Freemasonry - An Occult Religion

One of my readers asked if I knew anything about Freemasonry, and if I would write an article about it.  I learned about Masonry because of the Mormon Church’s association with it; the temple garment has Masonic symbols and much of the temple ceremony was copied from Masonic rituals.  This was because Joseph Smith was a Freemason, and most of the men of Nauvoo were also Freemasons.  Since I began in-depth studies of Mormonism 40 years ago, it was important for me to learn what I could about Freemasonry.  I have over a dozen books on Freemasonry, written by Masons, ex-Masons, and Christian apologists — including Albert Pike’s tome, “Morals and Dogma.”

There is much information on the internet, as well as in any good library, which will allow anyone to completely familiarize themselves with Freemasonry.  Therefore, for this short article I’m only going to highlight some of the beliefs and practices which are incompatible with Christianity — and the reason why no Christian should be a Mason.

First, I would like to point out that, contrary to many legends and myths of Freemasonry, it is not alluded to in the Bible, nor does it have its origins in the building of Solomon’s temple, nor is it rooted in pagan religions found in the Bible.  Instead, it emerged in the 1700s.

Members of Freemasonry vehemently deny that the Masonic organization is a religion, claiming that it is nothing more than a fraternal organization.  Yet well-known Masonic authors Henry W. Coil and Albert Pike even admit that Freemasonry is indeed a religion.

Proof that Freemasonry is a religion can readily be seen in these facts:

1. They require a belief in a supreme being.
2. Their meeting places are in temples.
3. They have doctrines, including a way of salvation by works.
4. They have altars and pulpits in their temples.
5. They have religious ceremonies, rituals, prayers, readings from sacred literature, singing hymns, and even funeral services.
6. They have chaplains.

Albert Pike stated that “every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion, and its teachings are instruction in religion.”  In his “Morals and Dogma,” Pike even stated that “the ministers of this religion are all Masons who comprehend it and are devoted to it; its sacrifices to God are good works.”

Albert Mackey, in his “Encyclopedia of Freemasonry,” says, “the most important article of furniture in a Lodge room is undoubtedly the altar. . . . It is an altar of sacrifice, for on it the candidate is directed to lay his passions and vices as an oblation to the Deity, while he offers up the thoughts of a pure heart as a fitting incense to the Grand Architect of the Universe.  The altar is, therefore, the most holy place in a Lodge.” 

Let it also be pointed out that the holy book on the altar of the local temple will be the holy book of the culture surrounding that temple; i.e., the holy book may be the Bible, the Qur’an, the Upanishads, Vedas, etc.  The initiate may take his oath on the holy book of his own religious belief.  The idea is that all Masons can be in fellowship no matter what god they worship.  However, a Christian is to NEVER condone any other religious belief system because they are contrary to God’s teachings and are idolatrous.

“The chaplain of the Masonic Lodge who prays as the voice of the lodge does not pray in the name of the Carpenter of Nazareth or the name of Jehovah or the name of Allah.  He prays to the Grand Artificer or the Great Architect of the Universe.  Under that title men of all faiths may find each his own deity.”  Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma.  But this god is NOT the God of the Bible.

Along the line of Masonry being a religion, I discovered that not only do they have temples but they also have Cathedrals!  These photos are of the Cathedral in Moline, IL, which I discovered when I was in Moline for band practice.  Notice the structural similarities to Roman Catholic cathedrals.

Initiation ceremonies often include occult practices.  The initiate must claim he is in darkness and looking for “light of Freemasonry” - a spiritual light - yet Scripture says the only spiritual light for the darkness is Christ.  The initiate must present himself to a “Worshipful Master,” and yet there is no man who is “worshipful.”  He is also required to take a barbaric blood oath to keep secret the teachings he learns; blood oaths which are required for every degree of Freemasonry.

An example of the blood oath for the first degree is this:  “All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any mental reservation or secret evasion of mind whatever, 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, at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly violate this my Entered Apprentice obligation.  So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.”

This is an extremely unbiblical oath, and to seek God’s help in keeping it is nothing less than blasphemy.

With each degree, the oath includes more penalties, such as having one’s left breast torn open, heart plucked out and given to be eaten by beasts and birds; body severed in two, bowels burnt and scattered; etc.

Masons believe salvation is though hard work and keeping the principles and teachings of the Lodge, and living ethically.  Yet Scripture says that our works are as filthy rags to God (Isa. 64:6) and that we can find salvation only through the work of Christ.

Freemasonry’s connections to the occult include connections to the Kabbala and the mystery religions of paganism, references to each being found often in Masonic literature.

While an Entered Apprentice, and even up to the third degree Mason, may give little thought to the blood oaths and think the whole thing is just a lark, in order to be a Shriner, one must have arrived at the top level in Masonry, which means they know all the “secrets” and have taken many blood oaths and practiced the occultism commensurate with their standing.  Even more abhorrent is that Shriners make a pretense at being Muslims, with the Fez and other Arabic attire.  This in itself is idolatry in that it is paying homage to the god of Islam, let alone aiding the propaganda about Islam being peaceful.

I trust this small taste of what Freemasonry is about will convince you that it is an organization in which Christians have no business participating.