My Opposition Weak at First

Ever since I obeyed the gospel, several years ago, I have heard brethren discuss the merits and demerits of Freemasonry. Some brethren opposed it and were apparently sincere in their opposition. Other brethren, some in the lodge and some out. favored it and were also apparently sincere in their contentions.

It had been argued that Christians could not be masons because masonry was another religious institution. But Masons steadfastly denied that masonry was a religious institution. It seemed that if it could be proven that masonry WAS a religious institution our brethren would hasten to get out of it.

Personally, I was convinced that the Masonic Lodge was no place for a Christian. But I couldn't PROVE it was a religious institution. Hence, I did not make a big fight against membership in it. But when the congregation where I preached began to be troubled by the question, I knew I had to find out about it. Consequently I went to the Masonic Home Journal (by telephone) and found that the following books "fairly represented" Masonic teaching:

1. The Kentucky Monitor, By Henry Pirtle.

2. Morals and Dogma, By Albert Pike.

3. Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, By Albert G. Mackey.

In addition to talking by phone to the Masonic Home Journal, I wrote a letter to The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, in Louisville, and specifically asked if these three works fairly represented Masonic teaching. The Grand Secretary of the Lodge answered and I have the letter. He declared that these works not only fairly represented Masonic teaching but that they were "standard and recommended."

From these three works (four books, the Encyclopedia is a two-volume set) which fairly represent masonry, which are standard and recommended, I received the greatest shock of my life. I learned, among other things, that:

1. The Masonic Lodge is a religious institution.

2. The Masonic Lodge is opened for religious purposes.

3. The Masonic Lodge has religious ceremonies.

4. Masonry produces a religious faith.

5. Masons engage in religious worship.

6. Masonry is a religion.

7. Masonry is a worship.

8. Masonry fits one for immortal nature.

9. The Masonic Lodge will lead to heaven.

10. Masonry builds a spiritual temple.

11. The Masonic Lodge has a Redeemer, a high Priest, a Creed, an altar, a Decalogue, and a crucifix.

12. Masons practice baptism, eat the Lord's Supper, burn incense, and keep Easter.

All of this, and more too! And the information comes not from a prejudiced preacher, nor from a man who has left the Lodge, nor from an enemy of the Mason's, nor from anybody's opinion or think so.

This information comes from books which the Masonic Home Journal and the Grand Lodge of Kentucky say are standard and recommended. They tell us these books fairly represent Masonic teaching. They tell us these books misrepresent Masonic teaching. No honest man will deny that the 12 things listed above are TRUE.

Quotations From These Works

The Kentucky Monitor; Page 28: "Masonry is a religious institution."

Morals and Dogma; Page 213: "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion." Page 526: "Masonry is a worship."

Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. 1; Page 50: I will paraphrase this item. ACG. The Masonic altar is for religious uses. It identifies Masonry as a religious institution. It is a part of a really religious worship. (Note: Though I paraphrased this item because of its length, the terms "religious uses," 'religious institution," and "really religious worship" are the words of the author and not me. ACG.) Page 253: "Freemasonry claims to be a religion."

Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Vol. 2; Page 532: The lodge is opened "for sacred and religious purposes. " Page 618: Masonry is "in every philosophical sense of the word, a religious institution." Page 618: Masonry is "eminently a religious institution." Page 619: "Masonry, then, is, indeed, a religious institution." Page 782: The theocratic philosophy of Freemasonry "will produce an active religious faith and lead in the end to "a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Look at that last statement again. Masonry produces the faith!!! And Masonry will lead to heaven! ! Not only is Masonry a religious institution. It is a FALSE religion! ! I am fully persuaded that one MUST come out of the Masonic Lodge to be saved.Just One-Question Remains to Be AnsweredHaving established, by authentic Masonic Books, that Masonry is a religion, one question remains to be answered. Why do sincere Christians (in the Blue Lodge--First three degrees) deny and continue to deny that masonry is a religion ? The answer comes from Morals and Dogma, and is as startling as anything I have ever read. Hear it, from page 819:

"The Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them, but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them. But their true explication is reserved for the Adapts, the Princes of Masonry. (Emphasis mine ACG.)

It is well enough for the mass of those called Masons, to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees; and whoso attempts to undeceive them will labor in vain...." (Emphasis mine ACG.)

There you have it. The Blue Degree Masons (which includes most church of Christ Masons) are MISLED and DECEIVED and only IMAGINE they understand masonry. The "higher-ups" in the Lodge boast that these people are SO COMPLETELY misled and deceived that we will labor in vain if we attempt to "undeceive" them! ! I disagree with them. I believe I can undeceive ALL honest Christians. I don't believe an honest Christian will stay in the Masonic Lodge when he sees it is a religious institution. If he does he had no business in the church in the first place! !

Brethren, it is not enough to say "I'll still shake hands with you." It's not enough to say, "I will not let Grider make up my mind." It is not enough to say, "I'll not take Grider's word for it." It is not enough to say, "I've heard you on that before." This is a matter of life and death. It is a matter of being saved or lost. I didn't know it before, but I DO KNOW IT NOW!! No man can possibly be saved and go to heaven in the Masonic Lodge. It is a FALSE, even a BLASPHEMOUS Religious Institution. Come out of her, my brethren. I am concerned about you. I love you.

Truth Magazine VI: 11, pp.15-16
August 1962