Truth Magazine

By Roland Worth, Jr.

“David Martin tells an interesting parable. He describes a time and a place where the elite of a society have become agnostic and skeptical. The masses are superstitious; the young either do not care about religion or are experimenting with strange oriental sects; political leadership pretends to be religious for its own purpose. Religious organizations continue to exist, but there is little of the prophetic about them in their ministry to the cultural and psychological needs of their members.

“Is this the decline of organized religion pictured in Harvey Cox’s The Secular City? Is this the beginning of religionless Christianity prophesied by Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Not exactly, for what Martin is talking about is the city of Rome in the year 30 A.D.” (Andrew M. Greeley, Religion in the Year 2000, Sheed and Ward, New York: 1969, p. 15).

The story is one worthy of being kept in mind whenever we hear the doomsayers speak of the dismal future ,of religion. Time and again the pessimists have spoken of the imminent collapse of all religious faith. Voltaire even predicted that within a century the only remaining Bibles would be found in museums. How wrong they were!

Part of our problem is that we have created a halo around the past. We take for granted that they were more “moral” than our own age. This myth of a “righteous past” is one reason we exaggerate the evils of our own age, as if ours were the worst that ever was. Let us briefly look at the past in order to keep things in perspective. Most of the leaders of the American Revolution were deists and only a very small percentage of the population claimed church membership in any form. One recent (and excellent) historian by the name of Rowland Berthoff estimates that “it was well before 1800, the earliest date for which a general estimate can be made, that church membership fell below 10 percent of the adult population” (An Unsettled People: Social Order and Disorder in American History, Harper and Row, Publishers, New York: 1971, page 235). In the 170O’s “half of the frontier ministers themselves lamentably had to be disciplined at one time or another for intemperance, wrangling, licentiousness, or heresy” (p. 241). The corruption of society had rubbed off on organized religion to a degree that we would consider shocking even today. During the 1800’s there was even a period in which there was “a vogue for illicit abortion” (p. 206).

Nor was the American family in all that great a shape. An Italian wrote in 1827 some words that sound strangely applicable to our own era, “In a large family the sons gather together at mealtime, each coming from his business; each enters the room, says not a word to father or brother; opens not his mouth, in fact, except to put something therein; devours in a few instants the few ill-cooked dishes, and whoever is first satisfied, without waiting till the others have finished, rises, takes his hat and is off” (pp. 206-207). Likewise families were, as today, child-centered to a fault in the mid-1800’s (pp. 214-215 ).

Times may be rotten and things gone to an extreme but there have been times in the past just as bad or even worse! That there will always be religious faith in some sense seems certain. However, whether there is a genuine, biblical faith is something we must decide by our conduct and conviction.

Truth Magazine XXII: 17, pp. 284-285
April 27, 1978

By E. N. Lovel

On February 20, 1978 the Kingdom of Jesus Christ; my Lord, suffered a great loss. It occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, at St. Thomas hospital, second floor surgical suite. There death came to my beloved friend, my fellow laborer, my co-worker, a great soldier, a Christian, Gilbert W. Holt.

His Operation And Death

I had car trouble that morning and arrived in a borrowed car about eleven o’clock. Fully an hour later than I had intended. Shortly thereafter, Gilbert and I had a few minutes with just the two of us and the Lord. I cherish those moments. I wish I had extended them just a little and said a few more things. I really never thought Gilbert would not make it. It was past noon when they came to take him to surgery. A host of friends were with the family. We were in a long line down the hall. Gilbert raised his hand to touch us, or wave as he passed by. We all went to lunch. Someone was in the proper waiting area at all times.

About seven p.m. word came. The by passes of those arteries near his heart were complete! All had gone well! He would be closed up in about an hour and a half. We all rejoiced and gave thanks. Brother A. C. Grider, who followed Gilbert at East Side, Shelbyville, Tennessee, remarked, “He’s on his way.” (Brother Grider had this surgery several months ago and has done wonderfully well.) Several of us left. A few minutes later there was a message for Gil (Gilbert and Bettye’s only son). They were having a problem and must notify a member of the family. My wife and I went with the family to a small waiting room in the surgical area. (Neither my wife nor I are part of the family. We just have a relationship as though we were.) All were anxious, “What could it be?” “Just some problem they are trying to work out,” Brother Dorris Rader sought to assure us. (He is Gil’s father-in-law, and preaches at Westwood, Tullahoma, Tennessee.) About 8:10, a nurse came from surgery. Gilbert’s heart was not taking the load. It was serious. They would notify us every fifteen or twenty minutes. About 8:30, one of the doctors on the team came. The problem continued. They had attached a booster or helping device, but his heart was still not taking the load. “Can’t you let him stay on the machine?”, Bettye asked. “The machine will save your life for a while. But, if you stay on it too long it will kill you. It beats up the blood,” the doctor explained. “How serious is it?” “Very serious.” “What are his chances?” “Slim.” He stayed a few minutes and left explaining that he would return to surgery for any further assistance he might be. It was nearing nine o’clock, I saw a man through a small glass in the door. His clothes told me he was from surgery. For the first time I felt Gilbert was not going to make it. “He’s coming,” I said. Every eye was on the doctor when he opened the door. Two words, “He’s gone.” Thus the life of a brave and gallant soldier of the cross, Gilbert W. Holt, was ended.

His Life

My friendship and co-labors with Brother Holt go back to our very early years. We both grew up in Limestone County, Alabama. We both had secular jobs for our living and preached with smaller congregations in that county. We both preached at the congregation where he grew up. Neither of us could now preach there. The influence of the present digression on that congregation prevented it. Since that time we have been through many things together. We have preached, prayed, wept, sung, fought for right, debated and been threatened with jail together.

We moved from Athens, Alabama within a week of each other to go into full-time work. He went to Illinois; I went to Kentucky. It was during this time that we were threatened with jail. Gilbert was in town for a meeting with us. When he came to our house so did his dear wife, Bettye and his adored children, Becky and Gil. Some of those people who preach on the court house lawn in the small towns on Saturday afternoon had been making their rounds. You know how they did, always taking up a collection. For some weeks I had spoken after they did. It was getting to them. Pressure was on the county judge. Gilbert and I were there that Saturday afternoon. I was speaking. The county judge sent the Chief of Police to pick us up. Gilbert kept telling them, “You can’t do that.” Of course, he meant it was not right, or legal or constitutional. But believe me they could do it. While the judge sat on his desk, the crowd whooped and hollered. Some leaned in through an open window to hear. The judge seemed ready to show the people a favor. If certain critical things had not happened as they did, I believe he would have locked us up as he threatened to do.

Gilbert had his first heart attack in Pekin, Illinois. He was twenty-seven. I was scheduled for a meeting there and arrived the next afternoon. He had gone through some difficult times with the brethren there. More than that, they were just completing a building program. Typical of his whole life, Gilbert had worked day and night on both of these things. He had a second heart attack there. He was teaching a Wednesday morning Bible class. At this time I was preaching in Washington, Illinois, in the same county as Pekin. This enabled us to again be with the Holt’s. The burden on his heart was great. The volume of work and hours spent in it were also great. He was ready to spend and be spent.

I later moved to Richmond, Indiana. Very shortly I began encouraging Gilbert to move to Cambridge City, Indiana. He had been in Pekin, his first full-time work, seven years. He left it in very good condition. I knew he could help save that congregation from institutionalism and other modernistic tendencies. He did. I failed to do the same in Richmond. From Cambridge City he moved to Clarksville, Tennessee. There were a handful of faithful brethren meeting in a rented store building. Before long, they were in a building program. Although they had some almost impossible hurdles, they did it. Again, Gilbert left the church in very good condition.

Next it was Shelbyville, Tennessee where much work was to be done within and without. Again by the grace of God, Gilbert was equal to the task. And again it was a building program. This brought about the East Side Church where Gilbert was when he left Shelbyville. They now aid in the support. of a number of men.

Some two and a half years ago Gilbert moved to Lewisburg, Tennessee, to work with the Hickory Heights Church. Once again a great and needed work was done. This is attested to by predecessors, elders, deacons and members of the Hickory Heights Church. Gilbert was thrilled this last year when he preached in a meeting where his parents now attend. His good wife, Bettye, plans to live in Lewisburg. His loving daughter, Becky Thompson lives there. Her husband, Dan, adored Gilbert. So did his daughter-in-law, Diana. His grandson, Danny Thompson, soon to be three, should faintly remember him. His other grandson, just ten days old when Gilbert died, will bear his name, Gilbert Wilkerson Holt III. Gil is in the process of moving to Dayton, Tennessee, to work with the church there. Even the undertaker said, “Gilbert was like Jesus, he would come into your heart if you would let him.”

Gilbert had rendered invaluable assistance to me in a debate last August. I was to assist him in debate this July. This was to be in the Gary-Hobart, Indiana area. Gilbert had worked long and hard just to get propositions signed. Please pray that this will go through with someone filling in where Gilbert would have been.

The Funeral

Funeral services were February 23rd at the building of the Hickory Heights congregation, Lewisburg. Another service was held at the building of the East Side Church in Athens, Alabama. The great number present at each service testified to the respect in which he was held. Some attended both places. Lessons were presented by Brother Dorris Rader, Brother Steve Patton (who said, “I was one of his Timothy’s”) and myself. Congregational singing was led in Lewisburg by Brother Marvin Andrews, an elder and song leader there. In Athens it was led by Brother Tom O’Neal, preacher at Bessemer, Alabama Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery in Athens, Alabama.

After the death of Moses, God charged Joshua, “Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people.” And so when one has fallen others must rise up and carry forth the work of our God. Indeed “A prince and a great man is fallen.” A man “of whom the world was not worthy.” Let us work diligently to the glory of our God. Let us pray for more who are so dedicated as was Gilbert Holt.

Truth Magazine XXII: 17, pp. 283-284
April 27, 1978

By Larry Ray Hafley

Funeral Service Postponed

The funeral for the body of “anti-ism” has been postponed-again. The corpse is most uncooperative. Every time a memorial service is announced, it blinks an eye or wiggles a big toe at a liberal mortician. The obituary columns in institutional papers are constantly embarrassed by a living subject. The pallbearers may die before they carry their subject to his “final resting place.” So, it is with but little surprise that we have heard muffled whispers about the death of “anti-ism” in Firm Foundation which is edited by Reuel Lemmons.

When Mark Twain read published accounts of his death, he wryly wrote that “the reports of my death have, been greatly exaggerated.” We are happy to say the same about the thing called “anti-ism.” Truth, like Mark Twain, cannot be slain with the wishful thinking jawbone of a typewriter.

Back To Basics

School systems all over the country are seeing the need to “get back to basics.” Student test scores have slipped and plummeted in the past few years. This has alarmed many. Are students today more dense? Hardly! Do they have less opportunity and / or inferior facilities? Certainly not! The solution is seen as simply getting back to the basic rudiments and elements of education.

Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach, was asked for his secret formula for success in the intricate, complex game of pro football. He said the answer was simple. His teams stressed the fundamentals. They could block and tackle better than anyone else. Every high school coach in the country knows that, but Lombardi did not forget it.

Is there a lesson for the Christian, for the local congregation in the last two paragraphs? Think. You make the application.

Truth Magazine XXII: 17, pp. 282-283
April 27, 1978

By Thomas G. ONeal

“A God”

As one enters Masonry, in the first degree, the Entered Apprentice, he is asked, “Do you seriously declare upon your honor, that you believe in a Supreme Being to whom all men are accountable?” (Tennessee Craftsman, page 6; emphasis mine, T.G.O.). This statement is found on page 7 of this same book, “The foundation on which Freemasonry rests is the belief in and acknowledgment of a Supreme Being.” Belief in “a Supreme Being” will do for “No atheist . . . can be made a Mason” (Ibid., page 15).

Dr. Albert Mackey says, “No disbeliever in the existence of a God can be made a Freemason.” (Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, page 847; emphasis mine, T.G.O.). One does not need to believe in Jehovah, just believe in “a God.” The reason for this is Masonry is a universal religion taking into its membership even those who believe in pagan gods. “Masonry, as I understand it, lays claim to embrace all truth …. As it has borrowed and preserved truths from all the religions and philosophies of the past” (Joseph E. Morcombe, A Library-of Freemasonry, Vol. 5, page 496). Dr. Mackey says, “If Freemasonry were simply a Christian institution; the Jew and the Moslem, the Braham and the Buddhist could not conscientiously partake of its illumination; but its universality is its boast” (Ibid., page 579; emphasis mine, T.G.O.). Albert Pike says, “It is the universal, eternal, immutable religion, such as God planted it in the heart of universal humanity” (Morals and Dogma, page 219; emphasis mine T.G.O.). Pike further says, “Masonry around whose altars the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahman, the followers of Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite in prayer to the one God who is above all the Baalim, must needs leave it to each of its Initiates to look for the foundation of his faith and hope to the written scriptures of his own religion” (Ibid., page 226). Pike again says, “Masonry also has her mission to perform. With her traditions reaching back to the earliest times, and her symbols dating further back than even the monumental history of Egypt extends, she invites all men of all religions to enlist under her banners and to war against evil, ignorance, and wrong” (Ibid., page 311; emphasis mine, T.G.O.). Again quoting Pike, he says, “Masonry propagates no creed except its own most simple and sublime one; that universal religion, taught by Nature and Reason. Its Lodges are neither Jewish, Moslem, nor Christian Temples. It reiterates the precepts of morality of all religions. It venerates the character and commends the teachings of the great and good of all ages and of all countries. It extracts the good and not the evil, the truth and not the error, from all creeds; and acknowledges that there is much which is good and true in all” (Ibid., page 718). Since Masonry embraces the religions of the world, it can not require belief in Jehovah for this would exclude the most of the world. In order to accept Masons who believe in pagans, they require belief in “a God” or “a Supreme Being.”

Masonry Offers Salvation

Being a religious institution, Masonry offers to the faithful Mason salvation in heaven at last. Dr. Mackey says, “The doctrine of a resurrection to a future and eternal life constitutes an indispensable portion of the religious faith of Freemasonry” (Ibid., page 851). Dr. Mackey quotes a Masonic writer as saying, “It is the Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry that commands our unqualified esteem, and seals in our heart that love for the Institution which will produce an active religious faith and practice, and leads in the end to ‘a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens’ ” (Ibid., page 1035).

“The Covering of a Lodge is no less than the clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive” (Kentucky Monitor, page 41). Masonry teaches that the redeemer of Masonry, Hiram Abiff, is “A kind messenger sent by our Supreme Grand Master to translate us from this imperfect to that allperfect, glorious, and celestial Lodge above, where the Great Architect of the Universe’ presides, forever reigns” (Kentucky Monitor, page 152; and Tennessee Craftsman, page 98).

Masonry teaches only Masons will be saved. Pike says, “Let him who toils complain not, nor feel humiliated! Let him look up, and see his fellowworkmen there ‘in God’s Eternity; they alone surviving there” (Ibid., page 343; emphasis is Pike’s, T.G.O.).

If salvation may be had in Masonry, then the Bible and the Lord’s Church would not be necessary. Jesus was to save people from sin (Matt. 1:21). Christ came to save the lost (Lk. 19:10). Christ shed his blood to save mankind (Matt. 26:28). Salvation can be had only in the name of Christ (Acts.4:12). Those who are saved, God adds to his church, not to Masonry (Acts 2:41, 47). Christ is the Savior of the body, which is his church (Eph. 5:23-27); therefore, Masonry is not necessary for salvation since men are reconciled unto God in the body of Christ (Eph. 2:13-16).

Since Masonry claims to be a universal religion, it is necessary to believe in “a Supreme Being” which any pagan does, but faith in Jehovah is not required. By being faithful to Masonic teaching, one is assured by them of salvation in the Lodge above.

Christ saves and those saved are added to his church. If men are saved by Christ, then Masonry is unnecessary. If men can be saved in Masonry, then Christ died in vain and his church was established in vain.

Christ saves; his Church is essential. Therefore, Masonry is just another human system, promising men salvation, but not able to save.

Some Doctrines of Masonry

(1) Masonry teaches Jesus Christ is not divine. “Divine or human, inspired or only a reforming Essene, it must be agreed that His teachings are far nobler, far purer, far less allayed with error and imperfections, far less of the earth earthly, than those of Socrates, Plato, Seneca, or Mahomet, or any of the great moralists and reformers of the world” (Albert Pike in Morals and Dogma, page 719). A human reformer teaching error and imperfections is the Masonic picture of Jesus.

(2) Masonry is greater than the Lord’s Church. “No institution was ever established on nobler principles, nor were ever more excellent rules and maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several Masonic Lectures” (Tennessee Craftsman, page 34 and Kentucky Monitor, pages 53-54).

(3) Masonry teaches a new birth. “Your reception within the lodge is . . . your introduction into the life of Masonry. It is a symbol of the agonies of the first death and of the throes of a new birth. 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 come inquiringly to our doors, seeking the new birth. 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 new life. And hence it was among the old Greeks the same word signified both “to die” and “to be initiated.” But death to him who believes in immortality is but a new birth. The world is left behind-the chains of error and ignorance which had previously restrained you in moral and intellectual captivity art- to be broken-the portal of the Temple of a Future Life has been thrown widely open, and Masonry stands before you in all the glory of its form and beauty, to be fully revealed, however, only when the new birth has been completely accomplished” (Kentucky Monitor, page 26-27; emphasis mine, T.G.O.).

(4) Masonry teaches the redeemer is Hiram Abiff instead of Jesus Christ. “All antiquity . . . 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, Kiountse; the Persians, Sosiosch; the Chaldeans, Dhouvanai; the Egyptians, Horus; Plato, Love; the Scandinavians, Balder; the Christians, Jesus; Masons, Hiram” (Kentucky Monitor, pages XIV-XV, emphasis mine, T.G.O ).

(5) Masonry practices baptism. In the 26th degree of Masonry, Albert Pike says, “Qu.What are the symbols of the purification necessary to make us perfect Masons? Ans. Lavation with pure water, or baptism; because to cleanse the body is emblematical of purifying the soul; and because it conduces to the bodily health, and virtue is the health of the soul, as sin and vice are its malady and sickness: — unction or anointing with oil; because thereby we are set apart and dedicated to the service and priesthood of the Beautiful, the True, and the Good” (Morals and Dogma, pages 538-539).

(6) Masonry observes a fraternal supper. In the 26th degree “Q u. What is to us the chief symbol of man’s ultimate redemption and regeneration? Ans. The fraternal supper, of bread which nourishes and of wine which refreshes and exhilarates, symbolical of the time to come, when all mankind shall be one great harmonious brotherhood …. To our Jewish Brethren this supper is symbolical of the Passover: to the Christian Mason of that eaten by Christ and His Disciples, when, celebrating the Passover” (Morals and Dogma, pages 539-540).

(7) Masonry teaches evolution. “For countless ages a fragment clings to its sun-a world in preparation; eventually it is thrown whirling into space to begin a separate existence-the birth of a world; the gases solidify, land and water appear-the period of development” (Kentucky Monitor, page 105).

The “Doctrine of Christ” in the Bible

In Section VI, “Some Doctrines of Masonry,” quotations were given to set forth in the language of Masonic authors their doctrine. Let us now contrast the error taught by Masons with the truth of Jesus Christ taught in the Bible.

(1) Jesus is divine. The Word was in the beginning with God, was God, all things were created by the Word; the Word became flesh and dwelt among man. Christ is divine (John 1:1-17). God said Jesus was God, thus divine (Heb. 1:5-8). Thomas said Jesus was divine (John 20:28). Peter said Christ was divine (Matt. 16:16).

(2) Christ’s Church is the greatest institution. The Church was in the mind of God from eternity (Eph. 3:811). This is not so of any other institution. Jesus purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28; Epb. 5:25). Masonry, nor any other institution, has been blood bought.

(3) The new birth puts one into the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus said one “born. again” would see the Kingdom of God, not Masonry (John 3:3). One born of water and the Spirit enters the Kingdom of God, not the Masonic Lodge (John 3:5). Peter said when one was “born again” they had been “redeemed”, had purified your souls,” had “obeyed the truth” and all of this by the preaching of the gospel (1 Pet. 1:18-25).

(4) Christ is our Redeemer. One has redemption through the blood of Christ, in Christ, by translation into the Kingdom (Col. 1:13-14). Redemption is “with the precious blood of Christ” “which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:18-25). Men are reconciled unto God (2 Cor. 5:17-21) not God reconciled unto men as Masonry teaches. Man, not God, sinned; therefore, man, not God needs to be reconciled.

(5) Baptism is into Christ. Men are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). They are baptized to be saved (Mk. 16:16) and “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). This is a burial in water (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12). Upon being raised, one is to walk a new life (Rom. 6:3-7) and not be hear some “secret words” like “Mah-hah-bone.”

(6) Christ put the Lord’s Supper in the Kingdom (Lk. 22:16). The Lord’s Supper is to be observed upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Its purpose is .not physical food but “in remembrance of me” (1 Cor: 11:24-25). What “supper” the Masonic Lodge eats is not the “Lord’s Supper” instituted by Christ for Christ did not put it in the Lodge.

(7) The World Was Created. “All things were made by him” (John 1:3). “God that made the world and all things therein” (Acts 17:24). God “created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:9). “All things were created” by Christ (Col. 1:16). Christ “made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2). God created man (Mt. 19:4; 1 Cor. 11:9); he did not evolve.

Truth Magazine XXII: 17, pp. 280-282
April 27, 1978