              FREEMASONRY  -  IS  IT  COMPATIBLE?
                       by Allen Beddoe


WE,  AS  MASONS,   OFTEN  HEAR  ABOUT  THE  UNIVERSALITY  OF  FREEMASONRY.
THAT  IT  IS  AN  ORGANIZATION  WHOSE  PHILOSOPHY  IS  TO  MAKE  A  MEMBER  A
BETTER  MAN  THAN  WHAT  HE  WAS  WHEN  HE  BECAME  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CRAFT.

HOWEVER,  IF  WE WERE  TO ASK A HUNDRED AVERAGE MASTER MASONS WHETHER
OR NOT FREEMASONRY WAS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION, THE MAJORITY OF
THEM  WOULD  RESPOND  THAT  IT  IS.

THERE WAS A TIME,   MANY  YEARS AGO,  WHEN FREEMASONRY WAS PRINCIPALLY
CHRISTIAN  IN  CHARACTER AND  SOME MADE A  CONCERTED  EFFORT  TO  KEEP  IT
THAT  WAY.

THERE  ARE  MANY  CHRISTIAN  INFLUENCES  SURVIVING  IN  OUR  RITUALS  AND
PRACTICE  -  THE HOLY  ST'S JOHN,  FOR EXAMPLE,  ARE TAKEN  FROM THE NEW
TESTAMENT.  THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH  IS  OBVIOUSLY A CHRISTIAN
SYMBOL AND THE HOLY  BIBLE  IS THE BOOK OF  THE LAW ON MASONIC ALTARS
IN  ENGLISH  SPEAKING  COUNTRIES.

BUT MASONRY  IS NOT CHRISTIAN,  NOR IS  IT MOHAMMEDAN,  NOR JEWISH,  NOR
IS  IT  CLASSIFIED  BY  THE  NAME  OF  ANY  OTHER  SECT.

THE POWER THAT HOLDS OUR GREAT FRATERNITY TOGETHER,  THE NOURISHMENT
THAT ALLOWS  IT TO GROW,  THE THING THAT MAKES  IT UNIQUE ALL OVER THE
CIVILIZED  WORLD,  IS  THE  OPPORTUNITY  IT  AFFORDS  MEN  OF  ALL  FAITHS,
TO KNEEL TOGETHER AT THE  SAME ALTAR,  EACH TO WORSHIP THE GOD OF HIS
CHOICE   UNDER   THE  UNIVERSAL  NAME   OF   THE   GREAT  ARCHITECT   OF   THE
UNIVERSE.  FREEMASONRY  DRAWS  MEN  TOGETHER  TO  FOLLOW A  COMMON  IDEAL
OF  CHARITY  AND  BROTHERHOOD.

IN RECENT YEARS VARIOUS CHURCHES HAVE QUESTIONED THE COMPATABILITY
OF  FREEMASONRY  WITH  CHRISTIANITY.   SOME  CHURCHES,   PRIMARILY  THOSE
WHO  CAN   BE  CATEGORIZED  AS   FUNDAMENTALIST,   HAVE   BEEN  ESPECIALLY
HARSH  ON  THE  FRATERNITY  AND  HAVE  CONDEMNED  IT  OUTRIGHT.  ONE  SUCH
DENOMINATION,  BY RESOLUTION,  CALLS UPON ALL CHRISTIANS  TO MAINTAIN
PERSONAL  PURITY   IN  ALL  ACTIVITIES,   ASSOCIATIONS  OR  MEMBERSHIPS;
AVOIDING ANY ASSOCIATION WHICH CONFLICTS (IN THEIR MINDS) WITH
CLEAR BIBILICAL TEACHINGS,  INCLUDING THOSE TEACHINGS CONCERNING THE
TAKING OF OATHS, THE SECRECY OF ACTIVITIES, MYSTICAL KNOWLEDGE, OR
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON ARGUMENTS AGAINST FREEMASONRY ESPOUSED
BY THE CRITICS OF THE FRATERNITY:

1. FREEMASONRY IS A RELIGION. (IT IS NOT)

2. IT IS ANTI-CHRISTIAN OR SATANIC. (IT IS NOT)

3. IT  IS  A  "SECRET"  SOCIETY.   (IT  IS  NOT)

4. ITS SECRET OATHS ARE SINFUL. (THEY ARE NOT)

5. IT HAS HORRIBLY "BLOODY" PENALTIES. (IT DOES NOT)

6.   IT  USES  BLASPHEMOUS  TITLE.   (SUCH  AS  "WORSHIPFUL"  WHICH  COMES
FROM  THE  OLD  ENGLISH  WORD  "WORCHYPPE"  OR  "WORCHYP"  AND  MEANING
"GREATLY RESPECTED." IN FACT,  ENGLISH AND CANADIAN MAYORS ARE STILL
ADDRESSED AS  "YOUR WORSHIP."

THERE ARE OTHER ARGUMENTS CITED BY THOSE OPPOSED TO FREEMASONRY
WHICH ARE EQUALLY AS RIDICULOUS.

FREEMASONRY  IS  NOT,   IN  AND  OF  ITSELF,   A  CHRISTIAN  ORGANIZATION.
BUT,  IT  DOES  NUMBER  AMONG  ITS  MEMBERS  MANY  WHO  ARE  CHRISTIAN.

FREEMASONRY  HAS  BUT  ONE  PURPOSE  FOR  IT'S  EXISTENCE  AND  THAT  IS  TO
GLORIFY  THE  GREAT  ARCHITECT  OF  THE  UNIVERSE  THROUGH  THE  LIVES  AND
CONDUCT OF  IT'S MEMBERS.  OUR ORGANIZATION WILL LIVE OR DIE BASED ON
THE  SUCCESS  OF  THAT  ONE  ENDEAVOR.

FREEMASONRY  PROVIDES  THE  VEHICLE  WHEREBY   IT'S  MEMBERS  HAVE  THE
OPPORTUNITY  TO  CONTINUOUSLY  STRIVE TO  IMPROVE  -  MORALLY,  MENTALLY,
PHYSICALLY,  AND SPIRITUALLY.  I GUESS YOU COULD CALL FREEMASONRY THE
SCIENCE   OF    SELF  IMPROVEMENT -  EVERYTHING     FREEMASONRY    DOES    IS
DIRECTED   TOWARD     SELF    IMPROVEMENT  AND   IT  CERTAINLY    IS   NOT  A
RELIGION.

FREEMASONRY,  AS  WE  ARE  ALL  TAUGHT,  IS  A  PROGRESSIVE  MORAL  SCIENCE
AND  WE  ARE  REMINDED  THAT  MAN  CAN  NEVER  ATTAIN  PERFECTION  WHILE  IN
HIS HUMAN MORTAL STATE.  WE ARE ALSO TAUGHT THAT A MASON,  REGARDLESS
OF  HIS  AGE,  CAN  IMPROVE  ON  WHAT  HE  CURRENTLY  IS  AS  A  PERSON.

OUR  SYMBOLISM  POINTS  TO  THE  THREE  STAGES  OF  HUMAN  LIFE  -  YOUTH,
MANHOOD AND OLD AGE.

IN  YOUTH A  YOUNG MAN MAY  HONOR  FREEMASONRY  BY  SERVING HIS  COUNTRY,
LEARNING HIS TRADE OR PROFESSION,  ESTABLISHING HIS HOME AND FAMILY,
AND  INVIGORATING  THE  WORLD  WITH  HIS  ENTHUSIASM.

THE  MATURE  MASON  GENERALLY  ATTAINS  THE  PEAK  OF  HIS  PRODUCTION
DURING  THE  YEARS  OF  MATURITY.  HE MAY  BROADEN  HIS  KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING OF MASONRY AND USUALLY DURING THESE YEARS HE CAN MAKE
A FULLER CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.

IN   OLD   AGE,  A   MAN'S   PHYSICAL   CAPABILITIES   DECLINE,    BUT   HIS
PHILOSOPHY SHOULD RIPEN AND EXPAND.  WITH THE WISDOM HE HAS ATTAINED
THROUGH   THE    YEARS   HE   SHOULD   BE   ABLE  TO    LOOK,   WITH   JOYOUS
ANTICIPATION  TOWARD  A  FUTURE  LIFE  AND  A  GLORIOUS  IMMORTALITY.

NO,  MY  BRETHREN,   FREEMASONRY  IS  NOT  A  RELIGION,   CHRISTIAN  OR  ANY
OTHER.   NOR   IS   IT   A   SUBSTITUTE   FOR   RELIGION .   IN   JUNE   1985,   
IN RESPONSE TO THE MANY ATTACKS UPON FREEMASONRY,  THE BOARD OF GENERAL
PURPOSES  OF  THE  UNITED  GRAND  LODGE  OF  ENGLAND  ISSUED THE  FOLLOWING
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  COMMITTMENT     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 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   DUTIES.    ITS   MORAL
TEACHINGS  SHOULD  BE  ACCEPTABLE  TO  ALL  RELIGIONS.

I WILL END THIS PRESENTATION WITH THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS MADE BY
AN INVESTIGATIVE BOARD OF A CHURCH DENOMINATION WHO HAVE RECENTLY
ATTACKED FREEMASONRY AS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THEIR PARTICULAR BELIEFS.

1.  SINCE  FREEMASONRY  REQUIRES  NO DOCTRINAL  STATEMENT  FROM MEMBERS,
OTHER THAN THE GENERAL AFFIRMATION CONCERNING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD,
IT  IS  REASONABLE  TO  EXPECT  THAT  MASONS  PROFESS  A  BROAD  RANGE  OF
BELIEFS  ABOUT  RELIGIOUS  MATTERS.

2.  IT WAS  NOT  FOUND THAT  FREEMASONRY  IS ANTI-CHRISTIAN OR  SATANIC,
NOR DOES IT OPPOSE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

3.   THE  "SECRETS"  OF  FREEMASONRY  HAVE  LONG  BEEN  KNOWN  TO  ANYONE
TAKING  TIME  TO  READ  ANY  NUMBER  OF  BOOKS  PRESENTING  THEM  VERBATIM.

4.  WHILE A FEW MASONS  MAY  BELIEVE  THAT  FREEMASONRY  WILL  SAVE  THEM,
THE  OVERWHELMING  MAJORITY  INSIST  THIS  IS  NOT  MASONIC  TEACHING.


MY PERSONAL  CONCLUSION AND THE  CONCLUSION OF  FREEMASONRY WORLDWIDE
IS,    YES,  FREEMASONRY   AND   RELIGION   ARE    COMPATIBLE. NOT   ONLY
COMPATIBLE   WITH  THE  CHRISTIAN  RELIGION  BUT  COMPATIBLE  WITH  ALL
RELIGIONS.

SO MOTE  IT  EVER  BE.

                           END

Sources: MSA Short Talk Bulletin, Vol. 67, #11, November 1989.
         MSA Short Talk Bulletin, Vol. 66, #9,   September 1988
         Freemasonry and Christianity, Masonic Book Club 1993
         A Study of Freemasonry, Interfaith Witness Department,
         Home Mission Board, SBC, Atlanta GA, 1993


