                             FORWARD
                               BY
                           ALLAN LARGE
         GRAND MASTER OF MASONS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
                            1991-1992

Few things are sadder in human affairs than the unnecessary
conflict, caused by misunderstanding or the unwillingness of men
and women to discuss, calmly and factually, the differences they
perceive to separate them. In recent years, Freemasons have felt
especially victimized by this problem. Some people make themselves
adversaries of Masonry without first finding out if conflicts
really exits. Often, rather than asking a knowledgeable Mason for
clarification or information, they simply read books written b y
other anti-Masons and find their answers there.

I have asked Dr. Tresner to write this pamphlet because I know that
most conflicts people see with Masonry -- especially in the area of
religion -- are the results of misunderstanding rather than actual
differences.

Each man seeks in Masonry for himself, and each man finds for
himself. Each Mason has an absolute right to interpret Masonry for
himself as he sees fit. With our long tradition of prizing
intellectual liberty and individual thought, it could not be
otherwise.

But if no interpretation of Masonry is officially "right" there are
some which are clearly wrong. When someone ascribes words to a
person which that person never wrote, or when someone insists that
Masons believe something which has never been a part of the lessons
of Masonry, it is the duty of every thinking Mason to say, "That is
not what Masonry teaches!"

It is my prayer that every thoughtful Christian who wants to know
more about Freemasonry will read this information and review again
in his heart the lessons of Him Who taught that it is better to
live than to hate and fear, and that it is our duty to cherish all
mankind, to strive to be better tomorrow that we were yesterday,
and to strive to emulate the compassion and caring of the Good
Shepherd.
