This article is about the attraction and objections to freemasonry, as well as secret societies in general. 

Source: The Banner of Truth, 1986. 6 pages.

Freemasonry

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

This is the centenary year of the 1859 Revival. Accordingly, I have chosen as the main theme of our Lenten Sermons the subject of Revivals of Religion. This is a positive subject. But, as I once heard Bishop Taylor say, 'Every positive carries a corresponding negative', it is impossible fairly to consider Revivals of Religion without considering also its neg­ative — Perversions of Religion.

We are considering Freemasonry, under that title. I will give you three reasons for selecting Freemasonry:

  1. Because there are a number of young men in this Church who are eligible for membership. I feel that they should be forewarned of the danger confronting them.
     
  2. Because there are members of this Church who are already Freemasons. I can only hope that they are so because they have never seen the religious implications of their position — or they would resign from the Lodge at once.
     
  3. Because the Church of England as a whole is riddled from top to bottom with Freemasonry, and I consider it to be one of the most enervating and damaging influences with which we have to contend today, and one which may largely account for the lack of spiritual leadership and lack of doctrinal discrimination from which we are suffering so acutely.

Now, you may ask, how it is that so many honourable and respected gentlemen find their way into Freemasonry? I ask myself the same question.

  1. I think that many are attracted by the high moral ideals which the Craft seeks to promote — benevolence, brotherhood, tolerance, etc.
     
  2. Many by the philanthropic institutions — Masonic schools, hospitals, nursing homes; and the Benevolent Fund.
     
  3. Others by the air of mystery which surrounds the Craft, and the love of exclusivism.
     
  4. Others by the social side — the dressing up, the ceremonial, and the festivities.
     
  5. Yet others by the sense of comradeship. I will not say 'fellowship', for 'fellowship' can only exist between Christians.
     
  6. Some may regard it as a business asset. Masons will hotly deny this, and point out that it is 'unmasonic to use Masonry to promote business ends', and that they are required to swear on initiation that they are 'uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives'. Nevertheless, as 'Windex' points out in Light Visible — a book written in defence of Freemasonry — in certain circumstances Masons are under oath to favour each other. The second point of the 'Five points of Fellowship' in the 'Third Degree Obligation' includes an undertaking to support a brother Mason in all his laudable undertakings. This is capable of wide interpretation — very wide interpretation! — and receives it!

I must now tell you some of the many Christian objections that there are to Freemasonry.

The First Christian Objection to Freemasonry is that Secret Societies are Unscriptural.🔗

Jesus Christ did not found a secret society. On the contrary He said: John 18:20, 'I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the Temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing'. That cannot be said of the Freemasons, who prefer con­cealed light, closely shaded windows, a guarded door, and terrible oaths of secrecy.

Matthew 10:26-27, 'There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops'. Freemasons, do you 'preach upon the housetops' what you 'hear in the ear' in your Masonic Lodges? If not, why not?

The Second Christian Objection to Freemasonry is to the Undertaking of Rash Promises.🔗

One of the proposed Canons in the Canon Law Revision of the Church of England (69a) included a clause requiring ministers to subscribe to Canons 'as they have been or shall hereafter be passed...' It was rightly stigmatized 'the Immoral Canon', for it required a man to promise obedience in advance to unknown laws. It had to be dropped. But the very structure of the different degrees of Freemasonry rests upon such 'immoral' promises, for in one degree after another a man is required to bind himself in advance, by a solemn oath on the Bible, to secrecy and faithfulness in matters of which nothing is revealed to him previously.

It is true that the 'Worshipful Master' says to the candidate: 'Let me assure you that in these vows there is nothing incompatible with your civil, moral, or religious duties'.

The man has got to sell his conscience to the Worshipful Master before he can proceed. But what right has any man to make another the custodian of his conscience? This is to make man his God. He must accept the judgment of a man who may not even be a Christian on religious issues! Alas! some have found much that was incompatible with their Christian convictions, and fled the Lodge. Many others have also found things that were incompatible, but they have stayed, and seared their consciences.

Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.Leviticus 5:4-6

The Third Christian Objection to Freemasonry is to the really Monstrous Masonic Oaths.🔗

Jesus said,

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.Matthew 5:33-37

With these words in mind listen now to these oaths, extracted from a man kneeling on his knees with one hand resting on the Bible: '...These several points I solemnly swear to observe without equivocation, or mental reservation of any kind, under no less a penalty, on the violation of any of them, than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the root, and buried in the sand of the sea... ' 'or the more effective punishment of being branded as a wilfully perjured individual, void of all moral worth, and totally unfit to be received into this worshipful Lodge...'

On being raised to the Second Degree, he likewise swears on bended knees, with his hand on the Bible: '...These several points I solemnly swear to observe, without evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation of any kind, under no less a penalty on the violation of any of them, than that of having my left breast laid open, my heart torn therefrom and given to the ravenous birds of the air, or devouring beasts of the field as a prey. So help me, Almighty God, and keep me stedfast in this my Solemn Obligation of a Fellow-Craftsman Mason'.

On being raised to the Third Degree he takes a similar oath, and accepts the penalty on the violation of any of his undertakings (which includes that of obeying all summonses sent from the Master's Lodge — which may explain why some can find time for the Lodge meeting, but little time for Church meetings) 'a penalty ... of being severed in two, my body burned to ashes, and those ashes scattered over the face of the earth...'

On becoming a Royal Arch Companion — again on his knees, and with his hand on the Bible — he cements his undertakings, 'under no less a penalty, on the violation of any of them, than that of suffering loss of life by having my head struck off...'

'But I say unto you, swear not at all ... but let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil'. You know now where the Masonic oaths come from, don't you? — every one of them — from the Devil. Jesus says so.

The Fourth Christian Objection to Freemasonry is its Exclusion of the Lord Jesus Christ from its Precincts.🔗

That this is a fact no honest Freemason can deny. The precious Name of Jesus Christ is not allowed even to be uttered in a Masonic Lodge. There is so-called 'worship' in the Masonic Lodge, but from that 'worship' Jesus Christ is deliberately excluded. There is so-called 'prayer' in the Masonic Lodge, but it is not offered in the Name of Jesus Christ — through Whom alone prayer is acceptable to God. His Name is deliber­ately excluded even from prayers where it is normally found. There is so-called 'praise' in the Masonic Lodge, but the precious Name of Jesus is excised from every hymn.

How can any Christian Mason offer such an insult to the One Who hung upon the Cross to save his precious soul?

Jesus! and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee,
Ashamed of Thee, Whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?

Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend
On Whom my hopes of Heaven depend!
No! when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere His Name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may
When I've no guilt to wash away;
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.

The place where Jesus Christ is not allowed is no place for a Christian.

The Fifth Christian Objection to Freemasonry is that it Rests Upon a False Doctrine of Justification by Works.🔗

Freemasonry makes much of its emphasis on morality, character building, etc. It defines itself, in the Second Degree ceremony as: 'a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols'.

There it is, on its own definition, 'a ... system of morality'. But what is the foundation of the system? For 'Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' — and He has been cast out of the Masonic Temple.

Ah, but men who exclude Jesus Christ must try to find some other foundation. The Freemason's foundation is himself — his own self-effort, with the help of the 'Great Architect of the Universe'. The newly admitted candidate is told by the Worshipful Master, 'It is customary, at the erection of all stately and superb edifices, to lay the first foundation stone at the North-East corner of the building. You, being newly ad­mitted into Masonry, are placed at the North-East part of the Lodge, figuratively to represent that stone, and from the foundation, laid this evening, may you raise a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to the builder'. Man himself is the foundation stone!

If you are still in doubt that Freemasonry rests upon the false doctrine of justification by works, listen to this, from the Worshipful Master's charge after initiation: '...Indeed no institution can boast a more solid foundation than that on which Freemasonry rests, the practice of every moral and social virtue'. 'More solid' than Jesus Christ, agrees the 'Christian' Freemason!

If you are still in doubt that Freemasonry rests upon the false doctrine of justification by works, listen to this extract from the 'Explanation of the First Degree Tracing Board': 'The way by which we, as Masons, hope to arrive there (i.e., Heaven) is by the assistance of a ladder, in Scripture called Jacob's Ladder. It is composed of many staves or rounds, which point out as many moral virtues, but three principal ones, which are Faith, Hope and Charity: Faith in the Great Architect of the Universe, Hope in Salvation, and to be in Charity with all men...'

But the Mason's 'Hope in Salvation' is nil, because (Acts 4:11). 'The stone which was set at nought of you builders is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved'. And the Freemason has, ipso facto, rejected that Foundation.

As for the Freemason's hope — or anybody's else's hope — of climbing up the stairs of their moral virtues into Heaven, I commend to your careful study Articles XI, XII and XIII, which are the best summary I know of the teaching of Scripture on the subject of Justification. Article XI gives us the true and only ground of Justification. 'We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings...' Article XIII shows how repugnant to God are all works (including Masonic works) which are not the direct fruit of such a living personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 'Works done before the grace of Christ are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not out of faith in Jesus Christ ... yea, rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but that they have the nature of sin'. So you see, your very 'morality' — this 'peculiar system of morality' which you define Freemasonry to be — is itself sin, because it does not spring out of a living faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord and God.

My Masonic friends, it is not up the steps of your 'Jacob's Ladder' that you need to climb, but it's down the steps of your own self-sufficiency, your own self-effort and your own self-righteousness — down, down, down to the foot of the Cross where Jesus bore your sins, there to sue for mercy and forgiveness by the merits of the blood which was shed that you might be saved.

The Sixth, and Last Christian Objection to Freemasonry which I have Time to Mention, is that it is an Apostate Religion.🔗

Now, sometimes Freemasons deny that Freemasonry is a Religion at all. But let me remind you of the following facts:

  1. It has its own meeting places which are called Temples.
     
  2. It has its own hymns, which exclude the name of Christ.
     
  3. It has its own prayers, which exclude the name of Christ.
     
  4. It has its own Chaplains, who also, obligingly, exclude the name of Christ.
     
  5. It has its own Theology, which is enshrined in the workings, and lectures, and charges of the Lodges. It is not Christian theology, but a universalistic Religion, which is based on the ancient mystery cults.

Having first proved that Freemasonry has all the essential hallmarks of a religion, Sir John Cockburn (Past Grand Deacon of England and Past Deputy Grand Master of Australia) adds, 'If the title of religion be denied to Freemasonry it may well claim the higher title of a Federation of Religions. It is a form of worship in which all Religions can unite without sacrificing a jot of their respective creeds'. Is the Lord Jesus Christ less than 'a jot', then, to the 'Christian' Freemason?

Further, it claims to impart a moral and spiritual light which shines nowhere else. It also claims the exclusive possession of certain truths, one of which is the sacred and mysterious name of God.

And the name of its God? The climax of worship and ritual is to introduce the initiate to the sacred name, for that name is supposed to have been lost, and to be known only to Freemasons who are members of the so-called 'Holy Royal Arch'. Their name for 'God' you will not recognize (unless you are a Mason), for it is not in your Bible. It is JAH-BUL-ON – a pagan, syncretistic name for God! Walton Hannah says: 'This word is explained in the Mystical Lecture as consisting of certain titles or attributes of divinity to which in English no one could take exception. Yet this word is made up (as also explained) of the Hebrew "JAHWEH" coupled with the Assyrian "BAAL", so utterly repugnant to the prophets even as a symbol, and the Egyptian "ON" or "OSIRIS" '. Osiris was the 'corn god' of Egypt. He was claimed to be the offspring of an unholy alliance between the 'earth-god', Keb, and the 'sky goddess', Nut. Oh! what a blasphemous insult to 'the high and Holy one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is HOLY', to associate His Holy Name, even symbolically, with such foul names as these! Yet this Freemasons have the temerity to do.

Even an acknowledged Masonic authority, Albert Clarke, was so disgusted with the introduction of this word that he wrote: 'No man or body of men can make me accept as a sacred word, as a symbol of the infinite and eternal Godhead, a mongrel word, in part composed of the name of an accursed and beastly heathen god, whose name has been for more than 2,000 years an appellation of the Devil'.

And this is the crowning revelation of Freemasonry! Should we rather say the crowning blasphemy?

Some may feel inclined to challenge my facts, and ask me where I got my information. I got it from various sources, but mainly from Walton Hannah's Darkness Visible. This book is based on three sources of information:

  1. Authentic Masonic publishers.
     
  2. Masonic commentaries, periodicals, ceremonial guides and lectures.
     
  3. Published disclosures, by men who regard oaths made on false pretences as null and void.

One such man is a personal acquaintance of mine, Dr D. R. Denman, a man whose spiritual judgment I value. In a published review of this book (Life of Faith, October 15th, 1952) he writes:

The greatest obstacle confronting his (i.e., Walton Hannah's) challenge, he admits, is the argument, "That the ritual cannot be understood or rightly interpreted outside the context and atmosphere in which it is worked". He deals with the difficulty with considerable dexterity, and for the unbiased disposes of it. In point of fact, the context and atmosphere of the Lodge at work in no way contradict what is plain on the face of the liturgies. This I can affirm, for unlike Mr Hannah I have been a Mason. My experience enables me to appraise his book and to claim it as in every way worthy. The conclusion he arrives at is unassailable: Christ and the Craft are fundamentally opposed to each other.

Dr Denman continues,

Well I remember the wave of nausea as I stood an initiate outside a Masonic Lodge and heard myself referred to as a poor candidate in a state of darkness who by God's help was seeking the light. God's grace had already shone in my heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: this I knew, and as I stood there listening to the first utterance of Masonic ritual I was aware of rampant evil. In vain I sought for some acknowledgment of the Light of the World in the worship and ritual of the degree that followed. There was nothing. The sense of blasphemy had become, by the middle of the Third Degree ceremony, so overwhelming that I was moved to protest and to leave the Temple — never to return.

Christian Mason, 'go and do thou likewise'. Uncommitted young man, 'these things, have I said unto you concerning those who would lead you astray'. Christian people, pray that our Church and country may be purged from this mongrel Religion, for 'other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ'.

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