Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 12, 1999 at 19:39:20 {CkRQXOxAaIMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: **The Great "Conspiracy" posted by GOLF on November 12, 1999 at 18:23:23:
Thank-you for this information.
Ray's comments are inadquate, however. That's because Masonry is secretive. It's a form of a secret society. So how could one monitor it?
Of note, however, the WBTS placed a pyramid with the all-seeing eye on Russell's grave. So you can't claim there is no influence of Freemasonry with Russell or Rutherford. After all, Russell's attention to pyramidology would now probably be considered Satanic and pagan under current WBTS terms now. Not simply because this is an dysfunctional presumption over the pyramids. That is, as presented in WTS literature, it seems this was the specific inspiration of Russell. But pyramidology and Biblical interpretation was much a part of other religions including the Masons.
So did Russell get his pyramidology from his own inspiration or from others, such as he did with the 2520 years prophecy of the end of the gentile times which he got from Barber.
The fact is, though, even as based upon his own speech to the Masons, the Masons are very much into pyramidology as well.
And this is not an isolated case of similarities.
The Masonry symbols of the crown and cross and especially the symbol of the Knights of Templar were on the cover of the Watchtower magazine. Certainly Russell understood the meanings of these symbols. Add to that the winged disk and the all-seeing eye pyramid on Russell's grave and you don't need anyone to tell you Russell and Rutherford were very familiar with and sympathetic with Masonry concepts.
So I don't think it is specifically an issue of being a formal member of the local lodge as much as the fact that they both knew about Masonry concepts and in some way this may have influenced doctrinal issues in some way.
Of critical note is the concept that the Jews would try to take over the world and establish a New World Order and a one world government. This is a CONCEPTUAL issue of the secret Illuminati", etc.
Now the Nazis had made these claims anyway and had lots of propaganda films against the Jews that they were creating false shortages in food and doing all kinds of bad things to manipulate the world through finances and that there was a conspiracy for the Jews to control the world through finance. Now this is thought to have been just anti-Semitic Nazi ideas which were unfounded.
But when confronted by the Nazis, Rutherford made a declaration claiming the Jews indeed did control the British Empire and New York and were responsible for that "evil empire" and condemned Jewish commercialism. That level of conceptualism of Jewish control of the Bristish Empire, etc. would suggest alone that Rutherford was a Mason or had Masonic ties.
So while I trust Ray's assessment of the situation when he was with the GB, it would not mean that the witness organization hasn't been used as a front organization for those who do harbor Masonic concepts and ideas. But one thing is for sure, if you don't know what the Masons believe and what their ideas are or about the mystery cult concepts and symbolisms are then you won't think they are around.
Just with a superificial knowledge of the mysteries cults, however, I would assume the WTS was infiltrated by them just by the cover of the Watchtower magazine which shows a tower on a wall which is the symbolism of Artemis. So some people just don't understand how the mysteries work.
So you do have to look a little closer. Had the WBTS wanted to have a nice grave memorial headstone for Russell, for instance, they could have done it in many ways. To put a pyramid with an all-seeing eye on it is another matter. That's direct Freemasonry concepts.
Below is an example of transference of pagan symbolism of the Tower on the Wall which represents the Goddess Artemis as described in the book of Song of Solomon.
Note that Rutherford reviewed the book of Song of Solomon in the abominable "7th Volume". Anyone who knows cultic symbolisms would recognize this book as totally paganistic. Yet the symbolisms suggested in it became represented on the Watchtower magazine. Not that pagan symbolisms were not always on the Watchtower magazine, especially in the early days as noted.
So ultimately, if you have cultic symbolisms on the cover of your magazines, you can't claim you have no cultic ties or influence.
The problem is, the cultic involvement is "invisible" to those who don't understand the cultic references, which is the intention. But once you understand what the symbolisms are, then you can see the direct involvement.
All considered, at this point, the WBTS is in a very poor position based upon their record to extract themselves from any claims of being unassociated with cultic pagan influences. There is plenty here to be fully suspicious of without the rumors.
Cheers,
Bibleman
