But for the esoteric Freemason, the pursuit of such mystic powers may be seen as entirely scientific and therefore he may sincerely deny that Freemasonry is a religion.
Now, if you read Manly P. Hall’s introduction to alchemy in his book,
Secret Teachings of All Ages, you will see the Freemason’s attitude to this seemingly silly pursuit:
Is the transmutation of base metals into gold possible? Is the idea one at which the learned of the modern world can afford to scoff? Alchemy was more than a speculative art: it was also an operative art. … That the galaxy of brilliant philosophic and scientific minds who, over a period of two thousand years, affirmed the actuality of metallic transmutation and multiplication, could be completely sane and rational on all other problems of philosophy and science, yet hopelessly mistaken on this one point, is untenable. Nor is it reasonable that the hundreds declaring to have seen and performed transmutations of metals could all have been dupes, imbeciles, or liars.
It might seem shocking to us, and to many Freemasons, that anyone, not least someone as learned as the author, might consider this a remote possibility. But the belief of esoteric Freemasonry is that the strange powers claimed by the followers of ancient pagan sects are most certainly real and a part of the natural world.
Now, while Henry C. Clausen in the above video condemns ceremonial magic as “vain and wicked” although he does ambiguously add “if not a pious fraud,” it’s most illuminating to see that in
The Secret Teachings of All Ages, there is no doubt that magic is real, although it is similarly condemned by the author:
Transcendentalism and all forms of phenomenalistic magic are but blind alleys–outgrowths of Atlantean sorcery; and those who forsake the straight path of philosophy to wander therein almost invariably fall victims to their imprudence. Man, incapable of controlling his own appetites, is not equal to the task of governing the fiery and tempestuous elemental spirits. Many a magician has lost his life as the result of opening a way whereby submundane creatures could become active participants in his affairs.
Notice, that this Freemason isn’t naive. He knows that magic is dangerous, and he almost reiterates Catholic teaching with regard to the dangers of opening oneself up to “elemental,” or as we would call it, demonic, influence.
In reference to contacting the dead through mediums, he also notes, “The majority of modern mediumistic apparitions are but elemental creatures masquerading through bodies composed of thought substance supplied by the very persons desiring to behold these wraiths of decarnate beings.”
This too is what Christians typically believe - that invoking the souls of the dead, if effective, invariably results in making contact with a demonic spirit masquerading as the dead person.
Now, Freemasonry is not uniform. Its structure is similar to Protestantism - there is no central authority and a significant amount of independence. In fact, Freemasonry is like the Protestantism of the occult. Lodges are to a degree independent of each other and most are nothing but charitable social clubs, and whereas the inner layers do dabble in the occult and seek to possess hidden powers, and from the perspective of Christianity do certainly make use of demonic powers, there is relatively little overt Satanism going on. And as we can see, the wiser Freemasons at least understand that the forces they so eagerly seek to control are dangerous, but they believe that with adequate knowledge, they can safely have access to their power.
So esoteric Freemasonry, much like Catholicism, recognises the reality of the spirit world, except it sees it as an extension of the natural world and its pursuit of understanding it as scientific. However, as Christians we recognise that whatever secret abilities the Freemason may come to possess through his study of the so-called Ancient Wisdom are nothing but the direct manifestation of the power of the fallen angels.
And even Manly P. Hall mentions that when the Mason learns to apply the secret knowledge, “the seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands.” There are other quotes by Albert Pike, another important Masonic author, that make reference to Lucifer, although they are ambiguous.
If I am correct, Lucifer, in the esoteric understanding of Freemasons, is a source of power in the universe, and is neither good nor bad, and can be personal or impersonal depending on whom you ask. When understood in that sense, as a source of power, a bringer of light, or knowledge, one can surmise that of the few Masons who actually see Lucifer as something more than pure allegory, most do not see him or it as something inherently evil.
To the Christian, however, there can be no doubt that Lucifer, who is known to present himself as an “Angel of Light,” and who, as the Serpent, purported to bring mankind “knowledge” of good and evil, is none other than the Devil himself. So insofar as a minority of Masons may indeed seek after Lucifer’s powers, there is indeed some substantiation to the claims that Freemasonry is, at least in part, Satanic.
We mustn’t take this to mean, however, that all of it is, or that most Freemasons are Satanists. It is a fraternity that to a significant degree involves occult pursuits, and wherever we see occultism being practiced, we will almost certainly see demonic influence and Satanism in one form of another. This is nothing new - it is a natural outgrowth of any form of occultism. Despite denials to the contrary, we can see it not only in Freemasonry, but in the deeper teachings of some New Agers, witches, spiritualists, gnostics and so forth. Esoteric Freemasonry, therefore, is nothing but a very intelligent version of the same thing, and Christians, Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant, should have nothing to do with it.
