Can A Christian Be A Freemason?
By
Freemasonry
Or
The Masonic Lodge
Known in America as:
Shriners
Or
The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
And in Northern Ireland as:
The Orange Lodge
Also associated with:
The Society of Oddfellows
The Masonic Lodge worldwide is a highly influential organization claiming
some 23 million members. Masonic leaders argue the lodge is not a religion but
merely a fraternal body that seeks to better society and also assist the
Christian church. It does this, they claim, by helping Christians become better
members of their own faith. The truth is that Masonry is a distinct religion
that promotes teachings incompatible with Christian faith in the areas of God,
salvation, and other important doctrines. It is therefore inconsistent for any
Christian to swear the oaths of Masonry to uphold and support the Lodge when
Masonry's own ritual, doctrines, and impact in history have denied and opposed
biblical teaching.
Millions of men throughout the world, including six million Americans, look to the Masonic Lodge for brotherhood and fellowship. They are proud to be part of an organization that engages itself in worthwhile causes, such as children's hospitals. Many of them feel strongly about the Masonic tenets of the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the immortality of the soul. Masonry (or Freemasonry) claims to be the friend of Christianity, and yet it contains doctrines that are contrary to biblical teaching. As unpleasant as it may be, it is the obligation of the discerning Christian to point this out, both for the sake of the hundreds of thousands of Christian Masons and for those who might yet become Masons. The Masonic ritual (i.e., Masonry's ceremonial rites of initiation that all Masons must pass through) of the First, Second, and Third Degrees teach all Masons exactly what God condemns as a false gospel, namely that a person is saved and goes to heaven as a result of his or her personal character and good works. As all Christians know, the Bible places such a teaching under God's curse. Paul said in Galatians 1:8&9:
”But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a
gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As
we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel
contrary to that we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
The Bible clearly teaches how a man is saved:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not as a result of works,
that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9. See also John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47;
Rom.3:28-29; 4:6; 11:6).
Proof of Masonry's false gospel can be found in standard "Monitors" the
official textbooks containing authoritative Masonic ritual which are more or
less uniform for each state. In the ritual, 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" {Code Revision
Committee, Masonic Manual of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, Free and Accepted
Masons, 10th ed. (n.p.: Grand Lodge of the State of Georgia, 1983), pg.17.}
In the Second Degree (the Fellow
Craft Degree) and elsewhere the candidate is instructed further in the
importance of the lambskin as follows: "You are to wear it as an emblem of that
purity of heart and conscience that is necessary to obtain for you the approval
of the Grand Architect of the Universe”. Moreover, as even some Masonic
authorities have admitted, Masonry has, in all, some 40 degrees implying or
teaching its candidates salvation by personal merit.
Is Freemasonry a Religion?
Below are some quotes of leading Masons throughout it’s history:
Albert Mackey: “Religion and Masonry are the purest form of Theism”
(Masonic Lexicon)
Albert Pike: “Every Masonic lodge is a temple of religion, and its
teachings are instructions in religion” (Morals and Dogma. Pg.213)
J.S.M.Ward: ”I consider Freemasonry is a
sufficiently organized school of mysticism to be entitled to be called a
religion” (Freemasonry, Its Aims and Ideals. Pg. 185)
Frank C.Higgins: “It is true that
Freemasonry is the parent of all religions” (Ancient Freemasonry. pg. 10)
Norman Vincent Peale: “I consider Masonry to be the purest form of
religion on earth” (Masonic Monitor, May 1992 pg.17) {NB: Norman Vincent
Peale was a 33rd Degree Freemason and held the title of “Worshipful Master”}
Degrees of Freemasonry
In this diagram are listed all the degrees. Only the Scottish Rite lists it’s degrees by number, the York Rite designates it’s degrees by name. Only where there are differences in level titles I have included both York and Scottish.
|
Blue Lodge |
1. Entered Apprentice | |
2. Fellow Craft | |
3. Master Mason | |
York Rite (Chapter Capitular Degrees) |
Scottish Rite (Lodge of Perfection) |
Mark Master | 4. Secret Master |
5. Perfect Master | |
6. Intimate Secretary | |
Past Master | 7. Provost & Judge |
8. Intendant of the Building | |
9. Elu of the Nine | |
10. Elu of the Fifteen | |
Most Excellent Master | 11. Elu of the Twelve |
12. Master Architect | |
13. Royal Arch of Solomon | |
Royal Arch Mason | 14. Perfect Elu |
Chapter Rose Croix |
|
15. Knight of the East (or Sword) | |
Council (Cryptic degrees) | 16. Prince of Jerusalem |
Royal Master | 17. Knight of the East & West |
18. Knight Rose Croix | |
Council of Kadosh |
|
19. Grand Pontiff | |
Select Master | 20. Master of the Symbolic Lodge |
21. Noachite (or Prussian) Knight | |
22. Knight of the Royal Axe | |
Super Excellent Master | 23. Chief of the Tabernacle |
Commandery (Chivalric Degrees) | 24. Prince of the Tabernacle |
25. Knight of the Brazen Serpent | |
26. Prince of Mercy | |
27. Knight Commander of the Temple | |
28. Knight of the Sun | |
Order of the Knights of Malta | 29. Knight of St.Andrew |
30. Knight Kadosh | |
Consistory |
|
31. Inspector Inquisitor | |
Order of the Knights Templar | 32. Master of the Royal Secret |
Commandery | 33. Active (or Honorary) |
What Do Churches Say?
Interestingly, throughout Bible believing Christian churches, Freemasonry is
warned against. Throughout Bible believing churches, Masonic converts are
instructed to sever ties with Masonry and repent of worshiping at strange
altars. Only ‘nominal’ or liberal churches worldwide don’t appear to care if
their members are Masons. The Unitarian and Universalism cults almost encourage
members to join. In the late 1990’s the Assemblies of God churches put together
a 700 page report outlining their reasons for banning Freemasonry from among
Christian Churches and distributed literature throughout churches in America to
make people aware of the evils of Masonry. As a result many churches put
together papers stating why their members cannot be Christians as well as
Masons. The Board of the Southern Baptists on the other hand have made being a
member of Freemasonry a matter of conscience, (about 35% of Southern Baptists
are Freemasons). The Roman Catholic church’s ban on
Freemasonry was lifted by Papal decree on 25 Jan 1983, allowing members to join
if they so wished.
‘First Day of Issue’ cover envelope from Vatican City announcing the ban on Freemasonry lifted by Papal decree
It is also estimated that roughly 30% of the Church of England members and
leaders are Masons. The current Archbishop of Canterbury has come out against
Freemasons and will not allow Masons to hold any high offices within the church
(that is above Bishop!). This same Archbishop was ceremonially ordained and
anointed a ‘High Druid’ in Wales on the day before his inaugural ceremony, such
confusion!.
What Does Freemasonry Teach?
Masonry teaches that individuals may be saved by being good members of their
respective religions, whether Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, or other. For
example, Dr. Jim Tresner, director of the Masonic
Leadership Institute, affirmed that Masonry “..leaves
the member to devote himself to his own religious faith to receive salvation.”
{Jim Tresner, Conscience and the
Craft, The Scottish Rite Journal, February 1993, pg.23.}
The Masonic God
During the ritual, Masonry has its candidates swear that they believe in God,
typically called the "Great Architect of the Universe." or G.A.O.T.U. It also
informs them that all Masons are to bow before the sacred name of Deity, and
explains that all Masons of every country, religion, and opinion are united in
the belief that they have been created by one Almighty Parent. The question is,
Is this Almighty Parent or Great Architect the God of
the Masonic Lodge also the God of the Bible? The answer is clearly
No.
In the "Masonic Bible," (published by the A. J. Holman Press), we are told this
"Almighty Parent is the one true God that all men worship. This is so
regardless of the name by which He is identified: Jehovah, Krishna, Buddha,
Allah, or some other". The Masonic Bible is actually the King James Version
bound with a special cover stamped with the Masonic insignia. In the front of
this Bible there is a lengthy preface made up of articles concerning Masonry and
the Bible. One of these articles is entitled, "The Great Light in Masonry,"
written by Masonic authority Joseph Fort Newton, who states:
"For Masonry knows, what so many forget, that religions are many, but
religion is one, therefore, it [Masonry] invites to its altar men of all faiths,
knowing that, if they use different names for 'the nameless one of a hundred
names,' they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all" {Joseph Fort
Newton, "The Great Light in Masonry" "The Words of a Great Masonic Divine: The
Bible and Freemasonry, "The Holy Bible: The Great Light in Masonry (Nashville:
A.J.Holman, 1940), pg.3&4.}
But when a Hindu prays to Vishnu or Shiva, is he really praying to Jesus? When a
Muslim prays to Allah, is he really praying to Yahweh? When Buddhists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, and Mormons pray, are they really praying to the same God the
Christian prays to? The answer is no, because all
their doctrines, beliefs and 'revelations' of their god or gods are
diametrically opposed to the concept of God as revealed in the Bible.
Another Masonic authority, Carl H. Claudy, writes:
"The Mason must declare his faith in a Supreme Being before he may be
initiated. But note that he is not required to say, then or ever, what God. He
may name him as he will, think of him as he pleases; make him impersonal law or
personal and anthropomorphic; Freemasonry cares not, God, Great Architect of the
Universe, Grand Artificer, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Above, Jehovah,
Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, or Great Geometer." {Carl H.
Claudy, Introduction to Freemasonry, vol. 2
.Washington: The Temple, 1984, pg.110.}
And Carl H. Claudy also says elsewhere:
"Masonry does not specify any God of any creed; she requires merely that you
believe in some Deity, give him what name you will. A belief in God is essential
to a Mason, but any God will do, so long as he is your God." {Carl H.
Claudy, "Belief in God" in "A Master's Wages,"
Little Masonic Library, vol.4 Richmond: Macoy
Publishing, 1977, pg.32.}
Masonry therefore claims all people of varying faiths are really praying to the
one true God, the universal Father of humankind, regardless of the name they
give him. Nevertheless, this "Almighty Parent" of Masonry is a different God
than Christianity teaches, a fact conceded by both Masonic sympathizers as well
as Masons themselves. This is the ‘public face’ that Masonry gives of the god it
worships. In his encyclopaedia on Masonry, Masonic authority
Henry Wilson Coil refers to the Christian's Biblical God as "a
partisan, tribal God" and implies that such a God concept is far inferior to
the God of Masonry, which is: "A boundless, eternal, universal,
undenominational, and international, Divine Spirit,
so vastly removed from the speck called man, that He cannot be known, named, or
approached. So soon as man begins to laud his God and endow him with the most
perfect human attributes, such as justice, mercy, beneficence, etc., the Divine
essence is depreciated and despoiled. The Masonic test [for
membership] is a Supreme Being, and any qualification added is an innovation and
distortion." {Henry Wilson Coil, Coil's Masonic Encyclopaedia. New
York:Macoy Publishing and
Masonic Supply, 1961,pg. 516 & 517).
Coil even admits that "monotheism violates Masonic principles, for it
requires belief in a specific kind of Supreme Deity" {Ibid. pg. 517}. Of
course, at this point Coil has just excluded the God of biblical teaching and
Christian faith for being too specific despite the fact that he has ascribed a
specific doctrine of God (eternal, unknowable, etc.) to Masonry.
Albert Pike, Masonry’s ‘Theologian’ and writer of the standard work of
Freemasonry ‘Morals & Dogma’ held simultaneously the offices of Grandmaster of
the Central Directory of Washington, Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of
Charleston and Sovereign Pontiff of Universal Freemasonry. As a Masonic
authority he also denies the Christian's Biblical view of God. He argues that:
"If our conceptions of God are those of the ignorant, narrow minded, and
vindictive Israelite, we feel that it is an affront and an indignity to God."
{Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry. Charleston, SC: Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree for the Southern
Jurisdiction of the United States, 1927, pg.223}
Anyone who has ever read what Albert Pike and other Masons have taught about God
in the higher degrees of Masonry knows that the God of Masonry has nothing
whatever to do with the God of the Bible. For example, Pike categorized the
Biblical Christian view of God as "a false god and an idol" when he wrote
that:
"Every religion and every conception of God is idolatrous, insofar as it is
imperfect, and as it substitutes a feeble and temporary idea in the shrine of
that Undiscoverable Being of Masonry." {Ibid.516}
One of the disturbing ceremonies of the entrance to the ‘Royal Arch Degree’ is
when the candidate is asked “Brother Inspector, what are you?”. To which the
candidate must reply “I Am that I Am”. Why is this
disturbing? Read the reply God gives to Moses in Exodus 3:14:- “And God said
unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the
children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” When the Israelites
heard the Divine Name they knew Moses was sent from God. When Jesus said He was
the I AM in John 8:58 the
Pharasees picked up stones to kill Him. Why? because
He was claiming to be God,
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham
was, I AM.”. Jesus claim to Deity wasn’t a lie, He was, is, and always will be
God, and there is no other who can say they are the “I AM” except God. So
Masonry makes a candidate to the Royal Arch Degree claim he is God? Very
disturbing and not a title any real Christian or Jew could ever claim.
{As a side note, some false religious teachers like Shirley McClaine and ‘pseudo christians’ like Robert Schuller (who incidently is a 33rd degree freemason), Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn all encourage the chanting of a mantra saying “I AM” and believing we are a God, equal in all ways to Jesus. This is a serious matter and I wouldn’t include it unless I could back it up so here’s the evidence:
Kenneth Copeland says: When I read in the Bible where He says, "I AM I just smile and say, Yes, I AM, too." Believers Voice of Victory broadcast July 9 1987
Benny Hinn says: Don't tell me you have Jesus. You are everything He was and everything He is and ever shall be..... Don't say, 'I have.' Say "I AM, I AM, I AM, I AM, I AM". (Our Position in Christ #2-The Word Made Flesh audiotape Side 2 1991)}
If Masonry rejects the God of Christianity, how can it logically claim to be
the true friend of Christian faith? to say that it is
a friend of the Christian faith is a bare faced lie. Further, if it offers an
unknowable, unapproachable, and undiscoverable God beyond the different concepts
of God found in other religions, how can it appropriately or logically ask the
men of those religions to join its local lodges? Masonry does this because it
seeks to develop a worldwide religious brotherhood beyond the sectarian
religious beliefs of humankind. To further this goal it must, at one level,
accept all religions, while simultaneously pointing and leading to a "higher"
truth beyond separatist religion, a truth that is capable of uniting all men in
a common universal brotherhood, that is, the fraternity of Masonry. Masonry
therefore encourages all members of different religions to pray to and worship
their own respective gods: Brahma, Krishna, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah, Vishnu,
Jesus, and so forth. This is the means by which Masonry can appeal to the
members of all the different religions in the world and attempt to unite them in
a universal "common brotherhood."
But then Masons cannot possibly all be praying to the same God because all these
gods are different in nature and in what they expect of humans (if they expect
anything). In other words, the Masonic doctrine of the spiritual "Fatherhood of
God and Brotherhood of man" is only valid if there is some larger God beyond the
contradictory lesser gods that people worship. On the one hand Masonry claims it
is an organization of tolerance that accepts the different religions of all
people; on the other hand, it offers a supreme God that is supposedly the one
true God that all people are really praying to, who is beyond the inferior,
primitive concepts of individual religion whether Christian, Hindu, Islamic,
Buddhist, or any other.
At whatever level Masonry approaches God, however,
its theology presents irresolvable conflicts for the Christian. If the Christian
God is merely an
inferior and false concept, then Masonry denies that the God of the Bible is the
one true God. Further, if Masonry points Christians to an unknowable "Almighty
Parent beyond all religion", then it encourages Masons to worship a false
god, and this is idolatry. This violates the first commandment in which God
warned His people, "You shall have no other gods before Me"
(Exodus. 20:4 & Deut.13:1&5). Another interesting point Christians have noted is
how the name of Jesus is not allowed to be mentioned in prayers, and His Deity
is denied.
At the 28th Masonic degree the Mason cannot advance further unless he swears
an oath to turn his back on any of his previous religious beliefs and call them
pagan superstitions. Again one must ask "Is Freemasonry the friend of
Christianity it claims to be?" The answer is a definite and resounding "NO".
A Small Sampling of Masonic Secret Oaths:
As Freemasonry is a secret society with its secret rituals and symbols, many
of their doctrines and beliefs are hidden and revealed only to those who are
worthy enough and have reached the higher degrees of 30+. Many of the teachings
are not recorded, but passed on from mouth to mouth and are memorized. The long
held secret of the god whom the Masons worship, began to surface only within the
last decade. The reason for this is that Masons swear they will have their
tongue ripped out and their entrails spilled if they reveal any of the secrets
of the craft. Here is an example of an Entered Apprentice’s Oath:
"I [NAME] of my own free will and accord. in the presence of Almighty God
and this Worshipful Lodge, erected to Him and dedicated to the Holy Saint John.
Do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will
always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secret arts, parts, or
points of the hidden mysteries of Ancient Freemasonry. which have been
heretofore, may at this time, or shall at any future period be communicated to
me as such, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be a true and lawful
brother Mason, or within a regularly constituted Lodge of Masons. and neither
unto him or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or legal information I
shall have found him or them lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself. I
furthermore promise and swear that I will not. write, print, paint, stamp,
stain, cut, carve, make, nor engrave them, nor cause the same to be done upon
anything movable or immovable, capable of receiving the least impression of a
word, syllable, letter or character, whereby the same may become legible or
intelligible to any person under the canopy of heaven, and the secrets of
Freemasonry be thereby unlawfully obtained through my unworthiness. To all of
this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast
resolution to keep and perform the same without any equivocation, mental
reservation, or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less
a penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its
roots and buried in rough sands of the sea at low water mark where tide ebbs
and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly or willingly
violate this my solemn oath or obligation as an Entered Apprentice Mason. So
help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.”
(Duncan, Masonic Ritual and Monitor pg 35-36).
The Master Mason’s Oaths include these vows: I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by all laws, rules and regulations of the Master Mason’s Degree, and of the lodge of which I may hereafter become a member as far as the same shall come to my knowledge; and that I will ever maintain and support the constitution, laws, and edicts under which the same shall be holden. Further, that I will acknowledge and obey all the signs and summonses sent to me from a Master Masons’ Lodge, or given me by a brother of that degree. Further, that I will keep a worthy brother master mason’s secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted. Binding myself, under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly violate this my Master Mason’s obligation. So help me God. (Duncan, Masonic Ritual and Monitor pg.95-95)
An Excerpt taken from the Initiation of the 10th Degree of the Scottish Rite: I do promise and swear on the Holy Bible to keep exactly in my heart all the secrets that shall be revealed to me. And in failure of this my obligation , I consent to having my body opened perpendicularly, and to be exposed for eight hours in the open air, that the venomous flies may eat of my entrails, my head be cut off and put on the highest pinnacle of the world, and I will always be ready to inflict the same punishment on those who shall disclose this degree and break this obligation. So may God help and maintain me. Amen. (Blanchard. Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated, Vol .1. Pg 196)
NB: During the above initiation ceremony, a dagger (or poniard) is pointed at the chin and drawn down the chest to the waist as if the abdomen was being ripped open to symbolise the seriousness of the oath.
From the 17th Degree initiation of the Scottish Rite: I ____________ do promise and solemnly swear and declare in the awful presence of the Only One Most Holy Puissant Almighty and Most Merciful Grand Architect of Heaven and Earth that I will never reveal to any person whomsoever below me the secrets of this degree which is now to be communicated to me, under the penalty of not only being dishonoured, but to consider my life as immediate forfeiture, and that to be taken from me with all the torture and pains to be inflicted in manner as I have consented to in the preceding degrees. (Blanchard. Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated, Vol .1. Pg 448)
NB: During this ritual a skull is placed on a blood stained cloth and the Initiate is told this: “The skull is the image of a brother who is excluded from a Lodge or Council. The cloth stained with blood, that we should not hesitate to spill ours for the good of Masonry”.
From the 18th Degree of the Scottish initiation Rite: I ___________ do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear under the penalty of all my former obligations which I have taken in the preceding degrees, never to reveal directly or indirectly, the secrets or mysteries of this degree under the penalty of being forever deprived of the true word, to be perpetually in darkness, my blood continually from my body, to suffer without intermission the cruel remorse of soul; that the bitterest gall, mixed with vinegar, be my constant drink; the sharpest thorns for my pillow and that the death of the cross may complete my punishment should I ever infringe or violate in any manner or form the laws and rules which have been, are now, or may be hereafter made known or prescribed to me. And I do furthermore swear, promise and engage on my sacred word of honour, to observe and obey all the decrees which may be transmitted to me by the Grand Inspectors General in Supreme Council of the thirty third degree. So help me God and keep me steadfast in this my solemn obligation, Amen. (Blanchard. Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated, Vol .1. Pg 473)
NB: For this oath the candidate kneels on the step to the altar with his right hand on a Bible or whatever holy book he chooses (Koran, Vedas, Teachings of Buddha etc.)
Excerpt from the 30th Degree initiation rite of the Scottish Rite: I ____________ of my own free will and accord, do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear to keep faithful the secrets of the sublime degree of Knights Kadosh and strictly to obey the statutes of the order. All of which I promise to do, under the penalty of death. So help me God. (Blanchard. Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated, Vol .2. Pg 269-270)
NB: During this initiation the Grand Provost of Justice holds the point of his sword to the heart of the candidate who is taking the oath. He then says:
“When your rashness prompted you to enter this awful sanctuary, you were no doubt informed of the danger which threatened you, and of the trials which still await you. Swear therefore, upon your word of honour, never to reveal what you have seen or heard hitherto. Forget not that the slightest indiscretion will cost your life. Are you still willing to proceed?” (Blanchard. Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated, Vol .2. Pg 275)
The True god or gods of Freemasonry
The secret name for the god of the Freemasons is “Jahbulon” or “Yahbulon”. This
is a compound name taken from “Jehovah or Yahweh” the Christian God, “Bul”
from the ancient pagan fertility god “Baal” and “On” from the ancient Egyptian
god "Osiris". Albert Pike let ‘the cat out of the bag in his secret instructions
for 30th 31st and 32nd degree Freemasons:
That which we must say to the crowd is - We worship a God, but it is the God
one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we
say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st, and 30th
degrees - the Masonic religion should be, by all us initiates of the high
degrees, maintained in the purity of the Lucifererian doctrine. If Lucifer were
not God, would Adonay (The God of the Christians)
whose deeds prove his cruelty, perfidy, and hatred of man, barbarism and
repulsion for science, would Adonay and his priests
calumniate him? Yes, Lucifer is God and unfortunately
Adonay is also God. For the eternal law is that there is no light
without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the
absolute can only exist as two Gods: darkness being necessary to light to serve
as its foil as the pedestal is necessary to the statue, and the brake to the
locomotive. In analogical and universal dynamics one can only lean on that which
will resist. Thus the universe is balanced by two forces which maintain its
equilibrium: the force of attraction and that of repulsion. These two forces
exist in physics, philosophy and religion. And the scientific reality of the
divine dualism is demonstrated by the phenomena of polarity and by the universal
law of sympathies and antipathies. That is why intelligent disciples of
Zoroaster, as well as, after them, the Gnostics, the Manicheans and the
Templars have admitted, as the only logical
metaphysical conception, the system of two divine principals fighting eternally,
and one cannot believe the one inferior in power to the other. Thus, the
doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and philosophic religion is the
belief in Lucifer, the equal Adonay; but Lucifer,
God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against
Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil.
This pretty much shows that the Freemasonry doesn’t hold to the doctrine of
the Trinity, and believe in a dualistic god / devil balance of power in the
universe, like the pagan Gnosticism. Also since Lucifer or Satan is nothing more
than a created and fallen angel according to the Bible, it appears freemasonry
elevates him to godhood, worshipping and calling the Devil 'God'. Again remember
this isn't an opinion, it comes from the Masonic Authority Albert Pike himself.
Sample ‘PublicOaths’
This is the first degree charge, an oath that the public are allowed to see and
believe the Masons to be a normal fraternal organization. Masons don’t mind this
oath being seen by the public, but compare it to the blood curdling secret oaths
listed above. This clearly shows the deception that Freemasonry is willing to
foist on the unsuspecting public in order to make themselves appear to be
nothing but a fraternal and
beneficial men’s organisation.
Brother __________, as you are now introduced into the first principals of
Masonry, we congratulate you on being accepted into the ancient and honourable
fraternity; ancient as having existed from time immemorial; and honouring as
tending in every particular so to render all men who will be conformable to its
precepts. No institution was ever raised on a better principal or more solid
foundation, nor were ever more excellent rules and useful maxims laid down, than
are inculcated in several Masonic lectures. The greatest and best of men in all
ages, have been promoters and encouragers of the art, and they have never deemed
it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the fraternity, extend
their privileges and patronise their assemblies. There are three great duties,
which as a Mason, you are charged to inculcate; to God, to your neighbour and to
yourself. To God in never mentioning His name, but that reverential awe which is
due from a creature to his creator, to implore his aid in all your laudable
undertakings, and to esteem him as the chief good; to your neighbour in acting
upon the square, and doing unto him as you wish he would do unto you; and to
yourself, in avoiding all irregularity and intemperance which may impair your
faculties or debase the dignity of your profession. A zealous attachment to
these duties will insure public and private esteem. In the state you are to be a
quiet and peaceful subject, true to your government and just to your country.
You are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to
legal authority and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country
in which you live. In your outward demeanour, be particularly careful to avoid
censure and reproach. Although your frequent appearance at our regular meetings
is earnestly solicited, yet it is not meant that Masonry should interfere with
your necessary vocation, for these are on no account to be neglected, neither
are you to suffer your zeal for the institution to lead you into argument with
those who through ignorance may ridicule it. At your leisure hours, that you may
improve in Masonic knowledge, you are to converse with well-informed brethren,
who will always be as ready to give as you will be to receive instruction.
Finally, keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of the fraternity, as these
are to distinguish you from the rest of the community and mark your consequences
among Masons. If, in the circle of your acquaintances you find a person desirous
of being initiated into Masonry, be particularly attentive not to recommend him
unless you are convinced he will conform to our rules, that the honour, glory
and reputation of the institution may be firmly established and the world at
large convinced of its good effects.”
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