Useful links:
Sponsor MasonicSoftware.com
Freemasonry is not, in and of itself, a Chris-tian
organization. Rather, it is one that numbers among its members many who are
Christian. One of our great strengths is the ability to accept those of
differing faiths into our fellowship.
However, Freemasonry has come under attack from some
segments of Christianity, particular-ly those considered to be
“fundamentalists”.
It is to those members of the Masonic Frater-nity who are
Christian that this Short Talk is primarily addressed. Many Masons have had to
agonize over choosing between their Christian faith and their Masonic
membership, believing the two to be in conflict.
It is hoped that this Short Talk will be a source of
comfort and understanding to those who are in such turmoil as well as
informative and a guide to those who have questions about the role of the Mason
with respect to his religious beliefs.
This Short Talk is directly addressing the Chris-tian, but
the truth it contains applies to all who believe and serve one God!
·
Editor
Forrest D. Haggard was ordained by the Kansas Church of
Christ and is Founding Pastor of the Overland Park Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ) where he has served since 1953. He has been in the ministry for 44
years and a Master Mason for 43 years. He has served the Church by being
President of the World Convention of Churches of Christ (1975-1980) and
Freemasonry by being (Grand Master of Kansas 1974-75. He is both York Rite (Red
Cross) and Scottish Rite (33rd).
The recent revival, by fundamental Christianity, of
anti-Masonry has created a small storm within both religious and fraternal
circles. Over the past two years, I have listened to, watched on T.V. or read
every program, article and item con-cerning the modern day anti-Masonic movement
that has been called to my attention. It has been good for me. I have
re-examined my own membership in all of my “other than the Church” committments. I have reached a considered decision that
Freemasonry is not now and never has been detrimental to my Christian faith and
doctrine. In fact my fraternal relationships have strengthened and assisted me
in my ministry as well as in my personal faith and life.
I have found three predominent reasons for the existence of
the critics:
One. Personal and personality conflicts are present. Freemasonry is a human organization with
no claim to Divine origin. In any human organization you have human frailities. Where you have a structure you have
“assumed power or prestige” and with that you have conflicts. Some critics have
had a “bad experience” in their Masonic connections. (Just like local
congregations have people who came from some other church where things were
“bad”.)
Two: Political, social or religious dictatorships or
hierarchial structures cannot, in fact do not dare, tolerate differences of
opinion. They cannot afford any dissension or freedom of thought. Under their
rule, Freemasonry and all like groups, must be attacked or destroyed. Such
systems may claim to be open minded but they depend on their constituents or
followers to have minds closed to all but their own particular “way” or
doctrine. Freemasonry promotes freedom of thought and discussion.
Three. Money: I always listen and watch for the “bottom
line” whenever I am watching the “Christian” T.V. station or listening to a
“religious” broadcast. The bottom line is an appeal for membership in their
group and for support funds. In spite of all of the revelations of graft, greed,
corruption and immorality on the part of the hawkers of fundamental
Christianity, their kind continues. They are an embarrassment to the Church. I
have to assume that Satan rubs his hands in glee as their message of hate,
exclusiveness and divisiveness goes out to the public.
I call your attention to some other factors:
The same voice that speaks out against Freemasonry often
also speaks out against any other type, kind, style, or form of religious faith
other than their very own. The same families that have left my congregation
because I am a Freemason came to our Church because where they were was not of
the “true” faith. And they have already left where they went from my
congregation because that place was not the “true faith” either.
Remember that Freemasonry is not a single minded
organization. It is a multitude of
structures, groups, and units that are tied together by a common historical
tradition. We have no “one voice”, nor one leader, nor one ritual. Our critics
pick and choose their quotes or dramatizations from any era, source or supply
that meets their particular needs.
I have never argued with single minded fundamentalists.
They are always, ALWAYS, in their own mind, absolutely right. They must destroy
all other systems to prove their own right to ex-ist. They can always justify
their stance on the basis of their own interpretation of their Source (such as
the Word). And they need money to exist. If they cannot survive on their own,
then they must invade or utilize some already proven source (such as the type
and quality of people who make up most fraternal groups and most especially
Freemasonry).
I represent a whole host of competent hardworking ministers
who labor in a parish and who really carry the load of pastoral care and
concern. Many of us belong to fraternal, civic or community groups. We do so
with personal joy at the sense of unity, openness and sense of morality that
these groups promote. These groups
are not organized religion. They not only do not compete with the Christian
faith, but in reality are supportive of it. It is disturbing that the opponents
of Freemasonry are, in effect, attacking that which is supportive of Christian
faith. The “Christian” anti-masonic
leaders are not only inaccurate in their attack on Freemasonry but they are, in
my opinion, making a far more serious attack on the basic Christian faith under
whose banner they claim to operate.
How do I respond to these attacks? What do I say? I do not
respond directly to the attacker. The attacker is shrewd. He attacks the weak
spot of his enemy. In our case that weakest spot is not, as the attacker would
have you believe and thus defend, in our rituals, customs and traditions. It is
in the members themselves who have had only a ritualistic education about
Freemasonry.
Where Freemasonry has instructed its candidates in its
history, purpose and intent and where a local lodge is going about its business
with pride and dignity, there is very little that anti-Masonic groups can do to
destroy the Craft.
Statement of the Board of General Purposes
United Grand Lodge of England
June 12, 1985
In the light of recent comments on Free-masonry and
religion and inquiries to be held by various churches into the compatibility of
Freemasonry and Christianity, the Board has decided to issue the following
statement in amplification of that originally approved by Grand Lodge in
September 1962 and confirmed by Grand Lodge in December 1981.
BASIC STATEMENT—Freemasonry is not a religion, nor is it a
substitute for religion. It demands of its members belief in a Supreme Be-ing,
but provides no system of faith of its own.
Its rituals include prayers, but these relate only to the matter
instantly in hand and do not amount to the practice of religion.
Freemasonry is open to men of any faith, but religion may
not be discussed at its meetings.
THE SUPREME BEING—The names used for the Supreme Being
enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as they see Him)
without the terms of the prayer causing dissen-sion among them.
There is no Masonic God: a Freemason re-mains committed to
the God of the religion he professes.
Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being,
but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of
Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together.
There is therefore no composite Masonic God.
VOLUME OF THE SACRED LAW—An open
Volume of the Sacred Law is an essential part of every
Masonic meeting. The Volume of the Sacred Law to a Christian is the Bible; to
Free-masons of other faiths it is the book held holy by them.
THE OATHS OF FREEMASONRY—The obligations taken by
Freemasons are sworn on or involve the Volume of the Sacred Law. They are
undertakings to keep secret a Freemason’s means of recognition and to follow the
principles of Freemasonry. The physical penalties are simply symbolic. The
commitment to follow the prin-ciples of Freemasonry is deep, and entirely
ap-propriate to this form of obligation.
FREEMASONRY COMPARED WITH
RELIGION—Freemasonry lacks the basic
elements of religion:
(a) It has no dogma
or theology (and by for-bidding religious discussion at its meetings will not
allow a Masonic dogma to develop).
(b) It offers no
sacraments.
(c) It does not
claim to lead to salvation, by works, secret knowledge or any other means (the
secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition, not with
salvation).
FREEMASONRY SUPPORTS RELIGION—
Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious
practice, it ex-pects each member to follow his own faith, and to place his duty
to God (by whatever name He is known) above all other duties. Its moral
teachings are acceptable to all religious.
Why is a Master addressed as “Worshipful”?
Few Masonic matters are less understood by the non-Masonic
public than this. The word “worchyppe” or “worchyp” is Old English, and means
“greatly respected.” In the Wycliffe Bible “Honor thy father and thy mother”
appears as “Worchyp thy fadir and thy modir.” English and Canadian mayors are
still addressed, “Your Wor-ship.” In some of the Old Constitutions of Masonry is
the phrase, “Every Mason shall prefer his elder and put him to worship.”
“Worshipful,” therefore, in modern Masonry continues an
ancient word meaning “greatly respected.” A Grand Master is “Most Worship-ful,”
that is, “Most greatly respected” (except in Pennsylvania, where the Grand
Master is “Right Worshipful,” as are Pennsylvania’s and Texas’ Past Grand
Masters).
Source: ~SA Digest “101 Questions About Freem(lsonry”