I guess most Americans have been as frustrated as I over hijacking of aircraft. The mentality of the modern terrorist is difficult to understand. It seems apparent to me, at least, that the difficulty in dealing with this matter is the traditional difficulty that comes when civilized people try to deal with those who are uncivilized. There have been many examples of the uncivilized behavior of these Shiite terrorists, as well as the other terrorists the world has recently encountered.

To illustrate what I mean, one morning one of the hostage crewman aboard a TWA plane became ill. They contacted the control tower from the plane and told the tower they needed a doctor. However, all of the major news networks said they gave instructions to the doctor to "keep his mouth shut" and not talk to the press about the matter or they would "cut out his tongue or make his wife a widow." I was appalled at the mentality of such people. I can scarcely imagine a more brutal act than to cut out someone's tongue. This demonstrates the barbarian nature of those terrorists. I think most people in the world, because of such words and deeds, realize how difficult it is for our government to deal with such people.

However, as I thought about this, I realized that I had heard of the removal of a person's tongue in quite a different context. It is as barbaric in this context as it is with those hijackers.

Here is where the brutal, monstrous, horrid, shocking thought was first introduced to me. It is found in the rules of the masonic temples all over the country! As a person enters Masonry he passes through three Degrees. Each of these degrees symbolize achievement and understanding of the principles and ideals of Masonry. Some of this information is secretly given to the initiate. When those secrets are given to the person, he takes a vow that he will not divulge those secrets and it is here that there is a comparison between Masonry and the terrorist hijackers of that TWA plane.

The first degree for the Mason is the Entered Apprentice at, Degree. He solemnly swears that he will in no way reveal any of the secrets and then he swears, "All 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 penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots and buried in the rough sands of the sea at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly violate this my solemn obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason. So help me God, and keep me in the due performance of the same" (Handbook of Freemasonry, by Edmond Ronayne, p. 70).

In the next degree, the Fellow Craft Degree, he swears to keep the secrets, ". . . binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my breast torn open, my heart plucked out and given as a prey to the wild beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air" (Handbook of Freemasonry, by Edmond Ronayne,.p. 123).

The vow of the last degree, the Master Mason's Degree, he says, " . . . binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, and the ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven, that no trace or remembrance may be had of so vile and perjured a wretch as I, should I ever knowingly violate this my solemn obligation as a Master Mason. So help me God and keep me in the due performance of the same" (Handbook of Freemasonry, by Edmond Ronayne, p. 173).

I was just thinkin, isn't it strange that some Christians will get all worked up over some terrorists threatening to cut somebody's tongue out but he turns around and, in order to become a Mason, he vows that he will let his be torn out if he ever reveals the secrets of the Lodge. Why wouldn't the deeds by Masons be as barbaric as those by terrorists? And, how in the world can a Christian involve himself in such nonsense?

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 21, p. 659
November 3, 1988