No I was referring to the mock death ceremony.In the Third Degree of Masonry, the candidate plays the part of Hiram Abiff and goes through a mock death and resurrection.
No I was referring to the mock death ceremony.In the Third Degree of Masonry, the candidate plays the part of Hiram Abiff and goes through a mock death and resurrection.
Originally Posted by BrckBrln
grow up.
Heh, I said:
Yep, like I said I knew exactly what you are referring to, and it has nothing to do with Masonic rituals, so a little visit to dictionary.com tells me:Let's see: "I have done the research" and "one involves being born again into masonry". LOL, in your "research", you've discovered something not in Masonry. There is no being "born again", "rebirth" or other such term in the ritual. I know what you are referring to and it is a dead body that has begun to decompose and is to be moved for honorable burial because that body was just as dead as when it was put in the ground.
In which of these definitions do you see a "resurrected" corpse that has decayed (or rotted if that will help the imagery for you) so much that the flesh is slipping off the bones. The lesson of Hiram is that one should be faithful to one's duties unto death. His fellows went out and exhumed this rotting, stinking corpse to take it back for a honorable burial. Hey, we do this with US troops, so does this mean something about the US military that makes it antiChristian?res·ur·rec·tion /ˌrɛzəˈrɛkʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rez-uh-rek-shuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the act of rising from the dead.
2. (initial capital letter) the rising of Christ after His death and burial.
3. (initial capital letter) the rising of the dead on Judgment Day.
4. the state of those risen from the dead.
5. a rising again, as from decay, disuse, etc.; revival.
6. Christian Science. a rising above mortality through the understanding of spiritual life as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.
Masonic "theology" (there isn't one, but some points can be gleaned from the moral lessons taught in the degrees), it would be something like this:
If you see anything in conflict with Christianity here, please let me know. I'm almost positive there is no conflict with Judaism, I've heard there is no conflict with Islam or some of the Hindu beliefs either. However, from a Christian standpoint it is incomplete, which is why I'd say it is a preChristian position such as the one Paul used to start his address on Mars Hill.There is a Supreme Being
Who created the Universe,
Who has established and revealed a moral law,
And to Whom we must give account
in a life after this.
To go any further than this, which all religious objectors to Freemasonry do, is a category error. If you want to keep calling oranges apples, feel free, but it won't make a single orange into an apple.
If you want it another way from my own personal opinion as a Christian and a Mason, the moral and ethical teachings of Freemasonry regarding theological issues represent as far as a man's intellect and reason can take him towards a right understanding of God as the Creator (or Great Architect) of everything. It specifically does not touch on any of the advanced areas of Christian apologetics, simply the basic ones like "Is there a God?"
If you have any understanding of Christian apologetics you might find this quote amusing, it fits a certain pattern ("walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck...") which I see all over this thread from the antiMasons. It concerns the idea that the "Son of God" is the "Sun of God" so that Christ was just a myth taken from sun worship mythology. Have fun reading some of the silliness, then try to understand why I'm wasting time refuting this kind of tripe, but when you have a passion for Truth, it also bleeds over into other areas like the slandering of millions of men, many of whom were prominent Christian theologians, preachers and teachers. Of course, you can always go with Larry Kunk or Duane Washum, what were their credentials again? Oh yeah, they advice instead of bold proclamation of the Gospel to "pagan" Masons, you should stealth up on them and ambush them or IOW, practice lies and deception to "save" Masons from Masonry for the "glory of God".
You tell me, which one of the figures in the Bible loves to practice lies and deception?
# On the thesis that "the Son of God is the Sun of God," and has the pretense that the story of Christ is paralleled by sun mythology, some of the parallels drawn are badly misinformed; thus:
1. "The sun 'dies' for three days at the winter solstice, to be born again or resurrected on December 25th." Is this meant to parallel something? If so, somebody is missing the target: Aside from the fact that 12/25 was a later choice of the church based on pagan thought rather than on Biblical data, the story is that Christ was born 12/25 -- not born again or resurrected.
2. "The sun at its zenith, or 12 noon, is in the house or heavenly temple of the 'Most High'; thus, 'he' begins 'his Father's work' at 'age' 12." Lots of problems with this one: First of all, the Hebrews reckoned what we call noon as the "sixth hour" of the day. Second, the sun hardly "begins" it's work at noon; it begins it's work at dawn. Third, related to that, noon isn't even "age" 12 for the sun; at that point the sun is around five to six hours "old," depending on the time of year. Perhaps it is more likely that this story of Jesus alluded to has something to do with the fact that at 12, Jewish boys were considered to be taking steps into manhood and independence.
3. "The sun enters into each sign of the zodiac at 30 [degrees]; hence, the 'Sun of God' begins his ministry at 'age' 30." Luke 3:23 tells us that Jesus was about 30, not actually 30.
4. "The sun is the 'Lion' when in Leo, the hottest time of the year, called the 'throne of the Lord.' " What say? The hottest time of the year is called the "throne of the Lord"? By whom? Or is it Leo that is called that, and again, by whom?
5. "The sun is 'betrayed' by the constellation of the Scorpion, the backbiter, the time of the year when the solar hero loses his strength." (! - It sure fits well to put that "betrayed" in quotes! Using that word to describe what happens is a crime against language!)
6. "The sun is hung on a cross, which represents its passing through the equinoxes, the vernal equinox being Easter." 'Scuse me, but for this analogy to work, wouldn't the sun at least have to go east to west part of the year, and north and south some other part of the year? Where does a cross fit in, other than in the imagination?
7. "The sun does a 'stutter-step' at the winter solstice, unsure whether to return to life or 'resurrect,' doubted by this 'twin' Thomas." Wow, this one really misses a fleet of boats! How did Jesus do a "stutter-step" at the winter solstice? How was he "unsure" whether to resurrect? Thomas wasn't his twin, and he didn't doubt until after the resurrection.
Other parallels drawn are simply wild stretches of the imagination, thus:
1. "The sun of god is 'born of a virgin,' which refers to both the new or 'virgin' moon and the constellation of Virgo." Um hm. How is the sun "born" of the moon or of this specific constellation? Simply attempting to draw an illicit synonym (new = virgin?!?) and citing an astronomical arrangement without connection will not do the job.
2. "The sun is the 'Carpenter' who builds his daily 'houses' or 12 two-hour divisions." The sun does no such thing: The "houses" remain there at all times, and it is an incredible stretch to draw the conception of carpentry in here. Nothing is being "built" except the foundation for a fertile imagination.
3. "The sun's 'followers' or 'disciples' are the 12 signs of the zodiac, through which the sun must pass." Say again? How did Jesus "pass" through his disciples? How do the zodiac signs "follow" the sun? They don't. This is just yet another strained analogy, as is:
4. "The sun is 'anointed' when its rays dip into the sea." And:
5. "The sun 'changes water into wine' by creating rain, ripening the grape on the vine and fermenting the grape juice." (Make that the wine bottle! So where do all the little microbes that cause fermentation find their analogy in the miracle at Cana? Maybe someone wants to compare this to typological exegesis; if they do, they might bear in mind the warning we made when answering A. J. Mattill: One can indeed run wild with typology, but as with analogies that one can likewise run wild with in daily life, so it is that some type/antitype equations make more sense than others.)
6. "When the sun is annually and monthly re-born, he brings life to the 'solar mummy,' his previous self, raising it from the dead." (How is the sun "monthly re-born"?)
7. "The sun is 'crucified' between the two thieves of Sagittarius and Capricorn." Maybe I'm ignorant of such vital sciences as astrology when I ask this, but aside from more illicit synonyminzing (the sun is "crucified"? who nails it down and how?), since when are Sagittarius and Capricorn referred to as thieves? How does a goat steal anything? Since when are archers ever thieves by profession? (The bow and arrow is not exactly a well-known robbery weapon!)
8. The sun is the 'Light of the World,' and 'comes on clouds, and every eye shall see him.' " Big deal about the light bit: This is one of those universal and sensible equations Glenn Miller talks about; light is a good metaphor for inspiration and truth, so it is used in contexts ranging from the religious (as here) to the ridiculous (as when a lightbulb appears over Dagwood Bumstead's head when he gets an idea for a new kind of sandwich). As for riding on clouds, the sun does no such thing; it "rides" behind the clouds; Jesus' statement is better informed by the Jewish theme of holy beings riding on clouds.
9. "The sun is the Word or Logos of God." This requires only one response: ???????
# To relate the life of Jesus to the signs of the zodiac, the same pattern of mixing synonym-stretching with bad data and wild analogies, as these samples show [161]:
1. "According to legend, Jesus was born in a stable between a horse and a goat, symbols of Sagittarius and Capricorn." Is this from the Bible (it's not) or a later church creation that might have indeed been influenced by astrological syncretism? Either way, it doesn't matter: Horses in this period could only be afforded by royalty, governments, and the very rich, and they wouldn't be kept in a stable with a goat. Also, wasn't the archer the symbol for Saggy before? If we can keep switching symbols around like this, we can make anything mean anything we want.
2. "He was baptized in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer." OK, so were the thousands of Jewish proselyte baptisms also done "in Aquarius"? This is merely an attempt to foist an astrological allegory upon a historical reality.
3. "(Jesus) became the Good Shepherd and the Lamb in Aries, the Ram." A ram or lamb is not a shepherd. Stretching the symbolism to accommodate our thesis is not going to work.
4. "Jesus told the parables of the sowing and tilling of the fields in Taurus, the Bull." Jesus also told parables of other things; what sign are they told in? This is simply stretching another historical reality (the use of agricultural metaphors, natural in an agrarian society like rural Palestine) for the sake of a thesis.
5. "In Cancer, 'the celestial Sea of Galilee,' he calmed the storm and waters, spoke of backsliders (the Crab), and rode the ass and foal in triumph into the City of Peace, Jerusalem." Four questions: 1) This "celestial Sea of Galilee" quote comes from Hazelrigg, and not a scrap of evidence is given that this phrase was any sort of accepted name for Cancer or has any relevance to the matter at hand. Let's hear it directly from an archaeologist working in the field, a sociologist, or even a historian of religion. 2) How did Cancer the Crab calm storms and waters? Crabs don't have much power to do that. 3) They are also "sidesliders," not backsliders, and what Scripture is this alluding to? 4) What do crabs have to do with riding donkeys into the City of Peace?
6. "In Libra, Christ was the true vine in the Garden of Gethsemane, the 'wine press,' as this is the time of the grape harvest." Sorry, Achy, that has nothing to do with the sign of Libra, which is scales. A stretch, which would not have been too hard anyway: The astrological signs (the constellations, that is) were designed based upon common objects available in the ancient period in which they were designed. If there had been an astrological sign called Tiller shaped like a plow, the author could have said that Jesus "picked grains of wheat in Tiller." If there had been a sign shaped like a king's crown, thr author could say that Jesus had been made King of Kings in that sign.
7. "Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the 'backbiter,' or Scorpio." So scorpions go biting people on the back? Are there any certified statistics from the Poison Control Center to back up this generalization?
8. "In Sagittarius, Jesus was wounded in the side by the Centaur, or centurion." There's one big problem with that, and that's that the Greek word for "centurion" is hekatontarches, which doesn't look or sound a darned thing like the English "centurion" or "centaur."
9. "He was crucified at the winter solstice between the 'two thieves' of Sagittarius and Capricorn, who sapped his strength." Aside from the same "thieves" question above, we may point out that Easter is not at the winter solstice (Dec. 22nd), and the thieves on the cross in no sense "sapped" Jesus' strength. They were rather too busy at the moment!
Source.
ScribblerMod
I post here as an "outsider" looking in on this conversation, which is an interesting one, and I felt compelled to add a thought here. You compare the position of the Masons as a group to the position of those at Mars Hill in a sense. It's a bit odd for me to read you making that point, because we all know Paul did not let those at Mars Hill maintain their beliefs without preaching the gospel to them. If you are correct using this analogy, then it appears as though you are making the other side's case for them; namely, that since Paul felt compelled to share the gospel with those that lacked it (for their sake of course), why would you choose to be a member of a group that lacks it as well, and not present the perfect completion of that "position," which would be the gospel of Christ? To put it another way, could you see Paul calling the unbelievers at Mars Hill his "brothers"?
Thanks to sweeetlilgurlie on Narniaweb for the sig
Remember that no one Mason can speak for Freemasonry, except for a Grandmaster, who can speak for his Grand Jurisdiction while he is in office.
I compared the "theology" listing in my previous post, in my personal opinion, to the position Paul took when opening his talk to the Stoics and Epicureans (probably were others, but those are the ones mentioned). He confined himself to general revelation at the opening (that the design in nature points to a Designer, in this case, the "Unknown God") and this is as far as such theological thought as can be found in Masonry goes. Hence, "preChristian", notice that the objections come when Paul moves on to special revelation or IOW, the resurrection. Since I've fairly well hit the fact that antiMasons depend on hoaxes, forgeries, ignorance, category errors and deception that theological objections are based on, this is making the point to the nonMason Christians reading this that any potential theological/philosophical position in Freemasonry does not contradict Christianity.
Heh, even Stoic and Epicurean thought can be found in Christianity and is firmly based on the Scriptures. Think of the serenity prayer: "God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other." But this is getting OT and into a different area.
Remember that there is no rule against any Christian Mason from sharing the Gospel with any other Mason, except in the confines of the lodge room during a meeting, where business is being discussed. This kind of "rule" is practically universal among social groups when discussing business. At least, I've never seen or heard of one where it wasn't. Heh, I could visualize the reaction of one of my superior officers in the military if someone started preaching the Gospel during mission meetings. So we can present the completion at other times if it is needed.
On the "brother" issue, I'd say Paul did in the referenced Scripture:
He even agreeably quoted Greek poetry in verse 28, with "For we are his offspring." being part of a hymn to Jupiter/Zeus as the supreme deity.Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
So, we are one blood (some translations omit "blood") and the offspring of the Creator (created in His image according to Scripture).
Personally, I have several sets of "brothers", with some overlap between them and none of them mutually exclusive, the major groupings: siblings born of my parents, military veterans, disabled military veterans, fellow Masons, fellow Christians and all of mankind. Some are saved, some are not, some I have met, some I have not. Distinguishing which would come from context. So I have Masonic "brothers", Christian "brothers" and some who fit under both definitions. I'd have to see a reason for not using the English language under the rules of grammar and vocabulary I was taught to place any further emphasis on the term "brother".
EDIT: After reading this, I noticed that some might take it that I am trying to "recruit" Masons as some kind of Masonic "evangelist". Such is not the case. I am only trying to clarify some of the issues and remove the false rumors that generally circulate about Freemasonry. Whether or not any reader chooses to petition, that is between him and God. While Freemasonry does not contradict Christianity, it is not for all Christians (heh, you would find some Masons who would disagree) as some have other callings on their time and resources. I spent time on my knees along with the research I did before I petitioned a lodge and since then I have continued to do so.
Also note that I am not saying that Freemasonry cannot cause problems with a Christian's walk, but then many things can cause problems for a Christian's walk, like posting too much on internet forums. However, these are individual issues and not related or relevant when evaluating organizations.
Last edited by Kamatu; February 13th, 2008 at 09:02 PM. Reason: To add the last bit past EDIT
ScribblerMod
I'm not asking for a definitive word on Freemasonry, but this is a little like trying to lump all believers under a Pope, if I can use my own analogy. I've always liked discussing things between individuals instead of whole organizations anyway.
And that's fine to use as an analogy if you like, but by doing so, you set yourself up for others to come in and discuss the implications of your chosen analogy.I compared the "theology" listing in my previous post, in my personal opinion, to the position Paul took when opening his talk to the Stoics and Epicureans (probably were others, but those are the ones mentioned). He confined himself to general revelation at the opening (that the design in nature points to a Designer, in this case, the "Unknown God") and this is as far as such theological thought as can be found in Masonry goes. Hence, "preChristian", notice that the objections come when Paul moves on to special revelation or IOW, the resurrection.
But utilizing your analogy that would be like saying the Stoics and Epicureans were not in contradiction to Christianity, and that they really had no need of the message Paul brought. Meaning, they were not against Christianity, so why did Paul go bug 'em for? Why didn't Paul just join 'em? The answer lies in scripture; if someone is not for Christ, they are against Him, and the gospel, the word of God lays out a "philosophy" all on its own.Since I've fairly well hit the fact that antiMasons depend on hoaxes, forgeries, ignorance, category errors and deception that theological objections are based on, this is making the point to the nonMason Christians reading this that any potential theological/philosophical position in Freemasonry does not contradict Christianity.
I don't think I'd give those labels to actual scripture. You might be able to fit some scripture into their way of thinking, but not really the other way around, because scripture taken as a whole, and in context, does not support a Stoic or Epicurean outlook. And, the serenity prayer, while being generally theistic doesn't directly come from the Bible if memory serves.Heh, even Stoic and Epicurean thought can be found in Christianity and is firmly based on the Scriptures. Think of the serenity prayer: "God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other." But this is getting OT and into a different area.
I do believe there is a time and place for sharing the gospel and we should seek guidance on when to do that. However, Paul was specifically trying to take them out of the general, and into the specifics of the gospel. He didn't want them to remain "Stoics" or "Epicurians" he wanted them to be Christian. He also would not have taken on, or become brethern to them, in those group labels. Also, since the Masons do mention a general deity, they've moved from the purely secular into touching on religion. The problem (if there is one) lies in the fact that you don't believe in a general deity, you believe in The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.Remember that there is no rule against any Christian Mason from sharing the Gospel with any other Mason, except in the confines of the lodge room during a meeting, where business is being discussed. This kind of "rule" is practically universal among social groups when discussing business. At least, I've never seen or heard of one where it wasn't. Heh, I could visualize the reaction of one of my superior officers in the military if someone started preaching the Gospel during mission meetings. So we can present the completion at other times if it is needed.
There are two different levels here. Notice he never did come out and call them brethern, he was referencing the fact that we all spring from Adam, we are all human, hence all of one blood, and yes, made in the image of God, and hence capable of being saved by Christ's sacrifice. The Brethern split is made by Christ here:On the "brother" issue, I'd say Paul did in the referenced Scripture: Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
And Paul consistently calls fellow believers brethren. Our brothers and sisters are fellow Christians.
Of course he did, he was well trained. However, he did so openly, labelling it, and he did it to aid him in winning them for Christ, not to back up their own ideology, or to keep it general.He even agreeably quoted Greek poetry in verse 28, with "For we are his offspring." being part of a hymn to Jupiter/Zeus as the supreme deity.
But we are new creatures in Christ, something, a lineage by adoption, that non-believers cannot share. I think some feel that by joining a private/secret "lodge" or a group and taking their name, you are linking or joining yourself together with them on a level that needs to be watched when non-believers are involved as you are being linked into a group rather than just interacting individual to individual.So, we are one blood (some translations omit "blood") and the offspring of the Creator (created in His image according to Scripture).
I'm no legalist, and don't presume to tell others what to connect with certain words, and their uses. I do however know that we are set apart because of our faith from the rest of humanity, not because of something we have done, but because of Christ's work. And, it really is no skin off my nose if you are a mason, but I do think your analogy is interesting since Paul did in fact go there, amongst nonbelievers with the sole intent of converting them, and you draw this situation in as analogous to Freemasonry in a sense, even if is not directly and fully analogous, you've connected the two in thought.Personally, I have several sets of "brothers", with some overlap between them and none of them mutually exclusive, the major groupings: siblings born of my parents, military veterans, disabled military veterans, fellow Masons, fellow Christians and all of mankind. Some are saved, some are not, some I have met, some I have not. Distinguishing which would come from context. So I have Masonic "brothers", Christian "brothers" and some who fit under both definitions. I'd have to see a reason for not using the English language under the rules of grammar and vocabulary I was taught to place any further emphasis on the term "brother".
I do think these are good things to make clear in the context of this thread.EDIT: After reading this, I noticed that some might take it that I am trying to "recruit" Masons as some kind of Masonic "evangelist". Such is not the case. I am only trying to clarify some of the issues and remove the false rumors that generally circulate about Freemasonry. Whether or not any reader chooses to petition, that is between him and God. While Freemasonry does not contradict Christianity, it is not for all Christians (heh, you would find some Masons who would disagree) as some have other callings on their time and resources. I spent time on my knees along with the research I did before I petitioned a lodge and since then I have continued to do so.
Also note that I am not saying that Freemasonry cannot cause problems with a Christian's walk, but then many things can cause problems for a Christian's walk, like posting too much on internet forums. However, these are individual issues and not related or relevant when evaluating organizations.
Thanks to sweeetlilgurlie on Narniaweb for the sig
PreTrib Rapture Czar
Groups like masons, freemasons, shriners, etc. are transcendent philanthropist organizations reacting against the empiricism's of the 1700's.
They were formed by deists that believed God exists but does not interfere with man's affairs, they believe we are all gods and must take it upon ourselves to help fellow man.
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/freemasonry.html
Manly P. Hall [1901-1990], a 33rd degree Mason [well known for his The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy] was one of the early authors who claimed a pagan origin for Freemasonry. In his book entitled The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, he says that Freemasonry is not a material thing: it is a universal expression of the Divine Wisdom. [Emphasis Added]
"The Masonic order is not a mere social organization, but is composed of all those who have banded themselves together to learn and apply the principles of mysticism and the occult rites."
Masonicinfo [http://www.masonicinfo.com/authors.htm] says since Manly P. Hall wrote this book thirty one years before he became a Mason...
“.. it can easily be seen that the book represents merely the personal theories of a non-Mason”
he was a “self-avowed mystic and hardly a "leading authority" of Freemasonry”.
“his writings have not received official sanction by any Masonic body”
Official Sanction? I thought no Mason spoke for any other Mason or Lodge, and that there was no central or unified authority… Perhaps I missed something here. But it really does not matter since the Masonicinfo viewpoint is apparently not shared by other Masons unengaged in ‘defending the faith’ so to speak …
On Amazon.com a reviewer [a Mason in Fairfax, VA] addresses the fact that Hall was not a Mason when he wrote the book… He says
“…I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, because, Mr. Hall's explanation of the meaning of the degrees, and previous mystic experiences, is one that seems quite valid as an interpretation and really more than valid, even highly inspiring and noble.” [K. D Kirk]
Other reviewers state [All Emphasis Added]
“Manly P. Hall was not yet a Mason when he wrote this book, and yet he was able to clearly
see the very essence of the Craft, and what it has come to mean in modern times. This is a beautiful essay which has inspired me to go back to my lodge after many years. ”
[Scott Gaertner]
“It puts Freemasonry and the degrees in a light you probably won't get otherwise but every Master Mason should experience. ” [blind_abraxas']
“He details some of the spiritual aspects of the hidden meanings of Masonry and the ancient
origins from-which the modern fraternity receives it's wisdom. The Foreward is by Reynold E. Blight, 33rd degree, K.T. & the illustrations are by J. Augustus Knapp, 32nd degree.... Obviously, this man is viewed as a Great, within the ranks of the Fraternity”. [Graham Lincoln]
Interestingly the book was also read by someone who describes himself as a “Fundamentalist Christian”, who ‘willingly admits he is no fan of Freemasonry’ but who brings up the fact that Hall “didn’t see a need to change anything in the book after becoming a Freemason’ [a very telling point]. He goes on to say
“The book is considered today to be accurate, factual, and authoritative by many Masons to this day, even though a non-Mason (at the time) wrote it! The fact that his previous occult knowledge plus reading a few books on Masonry was enough background for him to write knowledgeably on the connection between Freemasonry and the occult mysteries should tell you something…”
Furthermore
In an article called Is Masonry Occultic? by Hank Hanegraaff he says [Emphasis Added]...
“Christian author John Weldon lists five ways in which Freemasonry fosters occultic involvement among its members: First, Freemasonry supports the now-popular New Age dictum that man houses within himself unlimited power that can be unlocked using specific procedures. Second, Freemasonry espouses a philosophy and a system of symbols which bear a striking resemblance to many of the occultic arts — for example kabbalism, Rosicrucianism, and hermetic philosophy. Third, Freemasonry encourages its members to discover the deeper significance (or “esoteric truths”) lying beneath its ceremonies and symbols. Fourth, Freemasonry promotes the development of altered states of consciousness, an exercise rooted in mysticism. Finally, a number of Masons regard their organization as the vehicle that will lead the world into an age of occultic enlightenment”.
“Why are so many Masons unaware of this side of Freemasonry?,” one may well ask. The reason is that a large portion of Masons seldom strive to advance beyond the initial ranks or degrees offered within their organization. But as one progresses to higher degrees, more and more details about the underlying foundations of Masonic ideology are gradually revealed, including its occultic dimensions. It is therefore imperative that we warn others about the dangers brewing beneath the surface of the Masonic Lodge”.
While it may not be possible to investigate all the charges listed above, the first, second and third seem far from baseless.
The first allegation is that that man houses within himself unlimited power. The Kentucky Monitor says...[Emphasis Added]
“The three really great rituals of the human race are the Prajapati ritual of ancient Hinduism, the Mass of the Christian [Roman Catholic] Church, and the Third Degree of Masonry. Together they testify to the profoundest insight of the human soul: that God becomes man that man may become God!” [Kentucky Monitor, p. XX. As quoted in Playing God, The Lust for Power—Part 4 by Dave Hunt]
The second charge is that Masonry bears a striking resemblance to Occult Arts...
Kaballah: is the name of an occult philosophy and theosophy that developed among Jews in Babylonia, and later Italy, Provence, and Spain, between the sixth and thirteenth centuries A.D. The word “Cabala” means “to receive,” and refers to heavenly revelation received by Jews and passed on to succeeding generations through oral tradition Details].
The California Masons have a section on ‘Masonic Education’ on their site [freemason.org]. In the booklet for The Master Mason degree, a section entitled Kabbalistic Allusions Of The Third Degree [The Master Mason Degree] states [Emphasis Added]
“Traditional Jewish mysticism known as Kabbala, and particularly its use of Gematria, often provides interesting clues to the interpretation of passages of Scripture. Since much of our ritual is derived from Scripture, many Masonic scholars see various Kabbalistic allusions throughout the rituals of Freemasonry.” [Master Mason Handbook. Kabbalistic Allusions Of The Third Degree. http://www.freemason.org/documents/M...on_large.pdf.]
Mastermason.com talks about the Symbolism Of The Master Mason Degree [Emphasis Added]
“After ceremonies in the first section which seem quite familiar, the candidate partakes of the central Mystery Drama of our Fraternity. The very nature of participating in this rite and assuming the role of the Grand Master Hiram Abiff is to forge a link with the inner soul of our Fraternity. And as our legend is completely and absolutely consistent with some of the august
Mystery Schools of antiquity, we are communing with the archetypal forces that are the foundation of our tradition. And at least in some small way, we may momentarily forget who we were when we entered the Holy of Holies and realize who we really are”.
And goes on to speak of the “Qabalistic Allusions Of The Third Degree” [Emphasis Added]
“The system of Traditional Jewish Mysticism known as Qabalah often provides important clues to
the interpretation of passages of Scripture. Since much of our ritual is derived from Scripture, there
are certain very interesting Qabalistic allusions throughout the rituals of Freemasonry…. Using the Qabalistic discipline of gematria, the Hebrew spelling of Hiram Abiff equals the number 273. So does the Hebrew word for “Hidden Light”. And the phrase found in Psalms 118:22 “the stone refused by the builders” also adds up to 273. Sometimes Gematria can cross languages, too. For example, the Greek word athanasia, which means “immortality,” also equals 273. From the standpoint of gematria, the message could not be clearer”. [The Three Degrees of
Freemasonry http://mastermason.com/jjcrowder/thr...eedegrees.htm]
And a paper presented to the Allied Masonic Degrees Britannia Lodge #303, on March 3, 1996 by Thomas Worrell says [Emphasis Added]..
A careful look at many of the rites and rituals of Freemasonry reveals that there is indeed much kabbalistic influence to be found there. Some of our rites have obvious kabbalistic influence, such as the 28th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite which is called: "The Knight of the Sun". [Thomas D. Worrel. . [http://mill-valley.freemasonry.biz/worrel/kabbalah.htm] [TOP OF PAGE]
The Letter “G”
The reason that The letter “G” is so prominently displayed in Masonic lodges is revealed to the candidate In The Fellowcraft or second degree. They are told that “it is the initial of Geometry as well as the initial of the name of the Supreme Being”.
The obvious question, to which even Masonic historians do not have all the answers, is why Geometry is given such an important place. Several theories have been put forth in Mastermason.com [All Emphasis Added]
“…It is thought that the Egyptians became skilled at surveying because the annual flooding of the Nile obliterated boundary markers in their fields. They had to set out and calculate new boundaries each year. The Greeks named this skill Geometry, or “earth measurement…”
“Pythagoras and his Society, and later, Plato and his Academy, raised Geometry to a sacred science of discovering the nature of reality and through it the Deity. We have such statements from Plato as: “Geometry rightly treated is the knowledge of the eternal.”
And also: “Geometry must ever tend to draw the soul towards the truth.”
“There are some Masonic researchers who think that the letter “G” represents a little known method of Biblical interpretation known as gematria” [The Three Degrees of Freemasonry http://mastermason.com/jjcrowder/thr...eedegrees.htm]. [TOP OF PAGE]
Paganism:
The Texas Monitor seems quite clear that Masonry is related to ancient paganism.. [Emphasis Added]
These [aspects and teachings of Masonry] were practiced from remote ages, in ancient temples of many nations....The most learned among Masonic scholars...conclude that Masonry is of very ancient origin, and is, in some aspects, the modern successor of, and heir to, the sublime Mysteries of the Temple of Solomon, and of the Temples of India, Chaldea, Egypt, Greece, and
Rome, as well as the basic doctrine of the Essenes, Gnostics and other mystic Orders. [Grand Lodge of Texas, Monitor of the Lodge: Monitorial Instructions in the Three Degrees of Symbolic Masonry (Waco, TX: Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F.&A.M., 1982), 13-14.]
And advises that
every candidate for the Mysteries of Masonry, at the proper time and in an appropriate manner, should be taught the truth that the rite of Initiation means much more than a formal ceremonial progress through the Degrees....Initiation is to be attained only after real labor, deep study, profound meditation, extensive research and a constant practice of those virtues which will open a true path to moral, intellectual, and spiritual illumination. [Ibid., xv, xvi]
Profound meditation? Spiritual illumination? That’s some fraternity!
Please Note: I have read that the monitors are “routinely revised to more clearly reflect the current beliefs of the jurisdiction” [David Vs. Goliath. David S. Julian. Past Grand Musician, Free & Accepted Masons of Washington]. Apparently the Washington Monitor and Freemason's Guide has ‘already been through 17 revisions since 1976’ [ibid.] However this does not hold true for others. In a private e-mail, the Worshipful Master of a Lodge in Arizona says that their Monitor “was compiled in 1717 by a Presbyterian Minister” and hasn’t had any significant modifications since.
Deeper Significance: The Third Charge is that Freemasonry encourages its members to discover the deeper significance (or “esoteric truths”) lying beneath its ceremonies and symbols.
The web site of the California Masons says the following...
“The search for “that which was lost” is not necessarily for a particular word. Our search is a symbol for our feeling of loss or self-imposed exile from the Divine. The search is ultimately for Divine truth…. In the Craft lodges, there is a substitute for the true Word. Each initiate must ultimately seek out and find the true Word for himself, through his own individual efforts. Some Masonic scholars speculate that the names of the three ruffians provide a hint at the lost Word. Indeed, there is an allusion to the sacred syllable of the Vedic texts found in these names. Either way, the true Word is a symbol, or manifestation, of that higher order that maintains the world.” Emphasis Added. [Master Mason Handbook. The Lost Word. http://www.freemason.org/documents/M...on_large.pdf.]
Further emphasized by
The Legend of Hiram Abiff
which comes into play in The Master Mason or third degree
In the legend Hiram Abiff, supposedly the principal architect of King Solomon's Temple, is unjustly murdered by fellow craftsmen [ruffians], buried and raised from the grave. [The story is said to have more in common with the mythological one of Osiris and Isis than with anything remotely Biblical]. Each man being initiated portrays Hiram in the ritual.
Mastermason says [Emphasis Added]
“Hiram Abiff is, in essence, identical with many of the Mystery School heroes. The drama of the Egyptian god Osiris began with his tragic death, the search for his body by Isis, its discovery and restoration. The Greek god Dionysus was attacked by the Titans. In the course of the fight he went through many transformations but was finally overcome. The Titans dismembered him, but in due time the goddess Rhea came to his aid and he rose glorious and entire. This formula is ancient. It is the concept of the sacred king, who in many instances is lame (which signifies his dedication), and is destined for sacrifice, that the earth might become regenerated and uplifted by divine power.”
Freemason.org talks of the experience [a rebirth] which makes the meaning of the mysteries clear. [All Emphasis Added]
“The Hiramic legend has at its heart the slaying and symbolic restoration of an ideal of purity and order. Because the legend of the Grand Master Hiram Abiff is consistent with the teachings and rites of the Ancient Mystery Schools, the participant of the Masonic rite communes with the archetypal forces that are the foundation of human spiritual tradition.
Initiation into the Ancient Mysteries was not simply a means of attaining intellectual knowledge, or “learning” (mathein in ancient Greek). Aristotle wrote that it was actually the “experience” (pathein), and not knowledge learned, that allowed the initiate to comprehend the secret meaning of the mysteries. This enlightening, transformative experience has generally been termed rebirth, or renatus in Latin, and appears to be the central theme of the most important rituals of almost all the Ancient Mystery Schools as well as modern initiatic organizations. [Master Mason Handbook. The Hiramic Legend And Rebirth”. [http://www.freemason.org/documents/M...on_large.pdf.]
And (The word Sublime was emphasized in the original. Other Emphasis Added)
“The Master Mason degree is the crown of the Ancient Craft lodge. It is the culmination of all that has been taught and revealed to the candidate in the two preceding degrees…. After having symbolically mastered the intellectual and philosophical arts and sciences and crossed the threshold from the outer to the inner, from the material to the spiritual, he became ready to be raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason…. Being raised to the Sublime degree refers to being exalted or elevated. It also means to undergo sublimation that, like distillation, requires a volatilization of a substance that rises and re-forms at a higher level. The significance of this degree is the portrayal of the removal of everything that keeps us from rising to that state where the soul communes with the Divine. It also represents a symbolic rebirth into the spiritual world, the true abode of the soul.” [Master Mason Handbook. Introduction. http://www.freemason.org/documents/M...son_large.pdf]
And in describing the aim of the ritual of the Master Mason degree the Monitor of South Carolina states.. [All Emphasis Added]
“It was the single object of all the ancient rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness. . .to teach the immortality of the Soul. This is still the great design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and aim of its ritual. The Master Mason represents man, when youth, manhood, old age, and life itself have passed away as fleeting shadows, yet raised from the grave of iniquity, and quickened into another and better existence. By its legend and all its ritual, it is implied that we have been redeemed from the death of sin and the sepulchre of pollution. . . .and the conclusion we arrive at is, that youth, properly directed, leads [us to the honorable and virtuous maturity, and that] the life of man, regulated by morality, faith, and justice, will be rewarded at its closing hour by the prospect of eternal bliss. . . The important design of the degree is to symbolize the great doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul; and hence it has been remarked by a learned writer of our order, that the Master Mason represents a man saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation”. (Ahiman Rezon… Monitor of South Carolina. pages 141-2. 1947 Edition. as quoted in http://www.ephesians5-11.org/pdf/sc141-2.pdf)
The Lost Word
The focal point, around which this Degree’s allegory centers, is the legend of Hiram Abif. The lost word is perhaps the most important symbol of this allegory. A missing or lost word is a common motif in the histories of many ancient cultures, especially the ancient Hebrews. In Freemasonry the lost word has become a symbol of the never ending search for light, or truth, which is another way to say the search for unity or oneness with God. [The Master Mason Degree. http://www.freemason.com/education/MM_Script.pdf. All Emphasis Added] [TOP OF PAGE]
Albert Pike.. Morals and Dogma [You Can’t Have It Both Ways]
An oft-quoted Mason, Albert Pike was a student of Harvard and Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army (A rather large statue of him stands in Judiciary Square Washington, DC). He was also leader of the Scottish Rite in the southern United States and the author of Morals and Dogma (out of print) published in 1871. In quoting Pike many that are opposed to Masonry call Morals and Dogma the ‘Masonic Bible’, which leads one to believe that it forms the core of the beliefs of the Lodge or at least exerts significant influence over Freemasonry today.
However is this the case? While on the one hand, it is fairly apparent that many Masons have never heard of Pike, and very few have made their way through an obviously ponderous and very hefty (800+ pages) tome which, apparently rambles and is unlikely to be anyone’s idea of a spending a pleasant couple of hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon... (I have no idea whether Pike was a KKK member but this is beside the point). .
On the other hand The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Jacksonville, Florida in talking about the book A Bridge to Light by Dr. Rex Hutchens seems quite clear that M & D is the cornerstone of Freemasonry. They state that Dr. Hutchens … [Emphasis Added]
“summarizes our Scottish Rite Degrees and assists in a ready understanding and appreciation of our Ritual. Also, it frequently returns to the great cornerstone of our Order, Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma, by presenting eloquent quotations that clearly fix the meanings of each of the Degrees and places them within the context of the modern era… A copy of this book is provided to each new Fourteenth Degree initiate in the Southern Jurisdiction” [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/what_...tish_rite.htm].
By the way, Pike says in M & D
The first Masonic Legislator whose memory is preserved to us by history, was Buddha, who, about a thousand years before the Christian era, reformed the religion of Manous. [Morals and Dogma. Xviii. Knight Rose Croix. p. 277] [TOP OF PAGE]
Albert Pike And The Scottish Rite
The heart of continuity for the Masonic Craft is centered in the Ritual, a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. Albert Pike was single handedly responsible for rewriting the Ritual of the Scottish Rite. Note that Morals and Dogma and Pike’s revision of the Scottish Rite are separate works.
While I reiterate that not many have ever read ‘Morals and Dogma’, many many Masons go through the rites shaped by Pike..
“The Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction recognizes in its fraternal relations 40 Supreme Councils and four National Grand Lodges practicing the Rites that include the Scottish Rite, in different countries throughout the world” . [The Website Of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Valley of saint Louis, Orient of Missouri. http://www.geocities.com/stlaasr/]
Perhaps the following incident will help illustrate the role (or importance) of the Pike Ritual..
Fred Kleinknecht who was active in the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States as Grand Secretary for 18 years and as Sovereign Grand Commander for 18 years, presented a copy of the revised standard Pike ritual to the Supreme Councils of Prince Hall Scottish Rite Freemasonry” [http://www.libertyfunddc.org/FRED_Kl...UNE_25_06.pdf]
While these numbers may not be exact... U.S. membership of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction (35 Southern states, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia) is claimed at about 3.5 million, with about five million worldwide. That’s a lot of Masons. Numbers which could make Pike’s worldview very significant indeed.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Jacksonville, Florida talks about Pike’s revision of the Scottish Rite, saying that he ...
“…. retained the original titles, substance, and sequence. Out of his own great scholarship and knowledge of ancient philosophies, he added new substance and significance to the Degrees, which enhanced their importance. The Southern Jurisdiction has continued to use the basic Albert Pike Rituals. While the Rubrics permit variations in the manner of their rendition, the Degrees have remained otherwise relatively unchanged. The Pike versions are also widely, although not exclusively, used elsewhere. [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/what_...tish_rite.htm]
In fact, The Supreme Council and its Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms has authorized Dr. Hutchens, 33°, Grand Cross,
“ to modernize the language, accent the significance, and enhance the dramatic performance of the Pike Degrees. The Revised Standard Ritual maintains the moral vision and philosophical integrity of the original Pike Degrees while making them more accessible to contemporary Brethren”. [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/what_..._rite.htm]Also
Fred Kleinknecht who was active in the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States as Grand Secretary for 18 years and as Sovereign Grand Commander for 18 years, presented a copy of the revised standard Pike ritual to the Supreme Councils of Prince Hall Scottish Rite Freemasonry” [http://www.libertyfunddc.org/FRED_Kl...UNE_25_06.pdf]
Pike certainly had some interesting things to say about the Scottish Rite.. In Transactions, 1870, p. 158, he stated: [Emphasis Added]
"Resorting to another method, I satisfied myself that many of the degrees were purposely constructed to conceal their meaning and the objects of those who used them as the means of union and organization Such, I believed, were the Fifteenth and Sixteenth, of the Knight of the East and princes of Jerusalem, but I could not fathom their meaning or detect the concealed allegory They seemed to teach nothing and almost to be nothing…
In the words of phoenixmasonry.org.. [Emphasis Added]
“He set himself to study the Order, his enthusiasm keeping pace with his curiosity, in search of the real origin and meaning of its symbols. At last he found that Freemasonry is the Ancient Great Mysteries in disguise, it's simple emblems the repository of the highest wisdom of the Ancient World, to rescue and expound which became more and more his desire and passion. Here his words: "It began to shape itself to my intellectual vision into something imposing and majestic, solemnly mysterious and grand. It seemed to me like the Pyramids in the grandeur and loneliness, in whose yet undiscovered chambers may be hidden, for the enlightenment of the coming generations, the sacred books of the Egyptians, so long lost to the World; like the Sphinx, half-buried in the sands. In essence, Freemasonry is more ancient than any of the world's living religions. So I came at last to see that its symbolism is its soul."
Words that certainly should not give any Christian a warm feeling. So, since symbolism is the soul of Freemasonry, let’s examine some of the symbolism in the Scottish Rite.... [TOP OF PAGE]
The Scottish Rite
The Jacksonville Scottish Rite Masonic Center makes two statements about the Rite. [All Emphasis Added]
“The Degrees of the Scottish Rite are one-act plays often staged with costume, scenery, special effects, and the full rigging of any production. Their purpose is to examine different philosophies, ancient religions, and systems of ethics. Through all of these, people have tried to answer certain universal questions. The Degrees of the [Scottish] Rite do not tell a person what he should think about these questions. Instead, they tell him about what great thinkers and civilizations of the past have thought, and they try to create a situation in which the candidate or Brother can gain insight.” . [Scottish Rite Bulletin of Freemasonry, Alexandria, Virginia (Feb. 2000) http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/scott...e_degrees.htm]
“The moral truths that prevailed in Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome are just as valid, just as imperative in the digital 21st century. In his confidence in the reality of these principles, man has built his faith in the permanent value of moral truth. Here is to be found the basis of optimism, of faith in the free institutions, and of confidence in a civilization resting on ethical principles. No man can witness the Degrees of the Scottish Rite and be either a cynic or a pessimist. They renew his faith in God, in man, and in the process of history”. [Scottish Rite Bulletin of Freemasonry, Alexandria, Virginia (Feb. 2000) http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/scott...e_degrees.htm]
While the the above high sounding rhetoric [defined as language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but which is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content] may impress the non-Christian, what is the world are different philosophies, ancient religions, and systems of ethics to do with the Christian? And what moral truths prevailed in the above mentioned civilizations? Lets talk about the latter days of the Roman Empire...
“Burdensome regulation and taxes made manufacturing and trade unprofitable. Families were locked into hereditary trades and vocations allowing little if any vocational choice. Eventually, children were seen as a needless burden and abortion and infanticide became commonplace. In some cases, children were sold into slavery. Manners and social life fell into debauchery. Under Justinian, entertainment grew bawdier and more bizarre. Orgies and love feasts were common. Homosexuality and bestiality were openly practiced. Under Nero, Christians were blamed for the great fire in Rome and horribly persecuted”. [When Nations Die. Kerby Anderson]
And the ONLY moral truth that existed in Jerusalem were The Scriptures which haven’t changed since.
Besides which a large portion of the symbolism has ...
Connections To Ancient Egyptian Mythology
The Jacksonville Scottish Rite Masonic Center takes the site visitor on a ‘trip thru the various degrees’ including a summary of the degrees and a short explanation of the symbolism employed by each one. Much of the symbolism is a noxious pot-pourri of Egyptian and Greek mythology, astrological symbolism and twisted Biblical references. [All Emphasis Added]
In the 6th Degree – “Intimate Secretary”
“The jewel is a triple-delta superimposed upon an equilateral triangle of gold. Each delta has a center design composed of one of the astrological signs for the Sun, Moon and Mercury. As explained in the degree summary, the form of the jewel is utterly derived from Pike's favorite source of Masonic Symbolism, the Pythagorean Tetractys.” [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/sixth_degree.htm].
In the 12th Degree – “Master Architect”
"In all the Scottish Rite Degrees thus far, the candidate has made twenty-one prescribed circuits around the altar; this degree adds seven for a total of twenty-eight. This practice, called circumambulation, is derived from the ancients and existed among the Romans, Semites, Hindus and others. It is thought to have been a rite of purification. … In Scottish Rite Masonry, this ancient symbol of purification is adopted to represent a renewal in virtue through the performance of duty”.
In the 17th Degree – “Knight of the East and West”
a jewel is worn, suspended from a black ribbon. “The jewel is a heptagonal (seven-sided) medal, half gold and half silver or mother of pearl. These two colors are emblems of the sun and moon, themselves symbols of the Egyptian deities Osiris and Isis, who represent the generative and productive powers of nature, illustrated in Masonic Symbolism by the columns Jachin and Boaz as the active and passive forces manifested in nature (Morals and Dogma, p. 202). On one side are engraved, at the angles, the same letters as are on the capitals of the columns in the ceremony and possessing the same meaning, that of the last seven of the Sephiroth of the Kabalah. A star is over each. In the center, on the same side, is a lamb, lying on a book with seven seals, on which seals are, respectively, the same letters, though shown in this representation as the Roman equivalents. On the reverse side are two crossed swords, points upward; their hilts rest on an even balance. In the corners are the initials in Greek of the names of the Seven Churches (Revelation 2 and 3). [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/seventeenth_degree.htm. Also mention in website of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Valley of Northeast Kansas. http://neksvalley.org/rose_croix.htm]
In the 18th Degree – “Knight of the Rose Croix”
“The jewel is the compasses with points opened to sixty degrees and resting on the segment of a graduated circle. On the lower part, on one side, is an eagle, with his wings extended and head lowered. Among the Egyptians the eagle was the emblem of a wise man because his wings bore him above the clouds into the purer atmosphere and nearer to the source of light, and his eyes were not dazzled with that light. Since the eagle also represented the great Egyptian Sun god Amun-ra, it is a symbol of the infinite Supreme Reason or Intelligence… The rose was anciently sacred to the sun and to Aurora, Greek Goddess of the dawn. As a symbol of the morning light, it represents resurrection and the renewal of life, and therefore immortality. Together the cross and rose symbolize immortality won by suffering and sorrow.” [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/eighteenth_degree.htm]
In the 19th Degree “Grand Pontiff”
The “cordon” has embroidered on it “twelve stars and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega The stars upon it allude to the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the twelve fruits of the Tree of Life, the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles” And goes on to say .
“...distinctive ornament of this degree is the breastplate of the High Priest of ancient Israel with twelve different gems embedded in a 4 X 3 matrix” . [Jacksonville Scottish Rite Masonic Center. http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/nineteenth_degree.htm] [TOP OF PAGE]
Daughters of Isis
There are organizations that are affiliated with Freemasonry that admit both Master Masons as well as non-Masons who have some relation to a Master Mason. These include ladies groups such as The Order of Eastern Star and Amaranth, and Youth Groups such as Triangle, Rainbow, Constellation, Job’s Daughters; for girls, and Order of DeMolay for Boys.
One of these affiliated bodies is The Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis. Yes, you heard me correctly… I said The Daughters of Isis. The home page of their ‘Imperial Court’ is embellished with Egyptian statues, while their history page states..
“The Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis, is an auxiliary of female family members of Prince Hall Shriners, and was formally organized at the annual session of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, held in Detroit, Michigan, on August 24, 1910….
…The purpose of the Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis, is to unite the relatives of all members of the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. into one common bond of friendship, to practice charity and benevolence, and to inculcate honor and integrity as symbolized in the legend of the Egyptian queen, the goddess Isis.” [History of the Imperial Court, Daughters of Isis Female Auxiliary of the Prince Hall Shriners. http://doipha.org/doi_history.htm]
Of all the information that I have read connected with this article, this gem has totally disgusted me. Isis is a goddess in Egyptian mythology. One of five children of the Earth God Geb and Sky Goddess Nuit, she is the wife and sister of Osiris and mother of Horus, and was worshipped as the archetypal wife and mother.
Let me say that again… Isis is a goddess in Egyptian mythology. A born again Christian woman is a DAUGHTER OF THE LIVING GOD and can have nothing to do with an Egyptian Deity, regardless of how symbolic and regardless of how much ‘charity’ they indulge in. Have you not read the superabundance of Scriptural warning to stay away from any contact at all with other gods?
In Ezekiel 8 God called women weeping for Tammuz a great abomination. What do you think he would call a woman who refers to herself as a ‘Daughter of Isis’, and who prances around wearing headgear with an Egyptian goddess on it? Or do you imagine the God who will once more shake the Heavens and the Earth has gone soft, or changed His mind about some things?
Note: the mode in which the rites of Tammuz were celebrated was essentially the same as the rites of Osiris. The weeping ceremony was connected with agricultural rites of Egypt where the priestesses acting the parts of Isis and Nepthys, mourned for the slain corn god Osiris.
However (believe it or not) It gets worse...
The Ritual for the Daughters of Isis is said to be
“loosely based on the legends of the Egyptian goddess after whom the order is named, instead of being the usual milk-and-water Christianized version of a male ritual” [http://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmet...frame_en.html]
In this ritual the candidate is “the nurse of the youthful Horus”, who “has escaped from the wrath of Typhon and desires to find refuge with the Daughters of Isis”. She is then instructed by Ill. Commandress to
“… kiss the Bible three times, the Koran once, the red stone once”.
For any born again Christian woman to be calling herself a daughter of Isis and kissing the Qur’an in the process is stepping way over a line. Before it is too late, you had better consider scrambling to get back on the right side of that line, or I hope you have your feeble excuses well rehearsed when the Lord God asks you on judgement day why you kissed the Qur’an... That is assuming He even gives you the opportunity. In that day your church will not save you. Your charities will not save you. And be assured your lodge will not save you. Also burn that obnoxious headgear.
[TOP OF PAGE]
The Shriners … [Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine]
Who are the Shriners?
The Shriners, A.A.O.N.M.S. or Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, established in New York City in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry and are usually recognized by the red fezzes they wear. Their web site says there are “191 Shrine Temples, or chapters, located in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama. Informal Shrine Clubs are located around the world” and that they are…
“A brotherhood of men...dedicated to fun and fellowship...but with a serious purpose.
Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life and a commitment to philanthropy. They enjoy parades, trips, dances, dinners, sporting events and other social occasions. They support what has been called the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 pediatric specialty hospitals, operated and maintained by the Shriners. All children, up to 18 years old, may be eligible for treatment at Shriners Hospitals if they, in the opinion of the hospital's chief of staff, could benefit from the specialized care available at Shriners Hospitals. Eligibility is not
based on financial need or relationship to a Shriner”.
[http://www.shrinershq.org/Shrine/Membership/]
When I first heard about the Shriners I dismissed the name [Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine] as distasteful but probably harmless… more quirky than anything else. However a reading
of their Rituals leaves the mind reeling. This is blasphemy pure and simple.
Excerpts from the Ritual of The Shriners. [All Emphasis Added].
Illustrious Potentate: “In the name of God, our Father, and by the existence of Allah, the creed of Mohammed, and the legendary sanctity of the Temple of Mecca, I now proclaim this Temple regularly opened for business and ceremony, and hereby forbid any discord that might mar our mystic rites.
Candidate [repeating after the Illustrious Potentate]” I, ..., of my voluntary desire, uninfluenced and of free accord, do here assume, without reserve, the obligation of the Nobility of the Mystic Shrine, as did the elect of the Temple at Mecca, the Moslem and the Mohammedan. I do hereby, upon this Bible, and on the mysterious legend of the Koran, and its dedication to the Mohammedan faith, promise and swear and vow on the faith and honor of an upright man…. And upon this sacred book, by the sincerity of a Moslem’s oath, I here register this irrevocable vow, in wilful violation whereof may I incur the fearful penalty of having my eyeballs pierced to the center with a three-edged blade, my feet flayed and I be forced to walk the hot sands upon the sterile shores of the Red Sea until the flaming sun shall strike me with livid plague; and may Allah, the God of Arab, Moslem and Mohammed, and the God of our fathers, support me to the entire fulfillment of the same. Amen, Amen, Amen.”
Shrine Lecture on Initiation
Nobles, you have just completed your rugged trek across the hot sands of the desert in search of the great Moslem capital, Mecca, which unfolds in the wilderness of the Arabian desert, halfway between Yemen and Syria. This city in which you now stand is the Holy City of Islam…. In the heart of this city is the great Mosque, BAIT ALLAH (House of God) (the Altar), which is situated, according to Arab tradition, in the center of the world and immediately beneath the throne of the Almighty. Upon the BAIT ALLAH, Altar, are a Bible and Koran. The Koran is the unique history of our founder Mohammed…. start anew as one who is now a member of the Nobility in the courtyard of Allah. [http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masoni...he_Shrine.htm]
Christian Shriners... If a simple reading of the Scriptures has not made clear to you that the God you profess to serve is a jealous God, one that will brook no association with false gods, then there is something very very wrong with your understanding of the Great Architect. If you agree to be “a member of the Nobility in the courtyard of Allah” [whether symbolic or otherwise] you may as well take that Bible down from your so called altar and burn it, for all the good it is going to do you. For once again I repeat what I said to the the Daughters of Isis above.. Your charitable works will not save you, your circus will not save you, your lodge will not save you and that red fez is not going to look quite as perky in hell.
Pity that Imperial High Priest and Prophet [part of the 13-member body that helps govern the Shriners] hasn’t prophesized what happens to those who call Him Lord, Lord, but do not do the things He said.
[TOP OF PAGE]
Other Rituals
http://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmet.../ritualen.html
Daughters of the Nile
The ritual involves a Princess Badoura (from The Arabian Nights?). Although the ritual was not near as
bad as that of the Shriners it is said to be according to ancient Egyptian rites and refers to the river Nile as a “sacred” river. [Emphasis Added]
P.B.: It is Her Majesty’s order that you enter this Temple, Daughters of the Nile, and be received according to ancient Egyptian rites and ceremonies.
Ancient Arabic Order of Daughters of the Sphinx
There are three degrees the Order of Daughters of Sphinx.. The Fraternal, Queen Esther and Sphinx Degrees. In The Test Lecture on the Sphinx (3rd) Degree, the following transpires… [All Emphasis Added]
Question: Have you an emblem of this Order?
Answer: I have, and it is a crescent and a star attached to the crescent and a sword over the crescent.
It is further stated that..
“The crescent represents peace, friendship and power. The crescent is an emblem that is used in Turkey and other Oriental countries, in numerous religious denominations.”
Later in the ritual the Most Worthy Grand Matron places a wreath of flowers on the candidate’s head stating that it is
“a peculiar emblem of the Order because of the lasting nature of its bloom. The wreath was regarded by many of the Ancients as the symbol of immortality and the possession of its early blossom inspired the belief that the soul would enjoy eternal rest in the realms of the celestial home, and now, as an additional memento to confirm our friendship, we crown you with the emblem of the crown of life… There is no death to the pure and loving. May your admission to the land Celestial and Everlasting be sure… may your ransomed spirit be crowned with the never-ceasing favor of Almighty God.”
The Order of the Rainbow
In the Initiation ritual of The Order of the Rainbow for Girls, described as a “non-profit character building, service oriented organization” for girls ages 11-20/21. “The seven colors of the Rainbow represent seven teachings that each member receives on her journey toward the pot of gold”. The FAQ’s page on their
site states that “Nothing in Rainbow - meetings or activities - will ever be contrary to basic Christian teachings”. However…
At an early stage in the ritual one question and answer are as follows...
Worthy Advisor: “Worthy Associate Advisor, what is the symbol of this Assembly?”
Worthy Asso. Adv., rises on being addressed: “The Rainbow in the heavens spanning from the North to the South.”
Worthy Advisor: “What does it symbolize?”
Worthy Asso. Adv.: “The ancient promise of God to His people that He will never again destroy the world.”
Nice! But complete falsehood. There is no place in Scripture that has God promising to never destroy the world again. The rainbow was His sign that He would never again destroy the world BY WATER. [Emphasis Added].
“And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11).
On the contrary He is going to destroy this world one more time..
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. [Matthew 24:21]
And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "Yet Once More I Will Shake Not Only The Earth, But Also The Heaven." [Hebrews 12:26]
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea”. [Revelation 21:1]
Later the Sister of Religion says... [Emphasis Added]
“We would impress upon you the beauties of Religion as exemplified by its Great Author, whose life was one of gentleness and kindness. He never brought a tear to the eye, nor an ache to the heart of any one because of any act of His. He was gentle and forgiving. Finding those who were troubled or who had sinned, He forgave them, for He came not to call the righteous but the sinner to repentance”.
There is so much wrong with this sentence that it would take a separate article to deal with it. For starters Jesus spoke far more about Hell than He did about Heaven and His inclusiveness was not of the “come as you are” sort. Jesus offered new, transformed life in the kingdom of God, not acceptance of all people as they were in their sinful state. [See The Inclusiveness of Jesus]. Jesus preached some very inflexible messages saying that ...those who do iniquity would spend eternity in the fiery furnace
(Matthew 13: 37-42) where the worm never dies (Mark 9:48).
Returning to the Ritual... [Emphasis Added]
Worthy Advisor: “On the Altar before you is the Holy Bible. It is the rule of right living for all. Its heroines are those who in the past have stood for the Trinity of Home, Church and Nation, and whose courageous deeds have ever graced the pages of human history.
I would be very very curious to know what hat people pull these soppy/sentimental/feel-good completely fictitious statements from. Certainly not Scripture, that never even hints that it’s heroines stood for “the Trinity of Home, Church and Nation” [TOP OF PAGE]
Freemasonry and God
Belief In ‘God’
A non-negotiable prerequisite to become a Mason is the belief in ‘God’. Most Lodges do not specify which god and the candidate is never required to say what god he believes in [Some require a profession of Christ or belief in the Trinity. See Christian Lodges below]. In the first place it is baffling as to why a fraternity claiming to be non religious would require any such thing. In the Old Charges ‘no stupid atheist’ could become a Mason. The answer is again to be found in the History of Freemasonry. .
When the Knights Templar were forced into hiding by a three pronged enemy (the Catholic Church, the King of France and The Hospitallers), they were hunted mercilessly. Members who were caught were subject to the most horrible tortures and they very lives depended on their underground organization
and other Knights. (This is also the reason for the secret signals, the use of the word ‘Lodge’, the oath not to have anything to do with another Knight’s wife and female relatives etc. etc.) When a man was admitted to the Lodge he was required to take the ‘blood oath’ to never betray another Knight. However an oath by a man who did not believe in God was of no value. The one time warrior monks could only
trust in an oath made by a man who was well aware and afraid of the penalties of hell.
In the light of the history the requirement of faith in a Deity makes perfect sense.. and it is probably true that tradition has also played an important part in the continuation of this precondition. If the Lodge is a fraternity, not a religion, then this precondition is closely akin to joining a local club which requires, for some strange reason, that you have to believe in God to play tennis on it’s lawns.
However the million dollar question to be asked at this juncture is ....
Is Masonry a Religion?
Again the answer to this question is going to depend on whom you talk to. Masons claim that it is NOT a religion but a Fraternity, with many Christians claiming otherwise.
Part of the problem lies in how one defines ‘Religion’. While many scholars can, and do, get into long and esoteric discussions on What "Religion" is and how it can be defined, most of the rest of us consider it to be interchangeable with faith or belief system.. Usually a personal faith in, and beliefs about whatever we may consider the divine. It usually relates to the existence and worship of a deity [or deities] and divine involvement in the universe and human life.
Masons will argue that they are neither sectarian nor theological. However, religion is not necessarily sectarian nor does it have to involve formal theological teachings [the study of the nature of God and religious belief] but can simply be the belief in and worship of God.
“the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods”[iFinger dictionary]
“the service and worship of God or the supernatural” [Merriam-Webster Online]
“people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life” [MSN Encarta]
“the belief in and worship of a god or gods, or any such system of belief and worship” [Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary]
“a] belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe. b] expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual”
[yourdictionary.com].
However MasterMason.com tells us that …[Emphasis Added]
“The Scottish Rite is wholly non-sectarian. It is deeply religious in character, but in the same sense that Symbolic Masonry is religious - it teaches religion, not a religion”
And
“Later, matters wholly new to Master Masons are taken up, and a wealth of philosophy, religion, and knowledge made available for the postulant.” [http://www.mastermason.com/jjcrowder...scottish.html]
Even the non-theological argument is contradicted in this explanation of the symbolism of the 14th
Degree “Perfect Elu”
“The jewel is a pair of compasses, opened upon a quarter of a circle, and surmounted by a pointed crown. Within the compasses is a medal, representing on one side the sun, and on the other a five-pointed star… The sun as the source of light to our system was once worshiped as a god. The star as a type of the myriad suns that light other countless systems of worlds is an emblem of that Masonic Light in search of which every Mason travels - the correct knowledge of the Deity and of His laws that control the universe”. [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/fourteenth_degree.htm]
This may come as a surprise to you, but you only have to travel as far as the nearest Bible for a “correct knowledge of the Deity”. Nothing you can do, no quest you can embark on, and no knowledge you can seek to obtain can add to that which He has chosen to reveal about Himself.
MasterMason.com makes the following statement.. strange words for a ‘non-religious’ organization. [Emphasis Added]
“The central piece of furniture in the Lodge is the Altar” which “symbolizes the presence of Deity” and “The Altar is the point on which life in our Masonic Lodges is focused and it should be accorded the highest respect.” [The Three Degrees of Freemasonry. Kneeling At The Altar http://mastermason.com/jjcrowder/thr...eedegrees.htm]
Incidentally Kneeling At The Altar goes on to say the Worshipful Master’s station in the East is likened to the sun rising in the East to shed light on the world. The Brethren "approach the East in search of light." And astonishingly…
“The wisdom of the Master is said to flow from his station in the East to the Altar. Thus, one should never cross between the Master’s Station and the Altar when a Lodge is in session”
The wisdom of the Master flows from his station in the East to the Altar??? Wow!
The Lodge System of Masonic Education, Booklet 1, pg. 11, says this...[Emphasis Added]
"Every Mason must believe in God and in the immortality of the soul. The Volume of sacred Law
must be open on every Lodge Altar. A candidate takes his Obligations upon his knees. Before engaging in any important undertaking a Mason seeks aid and guidance through prayer from the Sovereign Grand Architect of the Universe. This is religion, but it is not a religion. It is faith, but
it is not a faith confined to any one creed. It is worship, but it is not a worship chained to any one Altar. In the great words of the First Book of Constitutions it is the religion in which all good
men agree. It is the ground which underlies all religions, all churches, all creeds..."
Apart from the fact that the quotes above contradict the non-religion bit, I hope all Christians can see the problems with the words in bold directly above. There is no such thing as a “the ground which underlies all religions”.
Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon in Anti-masonry Frequently Asked Questions makes the following statements [Emphasis Added]
“Freemasonry seeks no converts. Freemasonry has no dogma, cosmology, eschatology or theology. Freemasonry offers no sacraments or ritual of worship, nor does it claim to lead to salvation by any definition”.
“Freemasonry is not a religion and promotes no doctrine or dogma. The "search for light" found in Freemasonry is a reference to a quest for knowledge, not salvation. Freemasonry promotes a hope in resurrection, but it does not teach a belief about resurrection. The first is faith, the second is religion”
“The ritual makes reference to "a vital and immortal principle" found within the perishable frame, and a hope that we will ascend to "those ethereal mansions above." But these are poetical allusions and do not constitute a doctrine of belief imposed on candidates.” [http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-mason...asonry08.html]
In reference to the “quest for knowledge” above, my question would be... knowledge about what? The quest for the conventional (academic) forms of knowledge is usually undertaken at school, universities or other institutes of higher learning. As far as I know the Brotherhood does not teach biology, medicine or physics.. So what kind of ‘knowledge’ are we talking about here? Spiritual perhaps?
In any case whether Freemasonry is or is not a religion cannot be defined by what individual members believe. The issue has to be decided on the ritual itself. Albert Mackey made some interesting points
when he said... [Emphasis Added]
“On the contrary, we contend, without any sort of hesitation, that Freemasonry is, in every sense of the word, except one, and that its least philosophical, an eminently religious institution-
that it is indebted solely to the religious element it contains for its origin as well as its continued existence, and that without this religious element it would scarcely be worthy of cultivation by the wise and good. . . . We open and close our Lodges with prayer; we invoke the blessing of the Most High upon all our labors; we demand of our neophytes a profession of trusting belief in the existence and the superintending care of God; and we teach them to bow with humility and reverence at His awful name, while His Holy Law is widely opened upon our altars. Freemasonry is thus identified with religion” (Albert G. Mackey, Mackey ‘s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry,2:846-47.
While it may be argued that Albert Mackey lived a long time ago and his words are not incumbent upon modern day Masons, the facts in the above paragraph are inescapable, no matter who said them and how long ago.. Interestingly
.... on October 3rd 2007 a California court of appeals suggested Freemasonry may rank with Christianity, Judaism and Islam as an official form of "religious exercise," "We see no principled way to distinguish the earnest pursuit of these (Masonic) principles ... from more widely acknowledged modes of religious exercise," the statement said... The court concluded that "chief" Masonic principles include "the reverence of a Supreme Being and the embrace of other forms of religious worship.".. The court's statement countered a lower court's opinion that "the `Freemason' organization is (not) a religion." [pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14306] [TOP OF PAGE]
PreTrib Rapture Czar
Is Freemasonry Compatible With Christianity?
I Am
During the ceremonies of the Masonic ritual for the Royal Arch degree, the following questions are asked by the ‘high priest’ and answered by the captain of the host, or any other officer that is qualified.
Q. Companion captain of the host, are you a royal arch Mason?
A. I am, that I am.
[Ritual of Freemasonry [Published 1853] By Avery Allyn [Page 120], Light on Masonry by David K. Bernard [Page 126] and The Mysteries Of Freemasonry by Captain William Morgan [Page 185], Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor by Malcolm C. Duncan [Page 252]
It is impossible for me as a Christian to overcome the blatant disrespect, nay sacrilege of the above.
God used the words I am, that I am to identify Himself when Moses asked for his name (Exodus 3:14). To hear a human being willfully and knowingly use the same phrase to identify himself is beyond
understanding and tolerance.
Salvation
Returning to the statement made by the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon regarding
Freemasonry not offering any sacraments or ritual of worship, nor claiming to lead to salvation by any definition [Bearing in mind that the commonly held definition of salvation is preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil with promise of an afterlife]..
Master Mason Degree
As explained on various Masonic sites, the 3rd Degree has a great deal to do with the hope of resurrection and immortality. Remembering that it is men from a variety of faiths and belief systems that go through this ritual, there is little question that the symbolism implies that a person is redeemed from the death of sin. [All Emphasis Added]
“There are many interpretations of this degree and each one is true. But essentially it is a drama setting forth the truth that though a man withers away and perishes, there is always a part of him which never dies. [Iowa Systematic Masonic Enlightenment Course. Master Mason Degree. Symbolism of The Degree.” http://www.burbankmason.org/Iowa-MM/Iowa-MM.pdf]
“In its Second Section the Sublime Degree departs from the familiar. Instead of being concerned with moral principles and exhortations, as is the first degree, or with architecture and learning, as is the second, it answers the cry of Job, "If a man die, shall he live again?" … As a whole the degree is symbolical of that old age by the wisdom of which "we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a well-spent life, and die in the hope of a glorious immortality." But it is much more than that. It is at once the universal and yearning question of man throughout all ages and its answer. To teaches no creed, no dogma, no religion; only that there is a hope of Immortality; there is a Great Architect by whose mercy we may live again, leaving to each brother his choice of interpretations by which he may read the Great Beyond.” [Iowa Systematic Masonic Enlightenment Course. Master Mason Degree. The Raising of a Candidate. http://www.burbankmason.org/Iowa-MM/Iowa-MM.pdf]
Both the above statements fly in the face of Christianity. There is NO hope of immortality for the non-Christian, since God has already told us how to reach the “Great Beyond”, and not given us any “choice of interpretations” .
“It teaches of the power - and the powerlessness - of evil. For those who are happy in a belief in the resurrection of the physical body, the Sublime Degree has comfort. For those whose hope is in the raising only of that spiritual body of which Paul taught, the degree assures of all the longing heart can wish.” [Introduction To Freemasonry .. The Master Mason Degree By Carl H. Claudy. As quoted in http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/master_mason.htm]
The quote directly above is slightly ambiguous, therefore for the record Paul did teach the resurrection of the body …
"If Christ be preached, that he rose again from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen again. And if Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:12-21.).
“And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).
A brief description of the 19th degree (Grand Pontiff) says
“…proclaims the spiritual unity of all who believe in God and cherish the hope of immortality, no matter what religious leader they follow or what creed they profess. It is concerned primarily with the perennial conflict between light and darkness, good and evil, God and Satan”. [http://unitedsupremecouncilnjpha.org...teDegrees.html And http://www.mastermason.com/jjcrowder...scottish.html]
In a prayer offered in this degree, The Thrice Potent says
"Give us Faith that we shall see the New Jerusalem, that we may receive commendation for our works, and join in singing with the innumerable throng that surrounds thy throne, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Sabaoth!" …. “Give us Hope for the salvation of the soul, and aid us in the struggle for the perfection of our intelligence, and in the advancement of man toward a true, understanding of thy will”. [http://www.bradford.ac.uk/webofhiram...npontiff.html]
In the 28th degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the initiate is told that
"the true Mason [is one] who raises himself by degrees till he reaches heaven" and that one of his duties is "To divest self of original sin ..."
The All-Seeing Eye
Every Masonic manual explains the symbol of the All-Seeing Eye..
“The All-Seeing Eye who pervades the innermost recesses of the human heart will reward us according to our works.”
In talking about balloting (done with white and black cubes) both The Iowa Masonic Library and Masonic world say
“ No man will know what we do; no eye will see, save that All Seeing Eye that pervades the innermost recesses of our hearts, and will, so we are taught, reward us according to our merits. [The Black Cube. http://www.iowamasoniclibrary.org/we...ds/Ballot.pdf] and http://www.masonicworld.com/educatio...whiteball.htm]
Notwithstanding the fact that the Lodge makes no claim to teach a doctrine of belief, nor are the above words specifically under the heading Salvation, they do say “the true Mason” raises Himself by degrees to Heaven. No matter how many verbal gymnastics you engage in, no matter how much you skirt the issue.. Getting to Heaven is Salvation.
And here I will repeat a paragraph I quoted in the legend of Hiram Abiff (above).[All Emphasis Added]
“It was the single object of all the ancient rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness. . .to teach the immortality of the Soul. This is still the great design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and aim of its ritual. The Master Mason represents man, when youth, manhood, old age, and life itself have passed away as fleeting shadows, yet raised from the grave of iniquity, and quickened into another and better existence. By its legend and all its ritual, it is implied that we have been redeemed from the death of sin and the sepulchre of pollution. . . .and the conclusion we arrive at is, that youth, properly directed, leads [us to the honorable and virtuous maturity, and that] the life of man, regulated by morality, faith, and justice, will be rewarded at its closing hour by the prospect of eternal bliss. . . The important design of the degree is to symbolize the great doctrines of the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the soul; and hence it has been remarked by a learned writer of our order, that the Master Mason represents a man saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation”. (Ahiman Rezon… Monitor of South Carolina. pages 141-2. 1947 Edition. as quoted in http://www.ephesians5-11.org/pdf/sc141-2.pdf)
What was that again? “we have been redeemed from the death of sin” and “the Master Mason represents a man saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation”
The Indiana Monitor and Freemason's Guide says [All Emphasis Added]
“The covering of a Lodge is a clouded canopy, or star-decked heaven, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive. . .” [Section on the Entered Apprentice Degree. 1993 edition. Page 68]
“. . .as Fellow Crafts, we should apply our knowledge to the discharge of our respective duties, to God, our neighbors and ourselves, so that in age, as Master Masons, we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a well-spent life, and die in the hope of a glorious immortality.” [The Three Steps, page 109]
This is not only salvation, but salvation by works/character development, in complete contradiction to the Christian faith and forever condemns the one who believes it. Have the Christians involved ever ensured that the men involved in this ritual know that this part of the Ritual is a lie [okay ..a poetic allusion] and it is not possible to raise oneself by degrees into Heaven and that all good Masons will not get to a star decked Heaven? At the very best how can any Christian Mason take the chance that his non-Christian ‘fellows’ may actually believe the words in their guides and rituals and lose their souls?
A Fraternity? If you insist! But a fraternity that often treads very dangerous ground, making radical statements such as...
"It is the Great Light of Masonry which unfolds the beauties of God's Eternal Truth." (Kentucky Monitor, p. 11).
I am afraid not. Again this rhetoric is so totally meaningless and so untrue as to be almost laughable (is it were not such a serious matter). [TOP OF PAGE]
Born Again
"There you stood without our portals, on the threshold of this new Masonic life, in darkness, helplessness, and ignorance. Having been wandering amid the errors and covered over with the pollutions of the outer and profane world, you came inquiringly to our doors, seeking the new birth, and asking a withdrawal of the veil which concealed the divine truth from your uninitiated sight. And here, as with Moses at the burning bush, the solemn admonition is given, 'Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.' Ceremonial preparations surrounded you, all of a significant character, to indicate to you that some great change was about to take place in your moral and intellectual condition. There was to be not simply a change for the future, but also an extinction of the past; for initiation is, as it were, a death to the world and a resurrection to a life." (Kentucky Monitor, pp. 26-27. Emphasis Added]
Not only is the first statement religious, it is also completely false. The only Eternal Truth we have about God is to be found in His revelation about Himself... the Bible. NOT in the Masonic Lodge or anywhere else.
The second statement is equally reprehensible... A New Birth? The Masonic Lodge withdraws the veil concealing the divine truth? To be perfectly clear.. there is ONE new birth and that is the one spoken of by Jesus. [See Born Again] and the Holy Spirit is the one that reveals truth.
“when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
[Note: The Kentucky monitor may not contain these statements any longer, but it did.. not so long ago].
Again in a private e-mail I was reminded by a Freemason that
“Freemasonry does not tell you how to get to heaven, it simply reminds you that unless you lead a morally-principled life, you won't”.
Which is true for the Christian Mason, but is NOT true for the Non-Christian one. A “morally-principled” life will not do squat for him in terms of heaven. In fact the differences between Christianity and Freemasonry is a chasm deeper and wider than the universe itself.. [TOP OF PAGE]
The Lambskin
The instruction concerning a lambskin which is found in the Ritual book of all the Lodges in all 50 states. Although it may be placed in different rituals in the manuals of different states, it has little, if any, material difference. [Emphasis Added]
“The Masonic symbol of the lambskin or white leather apron is explained, in part, to each candidate as follows: "The lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence; he, therefore, who wears the lambskin as a badge of Masonry, is thereby continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct, which is essentially necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial
Lodge Above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe [God] presides”. [John Weldon. The Masonic Lodge And The Christian Conscience]
There is nothing inherently wrong with the lambskin as a symbol of purity of life and conduct and, for the Christian, it is perfectly true that without these attributes [which the Bible calls righteousness] no one, regardless of how ‘saved’ they think they are, is ever going to gain admittance in to the Celestial Lodge Above.. Heaven in more mainstream terminology. However this rite [if rite is the proper word] is NOT limited to Christians. To tell a non Christian that purity of life and conduct is going to gain him admittance into Heaven is doing him a great wrong, since it is completely untrue. And one wonder where this practice originates.. [Emphasis Added]
The apron as a mark of distinction has been found in many similar organizations of initiatory nature including the Essenes and the Mythraic Mysteries, and has been conspicuous on statues of some Egyptian and Greek deities. [The Three Degrees of Freemasonry. http://mastermason.com/jjcrowder/thr...eedegrees.htm]
And make no mistake.. the church does not get off the hook here. Current evangelism has made a career of misleading people with their many and varied versions of Easy Christianity. However this article is about Freemasonry, not the church... for which you will have to see section The Contemporary Church.
In a thoroughly civil [for a change] correspondence with The Worshipful Master of Apache Lodge No. 69 Free & Accepted Masons and Knight Templar in Arizona, he told me... [I have his permission to quote him with the understanding that ... “no one person or group in Freemasonry has the authority or right to
speak for any or all Masons, not me as Master of my Lodge, not the Grand Master of a State or Country and not Albert Pike over a hundred years ago”].
“Could a Brother take that paragraph and think without further instruction that gaining admission into Heaven is dependent upon his "rectitude of conduct" and "purity of life". He could I suppose, if we claimed to be a Religion and if we were in the process of giving Religious instructions. However, we are not - we are just a Fraternity. We make no claims otherwise. In fact, in the States I am familiar with - we go out of the way to make sure the candidate understands that we are not a Religion and that we will not interfere with nor supplant any Duty which he owes to his Religion or God”.
“One trusts that the Brother's religious instruction and that his personal relationship with God is one so that the paragraphs in our Rituals that encourages him to live a good and upright life to the best of his ability and to avoid excess and vice will not detract from his salvation”.
“Once we leave the Lodge Sanctum and retire to the rec hall or parking area, I personally tell each initiate that the ceremonies were not a Religion and they in no way insure eternal life or salvation - and, that I would be happy to discuss my faith with them outside of the Lodge if they wished”.
While I am glad to hear of someone doing this, the lodge in question is one of those where “one must profess his faith in The Christ as Lord to complete his orders” [details below]. therefore one can be a little more trusting that the person’s religious beliefs is on solid ground... Hopefully! But what about the others? I cannot but think of the lodges where it is possible that a man may just take the words literally. The men who have not had any ‘religious instruction’ ...that is not heard the Gospel.
It is claimed over and over again that Freemasonry is NOT a religion.. A claim that I certainly am very willing to accept if someone can explain to me what in the world a fraternity is doing telling people how to get to ‘Heaven’?
And we are back to the definition of ‘Religion’ which has already been touched on above. [TOP OF PAGE]
The Death of a Mason
Some of the Masonic Memorial Services contain words that would be quite appropriate at any Christian’s funeral. However remember that these words are spoken at the services of ANY Mason whether he be Jew, Muslim or Buddhist. It is hard to escape the fact that this terminology indicates a belief that the practicing Mason will attain Heaven regardless of belief. While I do not know if this wording accurately reflects the Monitors currently in use [some have been revised] it may be well to check.
"So, in the bright morning of the world's resurrection, your mortal frame, now laid in the dust, shall again spring into newness of life, and expand in immortal beauty in realms beyond the skies." (Kentucky Masonic Monitor, page 180)
"He [deceased] has passed out of the love of human hearts to a higher, better love; out of the dim lights of the lodge on earth to the brighter, glorious Lodge above." (Louisiana Masonic Monitor, pages 177 -178)
"As we mourn the departure of our Brother from the circle of our Fraternity, we believe that he has entered into a higher Brotherhood, to find rest from earthly labors and refreshment from earthly cares." (Texas Monitor of the Lodge, page 217)
"...we have the assurance that Thou hast taken to Thyself his soul...Masons believe sincerely that when life on earth comes to a close, the soul is transplanted from the imperfections of this mortal sphere to that all-perfect glorious and Celestial Lodge above." (Maine Masonic Text-Book, 1992, pages 104-105)
"We firmly believe our Brother has but heard the invitation - 'Come thou blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you." (Official Monitor and Ceremonies of New Mexico, page 212 (Also found in the monitor for the state of Oregon) [TOP OF PAGE]
The Masonic Jesus
The central question that every Christian Mason must ask himself is "Who is Jesus Christ according to the Lodge?" [Also See Religious Pluralism] In some Lodges, Masonic prayers are not to include the name of Jesus Christ, but they are to refer to the Great Architect of the Universe. The Maryland Master Mason magazine offered this statement concerning prayer in the Lodge:
"All prayers in Mason lodges should be directed to the one deity to whom all Masons refer to as the Grand Architect of the Universe."(19)
Here, once again we have to remind the reader that there are many many differences between Masonic Lodges from state to state. Some of which certainly should give the Christian pause for thought.. Serious thought! For example...[Again ...if these particular monitors have been since revised, this wording may have since been changed. It is up to the reader to check].
“Thus Freemasonry comes to us from the Temple, . . . It makes no profession of Christianity, and wars not against sectarian creeds or doctrines; but looks forward to the time when the labor of our ancient brethren shall be symbolized by the erection of a spiritual temple whose moral grandeur
shall be commensurate with civilization; A temple in which there shall be but one altar and but one worship; one common altar of Masonry, on which the Veda, Sutra, Zend-Avesta, Koran, and Holy Bible shall lie untouched by sacrilegious hands; and at whose shrine the Hindoo, the
Persian, the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the Mohammedan, the
Jew, and the Christian may kneel and with one united voice celebrate the praises of the Supreme Architect of the Universe”. [Louisiana Masonic Monitor, p. 111, 1988. Emphasis Added]
And
“All believed in a future life, to be attained by purification and trials; in a state or successive
states of reward and punishment; and in a Mediator or Redeemer, by whom the Evil Principle was to be overcome and the Supreme Deity reconciled to His creatures. The belief was general that He was to be born of a virgin and suffer a painful death. The Hindus called him Krishna; the Chinese, Kioun-tse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram.” [pages XIV-XV, Kentucky Monitor].
The statement immediately above implies that that Jesus, Krishna, Kioun-tse, Balder, Hiram etc. are
all the same person. The problem is that Jesus is not near as tolerant as the Mason when it comes to His divine authority and supreme status.. He is God and with Him there is no other. [TOP OF PAGE]
The “Volume of the Sacred Law.. The Bible?
Much is made of the fact that the altar in every lodge holds an open “Volume of the Sacred Law.” [almost always a King James Bible in the U.S. and Canada, bound with a special cover stamped with the Masonic insignia] … literally part of the furniture of the Lodge. However Freemasonry has no commitment to the Bible as the unique Word of God, and unhesitatingly substitutes non-Christian scriptures when Christians Masons are not in the majority.. Even when the Bible is used, it is often no more than another symbol.
“…true that the majority of Lodge members are essentially Christian in their affiliations. Its presence is no more than a symbol, a representative of all the great books of the religious teachings, which have particular significance to particular groups of people. In some Jurisdictions other works replace the Bible on the altar. Singapore Lodge, a Lodge working under the English Constitution, uses no fewer than six Vs of SL of different faiths.” [http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Arti...sacred_law.htm. Emphasis Added]
The seven Volumes of the Sacred Law in common use through the East, include...
“The Bible (OT) for the Jews. The Bible (OT & NT) for Christians. The Dhammapada for the Mahayana Sect of Buddhism. The Gita for Hindus. The Granth Sahib for Sikhs. The Koran for
Muslims. The Zenda Avesta for Parsees and some Iranians”. [http://www.iowamasoniclibrary.org/we...0original.pdf]
And the reason for this symbol? [Emphasis Added]
“A prime role of the Holy Writings is to provide an acceptable medium for taking and sealing
our Obligations so that candidates will consider such obligations to be solemn and binding upon them”. [The Year Book of The Grand Lodge of Scotland as quoted in The Great Lights In The East. From the Beehive State Trestleboard by Roy L. Demming, S.W., Utah Research Lodge]
(In support of this… In an article entitled Impressions of a master mason, The Qur'an Upon a Lodge Altar the author says he [Emphasis Added]
“….attended a Lodge wherein a Muslim brother had just been raised. In the course of the conferral, the Qur’an was upon the Altar, spine-to-spine with the Holy Bible, and opened to allow the petitioner to be obligated upon his holiest book…” [http://www.freewebs.com/squaretyre/q...nthealtar.htm])
In Brothers And Builders:, The Basis and Spirit of Freemasonry, Joseph Fort Newton (Litt.D.) says.. [Emphasis Added]
“Thus Masonry invites to its Altar men of all faiths, knowing that, if they use different names for "the Nameless One of an hundred names," they are yet praying to the one God and Father of
all; knowing, also, that while they read different volumes, they are in fact reading the same vast Book of the Faith of Man as revealed in the struggle and tragedy of the race in its quest of God…. None the less, while we honour every Book of Faith in which have been recorded the way
and Will of God, with us the Bible is supreme, at once the mother-book of our literature and the master-book of the Lodge”. [Chapter II The Holy Bible. http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/brothe...chapter_2.htm]
While describing the Old Testament Scriptures performing “their traditional function” as a landmark of the order, The Great Lights In The East goes on to say..
“It is most interesting to note that the many problems, which could have arisen from the meeting
of Brethren of various creed, have been anticipated and procedures have been adopted to promote Peace and Harmony within the Lodge and the welfare of Freemasonry in general”. [The Great Lights In The East. From the Beehive State Trestleboard by Roy L. Demming, S.W., Utah Research Lodge] [TOP OF PAGE]
Christian Lodges?
The above mentioned conversation with the The Worshipful Master of a lodge in Arizona brought several facts to my attention, particularly that in The Order of the Temple (Knights Templar in the York Rite) “one must profess his faith in The Christ as Lord to complete his orders”.
I later discovered that The Swedish Rite [a variation of Freemasonry that is worked in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland] demands brethren be Christian, and not just that they believe in a supreme being. See the web sites of The Norwegian Order of Freemasons and The Swedish Order of Freemasons. [The others are not in English]. Which undoubtedly is more than some churches do... Details]
The second series of degrees [17° and 18°] in the Scottish Rite is the Rose Croix also has some little known preconditions in some lodges. For example [All Emphasis Added]...
The Freemasons of New Zealand
“The Rose Croix in New Zealand.. Application for membership in the “Rose” is open to members in good standing in any Craft Lodge who are Master Masons of 1 year’s standing. Acceptance for membership is subject to the usual Masonic conditions of residence, sponsors, investigation, and ballot. Physical impairment is not a disqualification. Belief in the Holy Trinity is an essential requirement”. [http://www.freemasons.co.nz/side_orders/rose_croix/]
Hunters Hill - Sydney - Australia
“All Master Masons, of the Christian Faith, of more then 12 months good standing, and current, in their Craft Lodge are most welcomed to make enquiries.” [Chapter Information from Omnes Sancti Sovereign Chapter 193. http://www.rosecroix.org.au/welcome.html]
However this makes it even worse. How in the world can anyone profess belief in the “Holy Trinity” then participate in a Ritual of which one of the emblems is an eagle... the symbolism of which is explained by a Masonic site which says
“Among the Egyptians the eagle was the emblem of a wise man because his wings bore him above the clouds into the purer atmosphere and nearer to the source of light, and his eyes were not dazzled with that light. Since the eagle also represented the great Egyptian Sun god Amun-ra, it is a symbol of the infinite Supreme Reason or Intelligence… The rose was anciently sacred to the sun and to Aurora, Greek Goddess of the dawn. As a symbol of the morning light, it represents resurrection and the renewal of life, and therefore immortality. Together the cross and rose symbolize immortality won by suffering and sorrow.” [http://www.aasrvalleyofjax.org/eighteenth_degree.htm]
And the Valley of Fort Wayne [Scottish Rite] Indiana, part of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, makes
the following statement [Emphasis Added]
“18° - Knight of the Rose Croix of H.R.D.M. - The lessons taught in this degree are that man must have a new Temple in his heart where God is worshiped in spirit and in truth and that he must have a new law of love which all men everywhere may understand and practice. This degree affirms the broad principles of universality and tolerance”. [The Chapter of Rose Croix. The Philosophical and Doctrinal Degrees of the Chapter of Rose Croix. [http://www.aasr-ftwayne.org/divisions/chapter.htm]
Which smacks of universalism.
In an article entitled Eighteenth Degree, Knight Rose Croix, Jim Tresner, 33°, who’s credentials include being “Director of the Masonic Leadership Institute and Editor of the Oklahoma Mason. A frequent contributor to the Scottish Rite Journal and its book review editor, … a volunteer writer for the Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason and a video script consultant for the National Masonic Renewal Committee”, says this degree is a “a major milestone in the progress of the candidate” and describes the regalia for the degree, which includes a “red passion cross on the body of the apron’
Of which he says
“The cross, which is part of the design on both sides, is an ancient symbol of infinity and has been used as a sacred symbol from early antiquity—far predating Christianity. Thus it may be said to represent the world or the condition of the world”. And “All of these symbols point, of course, to
the transformation of the world with the discovery of the New Law of Love.’ [TOP OF PAGE]
Conclusion:
This article has recently been reworked [and is yet unfinished], with many changes made and much detail added. This article used to be pretty standard fare.. reiterating ‘the party line’ so to speak. This revision of the subject was spurred by a very nice e-mail from, and subsequent conversation with, the above mentioned Worshipful Master, a Christian Mason, from whom I learned a few things. He brought up at
least one factual error in the original article, which I researched, then changed. However two subsequent and very rude messages from other Masons coupled with the usually scathing treatment of “anti-Masons” on many Masonic web sites kept niggling at me. I could not get rid of the ‘Methinks thou dost protest too much’ feeling. So I started digging. And the more I dug, the less I liked what turned up. The less I liked what the Masons themselves said.
While the philanthropic side of the Lodge is more than obvious, there are plenty of organizations
[Christian and otherwise] that do a great deal of charitable work and do not require one to assume a pretentious title and get-up resembling that worn by the Lord Mayor of London. I read the following on a forum, which made a great deal of sense..
“I certainly agree that Masons do indeed labor intensely at charity. However, I must disagree that the fraternity exists only to be a charitable organization. After all, the fraternity existed long before it established official philanthropies. This is not to downplay the importance of charity. Actually, charity is the first lesson a man learns as an Entered Apprentice. But charity is a side effect, rather than the primal purpose, of Freemasonry. If Freemasonry were only a charitable society, it would
not consist of our Traditions, Ancient Usages, and Degrees of Philosophy and Science. There are other organizations in existence, such as Habitat For Humanity, which exist only for charity. But Freemasonry is much more than these organizations, and is primarily educational and spiritual, which in turn gives rise to its charitable viewpoints”.
[“Masonic Light; member of AboveTopSecret.com”, Freemason 32nd Degree Ritual; http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/...g1#pid546223.]
However it is the Rituals that really got my attention. Why would so many grown men don some absurd garb and participate in theatrics based on fables, fairy tales and folklore with, in some cases, a Biblical twist? And, take it deadly seriously to boot. Why indeed?
The commonalities between Freemasonry and ancient mystery religions, paganism, Kaballah and Egyptian mythology etc. have been documented in part here. While the origins of all the practices are so buried in the mists of time they can probably never be completely traced, there are red flags aplenty. What ever
is really behind the the peculiar rituals certainly fosters a usually overwhelming allegiance and commitment
to the Lodge, and often prompts a vehement, almost strident defense of the organization.
The Defense
The careful reader will have noticed the phrase ‘on the other hand’ liberally sprinkled throughout the
article, representing the significant variations in beliefs and practices between the Lodges from area to area and the often almost contradictory opinions offered by various Masons.. I have been assured in person twice [by two separate ‘Masters’], and have read innumerable times that no one person [or group] speaks for all of Freemasonry. That the development of the Ritual [in ‘basic’] Freemasonry over the centuries is not always linear. That every Mason, speaks only for himself.
When there is no consensus of opinion on where or when Freemasonry had it’s origins, no central
authority, when every Mason speaks for himself, when the symbolism seems open to varied and individual interpretation, when no two areas have exactly the same monitors, I fail to see how, when it comes to defense of the Lodge, Masons can speak in sweeping generalizations, defending the organization as a whole, not only the specific lodge [or lodges] they belong to. Especially since it is readily apparent that most Masons are not particularly familiar with, or even aware of, the variations from area to area.
Christian Masons [especially those that belong to Lodges which require a belief in Christ to join] seem to view Masonry through their ‘Christian glasses. Yet the practices and beliefs [and Monitors] may be quite different, and not as benevolent, in other jurisdictions. Not only this.. even those that profess a
Trinitarian belief are subject to the same rituals as everyone else. Rituals which have too many connections with the occult.
More Than The Body
I do not for one instant discount the tremendous amount of good that is done by the Masons or any one else, but will ask the question.. Is it enough? Bear with me here.
It is a tremendous service to runs a clinic for disabled children or any of the other things the Masons do.. but in the final analysis what is it worth IF the Gospel is not preached as well. Certainly it will make someone’s life healthier and happier, and there is huge value in that… More so if we were only talking of a span of 70 odd years. But we are not… we are talking eternity.. As Jesus Himself asked..
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul??
And again I am not saying that we should only save souls. Taking care of the widow and the orphan has always been very high on God’s list of priorities and was perhaps one of the largest reasons for the Old Testament tithes [There is an in-depth study on Tithes on the site]. As James said.. in the context of needy people…
What does it profit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Is that kind of faith able to save him?
However while every Christian is obligated to do whatever he can to help the less fortunate.. People as members of the ‘body’ have different jobs to do [I Corinthians 12], and nothing can compare with saving souls. I will say this… if I had any money at all it would go to organizations like this one... GFA [Gospel For Asia] because they have the right idea.. No fancy buildings and big budgets, Just preaching the
Gospel. On average, the native missionaries establish nearly 12 fellowships every day in Asia among unreached villages and people groups… .
What the Masons do for their fellowman is invaluable in this life. What these people do will count for eternity.
A Word to Christian Masons.
Perhaps, above all, I have been most disappointed with the reaction of Christian Masons, many of whom seem far more ready to defend the Lodge than Christianity, seeming to forget that many of the so called ‘Anti-Masons’ are defending the faith to the best of their ability. Many Christian organizations that have been labeled Anti-Mason are simply comparing what they know to Scripture. It is an absurdity to state that they are anti everything. They are anti whatsoever contradicts the Word of God, and so they should be. Just as an example I have read Christian Masons ranting about the Anti-Masons being against the Jehovah’s Witnesses.. Presumably in an effort to prove the Anti-Masons are against everyone who does not think exactly the way they do. You do know of course that the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Deity of Christ. Silly me! Of course you knew that!
In any case just because you disagree with them does NOT give you the license to trash another brother or sister in Christ. You do need to remember that another born Again Christian is FAR more your brother than every non-Christian Mason that has ever lived.. This is the body of Christ we are talking about ...substantially above any man made organization, even the Lodge.. Surprise surprise ! You have every right to disagree with another Christian while remembering that you are both on the same side. The sun does not rise and set on the Masonic Lodge, which, like everything else manmade, will shortly be relegated to memory.
[And here I have to make the distinction between an honest difference of opinion between two Christians and the many false prophets and wolves that have invaded the church, teaching doctrines totally contrary to the Word of God. Men and women that one can not call Christian by any stretch of the imagination and who are leading the sheep astray, perhaps even to their doom].
Let me put it this way ... If ONE Christian has been pulled away from the snares of Astrology, Ayurvedic Medicine or Eastern Style Mediation thanks to the research and work of John Ankerberg and John Weldon, then they have saved a soul, not just a body. Yet you show neither respect nor appreciation for this.
If you are not aware of what is going on the Contemporary Church, it may be time for you to pull your head out of the Lodge and look around. Look around and weep for what we have become. And I am curious... In a world going to hell on a broomstick, you have reams of stuff defending the Lodge but, where are your sites propagating the Word of God? Where do you defend the only thing that eventually matters.
When you read your old Testament, if you pay attention to what the prophets of old said, you will notice that ninety percent of their preaching was negative. They seldom had anything positive to say and you could say they were pretty mean [Read Jeremiah 18:19-23 where there is NO evidence of God rebuking J for his very ‘Unchristian’ words].
Warning people of the dangers out there [and they are a legion] serves a very very necessary function. Examine, if you will, the words of the ‘apostles of love’
“Peter wrote an entire chapter and a half to warn of false teachers in his second epistle, calling their teaching “damnable heresies” (2 Pet. 2:1), their ways “pernicious” (2 Pet. 2:2), their words “feigned” (2 Pet. 2:3), and their future “damnation” that “slumbereth not” (2 Pet. 2:3). He likened them to the “filthy conversation” of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Pet. 2:6-9) and called them “presumptuous” and “self-willed” (2 Pet. 2:10). He even likened them to “natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed” (2 Pet. 2:12). Peter made a lot more vitriolic-sounding statements about them, too! Just read 2 Peter 2-3”.
“And as for John, he was no slacker when it came to rebuking false teachers. He called them antichrists and warned of the fact that “they went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:18). He called them liars (1 John 2:22) and seducers (1 John 2:26) and taught the believers to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). He further warned of the “many deceivers” that are entered into the world (2 John 7) and dogmatically said that “whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 John 9). That means that a lot of preachers in these end times do not have God and should be publicly exposed as such. John would certainly expose them if he were here today! John even warned of Diotrephes, a puffed-up preacher (3 John 9-10).” [Read Article] [TOP OF PAGE]
Revelation 22:17a The Spirit and Bride are now saying, "Come!" The ones who hear are now saying, "Come!" The ones who thirst are now saying, "Come!" Come LORD Jesus !
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Thank you, Buzz!
I need to clarify something with you. Do you think I'm equating Masonic philosophy with that of the philosophers on Mars Hill that Paul was preaching to?
ScribblerMod
Not the way you first presented it, no. Here's what you said, "However, from a Christian standpoint it is incomplete, which is why I'd say it is a preChristian position such as the one Paul used to start his address on Mars Hill."
I believe you were comparing Paul's "opening salvo" as a general philosophy like the one the Masons have, and I'm simply saying Paul didn't leave it general, he took it specific, and in fact that specific message was the important one all along, and what he set out to preach. Even you admit, it was a position used to start his address. I'm simply saying, carry the analogy through; Paul would never have preached a general philosophy, and said, "that's it boys, continue as you were," or "if you guys keep your philosophies general, then I'm in..."
Instead, we get this: Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Thanks to sweeetlilgurlie on Narniaweb for the sig
Argument by hyperlink and cut n' paste?
I notice you bypassed the portions where the author at that link reasonably refuted many of the the earlier charges made in this thread against Freemasonry. Why?
However, you hit two points here that should be dealt with.
If you accept the "Born in Blood" or the "operative vs. speculative" origin theories, then Freemasonry is much older. If the Regius Poem is Masonic (which it seems to be), then is comes from at least several centuries before the public version that "came out" in the early 1700s. IOW, during a time when what we would consider trivial heterodox denominational differences ended in violence.
The conclusion you draw from the Manly Hall issue is amusing. Morals and Dogma received official sanction from the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite and AFAIK, from none other. (A Bridge to Light is a condensed version of the content of Morals and Dogma, not a "new" book BTW.) The various monitors listed would have official sanction by their various Grand Jurisdictions and no other. Sooooo, the fact that Mr. Hall's writings "have not received official sanction by any Masonic body" doesn't mean anything more than the fact than what it says, no Masonic body that could sanction it has. Not the little "conspiracy theory" hint that your post had.
Seriously, how did you manage to do this? Two facts:
A) Nobody speaks for all of Masonry;
B) No Masonic body has sanctioned Manly P. Hall's writings;
turned into "Official Sanction? I thought no Mason spoke for any other Mason or Lodge, and that there was no central or unified authority… " with overtones of cuing up the Imperial Theme Music?
Soooo, Christians don't have the right to defend their social groups because of the superior relationship of their Christian brothers and sisters? While those same Christian "brothers and sisters" have the right to vilify, slander and drive out those who they disagree with? That they have the right to control the thoughts and actions of others based on their opinions with some very loose Scriptural "support"? (Note: I agree that my relationship with my Christian brothers is superior to that of other "brothers".) They get to trash me because I am a Mason, but I don't get to trash them because they claim to be Christian!?! Heh, looks like an appeal to Masons to shut up again and go back to the traditional Masonic defense of Masonry, which is silence. So much easier to spread rumors and lies that way I guess.In any case just because you disagree with them does NOT give you the license to trash another brother or sister in Christ. You do need to remember that another born Again Christian is FAR more your brother than every non-Christian Mason that has ever lived.. This is the body of Christ we are talking about ...substantially above any man made organization, even the Lodge.. Surprise surprise ! You have every right to disagree with another Christian while remembering that you are both on the same side. The sun does not rise and set on the Masonic Lodge, which, like everything else manmade, will shortly be relegated to memory.
[And here I have to make the distinction between an honest difference of opinion between two Christians and the many false prophets and wolves that have invaded the church, teaching doctrines totally contrary to the Word of God. Men and women that one can not call Christian by any stretch of the imagination and who are leading the sheep astray, perhaps even to their doom].
Let me put it this way ... If ONE Christian has been pulled away from the snares of Astrology, Ayurvedic Medicine or Eastern Style Mediation thanks to the research and work of John Ankerberg and John Weldon, then they have saved a soul, not just a body. Yet you show neither respect nor appreciation for this.
Oh, BTW, which one of the denominational groups in the list of antiMasons qualify as something other than a "man-made organization"? The Roman Catholics can and do claim to be.....
While I can appreciate the saving of a soul, I question that the "shading" of truth in defense of the Gospel is Scriptural in any degree. After all, if one is "free" with truth, the implication is that one will be "free" with Truth also. Sorry, I'm old fashioned, I don't expect preachers to lie to me and John Ankerberg has had more than one problem with truth, how many has he driven away from Truth because of that?
Key observations: Their ability is lacking and their knowledge is incomplete. So instead of speaking potential lies and slander as well as outright lies and slanders for "the glory of God", they should increase their knowledge and speak the truth, it will better prepare them for declaring Truth to the world.Perhaps, above all, I have been most disappointed with the reaction of Christian Masons, many of whom seem far more ready to defend the Lodge than Christianity, seeming to forget that many of the so called ‘Anti-Masons’ are defending the faith to the best of their ability. Many Christian organizations that have been labeled Anti-Mason are simply comparing what they know to Scripture.
For example, I've read both versions of the SBC's antiMasonic documents available (some are no longer available for review). As a Christian apologist, if these were antiChristian documents they'd be trivially rejected as junk. Old out of date sources, almost exclusive use of one source, not properly sourcing quotes so they can be verified, etc. for the "new" version. That plus outright quoting out of context for the "old" version, which contained better footnotes and made it easier to check the quotes. In this particular case, both are trivially smoked by reading the preface to Morals and Dogma, especially the portion I quoted earlier in this thread. In all Christian love and making all possible allowances the author(s) of them were either too trusting in their acceptance of some source or unable to do primary research. If I call it as I see it, they are knowingly commiting fraud to promote an agenda.
Good, I thought I was reading it wrong. You are correct, Paul did not leave it so, nor should he have as a Christian preaching the Gospel.
Paul started by preaching a philosophy (to philosophers) that led to the Gospel and then gave the Gospel. I'm saying that after weeding through the mass verbiage of the antiMasons, what actually is left, IMO, is philosophical thought that is the same as what Paul used to start his sermon on Mars Hill. No, it isn't the Gospel, but then it isn't supposed to be since Masonry is not a religion. However, this philosophy does not contradict Christianity as Masonry is being accused of, unless one thinks that Paul was contradicting Christianity while he preached the Gospel of Christ.OTOH, Masonry is not a religion either, so it isn't a "failure" of Freemasonry to go any further, since it leaves such "further" to the conscience of the individual.
On the question of why would a Christian belong to such an organization, that I leave up to the individual Christian, so long as that organization doesn't contradict Christianity. The fact that it promotes a number of Christian ethical positions could be considered a bonus.
ScribblerMod
And, Paul did not join in their respective groups either, he did not become or remain a supporter of the "general philosophy" under consideration.
And, perhaps no one would dispute this, but again, keep carrying the analogy through. Paul changed and challenged them, he did not stop at the general, he did not accept them, nor become a part of them, he did however try to get them to come into the group he was representing.Paul started by preaching a philosophy (to philosophers) that led to the Gospel and then gave the Gospel. I'm saying that after weeding through the mass verbiage of the antiMasons, what actually is left, IMO, is philosophical thought that is the same as what Paul used to start his sermon on Mars Hill.
But it is not secular, so has put itself into a religious category by making those general comments about deity.No, it isn't the Gospel, but then it isn't supposed to be since Masonry is not a religion.
Eh....One has to be really careful here, because if someone is not actively for Christ, then they are in fact against Him. And there lies one of the problems...Masonry has made statements about a general deity, by doing this, they are, in effect, and in the light of Jesus' statements, denying Him as an organization...they could have left spirituality out of it entirely, but they didn't.However, this philosophy does not contradict Christianity as Masonry is being accused of, unless one thinks that Paul was contradicting Christianity while he preached the Gospel of Christ.
And that's one of the things I'm saying; I don't think it a good analogy to compare the philosophy of Masonry with anything having to do with Paul, and in fact probably damages your argument, because it brings up a lot of what I've pointed out in the minds of other believers.OTOH, Masonry is not a religion either, so it isn't a "failure" of Freemasonry to go any further, since it leaves such "further" to the conscience of the individual.
I leave it up to the individual as well. But I have to say that, in talking in general terms about deity, Masonry has indeed opened themselves up for criticism, since again, as Paul, we know specifically what God is Truth, what God is The God, and that The Lord doesn't like fence sitters, so to speak, and Masonry would be an fence sitting organization, taken as a group or a whole.On the question of why would a Christian belong to such an organization, that I leave up to the individual Christian, so long as that organization doesn't contradict Christianity. The fact that it promotes a number of Christian ethical positions could be considered a bonus.
Now, one other thing comes up in the context of this thread, and looking at this from a different perspective; there wouldn't be all these doubts and questions and conspiracty theories if the masons were not a closed organization that uses a lot of symbols, rites, ceremonies, etc... So, in effect, organizations like these are begging for investigation, and people wanting to know what is going on behind closed doors. There really is no other way human beings are going to psychologically react to "secret societies." And, add to that the Christian's (right) love for scripture, and you can, rightly or wrongly, get verses like this one in mind: John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Thanks to sweeetlilgurlie on Narniaweb for the sig
PreTrib Rapture Czar
Out of date? Masons is a dated group.
I don't think anything can be said that will dislodge you from your loyalties to the Masonic realm.
Revelation 22:17a The Spirit and Bride are now saying, "Come!" The ones who hear are now saying, "Come!" The ones who thirst are now saying, "Come!" Come LORD Jesus !
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Senior Member Wannabe
Actually the middle of Ephesians 4 is more applicable to this thread:
...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
...having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:18 (NKJV)
Of course, it must be everyone ELSE whose mind is made up and isn't confused by the facts. That couldn't possibly be you? It MUST only be everyone else.
No for you it's actually not. Apparently there is nothing more important to you than defending "masonry" and its tenants. There are plenty of different threads on this board dealing with countless issues of Christianity and apologetics, yet basically everything you have posted on this board is in this thread only and is geared to being an apologist for the "great architect of the universe" ( who is NOT the God of the Bible ).
It's clear you will not give up masonry for anything, because "my mind's made up, don't confuse me with the facts".
Maybe sometime we could instead discuss Christianity on other threads on this board?
Errr..... on second thought, it looks like there ain't much chance of that happening.
"But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here".
Matthew 12:6 (ASV)
"...and behold, a greater than Jonah is here."
Luke 11:32 (ASV)
"...and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."
Luke 11:31 (ASV)
forever looking up!
Being that my hubby works around and sometimes frat houses and the ladies dorms, and has told me some stories. I've come to the conclusion, If my kids ever and I mean ever join one of those, I would literly drive over and bring their ever loving rearends home. NO child of God could possible live in there and thrive.
< hubby,benny,the beans and pickle
I'll Fly Away, Oh Glory!
http://www.freemasonrywatch.org/
I don't think this is an innocent men's fraternity club...
Mods - If this website is suspect, please delete link.
Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
Freemassons
Hello fellow children of God.
Well as you will see by my posts I am not here often, for that I am sorry!
I am not as well versed in much of what took me 2 hours and 6 aspirin to read:
I guess I have 2 points or views I guess, if tomorrow Armageddon happened would Masons be Raptured?
If having secret handshakes, passwords rituals, what ever they would proclaim as the leader, master who would be the person above all others.
Does this not violate thou shall have no other gods before me, for an example.?
Should Christ not be the only one looked up too. Should not his word command all? And be spoken above all?
I might be naive but then had no real opinion since it is not very common in my part of Canada. But I did read this thread and found it easy to now have a opinion, that being the only truth is that of our lord, he is the only one we need exalt above all others.I mean no offense to anyone, just can't be blind by what I have read here when our salvation comes thou Christ not any group that puts or omits him as lord and Saviour.Exalt is a word which means to praise, glorify, honor, intensify, or heighten. It is most often used in religious contexts
God bless you all
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