Original subtitles

goes on behind the closed doors of the Masonic Lodge.

In our prior program, a 32nd degree Mason met with a Christian scholar to

out whether or not Christianity and the Masonic Lodge were compatible.

In that program, our Masonic guest said the ritual was the authoritative source

for all Masons.

But what is the ritual for the first three degrees of Masonry?

What does it teach?

Tonight, you will find out.

Mr. Jack Harris, a former worshipful master from the state of Maryland, will

reenact small parts of the ritual from the first three degrees and explain what

he taught in the lodge.

In program one, you will be introduced to the primary symbols in all Masonic

lodges and watch how a candidate is received upon his being initiated into

entered apprentice degree of Masonry.

In program two, the former worshipful master will explain to us the meaning of

the three great lights.

and three lesser lights of masonry.

In program three, what is the significance of the working tools of

What is the meaning of the white apron and the rough ashlar and the perfect

ashlar?

In program four, how binding is the obligation taken by any candidate

into the first three degrees of masonry?

In program five, you will see the actual ceremony used at a Masonic funeral.

In program six, both sides will comment on whether masonry is a religion,

whether or not it promises eternal life in the celestial lodge above, what a

mason must do in this life, and whether masonry holds the Bible's teachings to

be authoritative.

In preparation for this program, letters were sent to the grand lodges in all 50

states asking them which Masonic authors and books they would recommend as the

most authoritative commentaries concerning the teachings of masonry.

We will report to you what they said.

Then we will compare the commentary of their recommended authors with some of

the teachings of biblical Christianity to answer the question, is Christianity

compatible with the teachings of the Masonic Lodge?

Please stay tuned.

Welcome to the John Ankerberg Show.

Tonight, we begin a follow -up program to a previous series that we did

entitled, Christianity and the Masonic Lodge, are they compatible?

We received quite a bit of response from that program.

And tonight we want to continue.

As our custom is, we allow the other side to present their own position.

So tonight and in the weeks to come, you will hear excerpts from our previous

program with our guest, Mr. Bill Manken, a 32nd degree Mason.

You'll hear additional information from a former worshipful master of the lodge.

But to set the setting tonight, let's go back to the previous series where I

asked two questions of Mr. Bill Manken concerning the Masonic Lodge.

First, is masonry a religion?

Please listen to what he said.

There are many good things with the lodge in terms of what Walter just

mentioned, the hospitals and so on, the different functions, the charities.

And I think that there's no argument on that.

We never argue with people on things that are right.

The discussion comes around. Let me see if I can frame it for you.

And that is that it's not a religion.

More than that, it's not a religion. It offers no system of salvation. And I'm

going to have to read from this certain point because this is very, very

important and something that you should realize because we have none of the

marks of a religion. Okay, let her go. We have no creed.

No confession of faith in a doctrinal statement.

We have no theology.

We have no ritual of worship.

We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols found in a church

or a synagogue.

Our symbols are related to the development of character of the

man to man.

They are working tools to be used in the building of life. These working tools

have been used from time immemorial to build buildings.

And all we are saying is that if you as an individual adopt the principles

represented, and we'll get into some of that symbolism later on, that you will

be a better person. Not that you're going to go to heaven.

The second question, if anyone is going to investigate the teachings of the

Masonic Lodge, Who or what is the authority that we should listen to?

Again, please listen to what he said.

The authoritative source for masonry is the ritual. The ritual, what happens in

the lodge, what goes on. So there are some basic things then that are

to masonry. Yes. And that you would agree with and that all masons would

with. Yes.

okay now we have established that there is a basic foundation upon which all

masonry rests all right tonight i thought that you might like to see what

on behind closed doors in a masonic lodge room and we're actually going to

recreate for you some of the ceremony the ritual in the blue lodge the first

three degrees of masonry why well you just heard mr bill mankin a 32nd degree

mason explained to you that he thought that masonry cannot be considered a

religion. Why? Because it has no creed, it has no theology, it has no plan of

salvation. But he did say the way that you find out, the way you measure that,

is by looking at the ritual. And tonight, if that's the authoritative

thought that I would like to show you the ritual that you decide for yourself.

Now we needed to have somebody that was knowledgeable, somebody that would be

considered knowledgeable by masons across the country.

Who could be more knowledgeable than a worshipful master of the lodge?

And tonight we actually have a former worshipful master, a man who led over

men in his lodge in Maryland, who initiated many of those men into the

And he's going to explain what is in the typical Blue Lodge hall.

And we are going to then ask him to give us certain parts of the ritual.

It will be exactly word for word those parts that we duplicate.

But we're not going to give you all of the ritual. That would take about five

hours. But the parts that we give to you, you will find are word for word

is in most of the lodges across the country.

Our guest tonight is Mr.

Jack Harris.

Jack.

I would like for you to explain to us what we see here. What is the big G

this chair, and what is that chair, and what are these other chairs?

John, first of all, the chair of the Wurzel Master is situated in the east.

It is the place of authority in Masonic Blue Lodge.

Over top of the chair is a letter G, found in every lodge within the United

States.

Okay, what are these chairs down here?

Okay, on the left, we have the chair of the chaplain.

Every lodge must be open and closed with prayer.

And in a great many of your lodges throughout the United States, the

an ordained minister.

To the right of the master is the chair of the senior deacon. The senior deacon

is in charge of conducting all candidates through their initiation of

three degrees of Freemasonry. All right. What are these candles here, Jack?

These candles represent the sun, the moon, and the master of the lodge.

as we come down through the center of the lodge and this is significant

This altar is in exactly in center of every Masonic Lodge with the United

Resting on top is the Holy Bible the square and the compasses. All right

gonna tell us more about why you have these things there and what they mean in

masonry We were gonna do that on a later ritual right? All right. Why do we have

the color blue here? The color blue according to most Masonic authorities is

used in the Blue Lodge, first and second and third degree, because it is a

symbol of fidelity.

Now, Jack, tell us, what is the south wall all about in the Masonic Lodge

Okay, the south wall is the principal place where the junior warden of the

sits. Okay. To his right and to his left are the chairs of the junior and senior

stewards of the Masonic Lodge.

All right, you're going to tell us why you have, and you call it the south

and then you've got the west wall over here. That's correct. A little later as

we go along, and the people will see how these chairs are used.

Yes, that's correct. All right, describe what do we have over here on the west

wall. Okay, the small chair on the left is the chair of the junior deacon, who

is in charge of a mission of all candidates and also the guest of the

right, what's this chair? The chair in the center is the chair of the senior

warden of the lodge, who is second in command to the worshipful master of the

lodge. Okay, Jack, what about this other door on the west wall? What's this all

about? This door is for the candidate to come through. It's called the ante

-room door.

It's the door behind which the candidate is prepared for initiation.

Behind this door, we have a candidate which is prepared for initiation in the

first degree of freemasonry. We will explain to you at a later time exactly

he is dressed the way he is.

Okay?

All right, so now what we're going to do is we're going to actually begin the

first degree of masonry and take you through, again, some of the key parts in

the actual ritual as it happens in the Blue Lodge.

Tonight, we're going to bring you into an actual lodge room and show you the

ritual of the first degree of Freemasonry.

As John has mentioned earlier, we cannot show you all the aspects of the ritual,

but what we will show you will be an actual...

live representation of what happens in a Masonic Lodge.

Previous to this, there was about 20 minutes of ritual leading up to this

where I am at at the present time.

Who comes here?

John Smith, a poor blind candidate who desires to be brought from darkness to

light. who wishes to receive a part of the rights and benefits of this right

worshipful lodge, erected to God and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as

brothers and fellows have done before him.

Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?

It is. Is he duly and truly prepared?

He is.

By what further right does he expect to gain admission?

By the right of being a man, freeborn, of good report, and well recommended.

Being all this, he will wait a time with patience.

Until the worshipful master is informed of his request and his answer returned

Before

we continue with the ritual

I would like to make some comment about the part of the ritual at the door that

you have just seen Albert Mackie one of the world's leading authorities in

freemasonry and respected in his interpretation of the rituals of

has made this comment regarding the scene that you have just said at the

The book is called The Manual of the Lodge, page 20, and he makes this

statement. There he stands without our portals on the threshold of his new

Masonic life, in darkness, helplessness, and ignorance.

Having been wandering amid the errors and covered over with the pollution, of

the outer and profane world, he comes inquiringly to our door, seeking the new

birth, and asking a withdrawal of the veil which conceals divine truth

from his uninitiated eyes.

As Christians, the Word of God is considered their authority in all

truth and conduct.

I would like to quote to you with the Word of God.

says about this part of the ritual that we have just shown you.

In John 8, 12, the Word says, Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying,

I am the light of the world.

He who followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of

life.

Also, in Ephesians 5, 14, the Word of God says, Awake thou that sleepest from

the dead.

And Christ shall give you light.

I spent many years in the Masonic Lodge as an officer.

And in all those years serving as worshipful master in other offices, I

Freemasonry to be something that was really meeting a need in my life.

But one night while at home and watching Christian TV, I heard the gospel of

Jesus Christ for the first time.

knelt down there in the living room, and accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.

My first love became the Word of God.

And as I read the Word, the Spirit of God showed me that I was a child of

and Jesus, my Savior, was the light of the world.

I found that this was in tremendous conflict with the teachings of

especially the part of the ritual you saw at the door.

Saying that as a Christian candidate, I was in darkness regarding spiritual

matters.

Let me ask you, can you truthfully say, when you came to the door of Freemasonry

for initiation, that as a Christian, you were in spiritual darkness?

When the word of God says, as a Christian, you are a child of light.

ritual of the first three degrees of Freemasonry in order to answer the

question, are the teachings of Freemasonry compatible with biblical

Christianity?

Now, why are we investigating the Masonic ritual?

Well, in our first series, as we were talking with Mr. Bill Manken, a 32nd

degree Mason, we found out something very interesting.

Please listen.

In order for us to define terms, because the questions I'm going to ask you on

the two prayers that we've read.

have to do with how what god are we talking about who is the great architect

supreme architect of the universe okay now how do we how do we figure that out

what is your authority when you have a question on the masonic lodge who do you

go to i go to the ritual and where does the ritual come from uh the ritual is is

that's that's the portion the monitor portion of the ritual is spoken what

with the obligation and the doings of masonry is the portion that is secret

and and unfortunately

you're not privy to that unless you ask to be privy to it.

Since Masons believe that the ritual is their authority, then please listen as

Mr. Jack Harris, a former worshipful master of the lodge, continues to

and explain the significance of portions of the entered apprentice degree, the

first degree of Masonry.

We will now continue with our ritual in the first degree of Freemasonry.

Mr. Smith, you are received into masonry upon the point of a sharp instrument

piercing your naked left breast, which is to teach you, as this is an

of torture to your flesh, so may the recollection thereof be to your

should you ever reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully.

Thou safe thine aid, almighty Father of the universe, to this our present

convention, and grant that this candidate for masonry may dedicate and

his life to thy service.

Endue him with the competency of thy divine wisdom, that by the secrets of

art he may be bettered and enabled to display the beauties of holiness of thy

holy name.

Amen.

Mr. Smith, in times of imminent peril and danger, in whom do you place your

trust? In God.

All right, as a former worshipful master, I want to ask you a couple

First of all, we saw this segment with Bill Minkin, 32nd degree Mason, talking

to Dr. Walter Martin.

He said Masonry is not a religion and has no creed, no confession of faith,

okay? Then we watched as you actually performed the ritual and it seemed to me

that you did have a creed You did have a confession of faith. Tell us what you

were doing and talk to both of those areas Okay, the first area dealing with

being received as a Freemason into the lodge You were received upon the penalty

of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left breast. Yeah, that was pretty

rugged What do you think about that threat of punishment from a Christian

of view from a Christian point of view now? I believe that

It's very hard for me to be a witness for Jesus Christ in the world at the

time knowing I belong to an organization that is telling me that I must keep

their religious secrets secret or I will suffer a penalty of death. I have a

hard time with this as a Christian. Okay, you've got a secret organization

versus an open one. That's right.

All right, what about the...

Prayer and the little ceremony that you conducted when the man was kneeling.

What about that? What did it mean, first of all? Okay, what it basically means,

John, is that they believe that they will make good men better by the

of God and the brotherhood of man doctrine.

That prayer, word for word, is the exact prayer said in every lodge in the

United States of America.

So any mason can go to his little ritual book, and he can look in there, and

you'll find the exact same words that you just said. That is correct.

Now, the Grand Lodge of the state of Maryland, John, has made a statement

regarding that part of the ritual, that prayer. I'd like to read it to you. All

right.

Thus, mastery is a great fellowship of men of all countries and ages who are

capable of discovering in the religious teachings of all humanity, some of them

crude indeed, the fundamental truth common to them all, that God is the

of all mankind and all men are brethren.

that this principle is worth dying for, and that he who remains steadfast in the

service of this ideal may well hope for and expect immortal life.

Okay, so all the Christians that are watching and that are a part of the

okay, this is kind of an authority speaking and giving the interpretation

what that prayer means. That is correct. And telling this is our creed, okay?

How does that square with the Word of God, if you want?

Okay, the Word of God in Galatians, the fourth chapter and the sixth

verse, fifth and sixth verse, describes that we as children of God, being

redeemed as we are through the blood of Christ, then and only then have a right

to call God Abba, Father. So Father delineates a relationship, and the only

to have a relationship with God is your Father.

is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. So you're saying that actually

all men are part of the sonship of God, that you have to have a relationship

with Jesus Christ to become a part of the family of God. God is creator to all

of creation, but he's not necessarily our father. That is correct.

Now that's something a lot of people disagree with.

Well, that's what the Bible teaches, John.

Are there any other verses?

Well, Romans 8 .15 deals with the adoption.

into the family of god as children of god which also says we are adopted

the shed blood of jesus christ it does not talk about universal teachings as

freemasonry does which takes the moslem the buddhist and the hindu teaching and

says if you obey each one of those you can attain mortal life which the prayer

did show when it talked about the fatherhood of god okay and finally it

statement that also disagrees with the bible i think when you had uh in the

prayer you talked about by the arts of masonry what are the arts of masonry and

what did you say by the arts of masonry a man could accomplish okay we said in

the prayer by the secrets of our art he may be enabled to display the beauties

and the holiness of god that what they mean by that is the teachings of

freemasonry the mysteries that you will learn the moral lessons you will learn

in the building of your spiritual temple of your soul you can gain eternal life

and will be able to look at God and say, I have given you glory through the

teachings of Freemasonry. Okay. If you were to talk to those that are

in the lodge, what would you challenge them with right now concerning the

that we just saw?

I would say, first of all, in the receiving of the candidate upon the

death, Jesus said he spoke in the synagogue, he spoke openly to the world.

And Matthew 28, he told his disciples, proclaim the gospel to all the world. So

all the word of God is to be proclaimed without holding back any of the

teachings of the word of God.

Okay? And the prayer of the pillar, dealing with the fatherhood of God and

brotherhood of man, we know as children of God, it's only through the shed blood

of Jesus Christ we have a right to call God our father.

So thereby, I believe as a Christian, this violates my right as a child of God

to be part of such a teachings as we have learned here in this ritual.

Next week, we're going to look into more of the ritual that actually goes on in

the Blue Lodges all across the United States and examine it in light of the

Bible. I hope that you'll be with us.

For this program, we read and compared the authoritative, monitorial manuals

containing the ritual of the lodges in the different states.

We also wrote to each of the Grand Lodges in all 50 states, asking them

books and authors they thought most accurately conveyed the essential

of masonry.

42 % of the lodges that responded recommended Henry Wilson Coyle, and one

of the lodges recommended Albert Mackey and Joseph Fort Newton.

Authors recommended next in frequency were Claudie, Haywood, Serza, Gould,

Roberts, and Pike, in that order. All of these were read.

Then, Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32nd degree Mason, was once again invited to come on

our program, but he was denied permission by the worshipful master of

in Idaho.

An invitation was also extended to Mr. Samuel Chandler, Grandmaster of the

Masons in Tennessee, but he said he would not be interested in making any

response at all since, and I quote,

Freemasonry has survived all of its critics for years and will survive this

attack also, end of quote.

Our invitation to these men or other responsible spokesmen for Freemasonry

remains open.

But we hope that no one will think this program is an attack.

We certainly believe that anyone who so desires can join Masonry. All we are

interested in is comparing Freemasonry's teaching with the plain truths of the

Bible. Hopefully.

Freemasonry will allow us to enter the discussion and disagree with them since

we have taken the trouble to document our position in their ritual and the

writings of the authorities they recommended.

Now, if you want to have our special package of information, it includes the

written transcripts of all six of the television programs in this series

entitled The Masonic Lodge, What Goes On Behind Closed Doors? And the book on

Freemasonry by our guest, former worshipful master Mr. Jack Harris.

plus the booklet I have written entitled, Is Freemasonry a Religion?

and other important questions about the lodge.

Anyone sending a gift of $20 or more to the ministry may request this package of

information. Just ask for offer M7. Our address is The John Ankerberg Show, Post

Office Box 8977, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37411.

VHS video cassettes of all six TV programs in this series are available

request to anyone sending a gift of $39 or more to the ministry.

Masonry, as far as I was concerned, and many, many men that I talked to when I

was in masonry and since I've come out of masonry, is the way to God.

It is a religion in the minds of many of the men in it. I can't speak for all of

them, and certainly there are men in masonry who are there for a lot of

different reasons.

But many of them are there for the sole purpose that they think it's making them

better, and behind that, it's giving them what they need to make their life

acceptable.

Good evening.

This is the second program in our follow -up series concerning the Masonic

Lodge. The reason for tonight's program is that many of you have asked, are the

teachings of the Masonic Lodge compatible with biblical Christianity?

Well, as our custom is, we allow others to present their own position.

So to set the stage tonight, I'd like you to listen to Mr. Bill Manken, a 32nd

degree Mason, who on our previous series told us what the Masonic Lodge believes

concerning their symbols, and in particular, their symbol concerning the

We have no creed, no confession of faith in a doctrinal statement.

We have no theology.

We have no ritual of worship.

We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols found in a church

or a synagogue.

Our symbols are related to the development of character of the

man to man.

They are working tools to be used in the building of life.

Why are you praying?

We are praying to the same God the one god are we the all -creating god the

god that is on the dollar bill and god we trust right and the hindus too and

buddhists and the same you're nitpicking and that's no no no that's very that's

very factual that's the minute that's the crux of the whole thing the god of

bible is not the God of the Hindus.

The God of the Bible is not the God of the Buddhists. The God of the Bible is

not Allah.

The God of the Bible is the Lord, eternal God, who became man in Jesus

You cannot call him by all these different names and say you're talking

the one God.

That's biblical nonsense.

We are not doing that.

When I say a prayer in lives, I say a prayer to my God.

But they're praying to the same God. When I acted as chaplain, I said my own

prayer. I didn't even use the prayer. In a Buddhist lodge. There was no point in

doing that. In a Buddhist lodge.

In a Zoroastrian lodge.

In a Muslim lodge. Are they praying to the same God you're praying to? They are

praying to their God. To the same God you're praying to? Well, no. I can't say

that. Then they're lost, right?

Yes, but they're still makes. But they're lost.

So all your Masonic brothers, I want to get this out, all your Masonic brothers

who reject Jesus Christ's gospel and follow these things, even in the full

of Masonry, are lost.

According to my beliefs as a Christian, yes. Thank you.

So, do the Masonic symbols, as explained by the Lodge, conflict with the

teachings of the Bible?

Well, in order to answer that question, we have asked that a former worshipful

master of the lodge, Mr. Jack Harris, would come tonight and reenact part of

actual ritual of the first three degrees of masonry and explain to you exactly

what he taught to more than 600 men in his lodge concerning God, the Bible,

man's nature, and eternal life. Please listen.

As a former worshipful master of a Masonic lodge, It was my duty to

candidate in many of the teachings of Freemasonry.

One of the most important was an explanation of the letter G, which you

suspended above my chair in the east.

Let me tell you exactly what that means to Freemasonry, as explained to the

candidate. First of all, it alludes to the fifth science, geometry.

Geometry, according to Freemasonry, delineates how God created the heavens

the earth and its various shapes and forms.

But the most important meaning is, as I'm going to give it to you at this

The master removes his hat and tells the candidate, It alludes to the sacred

name of deity, before whom all, from the youngest entered apprentice in the

northeast corner, to the worshipful master who presides in the east, should

reverence most humbly bow.

As a child of God, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior several years

ago. And I had a great deal of difficulty with Freemasonry's definition

because all through the rituals, as well as this explanation, they call God

deity, or grand architect of the universe, or great architect of the

They don't give him any specific name we as Christians know.

You see, in Freemasonry, they can accept the deity of the Muslim, the Hindu, the

Buddhist. Whatever the religion or whatever the savior of any religion in

world, Freemasonry will accept them.

But they do not name what those deities are, so they call him deity.

But as a born -again Christian, I have a problem with this.

In Isaiah, the 44th chapter, the 6th verse, the Lord says this, Thus

says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, I am

first, and I am the last, and beside me, There is no God.

Also, as Christians in Colossians, the second chapter, the ninth verse, we are

told that in him, referring to the person of Jesus Christ, all the deity is

bodily form.

So as born -again Christians, we see the person of God revealed into the person

of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. He has a name, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is not referred to in any of our churches or scriptures as just the name

deity. This does present a tremendous problem to me as a child of God.

In conclusion, I find that the teachings of Freemasonry lead to a universal

religion. The religion that Freemasonry teaches accepts saviors of all religions

in the world, none being exclusive.

But as a born -again Christian, I am told in John 14, 6 by Jesus himself, I

the way, the truth, and the life.

No end comes unto the Father except by me.

So thereby, as a child of God and to be obedient to the word of God, I must

separate myself from the false teachings and the many false saviors that mastery

presents in all of their teachings.

Next, we want to turn our attention to the three great lights of masonry. What

are they?

What does the Masonic Lodge teach concerning the Bible?

First, we will listen to Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32nd degree mason, talk about

symbols.

Every well -governed lodge is furnished with a holy Bible. A square encompasses.

The holy Bible is dedicated to God. It being his inestimable gift to man as the

rule and guide of his faith.

Let me quote from Pike.

All right.

The Bible is an indispensable part of the furniture of a Christian lodge.

I've heard that in almost all the books. Next line. Only because it is the

sacred book of the Christian religion.

the Hebrew Pentateuch in a Hebrew lodge, the Koran in a Mohammedan one, belong

on the altar. And one of these, in the square and the compass, properly

understood are the great lights by which a mason must walk and work. Now why?

The obligation of the candidate is always to be taken on the sacred book or

books of his religion, that he may deem it more solemn and binding. And

therefore it was that you were asked of what religion you were. We have no other

concern with your religious creed.

To ask a Mohammedan to swear on a Christian Bible would be ludicrous. It

be sacrilegious. So then the Bible is not the authoritative book of the

Lodge.

That's what Walter was saying.

That's what I'm saying. I said in the United States, the Holy Bible is the

and guide of our faith.

Yes. But then there must be something behind the Holy Bible because it's not

universal. It's just for this square geographical area here, and over there

there's another authoritative book. That was where I think Walter was going.

Well, it's not whether or not it's authoritative. That is what's meaningful

here. That's what he said. What you're asking a candidate to do is obligate...

himself according to the highest principles that he knows according to

religion there's no point in having him obligated according to to dr martin's

religion or according to my religion okay bill how do you like that in terms

truth in terms of truth truth is true we're not talking about theology we are

talking about a system of morality that is illustrated by the use of the square

by the compasses by the level and by the plum so that you may compare the

teachings of the masonic lodge with biblical teaching I have asked former

worshipful master, Mr. Jack Harris, to give us part of the actual ritual of the

lodge where he explained to the candidate about the three great lights

masonry. What I have explained to you previously was an explanation of the

letter G which you have found above the master's chair.

What I will give you now is actual ritual taught by every Masonic lodge

the United States.

The three great lights of masonry are the Holy Bible, the square, and the

compasses. The Holy Bible we take for the ruling God of our faith, the square

square our actions, and the compasses to circumscribe our desires and keep our

passions within due bounds.

The three lesser lights are the sun, the moon, and the master of the lodge.

As the sun rules the day and the moon governs the night, so should the workful

master endeavor to rule and govern his lodge with equal regularity.

Many of you are probably wondering what does Freemasonry really believe about

the Bible.

I would like to quote to you Albert Mackey, one of the world's greatest

interpreters of ritual, says this in his book Encyclopedia of Freemasonry under

the title of Bible.

The Bible is used among Masons as a symbol of the will of God, however it

expressed. And therefore, whatever to any people expresses that will, may be

used as a substitute for the Bible in a Masonic lodge.

Thus, in a lodge consisting of Jews, the Old Testament alone may be placed upon

the altar.

And the Turkish Masons can make use of the Koran.

Whether it be the Gospel to the Christian, the Old Testament to the Jew,

Veda to the Brahmin, it conveys the same idea, the will of God, to man.

I have trouble with this as a born -again Christian.

For the Word of God tells me that there is only one way, one light, and one

truth.

But Freemasonry says that is not true.

Freemasonry says the Koran, the Vedas, the Old Testament, the New Testament, or

any scripture from any religion in the world is sacred and reveals truth and

light. In all of their teachings, they talk about seeking light.

But the Word of God tells me there's only one light, and that light is to be

found in Jesus Christ.

It also tells me the fifth chapter of 1 John, that, gee, anyone who does not

honor the Son does not honor the Father.

Freemasonry, in their religious teachings, does not honor the Son.

2 Corinthians also tells us that there is an artificial light, Satan appearing

as an angel of light.

I find that the teachings of Freemasonry, accepting the sacred

religions in the world, leads men to a false hope and away from the person of

Jesus Christ.

That's why, after 11 years serving as an officer in a Masonic lodge, I left

Freemasonry.

It's not a religion. It offers no system of salvation.

And I'm going to have to read...

from this certain point because this is very, very important and something that

you should realize because we have none of the marks of a religion. Okay, let

her go. We have no creed, no confession of faith in a doctrinal statement.

We have no theology.

We have no ritual of worship.

We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols found in a church

or a synagogue.

Our symbols are related to the development of character.

of the relationship of man to man they are working tools to be used in the

building of life these working tools have been used from time immemorial to

build buildings and all we are saying is that that if you as an individual adopt

the principles represented and we'll get into some of that symbolism later on

that you will be a better person not that you're going to go to heaven If you

just joined us, you've been listening to Mr. Bill Manken, a 32nd degree Mason

who was a guest on a previous series concerning Masonry.

He said the working tools of the Masonic Lodge symbolically teach a man how to

become a better person, not how to go to heaven.

We wanted to investigate the actual ritual of the Lodge to find out if that

true. And so we invited Mr. Jack Harris, a former worshipful master, to

demonstrate what he taught in the Lodge.

Okay, we've talked about the letter G over the master's chair, the three great

lights, and the three lesser lights.

We now like to continue with the ritual and explain what the meaning of the

apron is, another symbol of Freemasonry.

I'd like to present you, Brother Smith, with this lambskin or white leather

apron, which is an emblem of innocence and a badge of a mason.

More ancient than the golden fleece or Roman eagle, or any other order that

could be further from you at this or any future date, by King...

prince or potentate, or any other person except to be a mason, and which I hope

you will wear with pleasure to yourself and honor to the fraternity.

The lambskin has always been deemed a emblem of innocence.

He therefore who wears a lambskin as a badge of a mason is continually reminded

of that purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his

gaining a mission into the celestial lodge above.

I would like to explain to you what the Word of God has to say about the Savior.

We read in Ephesians, the second chapter, verse 8, For by grace you have

saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not a

result of works, lest any man should boast.

Also in 1 Corinthians, the sixth chapter, 11th verse, we read, And such

some of you.

but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in

of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the spirit of our God.

In Freemasonry, if you noticed it with the white apron, they said by your

of life and conduct, you will, not that you may or that you could, you will gain

a mission into the celestial lodge above where the supreme architect of the

universe presides.

But as a child of God, I know that the Word of God says it is only through the

person of Jesus Christ that I can possibly obtain admission into the

lodge above.

I find this is in direct conflict with the teachings of Freemasonry, which

it's by purity of my life, not through the blood of Jesus Christ.

So why am I dressed the way that I am, with my high hat, my apron, and my

As a worshipful master of a Masonic Lodge, this hat represents a symbol of

authority.

Also, in a court of law, the judge has a gavel symbolizing his position

of authority.

As a worshipful master, I have total autocrat rule over my lodge. The hat and

the gavel symbolize authority that I have in Masonic Lodge.

My apron?

is an apron as we just explained to you.

It is a badge of a mason.

It is very important to all Masonic people that they wear aprons.

The apron represents a symbol of my purity, and it tells me by my purity of

and conduct, I will gain a mission into the celestial lodge above.

No mason can be buried or have a Masonic memorial service without that apron

being on his body.

No one can attend a Masonic church service without an apron on, and no

member may attend his lodge unless he first has his apron on, a symbol of

of life and conduct.

I would now like to explain to you the rough ashlar and the perfect ashlar as

given to the candidate in the first degree.

The rough ashlar is a stone as taken from the quarry in its rude and natural

state.

The perfect ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen to be

adjusted by the working tools of the fellow craft.

The rough ashlar to the mason represents his rude and natural state as he comes

into the world.

The perfect ashlar, that state of perfection at which he will arrive by a

virtuous education, his own endeavors, and the blessings of God.

As a born -again Christian, I have tremendous problems.

with these teachings if you know when they're when masonry is talking about

rough ashner they are talking about the sin nature of the candidate and they're

going to take the sin nature of the candidate sanctified and purified

represented by the perfect ashner by a virtuous education his own endeavors and

the blessings of god the word of god tells me in the third chapter of romans

that all men are depraved and an abomination before god when they come

world. They come into the world sinners and bound for hell.

There is none good, no, not one.

But the Word of God also tells me that in order to perfect my life, as

Maestri talks about the rough ashlar, is not through a virtuous education.

It's not through my own endeavors nor the blessing of God.

It is through...

This shed blood of the person of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for me on

Calvary. This is the only way that I can be perfected from a rough ashter to the

perfect ashter according to the word of God.

As a non -believer, I felt that the Bible was the capstone of all that

encompassed. The Bible was in the middle of the lodge on the altar in view at

all times from all points in the lodge.

To me, that made the whole thing worthwhile, even if I ever heard any

comments from friends outside the lodge.

As worship master of Masonic Lodge, in all the rituals that I taught for 11

years, masonry did teach how to get to heaven.

They taught it with the apron that I wear on my purity of life and conduct.

They taught it in the higher abyss legend of the third degree, the

of the soul.

Through all their writings, they say.

They are teaching the immortality of the soul to the mason.

The Word of God tells me, though, the only way to have immortal life is

the person of Jesus Christ.

Never in any Masonic ritual do they point that Jesus is this way of

This is our third program in our follow -up series concerning the Masonic Lodge.

The reason for tonight's program is that many of you have asked, are the

teachings of the Masonic Lodge compatible with biblical Christianity?

Well, as our custom is, we allow others to present their own position.

So to set the stage tonight, I'd like you to listen to Mr. Bill Manken, a 32nd

degree Mason, who in our previous series told us about how in the third degree,

or the Master Mason's degree, Each candidate takes part in being led

legend of Hiram Abiff.

Now, who was Hiram Abiff?

Well, he was a man, a laborer in the Old Testament, who worked on the temple

under King Solomon.

That's about the extent of the knowledge that we have from the Bible about this

man. The rest of what you will hear and see tonight was added by the Masonic

Lodge as legend.

The question is, what is the meaning of what was added?

What do Masonic authorities say?

Is it in direct conflict with the teachings of the Bible?

Well, let's listen to Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32nd degree Mason, and what he has to

say about the deeper meaning of the legend of Hiram Abiff in the third

Masonry. If you were to come back and you take a look at Albert Pike, who

the blue degrees, which is what you wanted to discuss, are but the outer

portico of the temple. That's the lodge.

Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally

misled by false interpretations.

It is not intended that he shall understand them, but it is intended that

shall imagine he understands them. Is that you, Bill? No, what he's describing

there is the legend of the first,

second, and third degree, where this all takes place in King Solomon's temple.

You are told that.

But it is a Masonic legend. We can't really suppose that there were really

Masons at the building of King Solomon's Temple.

King Solomon's Temple was built largely by conscripts.

It says you're intentionally misled by false interpretations.

But that's an oversimplification.

The fact is, what you're saying is that we have an allegory here.

And the real allegory has not been told them at those degrees. It's not intended

that he shall understand them.

It's intended that he shall imagine he understands them.

There again, that's what he says. That's not what I would say. What I would say

is you go into the deeper meanings of the degrees and you read and you put

it and you will get out of it. We wanted to find out more about the meaning of

the legend of Hiram Abiff.

So we asked a former worshipful master, Mr. Jack Harris, to come and reenact

part of the ritual tonight exactly as he did it in his lodge.

After you see the reenactment of the ritual, he will explain what Masonic

authorities say is the deeper meaning of the legend. Please listen.

Worshipful Master, I'd like to introduce Brother Smith. Brother Smith, this is

our Worshipful Master.

Brother Smith, one might suppose from the jewel you wear about your neck, you

are a Master Mason, acquainted with all the secrets belonging to this degree.

But it is my duty to inform you, such is not the case.

You have a rough and dangerous road to travel as a test of your fidelity in

keeping secret that which has been communicated to you.

In your travels, you will be beset by ruffians.

Perhaps murdered, an instance has been known.

You will therefore suffer yourself again to be hoodwinked and conducted to the

altar where you may offer up your devotions either mentally or orally. And

you have finished, you will rise. You will signify the same by rising,

remembering. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not,

nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

Right now, in this portion of the ritual of the third degree of Freemasonry, the

candidate has symbolically become Hiram Abiff. His walking around the altar

symbolizes his journey through life, and he's hearing scripture from the book of

Ecclesiastes. In a moment, the candidate will encounter ruffians on his journey

who will threaten and eventually kill him, the meaning of which will be

explained later by former worshipful master, Mr. Jack Harris.

And the almond tree shall flourish and the grasshopper shall be a burden and

desire shall fail because man goeth to his long home and the mourners go about

the streets.

Or ever the silver cord be loosed or the golden bowl be broken or the pitcher be

broken at the fountain or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to

God who gave it.

Grand Master Hiram Abiff, I am glad to meet you thus alone.

You have long promised us the secrets of a master mason.

Behold, the temple is almost completed, and we have not yet received them. Give

me the secrets of a master mason. This is an unusual way of manner of asking.

Neither is it to time their place. Wait until the temple is finished, and then,

if worthy, you will receive the secrets.

Give me the secrets of a master mason, or I will take your life.

I cannot.

Neither can they be given, except in the presence of three. Solomon, king of

Israel. Hiram, King of Tyre, and myself.

Give me the secrets of a master mason, or I'll take your life upon this spot.

My life, but not the secrets. Then die.

Grand Master Hiram Abiff, give me the secrets of a master mason. I cannot.

This neither is satisfactory.

Give me the secrets of a master mason, or I'll take your life.

I will not.

Give me the secrets.

Of a master mason, or I'll take your life on the spot.

My life, but not the secrets.

Then die!

Then at the height of this, give me the secrets of the master mason. I cannot.

Give me the secrets of the master mason, or I'll take your life. I will not.

Give me the secrets of the master mason, or I'll take your life on this spot.

My life, but not the secrets.

Then die!

Companions. What horrid crime we had committed.

We have murdered our Grand Master, Hiram of Eath.

What shall we do with the body?

Let us take it to Westerly Port.

And bury it at the brow of a hill, some six feet to east and west, and six feet

perpendicularly, at the head of which we will plant a sprig of acacia, that the

place may be here unknown.

Let us make our escape.

Please stay with us, for after this break, we will continue with the third

degree of Freemasonry.

You'll see where Hiram Abiff is raised from the dead.

And then the former worshipful master will explain to us the meaning of what

have seen.

Oh, Lord,

my God, is there no help for the widow's son?

Brother Senior Grand Warden, take the body by the entered apprentice's grip

see if it can be raised.

Most worshipful King Solomon, the body cannot be raised by the end of the

premise grip. The skin slips from the flesh. Take it by the fellow craft grip

and see if it can be raised.

For reasons already assigned, it cannot be raised by the fellow craft grip.

The flesh cleaves from the bone. In this our extremity, what should we do? Let's

pray. Okay, at this point, we will eliminate the prayer.

At the end of the prayer, we will take the body.

by the strong grip of a Master Mason or the Lion's Paw, and raise it upon the

five points of fellowship.

Brother Smith, you have now been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason,

and the word which I have just communicated is the grand Masonic word,

promised in your obligation never to communicate except in the way and manner

and which you have received it.

You have been raised by the strong grip of a master mason or the lions, Paul.

And upon the five points of fellowship, which are, follow me, foot to foot, knee

to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and cheek to cheek or mouth to ear,

give me the word, which are thus explained, foot to foot, that you will

ready to go on foot and out of your way to assist a worthy brother.

Knee to knee.

that you will remember a brother's welfare as well as your own.

Breast to breast, that you will keep the secrets of a brother master mason when

communicated to and received by you in charge as such, as inviolable as they

were in his breast as they are in yours before being communicated.

And hand to back, that you will be ready to stretch forth your hand and assist

and save a fallen brother.

And cheek to cheek or mouth to ear.

that you will whisper good counsel in the ear of a brother, remind him of his

error, and aid him in a reformation.

All right, after watching the legend of Hiram Abiff being displayed in the

Masonic Lodge room, Jack, we all want to know, what was it that you were

teaching, and what was the meaning that was given to you, and what did you pass

along as the worshipful master in the Lodge?

Okay, as far as a candidate is concerned, John, He was impressed with

that the secrets of Freemasonry, which he was going to learn and had already

learned up to this point, were to be kept secret.

That's the only thing that he received from that trial and tribulation he went

through from the first and second ruffian and the third ruffian.

Now, when he was killed symbolically and put into the canvas and then raised to

represent Hiram Abiff, as far as he is concerned, he's to represent Hiram

as a workman of the temple in his own life to build his spiritual temple to be

pleasing to God. Who in the world was Hiram Abiff? Hiram Abiff in 1 Kings 7th

chapter was a master builder on King Solomon's temple.

Scripture does not record his death.

The legend was added by masonry in order to give it meaning for their doctrinal

beliefs. Okay, so what does killing Hiram Abiff have to do with masonry

Okay. According to Freemasonry, if you remember at the door when the first

program we spoke of, Albert Mackey said that the candidate is looking for the

new birth.

The new birth is represented here in the slaying of Hiram Abed. But the true

meaning of all that takes place is this, according to Masonic authorities.

When he is hit by the first, second, and third ruffian, that represents trials

and tribulations he goes through in his life.

And then when he's symbolically murdered and raised up again to represent Hiram

Abed, he will then be pleasing to God and gain immortal life by obeying all

teachings of Freemasonry along his path of life, from manhood to old age. This

is what you actually taught in the life. This is what we actually taught. Now,

we have a book here put out by the most contemporary writer in Freemasonry

today. His name is Alan Roberts.

And he says in the first chapter, let there be light, you have entered a new

world. Symbolically and spiritually, you have been reborn.

This started the moment you were prepared to become a Freemason.

As you progress in Masonic knowledge, your vision will broaden. You will

more vitally alive than ever before.

You will become more aware of your fellow men, your family, your church,

your country.

Your whole philosophy of life will become richer.

This will take place, but only if you become masonically educated.

So according to Freemasonry, all that Hiram Abiff went through deals with his

being born again into the teachings of Freemasonry, which we have shown from

previous broadcasts, deal with his own efforts preparing his temple according

his teachings, not according to the Word of God to prepare him for eternal life.

What do Masonic authorities and what did you teach in the lodge concerning what

was the state after all that had taken place? Now, what does he achieve by

becoming a master Mason?

By becoming a master Mason, he is now a much as a Mason as he ever will be. All

other degrees of mastery of Scottish and York Rite are actually side degrees.

They're not really elevations in knowledge and wisdom. They just continue

story that he went through in the first three degrees.

in the very beginning in 1717 when these degrees were first put together and

formulated there were only three degrees plus the royal arch degree there was no

other degrees in freemasonry okay how many years did you teach this in the

11 years okay one day you were watching christian television and you heard the

gospel for the first time you knelt down and invited the lord jesus christ to

come into your life and then you realize that the word of god the bible was the

authority for the christian's life in reading the bible after you've been a

mason for all of these years you came to realize there was conflict in what you

were teaching as compared to what you were reading in the word of god tell us

what that conflict was okay the first conflict is in first john 3 3 where

says verily verily i say unto you unless a man is born again he cannot enter the

kingdom of heaven and of course a born -again christian knows When Jesus is

talking to Nicodemus about born again, he's referring to the sacrificial death

in which he would suffer for the salvation or the redemption of mankind.

This is not what Mastry is talking about when they're talking about being born

again. Also in Romans, the sixth chapter, Paul talks about our death,

and resurrection to become a new creature in Christ.

The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ that he's born again.

And Freemasonry is through his own endeavors, the blessings of God, and the

teachings of Freemasonry, he will gain immortal life.

Is there anything else that you would say to a person that is a Christian that

maybe entered the lodge, went through these first three degrees, and did not

realize what they were doing? How can you help them in discovering what these

meanings really are in Masonry?

I would say that for a born -again Christian who is truly in the Word of

is saturating his mind with the Word of God each day. He will have no problem

seeing exactly what we have gone through here with this Hiram of Beth legend

that is contrary to Scripture.

The person who will have a hard time, John, will be the Christian who is not

into the Word of God. This is a problem. If he's in the Word of God, he will

have no problem seeing where a thing is true because he knows his birth is in

Christ, not in that Hiram legend.

Where does the power come in masonry to...

have the new birth where does the power come from is it within us well to the

mason it's within himself he's constantly taught that by his own

virtuous education and the blessing of god through the implements that are

taught through the various temple building instruments such as the square

level the plumb which are used to build an operative temple they apply moral

truth to these implements And he is to use these to build a spiritual temple

pleasing for God. But it's through his own effort, never through the shed blood

of Jesus Christ. In the weeks coming up, we're going to talk about the Masonic

funeral. And you actually conducted many Masonic funerals. In the ritual that

you gave at the Masonic funeral, what did you say about the future life?

What hope did you hold out for Masons?

Okay, now the funeral that we gave was the same whether he was a Christian,

Buddhist, Hindu, Mohammedan, regardless of what faith he was, we said a

universal service. Same one. Same one. So thereby, it was not exclusively

Christian. It dealt with this mason was true to all of our teachings.

And the apron he now wears in a casket represents that purity of life and

conduct, which he will now gain a mission into the celestial lodge above

our teachings, never speaking about the person or work of Jesus Christ.

So again, it's a works system that you follow in masonry, and because you do

that, you're supposed to then hope for eternal life. That's correct, John.

All right, what final word would you leave with those that are Christian

brethren that are in the lodge?

I would say to those who are Christians, John, in the lodge, that I would really

pray that they would look into the ritual that they actually went through

third degree especially, dealing with the raising.

Maybe order the tape that they have seen here tonight.

Look at it, and they will know that they actually went through this. It's

something they cannot deny.

Go to the Word of God, okay, especially in light of John, and especially in

light of the book of Colossians.

They are the two greatest books for convicting a Mason that what we have

here tonight is absolutely biblically wrong for the born -again Christian.

All right, now you have to decide yourself. You've heard Bill Mankin say,

32nd degree Mason, that there is a deeper meaning to the allegory, to the

of Hiram Abiff. You've seen that recreated tonight exactly the way it's

displayed in the lodge in most of the states.

You decide what that deeper meaning is.

Tonight, what about the vows that every man who becomes a Mason must swear?

In each of the degrees of Masonry, there is a vow that the candidate must make

in order to pass that degree.

What does he promise?

How binding is his vow?

Is it a vow that Jesus Christ would want his followers to make?

Well, tonight, you will hear a candidate in a reenactment of the ritual take the

vow of the Master Mason degree.

I want you to be able to decide for yourself.

But to set the stage tonight, I'd like you to listen to Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32nd

degree Mason, and Dr.

Walter Martin, a Christian scholar, who on our previous program discussed this

issue. In James chapter 5, we find these words. Above all, my brothers,

do not swear, not by heaven or by earth or by anything

else. Let your yes be yes and your no, no.

or you will be judged.

Now, in the degrees of masonry, the first three that you are expert in, you

swearing oaths in diametric opposition to Holy Scripture.

The Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 was very clear.

Swear no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne,

earth for its footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it's the city of the

Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or

Simply say, Bill, yes, yes, or no, no.

Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Now, that's Christ on swearing oaths. And you are in there, in that temple,

swearing to God to pull out your tongue.

Bury you in the sand. Enough. Give me a chance. I mean, this is your own.

The obligations are symbolic. The obligations have always been symbolic.

you're swearing.

No. When Christ was speaking to the Hebrews, as

James quotes and as Matthew quotes, he was saying because he was correcting

perversions that existed at the time. At the time, a Jew didn't have to tell the

truth unless he was placed under oath.

And further, if that oath was not in proper context, he still didn't have to

tell the truth. Let me finish.

He still didn't have to tell the truth unless he, even though he was under

So tonight, should a Christian take the vows of Freemasonry?

In order to answer that question, I'd like you to watch right now as we

a candidate taking the actual obligation of the Master Mason degree.

Please listen.

We will now continue with the presentation of the rituals of

going into the third degree obligation of a mason.

Behind me, to the left, is where the Worshipful Master sits. I am the

Master of the Lodge, and over his head is a symbol, the letter G.

And here we have the three lesser lights of Freemasonry.

Before us, we have an altar.

And the altar is a color blue because it represents fidelity to the Masonic

order. To the right of me, we have the candidate for Freemasonry in the third

degree. He has a blue uniform on, which also represents fidelity.

He's hoodwinked with a cable toe about his neck.

In case he decides he does not want to keep the secrets of Freemasonry or

continue with the obligation, he can be led or dragged out by use of a cable

toe. He also is kneeling upon an altar with both knees naked, a symbol of the

third degree of Freemasonry. Both breasts.

and both knees naked to my left is an officer of the lodge who will administer

the obligation of the third degree in the middle of the altar we have the holy

bible the square and the compasses the three great lights of freemasonry

name and say after me i i your name mr smith of my own

free will and accord of my own free will and accord in the presence of almighty

god in the presence of almighty god and this right worshipful lodge in this

right worshipful lodge erected to him erected to him and dedicated to the holy

saints john and dedicated to the holy saints john do hereby and here on Hereby

and hereon. Solemnly and sincerely.

Promise and swear.

I will always hail.

Forever conceal.

And never reveal.

Any of the secret arts.

Parts or points.

Of the Master Mason Lodge.

Which have been.

May now.

Or shall hereafter.

or shall hereafter be communicated to me and charged as such

to any person in the world except it be to

a true and lawful brother Master Mason or in a legally

constituted Master Mason Lodge and not unto

him and not unto him nor them therein nor them therein until after due trial

until after due trial strict examination strict examination or lawful

information or lawful information i may have found them i might have found them

legally entitled legally entitled to receive the same to receive the same I

furthermore promise and swear, I will stand to and abide by

the rules and regulations of the Master Mason Lodge,

of which I may be a member, as also

the Constitution, Resolutions, Rules and Edicts

of the Grand Lodge, to which I may be a member. To which I may be.

Beholden. Beholden.

If within the length of my cable toe. Within the length of my cable toe.

That means, my brother, if I'm able to do so.

I furthermore promise and swear.

I furthermore promise and swear. I will aid and assist.

I will aid and assist.

All poor, distressed brother master masons. All poor and distressed poor

masons. Their widows and orphans were so ever dispersed, I

knowing them to be such.

I further promise and swear I will answer and obey all

due signs and summonses sent there from the regular Master

Mason Lodge or handed me by a brother

Master Mason.

I furthermore promise and swear I will keep the secrets of a brother master

mason when communicated to and received

by me and charged as such murder and treason

alone accepted and these left to my election

I furthermore promise and swear I will not cheat

defraud I brother Master Mason speak

evil of his good name or that of his family or allow

the same to be done by others if in my power to prevent

I furthermore promise and swear,

I will not violate the chastity of a brother master mason's wife,

mother, sister, or daughter, nor suffer the

same to be done by others within my power to prevent.

If in my power to prevent.

I furthermore promise and swear.

I furthermore promise and swear.

I will not be at the making.

I will not be at the making.

Of a woman a mason. At a woman a mason. An old man in his dotage. An old man in

his dotage. A young man underage.

A young man underage. A fool.

a fool a madman madman or suffer the same to be done by others or suffer the

same to be done by others within my power to prevent within my power to

i furthermore promise and swear i furthermore promise and swear i will not

will not sit in a clandestine a clandestine lodge of masons lodge of

hold converse Or nor hold converse. Upon the secrets of masonry. Upon the

secrets of masonry. With a clandestinely made mason. With a clandestinely mason.

Will one suspended or expelled.

Will one suspended or expelled.

From a regular lodge. From a regular lodge. I knowing him to be such.

I knowing him to be such.

I furthermore promise and swear I will not communicate the grand Masonic

word except in the way and manner in which I received it

and then only in a low breath to all of which To

all of which I solemnly and sincerely promise and swear to keep and

perform the same without any equivocation,

mental reservation, or

secret evasion of mind in me whatever.

finding myself under the no less penalty finding myself under the no less

penalty than that of having than that of having my body severed in twain my body

severed in twain my bowels taken vents my bowels taken twins and with my body

burned to ashes and with my body burned to ashes and those ashes scattered and

those ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven to the four winds of heaven so

that there might remain so that there might remain name name, trace, nor

remembrance,

no more forever,

of so vile a wretch,

as I would be,

should I ever willingly,

or knowingly, violate this, my most solemn obligation,

as a master mason.

So help me God.

So help me, God. And keep me steadfast. And keep me steadfast. In the due

performance. In the due performance.

Of the same. Of the same.

Mr. Smith, as an evidence that you took this oath freely and of your own will

and accord, please kiss the book before you three times. It is the Holy Bible.

What you have seen here is the obligation of a candidate in the third

Freemasonry. the exact obligation given in every lodge in the United States of

America. We will take a break at this time and come back and talk about this

obligation.

I'd like to look at the obligation from a Christian perspective and examine some

of the points that this candidate took in his ritual.

First, his hand was upon the Holy Bible, the square, and the compasses.

And according to the teachings of Freemasonry, The Holy Bible square

encompasses, encompasses all the teachings of Freemasonry that he has

himself upon.

But according to what we have learned early in our broadcast, the Holy Bible

be the sacred scripture from any religion in the world, whether it be the

the Vedas, the Old and New Testament, or just the Old Testament that he's

obligated upon.

And as a Mason, he is committed and bound by obligation.

to anyone who has taken an obligation upon any sacred scripture in the world

recognized by freemasonry from a christian perspective i have problem

obligation from several points of view first of all this christian saved by

grace has been released from the law of bondage of sin by taking this obligation

he has placed himself under the law of I will and I will not, and a system of

promises, which we believe as a Christian he should not commit himself

Second of all, there are very questionable things in the obligation we

that this candidate should not have taken. One in particular would be, I

and swear I will keep the secrets of a brother master Mason.

When communicated to me, murder and treason alone accepted, and these left

my election.

If he kept the secret, all the Mason...

in treason or murder he would be violating not only god's law but the law

land the third point i'd like to talk about would be the penalty which means

that this mason will allow other masons to mutilate his body upon the penalty of

the revelation of the rituals that he will now be given to in this degree we

believe that the word of god says in first corinthians that our body is the

temple of the holy spirit And as such, it belongs to God, and we are not given

the prerogative to tell the Masons that if we reveal their secrets, that they

can take our body and mutilate it.

I believe these points, along with maybe many others that you could think of, is

objectionable to the Word of God as a born -again Christian.

Now, while you're thinking about the Masonic vows, please turn your attention

some of the other things we have heard the last few weeks.

And I think that the single greatest enemy masonry has today is what I have

to describe as a Christian new right. The people who belie the tolerance of

Christ for different ideas, for the fact that we're not trying to be a religion.

We're not trying to take the place of God.

And there's nothing that you saw in masonry that should indicate that.

Let me ask you.

Do you think the Bible teaches the concept of the fatherhood of God so that

men are automatically the sons of God?

Or do you think the Bible teaches that God is so loving that when a man dies,

matter what he has done, God will give him eternal life?

Or do you think that the Bible teaches that God will only reward those who

deserve it, those who have lived a good life?

Well, the Bible does not teach any of the above, but masonry does.

For example...

During the ritual of the first three degrees, every Mason swears his belief

the fatherhood of God.

The prayer in the manual states, Vouchsafe thine aid, almighty father of

universe. The candidate is told again and again that God will be gracious and

reward those who build their character and do good deeds.

Let me document where Masonry teaches this.

Every Masonic manual explains the symbol of the all -seeing eye, one of the

symbols for God with these words.

The all -seeing eye, who pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, will

reward us according to our works, our merits.

What is the reward man will get because of his good works?

Masonry teaches God will reward man with eternal life in the celestial lodge

above. This can be documented in the Masonic Manual under the explanation

concerning the lambskin or white linen apron.

There it says...

He who wears the lambskin as a badge of a mason is thereby continually reminded

of purity of life and conduct, which is essentially necessary to his gaining

admission into that celestial lodge above.

Another place this is taught in the manual is in the explanation concerning

sprig of acacia, where it says, This serves to remind us there is an

imperishable part within us which will never, never die.

Doubt not that on the glorious morn of resurrection, our bodies will rise and

will become as incorruptible as our souls.

Another place this is taught is in the charge to the lodge during the third

degree of masonry, where we read, Let all the energies of our souls and the

perfection of our minds be employed in attaining the approbation, that's the

approval, of the Grand Master on high.

so that when we come to die, with joy we may hail the summons of the Grand

Warden above to repair from our labor here on earth.

Now this is what masonry teaches, and men in the lodge believe it because they

think this is what the Bible says.

As a non -believer, I felt that the Bible was the capstone of all that

encompassed. The Bible was in the middle of the lodge, on the altar, in view at

all times, from all points in the lodge.

To me, that made the whole thing worthwhile, even if I ever heard any

comments from friends outside the lodge.

I felt that it probably encompassed everything that I was learning in

since it was the highlight of the lodge.

Well, if the Bible is the great light of masonry, let's read it and see what it

says about these things.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, we read concerning Jesus.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the

right to become children of God.

Notice, if Jesus gives to those who believe on him the right to become

of God, then all men were not children of God before that.

It means men do not start out as children of God, and God is not the

all spiritually, relationally. Why?

Well, it seems masonry has forgotten or ignores the account of man's fall in

Genesis, of Adam and Eve in the garden.

The Bible teaches that man, through disobedience to God, sinned and broke

spiritual relationship with God.

All men, although created by God, are not in right relationship with God.

Proof of this can be found in the book of Acts, where we read, The God who made

the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. Since we are

God's children, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver

or stone.

Notice, because God is the creator, All men are said to be his children, his

offspring, but not relationally, spiritually.

There is a problem.

Look what God says to his children.

God now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Repentance means we must be willing to turn away from our beliefs and way of

doing things and turn to and act on God's promises and instructions.

What is God's way?

How does the Bible say you can become a child of God, have your sins forgiven,

and know God will take you to heaven?

Well, first, the Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of

When the Bible uses the word all, does that include both you and me? Of course.

We are both sinners.

Second, the Bible says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wages are what you get paid at work, right?

God says the wages or the payment we will receive from him because of our sin

death. Now, death here means both physical death and spiritual death.

eternal separation from God, what Jesus called hell.

But the Bible talks about God's gift.

What is a gift?

Well, it's something that you get for doing nothing, right?

God has the gift of eternal life for you, and you don't have to work for it,

masonry says.

And notice, if you want God's gift of eternal life, you must come to Jesus.

Why Jesus?

Because he paid for your sin with his own blood on the cross.

The Bible says, for Christ died for your sins once for all, the just for the

unjust, that he might bring you to God.

Would you like Jesus to bring you to God? If you say yes, here's what the

says to do next.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How do you call to the Lord? By praying.

If you will pray to the Lord Jesus and tell him you are a sinner, that you are

willing to turn from your sin, that's repent, and you will ask him to forgive

you and give you eternal life, and you'll invite him to come into your life

empower you and be your God and friend, he promises to do just that. The Bible

says, shall be saved.

Again, according to the Bible, it is Jesus, not your own good life, who will

save you. It is Jesus who gives the right to become a child of God.

Now, the Bible's teachings are clear about man's fallen relationship before

and how God will forgive a man and give him eternal life if he believes on

Jesus. On the other hand, Masonry's teachings are also clear, though

different. One of these is right, and one of these is wrong.

One of these the Bible teaches, the other it does not.

You will have to choose.

Good evening.

Tonight we want to talk about what does Freemasonry teach through their ritual

at a Masonic funeral ceremony.

Are those teachings in accord with the Bible?

To begin with tonight, I'd like you to look at two statements that are taken

from the ritual from the Masonic funeral ceremony in Maryland.

First, Masonry seeks constantly to build the temple of the soul and thus to fit

us for that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

And second, when our brother labored with us in Masonic attire, he wore a

apron, which he was taught is an emblem of innocence and a badge of a Mason.

By it, he was constantly reminded of that purity of life and that rectitude

conduct so necessary to his gaining admission into the celestial lodge

That's how the Masonic lodge says...

their members can know they will get to the celestial lodge above.

Well, let's compare that with the Bible.

What does the Bible say about how a person can get to heaven?

First of all, in John 14, 6, we read, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and

the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

In Ephesians 2, 8, it says, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and

that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

not as a result of works that no one should boast.

And finally, in John chapter 3, verse 36, he who believes in the Son has

life, but he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath

of God abides on him.

So tonight, that's the topic that we want to investigate.

And as our custom is, we let others speak for themselves.

And so to begin, I would like for you to hear a 32nd degree Mason.

talk about what he believes the Masonic funeral ceremony is teaching. Please

listen. When you have the funeral service and you commit people, as a

a brother, you commit that individual to the great lodge in the sky.

Symbolic. Dr.

Martin, that is symbolic. What is it symbolic of? It is symbolic of the

of resurrection.

That's one of the landmarks.

Isn't that a belief, a religious belief? It is a symbolic belief. It is an

allegorical belief.

Now, wait a minute.

I'm confused here. Is resurrection an actuality, or is resurrection a symbol?

The resurrection is an actuality, but as it is portrayed in the Masonic funeral

service, it is symbolic.

So they don't believe in resurrection?

No, and don't change my words.

Well, I'm just saying, I asked you, first of all, if it was reality or

Resurrection exists.

Okay, now, and you said to me, yes.

for me it's it's a reality now how about for the masons for the lodge for the

funeral service and so forth and you said well it's symbolic it is symbolic

it deals with that particular aspect then if it's symbolic it isn't reality

portrays uh a concept it is not man's right to grant resurrection and what

you're seeing is a symbolic is it holding out a hope of resurrection i

think so is it a false hope No, in terms of symbolism, no.

In this program, I wanted to follow up on what Mr. Bill Manken was saying.

Is it true?

And so I've asked a former worshipful master of the lodge in Maryland to come

and reenact the actual funeral ceremony that he performed hundreds of times.

I want you to listen and see and to hear what masonry actually is teaching

through their ritual funeral ceremony.

We will now at this time cover...

the masonic memorial service that is given to the deceased mason at the

of the family usually this is given at the church or at the funeral home the

members present here in front of us are the family and friends we will now give

you the exact ritual as it's given in the state of maryland and in other

throughout the united states the principle and the doctrines are exactly

same the wording only varies slightly

Friends and brethren, we who are Masons have assembled on this occasion to

express our respect and esteem for our brother, who has passed beyond our

sight, and to share with those near and dear to him our belief in the

immortality of the soul.

In this time of sorrow, when we all need comfort and consolation, let us turn

reverently to God, who in the midst of the trials and tribulations that are a

part of life can alone and do us with that quietness of spirit and that peace

mind and heart which the world can neither give nor take away let us pray

oh god our

father in heaven thou art the giver of life and light and love our health and

solace in times of trial and sorrow

Thou hast assured us that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, thou art with us.

Thy rod and thy staff comfort us.

Thou art light and our salvation, our refuge and our strength in every time of

trouble.

We thank thee for the life of our brother.

We thank thee that he was one of our fellowship and that we were privileged

labor with him in the mystic tie of brotherhood.

We are grateful to thee for the precious memories of him which we shall always

carry in our hearts.

We thank thee for all that he has meant to those who were near and dear to him

through the ties of family and friendship.

Most of all, we are grateful to thee for teaching us that while the body is

mortal, the soul is immortal.

Though the outward form we knew and loved be removed from our sight, we have

assurance that thou hast taken to thyself his soul.

which is the enduring essence of life.

This conviction thou hast implanted in us through thy holy word, which is the

great light of masonry.

We earnestly beseech thee that this short time which we spend together may

and strengthen our conviction and our hope.

Let thy peace abide with us now and lead us ever in the paths of righteousness.

In thy name we make our prayer.

Amen.

From time immemorial, it has been the custom of Masons to assemble with the

family and friends of a departed brother to honor his memory and to voice their

sympathy to those whom he loved and who loved him.

The message we bring is one of the triumph of life over death, the conquest

hope over despair.

Masonry has come down from the far past.

It uses the tools of the builder's trade as emblems and symbols to teach Masons

how to build character and moral stature.

It teaches service to God, to a brother, and to all mankind.

It seeks constantly to build the temple of the soul and thus to fit us for that

house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Masonry is a fellowship that unites Masons in friendship and goodwill.

It teaches the spiritual values of life that lie beyond the physical senses.

Mastry confronts the fact of death with the greater fact of faith in the

immortality of the soul.

Masons believe sincerely that when life on earth comes to a close, the soul is

translated from the imperfections of this mortal fear to that all -perfect,

glorious, and celestial lodge above

the grand architect of the universe, presides.

With these truths and convictions, our brother was well acquainted.

Though perfection of character is not of this world, yet we are persuaded that

our brother sought to live by these truths and principles of mastery, that

sustained and supported him, and that by them his life was made richer,

fuller, and more meaningful when our brother labored with us in the sonic

he wore a white apron which he was taught is an emblem of innocence and a

of a mason by it he was constantly reminded of that purity of life and that

rectitude of conduct so necessary to his gaining a mission into that celestial

lodge above he will now wear that apron forever

as the emblem of the virtues it represents.

The evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul.

By it, we are reminded of the immortal soul of man which survives the grave and

which will never, never die.

In accordance with our custom, I now place this evergreen over the heart of

brother.

And now to you.

who shared with our brother the intimate ties of family and friendship, we

tender our affectionate sympathy.

Our hearts respond to your hearts in your grief.

We trust that these affirmations of faith in which our brother shared may

to you and inspire you to live with hope and courage.

We ask you always to remember that the God and Father of us all is a loving

a merciful God.

a compassionate God whose ears are ever open to the crying of the afflicted.

Let us pray.

Eternal and everlasting God, we look to Thee in faith and confidence, knowing

that Thy love has power to bring comfort and consolation, even in this time of

bereavement to those near and dear to our brother.

Fill their hearts more and more with blessed assurance.

of immortality and of thy abiding love.

Bless them and keep them, O Lord.

Make thy face to shine upon them and be gracious unto them.

Lift up thy countenance upon them and give them thy peace.

Amen.

If you've just joined us, we are investigating what Freemasonry teaches

its ritual read during their funeral ceremony.

Does Freemasonry teach anything about how a man may safely reach the celestial

lodge in the sky?

Are the teachings of Freemasonry in agreement or disagreement with the

teaching on how a person can go to heaven?

First, you will hear the commentary of a 32nd degree Mason during a previous

program, and then the comments of former worshipful master, Mr. Jack Harris, who

performed the Masonic funeral ceremony in the first half of our program.

Would anybody standing around the Masonic Lodge get the idea that as being

of the Lodge, having the Masonic funeral, because we did all of this,

had all this, because we followed the very tenets and symbolism of the Lodge,

that the symbolism that I put into it, namely resurrection, the great Lodge in

the sky, according to your Christian teachings, that's not how you get to

heaven. That is in fact. That's why I'm saying that this is in fact a symbolic

act.

Because there's no man who's going to resurrect anybody.

All right, so what you're saying is you have a symbolic act that you're holding

on to that has no content.

It has content in its symbolism.

It is a system of allegory veiled. But nobody knows what it is. A system of

morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. We've got to

to that. So it means nothing again. It's just the fact you say it. It is a

symbol. It is a symbol.

That's it. Does it stand for something?

It's symbolic in a ritualistic context.

I think that's what religion is.

I would argue that.

I know you do, but I'm still saying that I can't get away from the fact that

when you say we are holding to this concept, you call it symbolism, and it

the word resurrection attached to it, and yet you won't put any content other

than the fact of resurrection.

Resurrection, by definition, means certain things. It's a religious view.

And you're saying, but you won't tell people how to get there, and yet your

Christian view, which does have content, says specifically you don't get there

just by hoping you'll get there. You don't get there just by holding it out

people. You need to tell them something, that you have to go to a Savior, namely

Jesus Christ.

That's the problem.

What you have just heard is the authentic Masonic memorial service given

throughout the United States.

This man I personally knew as a Mason.

He never once...

proclaimed to me that he knew Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

Is it conceivable, then, that he believed the teachings of Freemasonry

they taught him on how to gain eternal life?

Let me recap some of the things that we have taught in our previous broadcast

dealing with the teachings of Freemasonry and how you may gain eternal

In the first degree, as Worshipful Master of Masonic Lodge, I taught this

that the name of God could be any God of any religion. It wasn't

exclusively, as the Bible lines it out, the name of Jesus Christ in whom all

deity dwells, the person of Jesus Christ.

Mystery says the God of all religions are acceptable.

So when he took his obligations in the first degree, he put his hand on the

Bible.

He bound himself to those who also put their hand on the Koran or the Vedas or

just the Old Testament.

We believe God's word forbids this for a Christian, yet this man conceivably

believed this.

Also, in the first degree, he wore a white apron. If you notice, he has that

apron with him now and a casket. I have this apron on. What does the apron

signify? This apron is a badge of a mason.

I taught.

that by the purity of his life and conduct of which this apron represents,

will, not he may or he could, he will gain a mission into the celestial lodge

above where the supreme architect of the universe presides. What the word of God

tells us in Ephesians 2 .8 .9, it's for by grace we are saved through faith, not

of works lest any man should boast.

There's no way, according to the Word of God, that by our purity of life and

conduct that we can gain a mission into the celestial lodge above.

It is by the grace of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

So I taught this man through Masonic ritual a lie, according to the Word of

He conceivably may have believed it.

Also, I taught this man in the third degree of Freemasonry.

The legend of Hiram Abiff dealing with how to gain eternal life,

recapping the first three degrees of Freemasonry.

In that legend, I taught this man that as he takes the tools of the builder's

trade and he applies the moral truths that mastery teaches him through these

tools, which is learning to go to heaven by his own endeavor, the blessings of

God and the virtues of education.

He will build the spiritual temple of his body, make it pleasing to God, so

when he's raised up, he will be accepted into the lodge above.

But the word of God does not give me that prerogative. The word of God lets

know it is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, through his sacrifice

Calvary, that this man can possibly gain heaven. Yet he may have believed these

things in freemasonry.

And I may have sent him to hell for what I taught him.

The Word of God teaches me that what I learn from God's Word is not

supposed to be kept secret as Freemasonry taught me and I taught him.

I taught him that everything that he learns in Freemasonry, keep it secret

those who are not Masons.

Because it's specially designed for those who are what?

Worthy. found worthy according to Freemasonry.

But God says no one's worthy. No one. Everyone's a sinner.

Freemasonry says, according to our teachings, this man is found worthy

creed, initiation, and ritual.

What does God's Word say about how we are to be saved?

And also, as I read to you the plan of salvation, according to God's Word, not

my opinion, I like to say that...

Jesus said in Matthew 28, we are to proclaim all of this word to the world,

the deepest mysteries.

Freemasonry says, no, we are to keep the teachings such as how to gain eternal

life, how to lead a good life, secret, and only give it to those found worthy.

Let me read what God's word says regarding the plan of salvation as he

it down in Scripture.

In Romans 3 .10, God's Word says, As it is written, there is none righteous, not

even one.

According to Freemasonry, you are found worthy through their

ritual, their creed, your virtuous education.

Another point this is brought out in Freemasonry is with the rough ashler and

the perfect ashler, which I taught this man in the first degree. An ashler...

is a stone is taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state.

Freemasonry uses the ashlar in its rude and natural state to say to you as a

mason and as a candidate that your nature about you, your whole life, is

and crude as this ashlar is.

And then they say, here's a perfect ashlar, smooth and shiny.

We're going to take you and your moral conduct and your rectitude of life.

And we're going to smooth and polish it. In other words, we're going to sanctify

you. How?

By virtuous education, your own endeavors, and the blessings of God.

God's word is totally in disagreement with this. For the wages of this sin is

death. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ,

our Lord. A free gift.

He doesn't have to work for it. He doesn't have to have a virtuous

He doesn't have to labor.

He doesn't have to take an oath. It's a free gift from God.

In Romans 10, 9 and 10, the Word of God says that if you confess with your

mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God had raised him from the

dead, ye shall be saved.

For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness.

And with the mouth he confesses.

resulting in salvation.

So according to the word of God, to gain eternal life, you must

ask as a simple child, Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner.

I want you to come into my life and save me. I believe that your son, the Lord

Jesus Christ, died in my place on Calvary's cross for me so that I may

eternal life. Come into my life now.

and be my Savior and my Lord.

Now, there's those of you watching by television, and some of you are Masons,

and also you have put a professing profession in the person of Jesus Christ

your salvation.

So you're a Mason, and you're a born -again Christian.

And you have seen what we have showed you here tonight at the funeral. You

seen all the previous broadcasts.

And I ask you, is it possible?

From the core of your heart, can you possibly embrace these teachings knowing

that they can lead this man to hell and not to heaven?

Can you do this and be obedient to the Word of God where it tells us, have no

fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness?

All of the teachings of Freemasonry add up to salvation by works. And as

believers, we are commanded.

to have no fellowship with this darkness.

Can you truthfully in your heart embrace these teachings and still say, I'm

being obedient to the Word of God and to the Lord Jesus Christ?

I leave this decision up to you to make.

There are approximately 4 million Masons in the United States.

Many Masons are Christians, and many are from other religious faiths. The

question tonight, are you willingly or unwillingly participating in another

religion, the religion of Freemasonry?

Now, most people believe the religion they hold is true.

They would not think of actively participating or embracing the beliefs

another religion.

For example, Christians know Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Christians believe that. If Freemasonry is another religion, it would be

competing against Jesus Christ, and Christians would have to choose.

So I think tonight's program should be of extreme importance to Christians in

the Lodge as well as others of different beliefs.

Is Freemasonry a religion?

Now, obviously, most Masons say that what goes on in the Lodge is not a

religion.

And I want you to hear both sides tonight, so let's begin by listening to

Bill Menken, a 32nd degree mason who was a guest on a previous program, and a

former worshipful master, Mr. Jack Harris. They will set the basis for our

discussion. The discussion comes around. Let me see if I can frame it for you.

And that is that it's not a religion.

More than that, it's not a religion. It offers no system of salvation.

And I'm going to have to read...

from this certain point because this is very very important and something that

you should realize because uh we have none of the marks of a religion okay we

have no creed no confession of faith in a doctrinal statement we have no

theology we have no ritual of worship we have no symbols that are religious in

the sense of symbols found in a church or a synagogue our symbols are related

the development of character

of the relationship of man to man.

They are working tools to be used in the building of life. These working tools

have been used from time immemorial to build buildings.

And all we are saying is that if you as an individual adopt the principles

represented, and we'll get into some of that symbolism later on, that you will

be a better person. Not that you're going to go to heaven.

In all the rituals that I taught for 11 years, masonry did teach how to get to

heaven. They taught it with the apron that I wear, by my purity, life, and

conduct. They taught it in the hieroglyphic legend of the third degree,

immortality of the soul.

Through all their writings, they say, they are teaching the immortality of the

soul to the Mason.

The word of God tells me, though, the only way to have immortal life is

the person of Jesus Christ.

Never in any Masonic ritual do they point that Jesus is this way of

Now, if I heard Bill Mankin correctly, and if I'm accurately comprehending the

comments I have received in the mail from Masons, I think that I can

their argument this way.

Freemasonry is not a religion because of the following things. Number one, it

does not meet the definition of religion. Number two, it offers no

teaching of salvation.

Number three, it has no creed, no confession of faith, no theology, and no

ritual of worship.

And four, it has no symbols that are religious like the symbols that are

in a church.

Now, I think that in order to answer the question, is Freemasonry a religion, we

need to start with the definition of religion.

It's interesting that Masonic author Alphonse Serza, in his book, Let There

Light, a study in anti -Masonry, has said, by any definition of religion

accepted by our critics, we cannot qualify as a religion.

Well, to see if that's true or false, let's begin with the definition of

religion from a credible source.

How about Webster's Dictionary? See if you think Freemasonry is included or

excluded by this definition.

Webster defines religion as, one, a belief in a divine or superhuman power

obeyed or worshipped as the creator and ruler of the universe.

Two, expression of this belief in conduct and ritual.

Now, would any Mason deny that Freemasonry demands belief in a supreme

Would any Mason deny their authoritative ritual describes how they are to

express this belief in conduct and ceremony?

In brief, can any Freemason say Masonry is not a religion according to this

definition from Webster? I don't think so.

But don't take my word for it. Rather, listen to respected Masonic authorities.

Now, in order to know who are the accepted authorities, we wrote a letter

the Grand Lodges in the United States. And this is what the Grand Lodges told

us.

Coyle's Masonic Encyclopedia was recommended by almost half of the Grand

in America as being, for them, the most authoritative book in print concerning

Masonry. And one -third of the Grand Lodges recommended Mackey's Encyclopedia

Freemasonry.

So, let me quote to you what these two most highly recommended Masonic

authorities say concerning the question, is Freemasonry a religion?

First, Albert Mackey in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. He quotes Webster's

definition of religion, and then after giving the definition, here is what

Mackey states.

Now, it is plain that in either of the first three senses in which we take the

word religion,

Freemasonry may rightfully claim to be called a religious institution.

Interesting, huh?

Let's look now at what Henry Wilson Coyle in his Masonic Encyclopedia says.

Coyle quotes Funk and Wagner's definition of religion and then asserts

Freemasonry not only fits this definition, but fits also the definition

church.

Here's... Coyle's exact quote, masonry certainly requires a belief in the

existence of and man's dependence upon a supreme being to whom he is

responsible. What can a church add to that except to bring into one fellowship

those who have like feelings?

Then Coyle says that is exactly what the lodge does.

In other words, Coyle is saying that not only is Freemasonry a religion, but

Freemasonry practices being a religion as much as a church.

So, is Freemasonry a religion?

According to Webster's Dictionary, according to Funk and Wagnalls, and

to the two top Masonic authorities recommended by the Grand Lodges in this

country, Freemasonry is a religion.

Now, are there some men in the Lodge who have always thought Masonry is a

religion? I'd like you to listen to the thoughts of a former junior warden and a

former worshipful master.

Was Masonry a religion?

To me, it was.

I was a non -Christian when I first entered masonry, and for 12 years, it

basically my only religion.

I was attending a church, but I wasn't hearing the gospel there. I felt that

things that I was doing in masonry were very helpful not only to me, but to

those men that I was teaching the same things.

As worshipful master of Masonic Lodge, I taught the man that he had to believe

in immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body. We had a

had a Bible and an altar.

Everything that we taught about how to lead a good life.

To me, I consider it a religion. But the Word of God tells me that this religion

should be through the person of Jesus Christ.

Freemasonry never mentions Jesus Christ.

All right, the next reason that Masons give for Freemasonry not being a

is because it offers no system of salvation.

It has no teachings about how a man can go to heaven. But is that true?

Well, you know, every candidate is told again and again during the first three

degrees, that God will be gracious and reward those who build their character

and do good deeds.

Let me document for you where Masonry teaches this.

Every Masonic manual explains the symbol of the all -seeing eye, one of the

symbols for God, with these words.

The all -seeing eye, who pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, will

reward us according to our works, our merits.

What is the reward man will get because of his good works?

Masonry teaches God will reward man with eternal life in the celestial lodge

above. This is documented in the Masonic Manual under the explanation concerning

the lambskin or white linen apron.

There it says, He who wears the lambskin as a badge of a mason is thereby

continually reminded of purity of life and conduct, which is essentially

necessary to his gaining admission into that celestial lodge above.

Now let me ask you, does this sound to you like Freemasonry is teaching a way

salvation?

If you were to hear this in the lodge, wouldn't you think that Freemasonry is

saying that you can go to the celestial lodge above if you live a pure and

honest life?

It isn't that religion?

And if you're a Christian, when the lodge teaches a man that by his good

and by his good deeds, God will admit him into heaven, isn't that contrary to

your Christian teachings?

Doesn't the Bible clearly teach that salvation is not by man's work?

Salvation is only by God's gracious provision through Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 2 .8 says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of

yourself, it's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Well, I certainly think so.

I'd like you to listen to the thoughts of the former worshipful master about

what he thought he was teaching in the lodge.

Okay, I found that the working tools of each degree of freemasonry, and here

we're speaking of the first, second, and third.

The purpose of the working tool is to teach moral truths for the purpose of

building the spiritual temple of a Mason. Now, what's the purpose of

spiritual temple of a Mason with these working tools? The purpose is so that

they can prepare this spiritual temple for that celestial lodge above.

They say in their ritual that as we build this temple, we will make you a

person and pure.

through the working tools now that they explain, and prepare your soul for

heaven above. They say this in all of the rituals of the first three degrees.

If after all of this you are still not persuaded that masonry is presenting a

way to heaven, listen to Masonic authority Henry Wilson Coyle talk about

Masonic funeral ceremony.

In his encyclopedia he writes, Freemasonry has a religious service.

to commit the body of a deceased brother to the dust whence it came, and to

speed the liberated spirit back to the great source of light.

Many Freemasons make this flight with no other guarantee of a safe landing than

their belief in the religion of Freemasonry. Notice he says, religion of

Freemasonry. If that is a false hope, the fraternity should abandon funeral

services and devote its attention to activities where it is sure of its

and its authority.

From all of this, I can only conclude that Freemasonry is a religion because

does offer instruction and promises of how a man may get to heaven.

That's just another way of saying that Freemasonry is presenting a plan of

salvation.

If you just joined us, we're investigating the question, is

religion? We've already found out that it fits the definition of religion as

given by Webster, and we've already seen that it does offer a plan of salvation,

how a man can go to heaven.

But then there are some Masons that would say, but Freemasonry cannot be a

religion because it has no creed, it has no confession of faith, it has no

theology, no ritual of worship.

Well, we want to take a look at those, and first...

Can any Mason say that he has no creed? Here's what Henry Wilson Coyle in his

Masonic Encyclopedia has to say about that.

He says, Does Freemasonry have a creed, or tenet, or dogma, to which all members

must adhere?

Does Freemasonry continually teach and insist upon a creed, tenet, and dogma?

Does it have meetings characterized by the practice of rites and ceremonies in

and by which its creed, tenet, and dogma are illustrated by myths, symbols, and

allegories? If Freemasonry were not religion, what would have to be done to

it such?

Nothing would be necessary, or at least nothing but to add more of the same.

Then Coyle says, that brings us to the real crux of the matter. The difference

between a lodge and a church is one of degree and not of kind.

Some think because it is not a strong or highly formalized or highly dogmatized

religion, such as the Roman Catholic Church, it can be no religion at all.

church of friends, Quakers, exhibits even less formality and ritual than does

Masonic lodge.

And then look what Coyle says in conclusion.

He says, the fact that Freemasonry is a mild religion does not mean that it is

no religion.

But can any mason really say that he has no creed?

In reality, no person can become a mason without a confession of faith in a

supreme being. He also must believe in the immortality of the soul, give

honorable service to God by practicing the secret arts of masonry, say prayers

to deity, and take oaths of secrecy.

I want you to listen now to one part of the Masonic creed, their belief in the

immortality of the soul that is taught during the Masonic funeral ceremony.

For me, that memorial funeral service is one of the most profound things in

masonry. Standing before the mourners, the family of the man whose body rests

that coffin, reading from a book that is used universally throughout masonry for

this service, talking specifically about how this man's fellowship with me in my

lodge and what he learned in that lodge and how the things that he learned.

And that lodge were helping him, in fact, making it possible for him to get

heaven. That's very, very profound.

What we were trying to do through that service is to ease the pain in the

of the mourners, more significantly show them that they had nothing to worry

about.

The things that he had learned and done in missionary.

I believed in my heart.

That what I was saying was true because I believe the teachings of Freemasonry

before I was a Christian was true on how to make a man good and how to get to

heaven. And when I talk to the deceased family, I also comfort them with

the same words of belief that I had, that this was true.

At the point at which I found, as far as myself is concerned, what actually

cemented the fact.

that this was true even before I was a Christian, was because standing beside

at some of the services, as well as standing beside me in the lodge, as well

taking part in the ceremonies, were Masons that were elders, deacons, Sunday

school teachers, and pastors of my church that I even went to myself and

member of before I was a Christian.

So thereby, my thinking that it was wrong was completely put at ease.

Because those I really trusted in knowing the word were standing right

me. If what Jack said is correct, how can any Mason truthfully say he has no

confession of faith in a doctrinal statement?

Let me ask you.

Do all religions believe in the doctrine of the immortality of the soul?

The answer is no.

Seventh -day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Armstrongites, and Buddhists,

name just a few, do not.

Do all believe in a supreme being?

No. Hindus believe in millions of gods, so do Mormons. At death, do all believe

they will reside in a celestial lodge in the sky for all eternity?

No. Hindus and Buddhists believe in the extinction of the person.

Mormons believe they can become gods themselves.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe only 144 ,000 will get to reside in heaven, and

the rest who aren't annihilated will stay on earth.

Right here, it's very plain to see that the Masonic Lodge has its own very

distinct doctrinal statement.

Then I want you to notice that Masonic teachings are accepted by Masons as

authoritative dogma. That is, principles and instruction taught and held by

their own body of believers.

And Masonic dogma is not held by all others.

That's exactly what dogma is, a distinct set of beliefs. And Masonic dogma is

very distinct.

Then, how can anyone say masonry has no theology?

Well, the definition of theology, theos, God, plus legion, to speak, is to speak

of God.

Masonry speaks of God, demands belief in God, informs each candidate that the

true name of God has been lost, and then in a later degree reveals that lost

name. In the seventh or royal arch degree, you can look it up in your

the last name that is given is Ja -bul -an, the joining of Jehovah, Baal, and

Osiris, something that the God of the Bible strictly forbids.

But I want you to listen to Webster's dictionary define the word theology and

then compare that to masonry.

Webster defines theology as the relationship between God and the

specific form or system as expounded by a particular religion or denomination.

Now, does masonry have its specific form, which clearly spells out exactly

one is to perform their ceremonies?

Of course it does. It is the ritual.

Then, can any truthful mason say that masonry has no ritual of worship?

Well, obviously masonry has 32 degrees of ritual, but is the ritual worship?

I want you to look at Webster's dictionary, how he defines the word

Webster says worship is defined as...

A prayer or other rites showing reverence or devotion for a deity, for a

According to this definition from Webster's, aren't masons worshipping in

lodge meeting they hold?

Then finally we want to ask, how can any mason say that in the lodge they have

no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols that are found in a

or synagogue?

Listen. The symbols are related to the character of man to man. They are not

related to God.

We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols in a church.

While I was worshiping a master and conferring those degrees for many years,

didn't look at it that way.

I had a chaplain to my left, and every lodge had to be open and closed with

prayer. Every lodge had to have a Bible upon the altar of some religion.

Every lodge made the candidate obligate himself upon that Bible.

things and tools regarding religious worship we have the plan of salvation

through the working tools the apron that i wear telling me by my purity life and

conduct i will gain a mission to celestial lodge above over top of my

letter g signifying deity so as i taught it as a word for master i saw

freemasonry reeling as having many symbols uh regarding you know that would

recall it to be a religion in a church You have a Bible and maybe a cross.

In a Masonic lot, you have a Bible, a letter G, and many other symbols that

point to me, to religion.

In conclusion, tonight we have seen that Freemasonry does fit every standard

definition of religion.

It does offer a system of salvation.

It does have a creed. It does have a confession of faith. It does have a

theology. It does have a ritual of worship. And it does have symbols like

found in a church.

Henry Wilson Quayle, in his Masonic Encyclopedia, closes this debate when he

says, Nothing herein is intended to be an argument that Freemasonry ought to be

religion. Our purpose is simply to determine what it has become and is.