Sorry, my grandfathers Masonic Bible clearly states ''this Bible was presented to…on… and is signed by no less than 20 Masons.
I agree with everything you have said and even the truths you have not said.
Not a lawyer, and I am engaging in speculation. But the right of a governmental body to exercise ‘eminent domain’ and the right to ‘blight’ non-religious property may be stronger than if the property is deemed ‘religious’. There may be tax issues as well. In any case, the court decision itself acknowledges that Freemasonry does not think of itself as ‘a religion’: the court’s decree merely notes that Freemasonry has sufficient resemblance to religion on a sufficient number of points to qualify for relief as a religious organization.
No. They believe that in order for men of varying religious beliefs to work together for common goals in a fraternal manner, all of them must put aside their religious differences while performing fraternal work.
Odd. I have never heard of a Lodge giving the gift of a Masonic Bible to it’s members. Neither my grandfather’s nor my great-uncle’s Masonic Bibles were gifted to to them by their Lodge. I was not so gifted. Usually a Masonic Bible is bought by the Brother himself or is a gift from a close family member who knows he is subscribing to membership in the Lodge. It is not impossible of course that your grandfather’s Lodge was affluent enough to make such gifts normative, but it is not common in my experience.
Maybe I’m reading to much into this but, why can’t men work toward common goals without putting aside their religious differences?
I can understand why a Christian would feel constrained. We do believe in a specific God after all.
I have a couple of things to do today but when I find the time I’ll scan some of the pages and upload them here. To be completely fair I think the word ‘‘Popish’’ appears in the King James description page. The Masonic history used the word Romish once or twice.
So far as I am aware, freemasonry has nothing to do with religion. with the exception that ‘thanks’ and ‘praise’ is given to God before and at the end of meals and meetings and all are expected to participate regardless of religion of origin.
I am glad you pointed that out. I am actually offended by the title ‘romish’ or Romish’ as its modern day connotations are divisive rather than unifying. If we used similar words on this site, we would soon be jumped on by the mods.
For the same reason that you put aside your religious differences in most secular jobs. For the same reason that in a political legislature you would only be allowed to lead the opening prayer if you could agree to address your prayer to God without making any sectarian references to Him.
And if you feel strongly about this, you would not be able to officiate prayer in most public forums. There is an amusing tale, possibly apocryphal, of a Protestant Evangelical who was so asked and who deliberately flouted the rules in a somewhat incendiary way. In point of fact, in most cases one nowadays is asked to to submit one’s prayer in writing prior to the event, and if it is deemed offensive one is asked to edit it or a substitute is asked to offer prayer.
No. It is merely an attempt to be inoffensive. However, many Freemasons are inclined towards syncretism. Albert Pike is notable among these. Syncretistic tendencies in the Ritual, although not explicit, are one of the objections Christians often have towards Freemasonry.
You may if others find it useful I don’t think such a reference occurs in my own Masonic Bible, but the Masonic material differs from publisher to publisher so this may account for this.
Thanks for the clarification.
Sound like political correctness, but that is a separate discussion.
Just so I understand correctly, syncretism (the fusion of various religious forms and views) isn’t an official “doctrine” of the masons, but many members believe in and practice it.
‘Many’ might be an overstatement, but some do. Masons are free to interpret the Ritual of Freemasonry as they wish. Most Freemasons would consider themselves Christians. Most are probably active, church-going Christians–unless they are Jews or Muslims or Hindus, in which case many would be temple-attending or mosque-attending Masons. Most probably would not think of themselves as advocating or assenting to syncretism. Many would probably deny that they believe in syncretism altogether.. . . . Just so I understand correctly, syncretism (the fusion of various religious forms and views) isn’t an official “doctrine” of the masons, but many members believe in and practice it.
Is that accurate?
Peace,
Ryan
Really, I can’t see how they have ‘seen the light through masonry’ and ‘come home to the Church’ since membership in the masons is enough to deprive any Catholic of receiving the Eucharist. Are you saying they quit the masons? When I say that faithful Catholics can NOT be masons, I’m quoting Church Teaching. I’m not inventing Church Teaching.The many replies here suggests that freemsonry is at risk of ‘leading Catholics astray to false religion’. The evidence that I have seen however is quite the opposite.
I have never heard of a Catholic who stops practicing because he is a free and accepted mason. But I HAVE heard of lapsed Catholics ‘coming home’ because they have enrolled as masons.
In other words: men who did not walk with the Lord, take up their faith again, go to confession and re-dedicate their lives to Christ and His Church only because they felt encouraged by masonry to do so!
Suddenly I have become invisible.
None of the hardliners will see this reply because it is not what they want to read. No, they do not want to read that. They want to read of ‘blood oaths and satanic ritual!’