    
                    THE MASONIC WITCH HUNT OF THE 1980's 
    
                           by Thomas E. Weir, PM 




                 Review of "THE BROTHERHOOD (The Secret World 
                 of the Freemasons)" by Stephen Knight 

                 Published by Stein and Day, Briarcliff Manor, 
                 NY, 1984 (Previously Published in Great 
                 Britain by Granada) 
           



    "Freemasonry, although its leaders strenuously deny it, is a secret 
    society." The members, including judges, policemen, politicians, 
    and royalty usually break the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799 when 
    they meet and are liable for two years imprisonment.[1]  With this 
    strident note, Stephen Knight begins what he describes as an 
    impartial description of British Freemasonry.  THE BROTHERHOOD is, 
    he insists, "neither a commendation nor a condemnation of 
    Freemasonry.[2]  But the opening paragraph, cited above, clearly 
    indicates that this disclaimer, like most of the author's reasoning 
    and conclusions, is rubbish.  The book is not a disinterested 
    examination of Freemasonry, but a bitter denunciation. 


    The author seems to understand the organization and history of 
    Freemasonry reasonably well, although he is misinformed on some 
    points.  For example, he is unaware that the operative lodges that 
    erected the great buildings of the Middle Ages closely guarded the 
    secret means of recognizing an itinerant craftsman for practical, 
    economic reasons.[3]  He also seems unaware that modern Freemasonry 
    is descended not from the guilds of masons in important cities, but 
    from the operative lodges which functioned at the sites of major 
    construction.[4]  Although he cites the Old Charges, he fails to 
    notice that they gave practical rules for conduct and workmanship 
    for Master Masons and workmen of their day.[5]  He did not 
    understand that the third degree was not introduced until the 
    transition from operative to speculative masonry.  The third degree 
    did not appear in Scotland until 1726.[6]  He is under the 
    impression that "lodge doings" are secret.  They are not.  
    Comprehensive minutes are written for each meeting.  Anything 
    Masonic which is proper to be written is not considered secret.  He 
    describes the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted 
    Scottish Rite as "Britain's highest Freemason, whatever might be 
    said of the Duke of Kent, the current Grand Master of Craft 
    Masonry.[7] 


    Masons recognize this as nonsense.  The Grand Master is supreme in 
    every jurisdiction.  These misapprehensions do not affect the 
    overall impression of the text.  The book is not an effort to 
    describe Freemasonry but to denounce it. 


    There is a brief appearance of fairness.  The reader is warned not 
    to attribute the evil deeds to Freemasonry as a body.  Individual 
    Freemasons, he says, were responsible for the death of the American 
    William Morgan in 1828, the poisoning of Mozart for revealing 
    secrets in THE MAGIC FLUTE, and the 1888 Jack the Ripper murders 
    which he alleges were committed "according to Masonic ritual.[8]  
    The result of equating the acts of individual Freemasons with those 
    of Freemasonry as a whole is that, Knight contends, "some people, 
    even today, look on Freemasonry as an underground movement devoted 
    to murder, terrorism and revolution.[9]  One might be led to the 
    same erroneous conclusion by reading THE BROTHERHOOD.  In fact, the 
    sincerity of the author is called into question in that "The Morgan 
    Affair" and Jack the Ripper murders, although generating much anti-
    Masonic hysteria were never solved.  The rumor that Mozart was 
    poisoned by Masons is no more than a rumor. 


    Knight makes a number of specific charges against Freemasonry: 

    1.   That Freemasonry has infiltrated the police and facilitated 
    the promotion of incompetent officers, protected dishonest ones, and 
    has made a life of crime easy for Masonic criminals who settle 
    their differences with society at Lodge rather than in court. 

    2.   That Masons illegally obtain confidential information about 
    adversaries through the Masonic network, using Masonic bankers, 
    postal officials, employers, doctors, lawyers, and others. 

    3.   That membership in a lodge makes employment by Masonic owners 
    and managers a matter of fraternal favoritism. 

    4.   That Masonic membership is helpful in gaining preferment in 
    the judiciary and that ties linking Masonic judges, lawyers, and 
    defendants may influence the verdict or sentence. 

    5.   That local governments to a large degree and the national 
    government to a lesser degree are manipulated by Freemasons for 
    their own benefit. 

    6.   That Freemasonry is, for all practical purposes, a religion 
    with its own distinct God, the Great Architect of the Universe.  
    Even worse, Masonry is devil worship. It is therefore incompatible 
    with Christianity, Knight contends, although this last assertion 
    seems to be gilding the derogatory lily. 

    7.   That "the Church of England has been a stronghold of 
    Freemasonry for more than 200 years.[10] Preferment and peaceable 
    tenure of clerical office may depend on Masonic membership. 

    8.   That " a masonic conspiracy of gigantic proportions" was 
    effected through the Italian Lodge Propaganda Due [Propaganda Lodge 
    No. 2, in English usage], shaking the Italian government to its 
    foundations.[11] 

    9.   That the Russian secret police (KGB) were not only behind the 
    Propaganda 2 scandal, but have infiltrated British Freemasonry, so 
    that Russian exploitation of the evils inherent in Freemasonry pose 
    a major Masonic threat to the survival of a democratic government 
    in Great Britain. 

    10.   That the United Grand Lodge, although it has the power to 
    revoke the charter of a subordinate Lodge guilty of corporate 
    immorality, never takes punitive action.  Masons who exploit the 
    privileges of membership "are hardly ever expelled.[12] 



    The disparity between Freemasonry as perceived by Stephen Knight and 
    as experienced in Scotland, England, Japan, and a number of 
    American jurisdictions would be difficult to exaggerate.  Instead 
    of the vile chicanery described by Mr. Knight, I have consistently 
    seen open-hearted and open-handed men of character practicing the 
    friendship, morality, and brotherly love for which the Brotherhood 
    exists. 


    The religious issue raised by the book should be of deep concern to 
    Masons as well as those who look with suspicion at the Fraternity.  
    The criticism seems to take three distinct concepts: conflict with 
    the Roman Catholic Church, worship of the Great Architect of the 
    Universe, and incompatibility with Christianity. 


    For nearly ten pages, details are given about the relations between 
    Freemasonry and the Roman Catholic Church.  However, all the data 
    concerns criticism of Masonry by the Roman Church.  Nothing 
    suggests that the Masons have ever criticized the Catholic Church. 


    The charge that Freemasonry either is a distinct religion, or has 
    its own religion, ruled by the Great Architect of the Universe is 
    groundless.  The Great Architect of the Universe is a recurring 
    theme in medieval religious art.  God is depicted in the act of 
    creating the world with a pair of compasses in his hand, laying out 
    His designs. 


    In response to the charge that Freemasonry is not compatible with 
    Christianity, it must be admitted that Freemasonry is not an 
    expression of Christian theology.  If it were, which Christian 
    theology would it embrace? With which denomination would it have to 
    join in partnership?  Would it be expected to engage in the 
    religious warfare that has plagued humanity? Masonry does not 
    champion a single religion or any sect of Christianity. Masonry 
    advocates no "one true church," but feels that the relationship of 
    each man with God is an essential but private dimension of life.  
    Masonic Lodges or other groups of Masons, such as a Royal Arch 
    Chapter, may attend worship as a body.  Worship services are 
    commonly held in a church or synagogue, conducted by the clergy 
    (whether Masons or not) there.  There is no secret ritual connected 
    with worship. 


    When I first became active as Masonic Chaplain, I assumed that a 
    large proportion of Masons shifted their religious allegiance to 
    the Lodge. However, careful investigation has shown this assumption 
    to be wrong.  Most active Masons in this jurisdiction are also 
    active members of their churches and synagogues.  Masonry offers a 
    valuable adjunct to the religions of the world, including 
    Christianity, in that it respects the religion of the individual 
    and offers a bond of friendship that transcends the strife so 
    common between religious partisans. 


    Mr. Knight is not suggesting that the Church is a threat to all that 
    is good and decent in our world, although the list of abuses of 
    power and office by functionaries, clerical and lay, of 
    institutional Christianity is long indeed. The sins of the Church 
    include the more dreadful waging of war in the name of the Prince 
    of Peace as well as the more subtle sins of pride and greed, which 
    may be, at the Day of Judgement, as serious offenses.  There are 
    even those who have said that the Church is incompatible with 
    Christianity.  Yet, the Church is an asset to the world because of 
    what it proclaims and what it does.  In a modest way, much the same 
    can be said about Masonry. 


    The preponderance of evidence cited by the book supports the thesis 
    that Freemasonry is a vicious desecration of the ideals of society 
    for the benefit of corrupt Masons.  One compelling example is the 
    "Countryman" investigation of the City of London police a few years 
    ago.  It would seem to the casual reader that the investigation 
    revealed a great Masonic conspiracy.  However, although the names 
    and crimes of guilty policemen who are Masons are given, there is 
    nothing to indicate that Masonic membership was anything more than 
    coincidental.  If the investigation concluded that Freemasonry was 
    a factor in the crime wave, that fact is not mentioned.  Another 
    example is that of Propaganda 2, with a detailed account of the 
    illegal activities of this group, without mentioning that the 
    charter of the group had been revoked by the Grand Lodge of Italy 
    before the scandal.  In fairness, it must be noted that THE 
    BROTHERHOOD makes occasional mention of Masonic charity or states 
    that Masonry was the making of a man, but page after page is 
    devoted to what must be described as Masonic depravity.  It is 
    difficult for the uninitiated reader to come to any conclusion but 
    that Masonry is a vile and violent threat to every honest, decent, 
    patriotic, and religious person.  The book begins with the charge 
    that Masonry is breaking the law and ends with a hint that Masonry 
    may have been behind the invasion of the Falkland Islands. 


    If we judge only by the sales of the book in Great Britain, this 
    work is certainly successful commercial journalism, but it is not 
    research.  There are too many uncited references, too many 
    unverifiable reports, too much speculation, too many isolated 
    instances from which the reader may inaccurately extrapolate a 
    generally evil illusion of Masonry. 


    THE BROTHERHOOD appeals to the emotions, not to the mind.  It, 
    therefore, makes fascinating reading for the easily excitable and 
    the uncritical.  Its main attribute, however, is an aggressive, 
    unfair sensationalism. 





    NOTES: 

    [1] Knight, op. cit., p. 1. 

    [2] Ibid., p. 4. 
        
    [3] Coulton, G. G., MEDIEVAL FAITH AND SYMBOLISM, Oxford: 
    Blackwell, 1928, Chapters VII-IX. 

    [4] Coil, Henry Wilson, Sr., FREEMASONRY THROUGH SIX CENTURIES, 
    Richmond, VA: Macoy, 1967, Vol. I, Chapters II - VIII. 

    [5] Vide T. E. Weir, "A Taste of History," THE ROYAL ARCH MAGAZINE, 
    Vol. 14, No. 9, Spring 1984, pp. 268 f. 

    [6] GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND YEARBOOK, 1985, p. 51. 

    [7] Knight, op. cit., p. 43. 

    [8] Ibid., p. 3; p. 49. 

    [9] Ibid., p. 3. 

    [10] Ibid., p. 240. 

    [11] Ibid., p. 269. 

    [12] Ibid., p. 307. 


