FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION
Statement of the Board of General Purposes
United Grand Lodge of England
June 12, 1985

        In the light of recent comments on Freemasonry 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 Being, 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
dissension among them. There is no Masonic God: a Freemason remains
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 Freemasons 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 principles of Freemasonry is deep, and
entirely appropriate 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 forbidding
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 expects 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 religions.     s
