Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 1
February 2, 1950
NUMBER 38, PAGE 4,6d

Masonry And The Church -- No. 3

A. G. Hobbs, Jr.

To belong to the Masonic Lodge means that one is entangled in an institution that teaches, upholds, and practices things contrary to both the spirit and letter of the New Testament. Even if some individual member does not personally believe all the false doctrines of Masonry, or uphold all they do, to belong is bidding the lodge Godspeed and hence partaking in its evil deeds. (II John 9-11).

I. The Masonic Lodge Endorses And Practices Dancing And Card Playing.

From the Indianapolis Star, December, 1945, I have an article entitled: "Dance to Follow Masonic Installation." From the Indianapolis Times, December 18, 1945, I have another clipping concerning a Masonic installation service. The last paragraph reads:

"The annual family Christmas party will follow the ceremony. There will be dancing, refreshments, Santa Claus and gifts, and Haag's animal circus will perform."

The Rainbow Girls also endorse and engage in dancing. From the Wichita Beacon, we have this clipping:

"Rainbow Assembly No. 6 will have a masquerade ball Saturday at 2171/2 West Douglas from 9 o'clock until 12 for Rainbow Girls, Job's Daughter and Demolays."

It does not come within the scope of this article to discuss the evils of the dance. All spiritually minded and well informed Christians know that it is wrong. It is of the world. It stirs the baser passions, creates evil thoughts, opens the door for hugging, petting, and adultery. For one to support with his dues, membership and influence an organization that upholds and practices dancing makes him an accomplice to the sin—even though he may not attend.

Concerning card playing, from the Masonic Manual of Alabama, 1943 edition, p. 291, we read:

"It is not unmasonic to play cards, but a Lodge may by its by-laws prohibit its members from playing for money."

All who belong to the Masonic Lodge are upholding, supporting, and bidding Godspeed an institution that is promoting and practicing two of the greatest evils of the day, dancing and card playing. This is true to say nothing of the Shrine, or Shriners, which is an advanced lodge of Masonry, that engages freely in drinking and gambling.

II. Masonry Yokes One Unequally With Unbelievers.

The only creed that a Mason must believe is to believe in some kind of deity. It does not have to be in the true Jehovah God that is revealed in the Bible. The majority of those in the lodge are not members of the church and true believers. The odds are against the members of the church, when, and if, they join. Neither their vote nor influence can keep them from having dances, etc., but even if such should be the case, it is still wrong for Christians to engage in the Christless pagan worship in which the lodge engages. So this passage certainly condemns members of the church of the Lord belonging to the Masonic Lodge:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship bath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Cor. 6:14-18.)

May all members of the church that are entangled in Masonry have the courage to heed this Divine injunction and "come out from among them."

III. Masonry Makes Many False Claims, Teaches And Upholds False Doctrines.

Christians are taught to speak and teach the truth. Many Masons are sincere in their claims, but have been deluded and blinded. Others evidently are not sincere because after having it pointed out that Masonry is wrong they refuse to renounce it.

They Claim:

That the Masonic Lodge preserved the Bible through the dark ages. This just is not true. It cannot be proved that the lodge even existed until near the close of the dark ages.

That it is one of the oldest institutions in existence. The best writers among them, however, say that, in its present form, it cannot be traced back of about 1700 A. D. From one of their accepted authorities, J. D. Buck, we note the following:

"Various Masonic writers have endeavored to trace the history of Masonry beyond such records, charters and constitutions as have been accepted and verified, with little more than conjecture for evidence. To discern the origin of the present Institution as a growth from the guilds or trade-union existing prior to 1700 A. D., is justified by neither fact nor reason. No such germ could develop into such flower and fruitage." ("The Genius of Free-Masonry" Chicago, Indo-American Book Co., 1914, Vol. I, Fourth Edition, p. 141). Their claims on this point have been based on conjecture, and are "justified by neither fact nor reason."

That the lodge is the abiding place of truth. To faithful members of the church of the Lord, to merely state this claim should be enough to refute it.

That Masonry does not interfere with one's religion. In this they have to assume that they understand all religions, or else they could not know if Masonry interferes or not. It does interfere with many truths of the Bible, such as: praying in the name of Christ, doing all in the name of Christ, believing in Christ, and even believing in God as he is revealed in the Bible. Furthermore, I know men who are missing mid-week Bible study to attend the lodge. The stronger a man is as a Mason, the weaker he is as a Christian. Yes, Masonry does interfere with Christianity!

That whatever a man believes to be the truth is truth to him. (Morals and Dogma, Albert Pike, p. 160.)

That the Bible account of the fall of man is but a legend.

"The Hebrew allegory of the Fall of Man, which is but a special variation of a universal legend, symbolizes one of the grandest and most universal allegories of science." (Ibid., p. 100).

That we should be indulgent to error. (Ibid., p. 18).
That Masonry is superior to Christianity. (Ibid., p. 23, 161).

That it is divine. In The Manual of the Lodge by Mackey, a song begins on page 152, "Hail Masonry Divine." From The Freemason's Monitor, Z. A. Davis, Late Past Master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 71, page iv of the preface; we read: "That the Institution is of Divine origin, leaves not a shadow of doubt on my humble mind."

That they have some deep secrets. But their secrets have been revealed, and anyone can buy their books and learn what they teach. The fact that the Masons murdered Capt. Wm. Morgan for writing the book, "Freemasonry Exposed", is evidence that he had exposed their secrets. (Order his book from Ezra A. Cook, Box 796, Chicago 90, ill.) Many other books on lodges may be obtained from this address.