherence to tradition and procedural rules by custodial agents.
The New York Freemasons are invoked as the custodians of the Washington Bible whose rules prevent air travel; they catalyze the scene's opening banter and underline how private ceremonial custodians can shape presidential logistics.
Represented through Charlie's factual explanation of the Freemasons' travel rules and custody of the Bible.
Ceremonial authority over a historic artifact that momentarily constrains presidential ceremony, demonstrating soft power outside government chains.
Reveals the interplay between civic ritual actors and formal government operations, showing how non-government organizations can influence ceremonial aspects of state events.
Implied strict adherence to tradition and internal protocols governing artifact movement; no visible internal dispute in this scene.