Opportunities for the Future

Gary Leazer, Ph.D.

Keynote Address to the Southeast Masonic Conference
Airport Holiday Inn North, East Point (Atlanta), GA
6 August 1993

    It is indeed an honor to receive your kind invitation to speak to you
this morning. This is not an invitation I would ever have expected to receive.
A year ago I knew little about a fraternity known as Freemasonry.
    Then, I was given an assignment which I neither asked for nor wanted, but 
one which, when given, I was determined to complete as fairly and objectively 
as was humanly possible: I knew the assignment was a no-win assignment from 
the very beginning because there were and still are very powerful voices 
within my denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, calling for the 
complete condemnation of Freemasonry. That became clear from the very 
beginning when a letter I wrote in August 1992 to Craig Branch, director of 
the Birmingham, Alabama  office  of  Watchman Fellowship, an anti-cult 
ministry, was forwarded to James Larry Holly. Branch a member of the 
Presbyterian Church of America, recently co-authored a book with John 
Ankerberg so that should help you place him. James Larry Holly, the Beaumont,
Texas physician who has been instrumental in the attempts to have the
Southern Baptist Convention condemn Freemasonry on two occasions, immediately 
called for my replacement claiming, in a nine-page letter to Home Mission 
Board president Larry L. Lewis, that I was too prejudiced towards those opposed   
to Freemasonry. Lewis declined at that time to replace me stating that the
messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis 
in June 1992 directed the interfaith witness department to do the study. My 
impression of Holly's action then was his realization after reading the 
contents of my letter to Branch that he would have no influence in the 
direction of my research. Holly has been quoted as being very disappointed 
that an ad hoc committee was not appointed by the messengers at the June 1992 
Southern Baptist Convention and to which he could be appointed.
    Another letter, which no doubt you have all heard about if you have not
read it, was the catalyst for my removal from the Freemasonry study and 
eventually my move to a field staff position. This letter was written to a 
Southern Baptist Mason in January 1993 after I had completed my study but 
before I had submitted it to Larry Lewis. I summarized my conclusions and 
recommendations in the letter. Somehow, this letter also ended up in Holly's 
possession. I received a phone call at 12:45 a.m. while I was at a meeting in 
Lexington, Kentucky from Darrell Robinson, vice-president for the Home Mission 
Board evangelism section and my immediate supervisor, informing me that I was 
being removed from further work on the assignment. Later, Holly claimed to
have learned of another letter I had written to a Mason and was trying to get 
a copy. As a result of that claim, two Home Mission Board staff came to my 
home and removed two boxes of letters and research notes from my home office. 
In those boxes, they found three other letters which they said cast doubt on 
my objectivity. As a result of this, I was given the opportunity to request a 
demotion and transfer to a field staff position rather than risk an attempt by 
the Home Mission Board trustees to fire me. I requested a field staff 
position.
    None of my supervisors asked me for my side of the story concerning my
actions during my research and writing of the study. I was criticized for
allowing two Masons to read advance copies of the study. This was unusual, but 
not unique, given the controversial nature of the assignment. I have asked for 
critiques of my research from persons representing groups I was writing about 
on at least two other occasions, one an article on the visit of the Pope to 
this country several years ago and another on an article about the Latter-day 
Saint Church. John Ankerberg, Ed Decker and other anti-Masons would have much 
more accurate books if they would only talk with people they are writing 
about, rather than depending on their own vivid imaginations. While I was 
criticized for allowing two Masons to read the advance copy, no one criticized 
me for allowing three non-Masons to read advance copies.
    The study which I submitted to Lewis in January was subsequently revised 
so much -- twenty-five percent of the text was removed -- and a more negative 
spin was given to the text that I requested that my name not be attached to 
the study. In spite of these changes I still believe the study is the most 
accurate and fair of any done by a non-Mason.
    The Home Mission Board report adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention 
was written after I was removed from the process and I had absolutely nothing 
to do with its content. An associate, Bill Gordon, who was Paige Patterson's 
grader while a student at Criswell Bible College in Dallas, was asked for 
input. The curriculum at Criswell Bible College includes a study of 
Freemasonry in its course of religious cults. Patterson, formerly president of 
Criswell Bible College is now the president of the Southeastern Baptist 
Theological Seminary in North Carolina, is generally regarded as one of the 
two primary architects of the conservative resurgence in the Convention and is 
a well-known anti-Mason.
    I know many of you feel relief that the Southern Baptist Convention did
not condemn Freemasonry, but you should not be satisfied with the report
adopted by the Convention. You cannot agree with the eight points critical
of Freemasonry which are found in the report. I hope you will respond clearly 
and quickly to each of these points.  Literally  thousands  of Southern 
Baptists and others have read these points and believe them to be an accurate 
summary of Masonic teachings. You simply cannot afford to ignore this report. 
An article in this month's issue of The Scottish Rite Journal quoted J. Waiter 
Carpenter, a trustee of the Home Mission Board and editor of the Southern 
Baptist Watchman, an independent newspaper, who cautioned, that Masons must
be aware of the criticism of the Home Mission Board report, giving them close  
attention  and  action,  if Freemasonry is to avoid attacks from religious 
groups, including Southern Baptists, in the future. My study does not agree 
with the conclusions in the Home Mission Board report, but the report, not my 
study, is the official position of the Southern Baptist Convention.
    I found that the criticisms of Freemasonry in the Home Mission Board 
report are widely believed by Southern Baptists, primarily because of the 
continued widespread availability of anti-Mason books in Baptist Book Stores 
and other Christian book stores across the nation. For example, the Baptist 
Book Store at our denominational assembly at Ridgecrest, North Carolina is 
carrying an anti-Mason book by John Ankerberg, but not the study I wrote. For 
years, the books have been believed to accurately reflect Masonic teachings, 
partly because anything written in a book is believed true by many, and 
secondly, and more importantly, Masons have been silent. Silence has been 
interpreted to mean agreement.
    Anti-Masons will use the first part of the summary adopted in Houston,
"In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not
compatible with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine," to their
advantage. Surely, you cannot be pleased with that statement. It does not 
reflect my conclusions as a non-Mason and I feel certain it does not reflect 
yours.
    They will also refer to a non-binding resolution adopted by messengers
at the 1992 Southern Baptist Convention "On Christian Witness and Voluntary 
Associations." Resolutions represent the opinions of the messengers present 
and voting, but in recent years resolutions have been used as if they are 
binding on SBC agencies, institutions, churches and employees of SBC agencies 
and institutions. The resolution urges "all Southern Baptists to refrain from 
participation or membership in organizations with teachings, oaths, or 
mystical knowledge which are contrary to the Bible and to the public 
expression of our faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ." Although the resolution 
does not mention Freemasonry, many observers believe it was directed at 
Freemasonry.
    The anti-Mason movement lost a major battle to secure an outright con-
demnation  of  Freemasonry  in Houston in June, but it has not given up the 
fight. Anti-Masons do not consider the war lost; no treaty has been signed. I 
believe this issue will surface again in three-five years. The Home Mission 
Board hopes this issue will never come up again as there is no doubt it has 
hurt income to some degree. The Board hopes the issue will die a quick death. 
I have been told I will have no input in any future restudy of Freemasonry. 
Some anti-Masons want to bring it up at the Southern Baptist Convention next
year. You must begin preparing now for that eventuality. Remember that this 
issue came up in 1985 and then again in 1991. I appreciate the call in this 
month's issue of The Scottish Rite Journal calling for a "renewed effort on
the part of all Freemasons today to re-energize our Fraternity." The ball is 
in your court; you have the momentum if you will take advantage of it.
    An editorial entitled "Freemasonry and Religion Often Misunderstood by
Masons and Non-Masons" in the November-December 1992 issue of the Washington 
Masonic Tribune stated that Masons must "be better informed about ways in 
which we can answer the questions and comments made to us by uninformed 
citizens. You can no longer afford to be passive and not respond to accusations 
that are false. Masonic membership is a true privilege and there are so many 
positive elements of Freemasonry to be proud of that we must be willing to 
speak out and inform our friends and neighbors." I would recommend that each
issue of your Grand Lodge periodicals include an article discussing a specific
Masonic teaching. Anti-Masons have raised a number of questions about
Freemasonry. Whether these anti-Masons are correct or not--and my research 
suggests they are not--Masons must respond.
    Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing." As abhorrent to Masons as it may be, it is my
measured opinion that if Masons don't take advantage of this window of 
opportunity, Freemasonry will be a subject your great-grandchildren will read 
about in obscure history books. I hope you do not think I am exaggerating when 
I say that you have a herculean task ahead of you.
    Membership trends in the Grand Lodges I examined during my research show a 
significant decline for the past thirty years. The average age of Masons in 
Oklahoma is 64 years. I believe, even if it were not for the anti-Mason 
movement, that Freemasonry will find it difficult to attract new members in 
the future. Young people today are known for not wanting to make long term 
comittments. Simply put, they are not joiners. You, of course, are not alone 
with this trend of a declining and an aging membership. Even the Southern 
Baptist Convention is currently experiencing a growth rate less than the 
population growth: 1.9% to 2.6% for the years 1990 to 1992. As one looks out 
across the worshippers in many Southern Baptist churches, he sees a sea of 
white heads. Both churches and your fraternity compete with a smorgasboard of 
exciting activities that are offered to people. Time becomes of supreme value 
as they add more activities, with more pizzazz. Church and the Lodge can't be
squeezed into their limited free time. As potential Masons are considering the 
Lodge, one of the questions they are asking themselves, "what will I get out 
of Freemasonry?" Their priorities are different and the Church and the Lodge 
are far down the list. I doubt you will do much to change the priorities of 
the men you seek to interest in membership, unless you find where their 
interests are and can change to meet some of those needs.
    Southern Baptists cannot find 35-40 percent of our members. They have
disappeared completely. They never attend a church service and we cannot
locate them. I would guess that Masons have a significant number of members 
who are completely inactive or who you cannot locate. Getting these members 
involved again should be a priority. They, at one time, expressed enough of an 
interest in Freemasonry to become members. Rekindle that interest.
    There are a number of positive steps you can take immediately. I would 
recommend that you lay everything on the table. Nothing, no ritual, no 
teaching, no practice, should be off limits. Look at literally everything.
Your very survival as a fraternity depends upon it. You may decide that many 
or most of your ritual, teaching and practices cannot or should not be changed, 
but I would implore you to take a close look at them. Any organization has to 
change to survive. When I interviewed inactive Masons why they no longer 
attend Lodge meetings, I received a number of answers. But they generally 
centered around their lack of time to attend meetings and the meaninglessness 
of the rituals. One inactive Mason told me, hopefully facetiously, that after 
the opening ritual and the reading of the list of recently deceased Masons, it 
was time to go home.
    I find that The Masonic Renewal Committee of North America is on target 
in their "Blueprint for the Future" when they state that "Freemasonry will be 
member-driven," "Time and quality  will  be  our  members'perquisites. The 
ordinary will not cut it," and that "thoughtful Masons""will have an eye to 
the future and an ear to the past." I disagree with the statement that "The 
ritual need not change."
    Change is always a difficult decision. Rather than thinking of needed
changes, you could think of "restructuring for the 21st century." Big corpo-
rations like IBM regularly restructure to meet the changing business climate.
The Home Mission Board continually looks at how it can restructure to meet
the changing needs of our churches and society. Jack Brymer, editor of the
Florida Baptist Witness, said in his editorial on July 29, "Change is an inex-
orable fact of life. Our only option is to choose whether we will endure it by
default or lead it by design." I believe Freemasonry needs to change to meet
the changing climate of society and the needs of the men who are members or 
who may become candidates. Could you, for example, create a shortened ritual 
for regular meetings and use the longer rituals for special occasions? The 
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry has shortened some of its rituals and 
"communicates" some rituals to those taking the degrees.
    Organizations that have strong traditions tend to deemphasize, whether
intentional or not, the practical teachings of those organizations. Free-
masonry is no different from other organizations. The meanings of your rituals 
are obscure to many of your most faithful members who go through them without 
digesting the real meaning of them, much like eating a meal without the 
benefit of taste buds.
    Good public relations is essential. Develop positive relationships with 
clergy, newspaper editors and other media personnel. Repeatedly, I was told by 
pastors that the Masonic graveside service was objectionable. Part of this 
negative feeling could arise because pastors see the funeral service as a 
worship service of which they should be in charge. Part of the feeling is 
probably due to a misunderstanding of the service. Some of the feeling is due 
to a genuine theological problem with the Masonic service. I know the service 
is an important Masonic ritual; I have seen my father who is a Master Mason 
participate in them, but I believe you would eliminate much of the anti-Mason 
sentiment if you would discontinue the public Masonic funeral service. Could
you find some other way to honor your deceased brother?
    Booklets explaining Freemasonry, such as the excellent "Conscience and
the Craft" by Jim Tresner, would be helpful to give to pastors and other
church leaders. In my opinion, Jim Tresner, is the most knowledgeable and 
articulate Masonic writer today.
    It is my opinion that testimonies are of little value in convincing 
skeptical individuals. Although they probably did no harm, the testimonies by
Masons at the Southern Baptist Convention took time from Masons wanting to 
make amendments to the report. Three Masons were at microphones seeking to 
amend the report to add the words "some believe" to the opening statement 
"many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity 
and Southern Baptist doctrine." Your approach must be, to quote Dragnet's Sgt. 
Joe Friday, "Just the facts, Ma'am."
    I would caution you about accepting invitations to debate anti-Masons.
Remember, if they video-tape the debate, they can edit it. Years ago, the
founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Charles Taze Russell, called for debates 
with the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and many Protestant church leaders. 
When they didn't or wouldn't, he said they were afraid. In one sense, it may 
seem like a defeat in itself but little or no good can come of debating these 
individuals and much negative can. Small insignificant individuals and groups 
can and will boast of debating the whole fraternity rather than just 
individual Masons. Clips of videos can change what the speaker said. I found 
myself asking, "Did I really say that?" during my research when Holly and 
others twisted my words to suit their desire. Choose your method of response 
well.
    You must attempt to understand the mind set of the anti-Mason. They tend 
to see everything as black and white, right and wrong, us and them. For 
example, I saw this with anti-Masons' insistence that the opinion of one Mason 
had to be the opinion of all Masons. This argument was directed at a number of 
books, such as Manley Hall's The Secret Teachings of All Ages. I understand 
the Masonic position that each writer speaks only for himself but I think you 
are sometimes your own worst enemy when you recommend certain books to your 
readers. I support the right of every Mason to write any book he wishes, but I 
question the wisdom of these books being recommended to fellow Masons. Every 
Mason has a right to write books, but not all such books are profitable to 
read. I saw it in the charge that Masonic "light" refers to salvation since 
Jesus Christ is spoken of as "the Light" in the New Testament. One Anti-Mason 
expressed surprise when I told him the word refers to understanding or 
knowledge rather than salvation. Toleration of diverse beliefs, a Masonic 
virtue, is rejected by anti-Masons and fundamentalist Christians as simple and 
unacceptable compromise with false or pagan beliefs.
    Masons will never be able to satisfy every anti-Mason. Some depend on the 
sale of their books, videos and speaking invitations for their livelyhood. 
Others strongly disagree with the Masonic mission which "transcends all 
religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational differences." Many anti-
Masons, who are usually from fundamentalist denominations, define "being 
right" very narrowly and find it impossible to accept even persons within their 
own denominations who don't measure up to their narrow definitions. Some are 
unacceptable simply because they don't vote for the right candidate or issue,
whether secular or religious. In my study, I referred to the 1921 decision
by the Supreme Court of Nebraska that Freemasonry was not a religion. Ankerberg 
responded by arguing that courts are often wrong and this is one case. The 
thought that he might be wrong probably never  crossed Ankerberg's mind. That 
is the mindset common to anti-Masons. I want to add here that not all 
fundamentalists are anti-Mason. A number of Masons and your supporters would 
hold that religious persuasion. Perhaps, it would be more appropriate to speak 
of an aberrant form of fundamentalist, what psychologists call "toxic faith."
    There is another issue rapidly approaching which will most likely 
adversely affect Freemasonry. That issue is the conspiracy theories revolving 
around the new millennium. One of the most popular conspiracists today is 
Texe Marrs. He is the author of over 25 books, including Dark Majesty: The 
Secret Brotherhood and the Magic of A Thousand Points of Light. Marrs claims 
there is a worldwide conspiracy of well-known men whose goal "is to accumulate 
most all of this planet's wealth and power under their wings. They intend to 
become our masters, our benefactors, and our gods." With the Illuminati in 
this alleged conspiracy are Freemasonry, the United Nations, CIA, FBI, KGB,
the World council of Churches, the Vatican, the World Bank, multinational 
corporations, and "some TV evangelists." Among the politicians involved in 
this conspiracy are Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Dan Quayle, 
Henry Kissinger, General Colin Powell, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, "and just 
about every other major political and social leader in America." In spite of 
the absurdity of Marrs theory, his books are sold in reputable Christian books 
stores and purchased by thousands of naive readers. Gary H. Kah, A. Ralph
Epperson, William T. Still, and Pat Robertson are other well-known 
conspiracists who see Freemasonry as part of a worldwide conspiracy. A sec-
tion on these conspiracy theories was removed from my study after it was
submitted to the Home Mission Board president. These conspiracy theories,
which are rooted in premillennialism, which holds that the Anti-Christ will
arise to rule the entire world before Jesus Christ returns to usher in the
millennium. According to conservative biblical theology, human history
will end after 6,000 years. Those 6,000 years are believed to conclude at the
end of this decade. I see the Church as an ally in helping people understand
the biblical teaching about eschatology. Herschel H. Hobbs, one of the
few statesmen in the Southern Baptist Convention, summarized this issue by
saying, "Amazingly, many otherwise sensible people are led astray, or else
disturbed, in their faith by such [false teachers]. By the time they get
through, people who listen to them are so mixed up that they do not know
what to believe."
    As a non-Mason, I believe there are Masonic teachings that should be
changed or eliminated. I remember in graduate school when I approached the 
academic dean about changing my major from philosophy to ethics. He refused to 
allow me to change my major because of a "20 hour rule." I had completed more 
than twenty hours of study toward my degree. When I complained, he admitted he
did not know why the "20 hour rule" was in the book, but that it had to be
followed even if we didn't know why. I have little use for that kind of logic.
When something loses its meaning, it should be changed. I have no problem
with the phrase, Great Architect of the Universe, because I understand its 
origin. The penalties in the first three degree of Freemasonry are offensive
to many Christians, including some Christian Masons. I believe the oaths
and penalities could be revised without loss of meaning. Worshipful Master is 
an archaic title. Can some other title be used?
    Education is one of the keys in responding to charges leveled by the
anti-Masons. This education can never end. It is the life blood of Freemasonry
as much as water is the life blood for the giant sequoias which I walked under 
last week in California. I saw some of these giant trees which had been killed 
when fire burned the heart out of the tree all the way to the very top. l saw 
some giant trees lying on the ground, victims of wind and snow and a shallow 
root system. Once found over hundreds of thousands of acres, Sequoias are now 
found in a few hundred acres on the western slopes of the Sierras. Thousands 
of tourists come to see them annually. It would be awful if someday tourists
visited the remaining Masonic Lodge halls and Scottish Rite temples to be
told about a great fraternity of men who once met in those buildings. Without 
continuing education, without leadership, without vision, it could happen.
     I hope you will consider the criticisms in the study which I wrote. I
wrote it out of no malice toward Freemasonry, but with a genuine desire that 
the controversy surrounding your fraternity can be stopped once and for all. 
During my research I received over 2,000 letters, over ninety-five percent of 
them were from Masons or Eastern Star ladies. Almost without exception the 
writers of those letters as well as individual Masons I talked with were the 
finest men and women anyone could want to know. I wish I could say the same 
thing about the other four or five percent of the letters which were from 
anti-Masons. I sincerely believe that it is possible if you take advantage of 
this window of opportunity. If you do, the future will indeed be bright for 
Freemasonry.

Gary Leazer
Center for Interfaith Studies
Post Office Box 870523
Stone Mountain, GA 30087-0014


