May A Christian Be A Mason?
One way to correctly answer this question is to simply ask another question: "Is the Masonic Order religious in nature?" If it is, then this is reason enough for a Christian having no fellowship with it. Any organization that is religious or spiritual in nature, promising salvation for faithfully following its doctrines and principles, is making claims that belong to the church our Lord built, and is false in its claims. But does the Masonic order make such promises? is it religious in nature?
Before answering that, let me stress that the person who does not know of the one true church believes salvation can be found in any denomination, or for that matter, outside any denomination. Naturally, a person with such a concept of salvation would find no objection to anyone's joining the Masonic Order, no more than he would object to his joining a denomination or contributing to the Salvation Army.
Likewise, some members of the church have gone into Masonry saying it was no more religious in nature than is the Rotary, Lions or Civitan clubs. These members evidently know they could not have fellowship with another religion having read Ephesians 1:3; 1:22-23; 3:21; 5:23 and similar passages. But some members have later disassociated themselves from the Masons saying they had found it to be a religious fraternity, promising salvation. Now, these brethren knew they could not as Christians join with some denominational church: how then could they fellowship a fraternity that was unworthy of fellowship on precisely the same grounds as human churches? How could a Christian join another religious group? But the question is, did these brethren misrepresent the Masonic order? Did they misunderstand?
Let The Masonic Fraternity Speak For Itself
We herewith cite some quotations from the Masonic Edition Temple-Illustrated Holy Bible, The Great Light In Masonry, Published by A. J. Holman Company, Philadelphia. This is their official edition and publication.
The Temple in the Masonic ritual is almost, but not quite completed; the allegory arises from a physical to a spiritual Temple, "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". (p. 3)
And so to build to Almighty God a glorious and pleasant temple in our souls, we as workmen, and He as the principal author and master of the work ... (p. 25)
Let our whole deportment testify for us that we have formed our lives upon the perfect model of God's revealed will, exhibited to us in the Holy Bible; that this Book is the basis of all our Craft, and that it is by this piece of Divine furniture, so essential to our society, we are taught wisdom, to contrive in all our doings... .
The Bible is now so closely identified with the Lodge that, for Christian countries, it is one of the very few undisputed landmarks of Freemasonry. Another is belief in God. These two essentials, belief in a Supreme Being and reverence for His Word establish beyond question the character of the Fraternity as a religious institution. (p. 27. Emphasis mine, ELF) Here we present to Masons in a Bible commemorative of their initiation a printed compendium of their Craft. We lay emphatic stress on the divine principles of the Fraternity, on its religious backgrounds, and on the irrevocable place of the Bible as a foundation of Masonry.
It is clearly seen Masonic authorities say their Fraternity is a "religious institution"; that the Bible is a "foundation of Masonry"; that Masonry builds a "temple in the soul". Ask any Mason (who is not a member of the church of Christ) if Masonry is a religion and he will answer affirmatively. Why is it members of the church — preachers, elders, others — have not learned what the Masons "lay emphatic stress" to, that Masonry principles are divine?
The Tennessee Craftsman
To further help us answer the question under consideration we quote briefly from The Tennessee Craftsman, 8th Edition, April, 1950, an official publication of the Masons:
(Prayers at opening)
Most Merciful God, Supreme Architect of heaven and earth, we beseech thee to guide and protect these brethren here assembled, and fulfill at this time that divine promise thou wast pleased to make those who should be gathered together in thy name . . . (p. 1)
You have this night commenced the great task, which in your future Masonic life should never be discontinued, that of erecting in your heart a temple for the indwelling of God. (p. 13)
Brother, as you have now been introduced into the first degree of Freemasonry, I congratulate you on being received into this ancient and honorable Order....
No institution was ever established on nobler principles, nor were ever more excellent rules and maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several Masonic Lectures. They are all derived from that sacred volume which you have been taught to regard as the inestimable gift of God to man, and as the rule and guide of your faith and practice. (p. 35)
(At funeral service)
The Lambskin is an emblem of innocence, and is esteemed the peculiar badge of a Mason ... This emblem I deposit in the grave of our departed brother. By it we are reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is necessary to obtain admittance into the celestial Lodge above, (that means Heaven, ELF) where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides... (p. 172)
Facing the reality of death, we should contemplate those great ideas which lie at the heart of our Fraternity; God and the immortality of the soul.
Our Masonic career was begun with an expression of our faith in God. Step by step we were taught that in God we live and move and have our being . . . These truths give us strength for our labors and enable us to endure the pains, the disappointments and losses of life with the assurance that he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. (p. 180)
Therefore, it (Masonry) invites to its altar men of all faiths. (p. 52)
It is plainly taught in these quotes that Masonry is religious; that Masonry will, if followed faithfully, lead one to heaven after death. All Masons but those who are members of the church of the Lord unashamedly teach this; proudly proclaim this! Why do church members contradict their fellow Masons on these matters? (Truthfully, they don't! They just argue such with fellow members in the church.)
Permit me to offer one more proof that Masons consider their Order to be of a religious nature. Where once I lived, a prominent man died who was both a Baptist and a Mason. As is customary with the Masons, a "Resolution of Respect" was printed in the local newspaper, which reads:
"Leaves have their time to fall, and flowers to wither,
At the North wind's cold blast, but thou, 0 Death!
Hath all seasons for thine Own."
Once again a brother Mason, having completed the designs written for him on life's trestle board, has passed through the portals of Eternity and entered the Grand Lodge of the New Jerusalem and hath received, as his reward, the white stone with a new name written thereon.
And Whereas, The all-wise and Merciful Master of the universe has called from labor, to refreshment our beloved and respected brother.
And Whereas, He having been a true and faithful brother of our beloved Order, therefore, be it
Resolved, that Fraternal Lodge No. _____F & A.M. of ______________, in testimony of her loss, be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that we tender to the family of our deceased brother our sincere condolence in their deep affliction, and that a copy of these resolutions he sent to the family.
This document was signed by three men, one of whom was a prominent professional man who was a member of the local church. This "Resolution of Respect" states the brother Mason had entered New Jerusalem, Heaven. It states he had received the "white stone" with the "new name" written thereon. That is the reward promised the saints at Pergamos if they overcame. (Rev. 2:17.) Surely no one would deny the religious nature of this. Masons mean it to be religious, spiritual in nature. Only Masons with membership in the church of Christ deny its spiritual import. Masons should expel them for not upholding Masonic "divine principles"!
Should a Christian have fellowship religiously with any save those in the body of Christ? No! Is Masonry religious in nature? All its authorities answer affirmatively. That brings us back where we started: May a Christian be a Mason? The sincere reader already knows the proper answer, and the insincere would refuse any answer he did not wish to hear. But in light of the facts cited in this article I will say this: if a Christian may join the Masons, then a Christian may also join the Baptist church, for both are religious institutions promising eternal life for those who faithfully follow their teachings. These claims are both contrary to the Lord's word.