Southern California Research Lodge

IS FREEMASONRY A SATANIC RELIGION/CULT THAT WORSHIPS LUCIFER????

Marion O. Reed, P.M., Editor

(In the July 1992 Kentucky Masonic Home Journal)

SURPRISED?  Well, I was!  Having been a Mason for 47 years and a Baptist for
more years than that, I was surprised when informed that a recommendation
would be presented at the 1992 Southern Baptist Convention to appoint an 
ad hoc committee "to study the Masonic lodge and report back to the convention
in 1993 with a recommendation for action."

James "Larry" Holly, a physician, of Beaumont, Texas, is said to have mailed
a packet of information condemning Freemasonry to 5000 SBC (Southern Baptist
Convention) leaders and is said to have distributed 5000 additional copies to
Messengers (delegates) at the convention's annual session at the Hoosier Dome
in Indianapolis, June 9-11.

A synopsis of the motion is as follows:

James L. Holly (TX) - Motion to direct the President elected by the 1992
Southern Baptist Convention to appoint an ad hoc committee to make their
report and recommendations at the 1993 Southern Baptist Convention.

The motion as amended:

Alvin Rowe (FL) moved to amend the motion, referring a study to the Interfaith
Witness Department of the Home Mission Board.  The amendment passed.  The
amended motion reads:  "The Southern Baptist Convention in annual session June
9-11, 1992, at Indianapolis, Indiana, directs the Interfaith Witness
Department of the Home Mission Board to study the compatibility with
Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine of the organization known variously
as the Masonic Lodge, Masonry, Freemasonry, and or Ancient and Accepted Right
of Freemasonry.  The study is to encompass any and all branches and or lodges
therof.  Furthermore, the convention charges the Home Mission Board with the
responsibility of bringing a report with recommendation to the Convention
which is to meet in Houston, Texas, June 1993."  The amended motion passed.

Your Editor; Bros. Joe C. McClanahan, P.G.M., Grand Secretary Emeritus;
Floyd h. Booth, P.G.M.; and Arnold E. Wyatt, P.G.M., as messangers from their
respective Baptist Churches, attended this Convention.  All were prepared to
speak against the motion if the opportunity presented itself.  The SBC
Committee on Order of Business scheduled the recommendation to be presented on
Wednesday morning, June 10.  When it was presented, and only fifteen minutes
allowed for discussion, both for or against the recommendation, your Editor
was second in line at a microphone to speak against the motion, if the
opportunity came.  Before that could occur, a motion was made to refer it
back to the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board's Interfaith Witness
Department, with instructions to act upon it.  They had previously, in 1985
and 1991, replied that "a study of Freemasonry is not within the assigned
responsibilities" of the committee.  This was declared a legitimate motion by
the convention parliamentarian and a second was received.  The motion carried,
and the recommendation as referred to the aforesaid committee, to study and
report back to the Convention in Houston, Texas at the 1993 Annual Meeting.

Traditionally, Freemasonry has refrained from entering into any discussion or
argument with a religious or political body.  However, the enormity and far-
reaching consequences of this proposed "study" of Freemasonry, in the opinion
of your Editor, makes it necessary for all Freemasons, especially those who
are members of Southern Baptist Churches, to be made aware of what is taking
place.

A book (58 pages), produced by Mr. Holly, is a lengthy dissertation on the
evils of Freemasonry, calling it a satanic religion and a cult.  He spends
many pages and much rhetoric on this subject, defining the occult, satan
worship, ancient societies and their evil teachings and practices.  He then
associates Freemasonry with these as he takes parts of Masonic ritual and
tradition, and the writings of those whom he deems as Masonic authorities,
and uses them for his purpose.

Mr. Holly's book, entitled "The Southern Baptist Convention and Freemasonry,"
is designed to appear to be the official position of the SBC.  Even the
insertion of the logo of his "Mission and Ministry to Men, Inc.," which, not
surprisingly resembles the SBC logo, might lead the unsuspecting reader to
understand it as actually a convention publication.  This is not true, at this
point, but who knows what may develop during this next year.

What are Freemasons throughout the SBC area to do?  Do we sit idly by while
these charges and accusations grow into a full-blown condemnation by them, or
do we stand up and speak up against these unjust charges?

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

Ed. Note:  When John J. Robinson, author of "Born in Blood" was here he
mentioned this Southern Baptist Convention.

He said that the Secretary of the Scottish Rite Valley of Knoxville,
Tennessee, Fred McPeake, a Southern Baptist all his life, wrote asking to be
able to speak from the Masonic point of view on any debate, as did the
Grand Master of Tennessee, another life long Southern Baptist.  Neither got
a reply.  McPeake went to the convention, said that a Southern Baptist
minister approached him, pointing to the Shrine pin on his lapel and said,
"If you're going to decorate your body with that kind of symbolism, you
decide, you take it off or you get away from our convention."  McPeake also
received a letter telling him to abandon Freemasonry or abandon the church,
he couldn't have both.

Many Masons were upset by one of the points the Executive Council wanted to
address:  Many of the Southern Baptist churches were started and funded by
Freemasons, they put up money to build the churches and had Masonic
cornerstone ceremonies, so the Executive Council was proposing a special
church service to drive the satanic influence out of the cornerstone and the
walls of the building to purify the church that had been contaminated by the
Freemasons.

