Masons and the church

I can't speak for American Masonry, but global masonry has no church affiliation. Church attendance is encouraged. My former lodge held one church session each year and is was in an Anglican Church.

Our saying is, "If you want to be a mason, ask one." This sign is on motorcar bumpers all over the place. We wear masonic rings in public and other attire. What's so secret about that?

If someone sincerely wanted to know about masonry, I would gladly tell him.

The so-called secrecy is over played by outsiders and it was very true in the early days when masons were in danger for their lives, as were fundamental Christians.

Masonry has never affected my theological viewpoints, never. The Shriners is a different matter and is a separate organizations to Free Masons.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Free Masonry started as a Mideval Trade Union that somehow fancied themselves related to the Knights Templar even though they were started in Scotland and the Knights headquarters were in France. Because of this fancied relationship they Hate the Catholic Church so none of its members can be Catholic. Since it was founded in Scotland I presume most of its members are prebyterian. However, they include symbols from the East and Eastern Mysticism. They make oaths that if not followed its upon the pain of death. Initially, they excluded other races (and some groups even now do that). However, that has recently stopped (not everywhere) because of society. They promote Good ole boy mentality and ultimately I see them similar to old Roman Mystery Religions. I know there are good people in Masonry. I also know there are racist in Masonry. I know there are several versions of Masonry even one for black people. Why do you think that is? Because there was this element in it.

 

Are you willing to post here the initiation ritual into the first degree (assuming you did something like this)?

I don't think openly wearing the ring is revealing any secrets - nor is using the symbol on various buildings (several hardware stores around here have the Masonic symbol on them). If there is no secrecy, why take an oath not to reveal secrets?

 

We used to have several vocal Mason apologists in the Other Denominations forum. I don't know if they left because they gave up or were banned.

 

I would not discuss masonry on the net. It is not worth it.

The first three degrees are initiatory. There is no threat of death for disclosing secrets. That is silly.

There are some Catholics in Free Masonry. There are requirements, however. They, among a few other things, deny the confessional and the power of the pope.

The Church of England was strongly masonic and it is consider a "holy catholic church".

The lodge is more a fellowship and charitable source than anything else.

The so-called secrets are more to prevent infiltration by undesirables than anything else.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I never said there was a threat of death. I just asked if you were willing to post how the ritual into the first degree is done. I guess not. I guess it is a secret.

"Undesirables?" Like whom? What damage would be done by "infiltration" or revealing the "secrets?"

 

The bottom line is this is a free country. You are free to join any club you wish, the Masons, the Lions, Elks, or the Mickey Mouse Club. It is a reflection on you and no one else who you associate your name with.

I am not sure, but I do not think the Mickey Mouse Club has many secret oaths or distress signals.

 

Sorry Jim, I was harsh on the Masons. I personally don't find them compatable with Christianity. Though that doesn't diminish their Charitable contributions and that the majority of their membership are fine men with good Standards.

 

I'm the one who stated it based on information I recieved. I'm sure the "undesirables" are men who do not have moral standards (or substantial income...that bit was a joke.). I'm certain they want serious men to participate. In this day and age fraternities seem to be desireable because of many changes in society plus instinctually men like participating in fraternity.

 

Not the whole truth and nothing but the truth, eh Jim?
A partial truth which misleads those who don't know better is not the truth; so your statement still contains the secret, which you obey over the light of day and an open honesty towards a brotherhood on this forum greater and more precious.... bought with the very blood of Jesus.


Seems to me if an initiate is taking an oath......not of his own making and free accord but one which is already written and posted on the internet....an oath whereby he swears to not divulge secrets in any manner or form, which includes a penalty of torture and murderous design which would usually require an accomplice to carry it out...... and this in the presence and secrecy of others present........ the very penalty he accepts in the oath is death..... and the very accomplices are implied in the witness of 'brethern' in secret.

The truth is that while you may feel a confidence and assurance that should any secret escape you in any form.... no harm would come to you because your lodge brothers are Christian, or so you supposed, and therefore obediant to the law of God and his 10 commandments..... you have no certainty of the conscience of another brother who under another religion may have no constraints upon his actions.

But another truth, relative to a compassionate stance towards you is presented by your posting here with your picture.... and the fact that you have increased your vunerablity to such action, even by a stranger who might consider it his duty to the lodge....... to perform such action should you divulge the secrets openly and here. The membership on this board are no threat to you, but you know that it is a public forum with visitors of unknown backgrounds and motives.

Perhaps, better for you that you say nothing to defend masonry, than attempt to defend it with half truths and risks that you might falter and divulge some secret which could become a threat to you by some outside party connected to your brotherhood of the lodge but haveing no connection to the Christian God.
It is better to not attempt a defense when your speech is so briddled by oaths than to speak in half-truths which defend masonry and may mislead brothers in Christ.

 

I'm waiting to see if Jim or another defender of Masonry will answer my questions.

 

If both George Washington & Jim were masons....whats the problem.

 

:thumbs::thumbs: If its a GM product, probably wont work right anyway.

 

Huh, my uncle Pasquale was a mason & a devout Catholic....up until the RCC excommunicated him for being a mason

 

I voted "other answer". It's up to the conscience of the individual.

When I was a boy, my step-father went to jail and my mother and the other 5 kids had to live in a housing project called "The Irish Channel" off of Jackson Avenue - not a nice place, in New Orleans.

The local Mason lodge (maybe they were Shriners) periodically brought us baskets of food, clothing and a few toys. It was greatly appreciated as we were destitute.

That's all I have to say about the Free Masons.

HankD

 

I was a Mason for some 30 years, (32nd Degree). Most of this time was as a 3rd Degree ( the majority of mason go no higher then the 3rd Degree and are not exposed to the dogma of Albert Pike and other such writers.) but as I progressed in Scottish Rite I found things that I was not comfortable with, one a particular was part in the 18th Degree "We do not assert that He (Christ) was in the begininng with God and was God". Although the verbage went on th state "and as little do we deny it." I still was uncomfortable in this statement. I did assert that. Another thing I became aware of was the SR view of education of our children. They believed strongly in Public (government) Schools vs private or christian.
I would be amiss if I failed to say that I made some lasting relationships with some of those who were in the Masons.
I felt led by the Holy Spirit to have my name expunged from the Masonis Rolls.
In my Church (SBC) we have many persons who are practicing Masons and serve as Deacons. I do not quarrell or judge these. I did what I felt I was led to do.

 

The masons are a false religious cult. Anyone who has risen far into masonry, as I have seen here, and finds no contradiction, is either a liar, stupid or purposely ignorant of what they are about.
Just to become a mason, one of the initial things one must do is to kneel at an altar before the master mason and confess that they are in darkness, and are in need of the light of masonry. To do so is to fall into false worship and disobey Christ, who said, "Call no man your master" save for Him. A Christian cannot serve two masters, and to try is to place one above the other. If a Christian can kneel before ANY man and call him master, he is a false Christian.

To take a blood oath, promising to have your throat slit, your tongue torn out and buried in the rough sends of the sea, your chest ripped open and heart given to the beasts of the field, your body torn in half and organs burned, is to ignore the word of God, wherein we are told that anyone who destroys the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, him will God destroy. A Christian has NO right to make such an oath, because his body does not belong to himself.

God: To the Masons, the triune God consists not of Father Son and Spirit, but of Jehovah, Baal and Osiris. Yeah-that's good for a Christian to be involved with. he also has a name: Abaddon. That's right, the god of the Masons also goes by the same name as the angel who rules the bottomless pit in Revelation!

The symbol: The square and compass, with the 'G' between them, represent this: the square, on the bottom, represents the earth, which is female, a female reclining below the man with legs open. The compass is the Sun, man, above the woman, coming down upon her. The "G" represents the 'Generative Principle", the male organ, with which the Male impregnates the female, and thus, eternal life is gained, supposedly, through the work of the Masons.

As for Albert Pike, individuals may have their feelings about the guy, but his 'Morals and Dogmas' are still a guiding principle for the organization, and the leaders of the cult hold him in high esteem. There is even a lodge named after him. Its rather like the 7th Day Adventists who insist that Ellen White is no longer followed, and yet, her writings are still held as true and followed officially in the church doctrines.

And don't even get me started on the Shriners!

What's wrong with the masons? I ask, what's right about them?