The Lodge

[turnorburn]

The Plain Truth about the Lodge


The Masons have been around for many centuries. Masons claim that their organization finds its roots with the builders of King Solomon's temple, but others trace its origin to the Ancient Pagan Mysteries. According to Pike's Morals and Dogma, Buddha was a Mason some one thousand years before Christ. The first Grand Lodge was founded in London in 1717.

Masons claim that their "fraternity" is not a religion, but over and over again we find religious elements in their practices. They have temples, alters, Bibles, prayer, lamb skins, and one must believe in a Supreme Being before joining. In Grolier's Encyclopedia, a Masonic member states: "If a person lives what the lodge teaches he won't have any trouble getting into Heaven." (Grolier, Vol. 5, "Freemasonry," pg. 68) Another Masonic writer, Albert Pike (who was also an occultist), writes: "Every Masonic Lodge is a Temple of Religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion." (Morals and Dogma, pg. 213) On page 68 of the Minnesota Proceedings, 1895, we read these interesting words: "He who approaches our alter in good faith and by the light which we bring him receives our teachings into a heart already prepared and lives a life in conformity with the principles which he here imbues, has come into an invaluable possession and need have no fear when the word shall come calling him into the hereafter but that he will be received as a living stone fit for a temple not made with hands." (See I Peter 2:4-8)

Regardless of their claims, the Masons are clearly embedded in a mystical religious system of salvation through works. Any "God" will do in this religion, because the Lodge teaches that it isn't God who saves one's soul anyhow: it's one's good works. In fact, in nations where Christianity isn't embraced, Masonic alters display the appropriate "Book of the Law" instead of the Bible. Freemasonry is definitely a religion, and a very BAD one at that.

The entry level in Masonry is The Blue Lodge, which consists of three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. One may stop at the level of Master Mason, or he can choose to enter either the Scottish Rite or the York Rite. The Scottish Rite advances by numerical degrees, the highest being the 33rdhonorary degree. The York Rite advances by Chapter, Council, and Commandery degrees, with the highest level being The Order of the Knights Templar Commandery.

The Masons speak much about approaching "the light," yet their whole organization is shrouded in secretive practices and blood curdling oaths which should deter any true Christian. In clear violation of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mat. 5:33-37), an Entered Apprentice Mason SWEARS BY GOD to: "...always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any of the arts, parts, or points of the hidden mysteries of Ancient Free masonry...binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea..." Thank God this is an entry level oath, for it has no doubt turned away many God-fearing Christian men!

The deep secrets of Masonry are just as unscriptural. It is falsehood and wickedness that dwell in dark secret corners . Truth is worthy of propagation (Mat. 28:18-19). Jesus Himself said, "...I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." (John 18:20)

In the initiation of an Entered Apprentice, the "Worshipful Master" (Mat. 23:10) asks: "In your present condition, what do you most desire?" The candidate responds: "Light." The "Master" later informs the candidate that he is "yet in darkness." Then for the Second Degree (Fellow Craft) the candidate is required to ask for "more light." According to God's word, Jesus Christ is the LIGHT (John 1:9; 8:12) and God's word is LIGHT (Psa. 119:105, 130). If you are saved, then it is an outright BLASPHEMY for you to agree that you are "yet in darkness" and to ask for "more light." Please note:

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:5-7) So all Masons have DENIED Jesus Christ and have asked for another light being offered to them through Masonry. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Cor. 11:14) The "God" of Masonry is not the God of the Bible! The Masonic god is the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4), which is BLINDING Masons from the true God of the Bible. Now the member is ready to climb the ladder of the Lodge and encounter some of the most ungodly practices known to man.

http://biblebelievers.com/jmelton/Lodge.html

tob

 

[Mike S]

The Plain Truth about the Lodge


The Masons have been around for many centuries. Masons claim that their organization finds its roots with the builders of King Solomon's temple, but others trace its origin to the Ancient Pagan Mysteries. According to Pike's Morals and Dogma, Buddha was a Mason some one thousand years before Christ. The first Grand Lodge was founded in London in 1717.

Masons claim that their "fraternity" is not a religion, but over and over again we find religious elements in their practices. They have temples, alters, Bibles, prayer, lamb skins, and one must believe in a Supreme Being before joining. In Grolier's Encyclopedia, a Masonic member states: "If a person lives what the lodge teaches he won't have any trouble getting into Heaven." (Grolier, Vol. 5, "Freemasonry," pg. 68) Another Masonic writer, Albert Pike (who was also an occultist), writes: "Every Masonic Lodge is a Temple of Religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion." (Morals and Dogma, pg. 213) On page 68 of the Minnesota Proceedings, 1895, we read these interesting words: "He who approaches our alter in good faith and by the light which we bring him receives our teachings into a heart already prepared and lives a life in conformity with the principles which he here imbues, has come into an invaluable possession and need have no fear when the word shall come calling him into the hereafter but that he will be received as a living stone fit for a temple not made with hands." (See I Peter 2:4-8)

Regardless of their claims, the Masons are clearly embedded in a mystical religious system of salvation through works. Any "God" will do in this religion, because the Lodge teaches that it isn't God who saves one's soul anyhow: it's one's good works. In fact, in nations where Christianity isn't embraced, Masonic alters display the appropriate "Book of the Law" instead of the Bible. Freemasonry is definitely a religion, and a very BAD one at that.

The entry level in Masonry is The Blue Lodge, which consists of three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. One may stop at the level of Master Mason, or he can choose to enter either the Scottish Rite or the York Rite. The Scottish Rite advances by numerical degrees, the highest being the 33rdhonorary degree. The York Rite advances by Chapter, Council, and Commandery degrees, with the highest level being The Order of the Knights Templar Commandery.

The Masons speak much about approaching "the light," yet their whole organization is shrouded in secretive practices and blood curdling oaths which should deter any true Christian. In clear violation of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mat. 5:33-37), an Entered Apprentice Mason SWEARS BY GOD to: "...always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any of the arts, parts, or points of the hidden mysteries of Ancient Free masonry...binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea..." Thank God this is an entry level oath, for it has no doubt turned away many God-fearing Christian men!

The deep secrets of Masonry are just as unscriptural. It is falsehood and wickedness that dwell in dark secret corners . Truth is worthy of propagation (Mat. 28:18-19). Jesus Himself said, "...I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." (John 18:20)

In the initiation of an Entered Apprentice, the "Worshipful Master" (Mat. 23:10) asks: "In your present condition, what do you most desire?" The candidate responds: "Light." The "Master" later informs the candidate that he is "yet in darkness." Then for the Second Degree (Fellow Craft) the candidate is required to ask for "more light." According to God's word, Jesus Christ is the LIGHT (John 1:9; 8:12) and God's word is LIGHT (Psa. 119:105, 130). If you are saved, then it is an outright BLASPHEMY for you to agree that you are "yet in darkness" and to ask for "more light." Please note:

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:5-7) So all Masons have DENIED Jesus Christ and have asked for another light being offered to them through Masonry. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (II Cor. 11:14) The "God" of Masonry is not the God of the Bible! The Masonic god is the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4), which is BLINDING Masons from the true God of the Bible. Now the member is ready to climb the ladder of the Lodge and encounter some of the most ungodly practices known to man.

http://biblebelievers.com/jmelton/Lodge.html

tob

You left something out of the Entered Apprentice initiation. The question is "In whom do you place your trust." What's the only acceptable rsponse?

 

[turnorburn]

i left this out the rest of the information comes from former Masons Its a cult cut and dried..

tob

 

[Mike S]

i left this out the rest of the information comes from former Masons Its a cult cut and dried..

tob

What you've also left out is that if you go to any grand lodge website in the country you'll find it stated and explained that freemasonry is NOT a religion. and does NOT purport to offer a way to salvation through works...cut and dried. So, of all the voices of freemasonry you can find, including the voices of millions who are strong Christians, you choose to believe the most conspiratorial, and ignore the official beliefs of every single legitimate and active grand lodge?

We see this ridiculous obsession with freemasonry over and over again, sadly on this forum as well as others, as if the critics of freemasonry have some personal axe to grind. Do they feel personally threatened by Christian men gathering to support each other in the living of moral lives? Do they not have a serious enough struggle trying to get right with God in their own lives that they feel compelled to spend their precious time bashing other Christians? If so, it's a sad commentary on the weakness and insecurity of their own Christian faith. It might be a good idea for them to spend more time on their knees praying for their own salvation rather than obsessing about things of which they have very little personal knowledge.

 

[turnorburn]

Have you talked to Duane Washum a new member that left Free Masonry.. to follow Christ.. its no wonder they don 't talk about their god is because his name is Lucifer.. so says General Albert Pike.. you need to talk to Duane Mike not me he knows all about them..

http://www.christianforums.net/Fellowship/index.php?threads/left-freemasonry-to-follow-christ.50042/

tob

*edit: one of Duane's statements..

I have access to virtually every Grand Lodge monitor issued in the USA, as well as numerous Blue Lodge rituals, both "regular" Masonry, and Prince Hall Masonry. I also have several other Grand Lodge documents such as mentors manuals, officers manuals, etc..

If you will visit the website of Ex Masons For Jesus, you will find numerous articles there, explaining our position that Freemasonry is incompatible with the Christian faith. As you read through them you will plainly see that we rely quite heavily on Grand Lodge documentation. In other words, we don't just throw our own personal opinions on the wall and see if any of them will stick. Rather, we use official Grand Lodge documents - most of which are available to any Mason who cares to read them for himself - proving that what we say about Freemasonry is the truth.

If there are specific questions you would like to ask of me, choose your preferred venue, whether it be in a new thread, private messaging, email, whatever, and I will try my best to answer your questions for you.

 

[Mike S]

Have you talked to Duane Washum a new member that left Free Masonry.. to follow Christ.. its no wonder they don 't talk about their god is because his name is Lucifer.. so says General Albert Pike.. you need to talk to Duane Mike not me he knows all about them..

http://www.christianforums.net/Fellowship/index.php?threads/left-freemasonry-to-follow-christ.50042/

tob

*edit: one of Duane's statements..

I have access to virtually every Grand Lodge monitor issued in the USA, as well as numerous Blue Lodge rituals, both "regular" Masonry, and Prince Hall Masonry. I also have several other Grand Lodge documents such as mentors manuals, officers manuals, etc..

If you will visit the website of Ex Masons For Jesus, you will find numerous articles there, explaining our position that Freemasonry is incompatible with the Christian faith. As you read through them you will plainly see that we rely quite heavily on Grand Lodge documentation. In other words, we don't just throw our own personal opinions on the wall and see if any of them will stick. Rather, we use official Grand Lodge documents - most of which are available to any Mason who cares to read them for himself - proving that what we say about Freemasonry is the truth.

If there are specific questions you would like to ask of me, choose your preferred venue, whether it be in a new thread, private messaging, email, whatever, and I will try my best to answer your questions for you.

Have you talked to me, a long-time member and long-time mason? I guarantee I have more masonic documents, have greater access to Grand Lodge information, have visited more Blue Lodges, and York rite lodges, and have also held Grand Lodge offices, than the new member. I've also sat in Prince Hall lodges, and even participated in their degrees. He won't be answering questions for me, I'll answer them for him.


More to the point, there are thousands of Christians around the world who leave Christianity every year. Are those the people who should be telling us what Christianity really is?

 

[jasonc]

mike s will I disagree with you on freesmasonry I have met a master mason of the local lodge that did say all one needed is to believe in god. as a jewish Christian I cant do Passover with jews. its likely that I would fall away. why would I do that with any other theistic faith. that is my concern. if it was a bunch of Christians and they did some of this I wouldn't care but I. see much to much to be ignored. however, I know that at times it will not convince you.

 

[Mike S]

mike s will I disagree with you on freesmasonry I have met a master mason of the local lodge that did say all one needed is to believe in god. as a jewish Christian I cant do Passover with jews. its likely that I would fall away. why would I do that with any other theistic faith. that is my concern. if it was a bunch of Christians and they did some of this I wouldn't care but I. see much to much to be ignored. however, I know that at times it will not convince you.

It's OK for people to disagree with me on this, Freemasonry isn't for every man. I just resent it when Christians think other Christians aren't capable of keeping a strong faith while doing other things in community with moral brothers, especially since the overwhelming number of Freemasons are Christians. One man, or even a hundred men, leaving Freemasonry says nothing to me other than it didn't seem to be a good idea to them. I wish them well. But for them to presume a superiority in Christian faith over me and the millions of other Christian Freemasons is more than I'm willing to accept.

 

[turnorburn]

tob

 

[turnorburn]

Just found Duane's testimony online Mike.. follow the link for the remainder..

Testimony of Duane Washum

Former Worshipful Master

I grew up in a town in Arizona where it seemed as though virtually all of the "pillars of the community" were Masons.

I did not know, at the time, what went on inside a Masonic lodge room, but judging from the caliber of men who I knew of as being members of the organization, I always thought it must have been something pretty special.

Being a respected law enforcement officer, serving in both appointed and elected capacities throughout his career; as well as being a businessman, my father was a pillar of the community. And, he, at least one uncle and an assortment of cousins, were all Blue Lodge Masons. My mother and all three of my aunts were members of the Order of the Eastern Star, which is basically an affiliated adult women’s organization for wives, sisters, mothers, daughters, etc., although not exclusively so. In high school, I became actively involved in DeMolay, and my wife is a former member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.

My father passed away in 1963. He was so much more to me than just my dad. When I lost him, I lost my very best friend. And before my best friend
died, one of his final wishes, that he made known to my mother, was that his two sons become Masons. I still didn’t know what went on inside a lodge room, but dad had always said that being a Mason made him a better man. He wasn’t a "church-going" man, as the expression goes - ours was not a churched family - but he was indeed a good, honest, decent man, well-respected by even many of those who had been on the opposite side of the fence from him when he was in law enforcement.

Some fifteen years later, after leaving Arizona, my father’s wish was fulfilled. In May of 1978, I was initiated an Entered Apprentice into the Blue Lodge that my brother was already a member of, and officer in. In September, I was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and on November 10, 1978, I was raised a Master Mason. I was presented that night with a Masonic pin that had belonged to my father, and with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart, I was finally able to say, "You rest well now, old friend. Both of your sons are now Masons."

I still had no idea what Freemasonry was all about. I had always heard that it was a fraternity of men, the teachings of which were based upon the Bible. I wasn’t told that much about it, even on the evening of my initiation, when prior to being admitted into the lodge room I was required to declare in the affirmative that I would "cheerfully conform to all the ancient usages and established customs of the Fraternity.", even though I had absolutely no idea what all these "usages" and "established customs" were. I didn’t remember that dad had ever gone to lodge all that much, at least not in later years; I didn’t remember it ever being a topic of discussion at the dinner table. But I had never heard him speak in any negative terms about the lodge, nor had I heard any such remarks from any other members of the family with the exception of one uncle, but even that had nothing to do with the inner workings of Freemasonry. As I was to learn later, there was no way the one uncle could have been expected to know, anyway, being an "outsider". So many people from WITHIN the ranks of the Order don’t even know. Besides, I trusted most of the Masons I knew before becoming a member, and as long as I wasn’t invited to a "snipe hunt", or something similar, I wasn’t going to give it much thought.

There is a great deal of work involved in blue lodge Masonry, to allow you to advance from one degree to the next. "Proficiencies" are to be memorized, and they consist of a series of verbatim questions that are asked of you, to which you must furnish answers that are very close to being word-for-word themselves. Some places require that these proficiencies be delivered in open lodge, in front of the membership in attendance. We were only required to complete these examinations on the premises while a lodge meeting was in session.

I turned in my 3rd degree proficiency on the evening of December’s stated (business) meeting, which was just in time to be appointed by the Worshipful Master-elect for the ensuing year (1979) as his Junior Steward. No speaking parts were involved in this position, so I was asked to begin learning to deliver the Working Tools lecture in each of the 3 degrees, as well as the charges. In l980, I served as Chaplain. There is a substantial amount of memorization work involved there, with circumambulations, prayers and various other things that go along with the chair. I also went to work learning the Senior Deacon’s roles in the various degrees, etc. That summer, I set out to learn the First Degree Lecture, which I began delivering in the fall, when summer break from lodge was over with. Somewhere along the line in those first two years, I also memorized the Apron Lecture. In 1981, I was Junior Warden, one of the three principal officers of the lodge, my first elected office. To the best of my recollection, I began obligating candidates that year, which means administering the obligations in each of the degrees, assuming the role of Worshipful Master during the ritual of initiation or advancement of the candidate(s). By the time my year as Senior Warden was completed (1982), I had pretty much learned all the degree work I would learn, leaving me with more time to hopefully serve the brethren well, in 1983, as Worshipful Master of one of the largest blue lodges in Nevada.

http://www.emfj.org/washum.htm

tob

 

[Mike S]

Just found Duane's testimony online Mike.. follow the link for the remainder..

Testimony of Duane Washum

Former Worshipful Master

I grew up in a town in Arizona where it seemed as though virtually all of the "pillars of the community" were Masons.

I did not know, at the time, what went on inside a Masonic lodge room, but judging from the caliber of men who I knew of as being members of the organization, I always thought it must have been something pretty special.

Being a respected law enforcement officer, serving in both appointed and elected capacities throughout his career; as well as being a businessman, my father was a pillar of the community. And, he, at least one uncle and an assortment of cousins, were all Blue Lodge Masons. My mother and all three of my aunts were members of the Order of the Eastern Star, which is basically an affiliated adult women’s organization for wives, sisters, mothers, daughters, etc., although not exclusively so. In high school, I became actively involved in DeMolay, and my wife is a former member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls.

My father passed away in 1963. He was so much more to me than just my dad. When I lost him, I lost my very best friend. And before my best friend
died, one of his final wishes, that he made known to my mother, was that his two sons become Masons. I still didn’t know what went on inside a lodge room, but dad had always said that being a Mason made him a better man. He wasn’t a "church-going" man, as the expression goes - ours was not a churched family - but he was indeed a good, honest, decent man, well-respected by even many of those who had been on the opposite side of the fence from him when he was in law enforcement.

Some fifteen years later, after leaving Arizona, my father’s wish was fulfilled. In May of 1978, I was initiated an Entered Apprentice into the Blue Lodge that my brother was already a member of, and officer in. In September, I was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and on November 10, 1978, I was raised a Master Mason. I was presented that night with a Masonic pin that had belonged to my father, and with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart, I was finally able to say, "You rest well now, old friend. Both of your sons are now Masons."

I still had no idea what Freemasonry was all about. I had always heard that it was a fraternity of men, the teachings of which were based upon the Bible. I wasn’t told that much about it, even on the evening of my initiation, when prior to being admitted into the lodge room I was required to declare in the affirmative that I would "cheerfully conform to all the ancient usages and established customs of the Fraternity.", even though I had absolutely no idea what all these "usages" and "established customs" were. I didn’t remember that dad had ever gone to lodge all that much, at least not in later years; I didn’t remember it ever being a topic of discussion at the dinner table. But I had never heard him speak in any negative terms about the lodge, nor had I heard any such remarks from any other members of the family with the exception of one uncle, but even that had nothing to do with the inner workings of Freemasonry. As I was to learn later, there was no way the one uncle could have been expected to know, anyway, being an "outsider". So many people from WITHIN the ranks of the Order don’t even know. Besides, I trusted most of the Masons I knew before becoming a member, and as long as I wasn’t invited to a "snipe hunt", or something similar, I wasn’t going to give it much thought.

There is a great deal of work involved in blue lodge Masonry, to allow you to advance from one degree to the next. "Proficiencies" are to be memorized, and they consist of a series of verbatim questions that are asked of you, to which you must furnish answers that are very close to being word-for-word themselves. Some places require that these proficiencies be delivered in open lodge, in front of the membership in attendance. We were only required to complete these examinations on the premises while a lodge meeting was in session.

I turned in my 3rd degree proficiency on the evening of December’s stated (business) meeting, which was just in time to be appointed by the Worshipful Master-elect for the ensuing year (1979) as his Junior Steward. No speaking parts were involved in this position, so I was asked to begin learning to deliver the Working Tools lecture in each of the 3 degrees, as well as the charges. In l980, I served as Chaplain. There is a substantial amount of memorization work involved there, with circumambulations, prayers and various other things that go along with the chair. I also went to work learning the Senior Deacon’s roles in the various degrees, etc. That summer, I set out to learn the First Degree Lecture, which I began delivering in the fall, when summer break from lodge was over with. Somewhere along the line in those first two years, I also memorized the Apron Lecture. In 1981, I was Junior Warden, one of the three principal officers of the lodge, my first elected office. To the best of my recollection, I began obligating candidates that year, which means administering the obligations in each of the degrees, assuming the role of Worshipful Master during the ritual of initiation or advancement of the candidate(s). By the time my year as Senior Warden was completed (1982), I had pretty much learned all the degree work I would learn, leaving me with more time to hopefully serve the brethren well, in 1983, as Worshipful Master of one of the largest blue lodges in Nevada.

http://www.emfj.org/washum.htm

tob

a
Yeah, I understand, some men leave the lodge. If they feel the lodge is not compatible with their faith, they've made the right decision.