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Freemasonry
Freemasons, or Masons, are
members of a secret fraternal order known as the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, whose goals are, supposedly, to promote brotherhood.
One of the major sourcebooks of Masonic doctrine is Morals and Dogma
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Masonry, written in
1871 by Albert Pike, and considered to be the "Masons guide for daily
living." In it, he writes: "Masonry is a search after Light..."
According to early Masonic
manuscripts, its origins can be traced back to Adam, who was said to be
the first Mason. The apron of Masonry allegedly represents the fig
leaves worn by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The knowledge
received by Adam after eating from the forbidden tree, was carried on by
his son Seth, and then Nimrod (who was responsible for the Tower of
Babel), the great-grandson of Noah. Dr. Albert Mackey (33rd Degree), in
writing his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, referred to the "York
manuscript, No. 1" which contained information from a parchment that
dated back to the year 1560, which identified Babylon as the originator
of Masonry. He also cited the Cooke Manuscript ("The Legend of the
Craft", which was written in 1420, and is said to be the second
oldest Masonic manuscript), which reveals that Nimrod taught the craft
of Masonry to the workers at the Tower of Babel. When God confused their
language, these secrets were said to be lost.
When King Solomon was building
the Temple, it is taught that Freemasonry was revived. Mackey said that
the "Masonic Lodges were initially dedicated to King Solomon, because he
was our first Most Excellent Grand Master." However, Martin L. Wagner
revealed in An Interpretation of Freemasonry that the "name
Solomon is not the Israelite king. It is the name in form, but different
in its meaning. It is a substitute ... a composite, Sol-om-on, the names
of the sun in Latin, Indian and Egyptian, and is designed to show the
unity of several god-ideas in the ancient religions, as well as with
those of Freemasonry."
A story recounted in Masonic
tradition, has to do with Hiram Abiff, a Syrian Master Mason, known as
the architect of Tyre, who was said to be hired by Solomon to build the
Temple. He was killed by three Fellow-Craftsmen, when he would not
reveal the secret Masonic word (so they could get Master's wages in
foreign countries), which was engraved on a gold triangle he wore around
his neck. Solomon found the triangle, and had it placed in a secret
vault under the Temple. Abiff later became a Christ-like figure to the
Masons. Mackey said that "Hiram represent(s) a popular Syrian god
against whom the champions of Jehovah (the Jews) strove ceaselessly."
Another Mason, Daniel Sickles, correlates him with an Egyptian god, and
Pierson's Traditions of Freemasonry said that he actually
represented all of the pagan sun gods, as does Mackey's Lexicon of
Freemasonry. What this does, is to relate the message that it was
the sun god who was the builder of the Temple, which makes this Temple
symbolic, and not to be confused with the Jewish Temple. Pike said in
his Morals and Dogma, that the "Temple of Solomon presented a
symbolic image of the Universe; and resembled, in its arrangements and
furniture, all the temples of the ancient nations that practiced the
mysteries."
In ancient Greece, there were organized groups, or guilds (like our
unions), such as the "Dionysiacs," and in Rome, the "Collegium Muriorum,"
who built the temples and stadiums. These groups who were the
forerunners of the Masons, were the draftsmen, builders, carpenters, and
craftsmen who erected the huge cathedrals, castles, abbeys and churches
during the Middle Ages. Because they "lodged" or lived together during
the construction, this is where the term "masonic lodge" was originated.
The First Grand Lodge of England met at York in 926, where they
adopted hand signs and passwords to identify themselves. Their
workplace, or Lodges, was where their initiations, rites, rituals and
ceremonies took place. Within their inner circles, witchcraft was
practiced.
In the 13th century, they formed an association, headquartered at
Cologne, with Lodges at Strasbourg, Vienna, and Zurich. They called
themselves Free Masons, and had ceremonies for initiation. Near the end
of the 16th century, people who weren't builders, were admitted into the
fraternity, and were called "Accepted" Masons. They were usually
distinguished members of the community, or in short, a source of
funding. Becoming more symbolic, the working masons and builders
eventually quit, as did the Accepted Masons, who had become disappointed
at what the organization really was.
The Bruton Vault
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), an English Lord, the son of Elizabeth I,
was recognized as the "founder of Free Masonry ... the guiding light of
the Rosicrucian Order, the members of which kept the torch of the true
universal knowledge, the Secret Doctrine of the Ages, alive during the
dark night of the Middle Ages." Fluent in many languages, he was known
to have edited the King James Version of the Bible, and is believed to
be the true author of the William Shakespeare plays. He had been
initiated by a secret society of intellectuals dedicated to civil and
religious freedom. In his book Instauratio Magna, he wrote of a
movement to "reorganize the sciences and restore man to the mastery over
nature that he was conceived to have lost by the fall of Adam."
Bacon's novel, New Atlantis, published in 1627, a year after
his death, by his secretary William Rawley, represented his vision for a
new "Golden Age." It was about a crew of shipwrecked sailors who arrived
on the shores a mysterious, unknown land, whose people had a much higher
developed culture and possessed a technology unlike anything they had
ever seen. He talked about buildings a half a mile high, flying
machines, underwater vehicles, and a government of
philosopher-scientists working on behalf of an enlightened group of
people who were committed to learning, and a higher level of
achievement.
Manly Palmer Hall (1901-1990), founder of the Philosophical Research
Society in 1934, and one of the foremost experts in the realm of the
metaphysical and the occult, authored over 200 books, and in six decades
delivered more than 8,000 lectures. In his 1944 book The Secret
Destiny of America, he revealed that even though the New Atlantis
had been completed, the entire version was never published. He wrote:
"The final (unpublished) chapters revealed the entire pattern secret
societies had been working on for thousands of years to achieve the
ideal commonwealth in the political world." It included details for
nurturing the "New Order of the Ages," how this long range "Great Plan"
would restore mankind to the original state that was intended to reflect
the inner philosophical tradition of Freemasonry, and proposed
timetables.
In The Secret Destiny of America Hall also wrote: "There exists
in the world today, and has existed for thousands of years, a body of
enlightened humans united in what might be termed, an Order of the
Quest. It is composed of those whose intellectual and spiritual
perceptions have revealed to them that civilization has a secret
destiny ... The outcome of this 'secret destiny' is a World Order ruled
by a King with supernatural powers. This King was descended of a
divine race, that is, he belonged to the Order of the Illumined for
those who come to a state of wisdom that belong to a family of heroes --
perfected human beings."
The full-length version (which included the missing chapters) was taken
to Jamestown in 1635 by his descendant Nathaniel Bacon, where it was
buried under the altar of the old brick church. In 1676, it was moved to
Williamsburg, Virginia, where it was buried "in a great vault beneath
the tower center of the first brick church in Bruton Parish." The
current church, known as the Bruton Parish Church (which was declared a
National Historic Landmark), was built in 1715, and within the grounds
of its graveyard (the site of the original church), that is where the
Bruton Vault is located.
It is believed by many serious researchers that Sir Francis Bacon faked
his death (actually dying in 1684), and constructed the vault with the
help of his Wild Goose Club. It is a 10 ft. by 10 ft. brick vault,
possibly part of an underground Freemasonry Lodge, that is buried 20 ft.
deep, and marked by certain strategically placed encoded memorials in
the cemetery above.
The reason for the Rockefellers making such an investment to restore the
town of Colonial Williamsburg, was the prospect of locating the fabled
vault, which had three tunnels leading to it from homes in the area.
Fortunately, ownership of the grounds remain in the hands of the Page
and Bray families.
Deposited along with the unabridged copy of the New Atlantis
were other secret documents, including ancient writings that had been in
the possession of certain secret societies. One such artifact was the "Book
of Thoth," which had been retrieved from a golden box out of an
inner sanctuary in an ancient Egyptian temple. Known as the Sacred
Torch, the most important document ever given to Man, it is
believed that anyone who is able to decipher it will have their
consciousness enhanced to the point that they will be able to see the
invisible Immortals and enter the presence of the Superior Gods. Manley
Hall wrote in his book, The Secret Teachings of All Ages that
the Book "was lost to the Ancient World with the decay of the Mysteries,
but its faithful initiates carried it sealed to another land. The book
is still in existence..."
The vault also contains instructions, maps, and documents that lead to
144 sacred burial sites of certain forefathers, patriots and early
leaders in our country that in turn contain original writings, diaries
and documentation that will prove how history has been rewritten today
to reflect the biased political views of certain leaders in this
country. Hall wrote in the The Secret Destiny of America: "Not
only were the founders of the United States Government Masons, but they
received aid from a secret and august body existing in Europe, which
helped them to establish this country for a peculiar and particular
purpose known only to the initiated few."
Masonry was not always as it appears today. Many early Christian
patriots during the foundational period of American history were part of
the predominant York Rite, which promoted values, ethics, and
brotherhood among its members. It has been reported that true
Freemasonry Lodges were established in the cellars of Episcopalian and
Presbyterian Churches. It was the Illuminati infiltration of the
American Fraternal Lodges by the Jesuit-spawned Scottish Rite that moved
through the ranks like a virus to take them over from within.
It is believed that the vault also contains a quantity of gold, an
original edition of the Bacon-edited King James Bible, inventions that
were ahead of its time, and a device that will enable their codes to be
deciphered.
There is some evidence to indicate that handwritten copies of certain
documents were made during the administration of President Washington
and hidden at a remote location in Virginia.
According to Colin Dyer in his book Symbolism in Craft Masonry,
in 1804, Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) was the last person to examine
the contents of this vault. It was believed that the contents were
removed and placed in a secret location either at the University of
Virginia (founded by Jefferson), or the capitol building in Washington,
D.C. However, Manley Hall became a leading proponent for the Bruton
Vault as being the location of this sacred repository. His quest to
protect it from falling into the wrong hands cost him his life, because
he was strangled to death by two members of the Skull and Bones Society
-- Morgan Brandt and Daniel Fritz. Luckily all of his research notes,
documents, maps, books, photos, and artifacts relating to 50 years of
work on the vault had already been sent to a secret location in Russia.
In The Secret Destiny of America Hall wrote: "America's true
destiny will remain a secret as long as great masses of people have no
knowledge whatsoever that enlightened humanitarians through thousands of
years have in their own and succeeding generations remained united on
the high purpose of eventually instituting democratic rule throughout
the world. It is necessary to know, too, that it was anciently planned
that leadership would fall to America -- to a nation established on the
Northern continent of the Western Hemisphere ... Long before
Columbus, they were aware of the existence of the Western hemisphere,
and selected it to be the site of the philosophic empire. The
American continent was set apart for establishing here a great
democratic nation, centuries before the founding fathers and colonists
envisioned the Union ...
When President Theodore Roosevelt visited the site, and learned of its
significance, he vowed to protect it, and out of appreciation, he was
honored by having his image placed on Mount Rushmore. David Rockefeller
and Queen Elizabeth have shown a particular interest in the vault's
contents.
The contents of the Bruton Vault are priceless, and considered so
important that it is referred to as the "Seventh Seal."
A group known as Sir Francis Bacon's Sages of the Seventh Seal have been
the driving force behind the movement to uncover the vault. Though there
were unsuccessful attempts in 1938 (which did discover the original
church foundations) and 1992, they now believe that a spiral staircase
exists beneath the pyramid-shaped monument that marks the centuries-old
graves of David and Elizabeth Bray, and leads to the vault, which they
refer to as a "Freemasonry library." Armed with new evidence from their
continued research, the group has lobbied the Rev. Herman Hollerith IV,
rector of the Episcopal church, to authorize a new, controlled,
archeological dig, to raise the vault, so that its contents can be
studied, and protected from forces hostile to the information it
contains.
The Growth of the Mason Movement
Inigo Jones (1573-1652) reorganized the Lodges, introducing the
Descartes rationalism, and they were now known as the Free and Accepted
Masons. Elias Ashmole, a banker, Rosicrucian, and founder of the Oxford
Museum, who became a Mason in 1648, established the three basic degrees:
1) Entered Apprentice, 2) Fellow-Craft, and 3) Master Mason.
On June 24, 1717, the four lodges in London were united into a Grand
Lodge (sometimes called the Grand Mother Lodge) by three members who met
at the Apple-Tree Tavern, thus beginning the era of modern Freemasonry.
Rather than being a guild of stone masons and builders, they altered
their philosophy and became a pseudo-religion who "tried to cooperate
with the Church so as to be able to work from the inside, rationalize
the doctrine of Jesus and empty it gradually of its mystical content.
Freemasonry hoped to become a friendly and legal heir to Christianity.
They considered logic and the rules of scientific thinking as being the
only absolute and permanent element of the human mind." By 1725, the
movement had spread to France.
The members of the Grand Lodge of England brought their fraternity to
America. In 1730, Daniel Core was appointed Provincial Grand Master of
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, after the first lodge was
established in Philadelphia. A lodge was established in Boston in 1733.
By the time of the American Revolution, there were 100 Masonic lodges.
The Masons were firmly entrenched in the eastern colonies, but since 95%
of the population identified themselves as Christians, they had to
modify their philosophies to include Christian teachings. The Grand
Lodge of the United States was established in 1777, which officially cut
all ties to their British counterparts.
One writer summed up Masonry this way: "Freemasonry has incorporated
bits of other systems in its initiations and higher degrees, such as
mystery schools, Mithraism, the Egyptian priesthood, the system of the
Pythagoreans, Essenes, Cabalists, Druids, the Orders of the Knighthood,
Rosicrucians, Arabic secret societies, and the Knights Templar."
Masonry slowly spread throughout the world: France (1718-25) , Ireland
(1725-26), Spain (1726-27), Holland (1731), Germany (1730-33), Africa
(1735), Scotland (1736), Portugal (1736), Switzerland (1737), Italy
(1733-37), Russia (1731-40), Canada (1745), Sweden (1735-48), Prussia
(1738-40), Austria (1742), Poland (1784), and Mexico (1825).
Originally against the Masonic Order, Benjamin Franklin became a Mason
in 1731, at the age of 25. He became the Provincial Grand Master of
Pennsylvania in 1734, and was the "appointed spokesman" of the secret
societies. As ambassador to France, he was honored there at a major
Masonic lodge. It is believed that while he was on a diplomatic trip to
Paris to seek financing for the Revolution, he was initiated as a member
of the Illuminati. George Washington joined the Fredericksburg
Lodge #4 in Virginia, in 1752, and when he was elected President in
1789, he was the Grand Master of the Lodge (the highest official). He
took his Oath of Office on a Masonic Bible, as did his Vice-President,
John Adams, who was also a Mason. This Masonic Bible from the altar of
St. Johns Lodge No. 1 in New York City, which was printed in London in
1767, was later used for other Oaths administered to Harding,
Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan and Bush. This Masonic Bible has an
introductory section that explains that Masonry is not a Christian
fraternity, but in fact supports all religions. Eight of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence were also members of the Fredericksburg
Lodge. Actually, 51 of the 56 signers were believed to be Masons;
however, only 8 were known to be members, while another 24 were
suspected of being members.
It is also believed that 8 to 10 signers of the Articles of
Confederation were Masons. There were 9 Masons that signed the
Constitution, while 6 others later became members. Other sources have
used the figure of 13, while some have said there were as many as 28
members who signed the Constitution.
Because of the disagreement between various books and on-line sources,
representing Masonic and non-Masonic sources, it's easy to see how
erroneous information becomes perpetuated as fact, and truth. If the
Masons can't even nail down the specifics of their own history, then,
the only thing we can hope to do, is to produce as accurate of a picture
as possible, based on the facts.
Among the ranks of the Masons were: Patrick Henry (all Masonic
researchers do not agree on this), John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Paul
Jones, Alexander Hamilton, Benedict Arnold, John Marshall, Samuel Adams,
Anthony Wayne, Francis Marion ("The Swamp Fox") and Ethan Allen. In the
military, 24 of Washington's Major Generals, and 30 of his 33 Brigadier
Generals were Masons (another fact that Masonic researchers do not agree
on).
It was actually the Masons who instigated and carried out the American
Revolution. The secrecy of the Masonic lodges allowed the Colonial
patriots to meet and discuss strategy. It was commonly believed that the
reason for the Revolution was "taxation without representation", when
actually it was because the Parliament in the 1760's passed a law that
no colony could issue its own money. The colonies had to issue bonds,
and sell them to the Bank, who would then loan them money. This forced
the colonies to pay interest on their money. The Revolution was ignited
by the Boston Tea Party, which was planned during a dinner at the
Bradlee home. The participants were from the St. Andrew Lodge in Boston,
who dressed up as Mohawk Indians, and went aboard the Dartmouth, which
was anchored in the harbor, and dumped its load of tea overboard. The
British government responded by closing the port, and sending in British
troops. Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, who wasn't controlled by
the International Bankers, refused to send in 20,000 Russian troops
against the colonists, when asked by King George III of England. The
attack unified the colonies against England.
The Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Freemasonry was established in
Charleston, South Carolina in 1801, because that area was geographically
located on the 33rd parallel. They are an extension of French
Freemasonry, and considered liberal. In 1755, the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry had expanded to 32 degrees, and then they
added a 33rd degree. In 1813, the Northern Supreme Council was
established, consisting of 15 states, and was headquartered in Boston.
They were an extension of English Freemasonry, and are considered
conservative. The Supreme Council, which represented the Southern
jurisdiction, relocated to Washington, D.C., and covers the remaining 35
states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. protectorates. It is
considered the Mother Supreme Council of the World.
Among the Presidents who have been Masons: Washington, Jefferson (33rd
Degree), Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson (32nd
Degree and Grand Master), Garfield , McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft,
Harding (32nd Degree), Franklin Roosevelt (32nd Degree), Truman (33rd
Degree and Grand Master), Eisenhower, Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson (1st
Degree), Nixon, Ford (33rd Degree), Carter, Reagan (33rd Degree), and
George H. W. Bush, Sr.
Many State Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen are Masons. The
Masonic Bible says that "for well over 150 years, the destiny of this
country has been determined largely by men who were members of the
Masonic fraternity."
There are about 16,000 Blue or Symbolic Lodges, with a Grand Lodge in
every state, which represent more than four million members. There are
150 Grand Lodges in the world, and a world-wide membership of over
6,000,000.
Members must be 21 years old, however, sons of members can be initiated
at 18. Before consideration, an initiate must prove themselves to be
"mentally and physically competent, of good moral character, and believe
in the existence of a Supreme Being." Among their affiliated
organizations: The Order of Demolay, The Order of Rainbow for Girls, and
The Order of Job's Daughters, which allow children as young as 11 to
become indoctrinated in Masonic teaching. The Order of the Eastern Star,
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Daughters of
the Nile are organizations closely aligned with the Masons.
Their literature claims that "Freemasonry is not a religion even though
it is a religion in character...does not pretend to take the place of
religion nor serve as a substitute for the religious beliefs of its
members...(and) accepts men, found to be worthy, regardless of religious
convictions." They claim that they exist "to make good men better
through its firm belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man
(and) consists of men bound together by bonds of Brotherly Love and
Affection."
Examining Masonic Tradition
Any organization which strives to adhere to such a high moral standard
certainly should deserve our admiration and respect. However, why have
they elicited the criticism that they have? The Vatican has issued many
Edicts condemning Masonry: Pope Clement XII in 1738, Pope Benedict XIV
in 1751, Pope Plus VII in 1821, Pope Leo XII in 1825, Pope Plus VIII in
1829, Pope Gregory XVI in 1832, Pope Plus IX in 1846 and 1873, and Pope
Leo XIII in 1884 and 1892. Pope Leo XXIII said that the goal of the
Masons was the "overthrow of the whole religious, political and social
order based on Christian institutions and the establishment of a state
of things based on pure naturalism." Until 1974, the Roman Catholic
Church had forbidden its members to be Masons, and on March 21, 1981,
the Vatican warned that "all Roman Catholics who belong to Masonic
lodges risk excommunication."
In 1784, and again in 1845, the Bavarian government considered Masonry a
danger to the state. In 1814, The Regency of Milan and Governor of
Venice echoed these same sentiments. King John VI of Portugal issued
orders in 1816, and again in 1824, prohibiting the operation of the
fraternity. In Russia, in 1820, Alexander I banished the Order.
Many writers in the late 1800's, such as Archbishop Meurin and Dr.
Bataille, said that Masonry was just a cover organization for Satan
worship, which occurred within its higher degrees, and was unknown to
the ordinary member. In 1921, Dr. James Anderson wrote a booklet
on Freemasonry called The Anderson Constitution in which he
wrote: "Freemasonry rapidly expanded in Europe. In France, a number of
the Masonic sects dabbled with magic and occultism. In Germany some were
called Order of the Gold, and Rosy Cross (or Rosicrucians). In England,
during the 1880's, the famous magical society, the Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn adopted most of the Masonic grades." Many Druid ceremonies
and witchcraft rites have been incorporated into Masonic rituals.
So, are the Masons a Christian organization? The answer is a resounding
No! Their literature claims that Jesus was just a man, equal to Mohammed
and Krishna, the Hindu God. He is called the "son of Joseph," not the
Son of God. Initiates are told that Masonic rituals are "based on the
Bible," however in Chase's Digest of Masonic Law it says that
"Masonry has nothing whatever to do with the Bible ... it is not founded
upon the Bible, for if it were it would not be Masonry, it would be
something else." Chase said that the Bible is just one of the "holy
books" of man, equal to the Koran, Hindu Scriptures and others. Its
literal meaning was meant only for the ignorant masses. At the end of
the initiation for the Royal Arch degree, the initiate has the lost name
of "God" whispered to him: "Jebulon." Mackey, in his Encyclopedia of
Freemasonry, said that "Freemasonry is not Christianity" and
indicates that this name actually represents a composite of the names of
the sun god of three religions: "Jah," the Syrian form of Jehovah;
"Eel," which is Baal; and "On," the Egyptian sun god. J. D. Buck (32nd
degree) wrote in Mystic Masonry (1925): "The only personal God
Freemasonry accepts is humanity in toto ... Humanity therefore is the
only personal God that their Masonic philosophy is that God is whatever
you want him to be and is referred to in general terms as the "deity"
and the "Great Architect of the Universe," but in higher degrees, he is
identified as a force of nature, usually the sun.
Mackey, in his Masonic Rituals said that the elimination of the
name of Jesus, and references to him, in Bible verses used in rituals
are "slight but necessary modifications." Mackey also wrote in his
Lexicon of Freemasonry: "The religion then of Masonry is pure theism on
which its different members engraft their particular opinions, but they
are not permitted to introduce them into the lodge or to connect their
truth or falsehood with the truth of Masonry ... A Christian Mason is
not permitted to introduce his own peculiar opinions with regard to
Christ's mediatorial office into the Lodge." No masonic prayers in
monitors, handbooks and guides, end in Jesus' name, and if it is
discovered that they do, the Grand Lodge of that state will revoke their
charter. Edmond Ronayne a Master Mason), wrote on page 74 of the
Masonic Handbook (later revised to eliminate the passage): "When a
brother reveals any of our great secrets ... or whenever a minister
prays in the name of Christ in any of our assemblies, you must always
hold yourself in readiness, if called upon, to cut his throat from ear
to ear, pull out his tongue by the roots, and bury his body at the
bottom of some lake or pond." According to Morris in The Freemason's
Monitor (or Webb's Monitor), which omits any reference to the name
of Jesus: "Prayer ... should be of a general character, containing
nothing offensive to any class of conscientious brethren."
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), author of The Power of
Positive Thinking was a 33rd degree Mason, and his name appeared in
many Masonic publications. In March, 1991, he was featured in the cover
story of The Scottish Rite Journal (formerly known as the
New Age magazine), and is quoted as saying that "Masonry became an
early and essential part of my success." On Sunday, February 24, 1991,
Peale had told the congregation of Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral
in California: "Jesus Christ, Buddha and Krishna are examples of great
philosophers who taught how to use mind power." In May, 1991, at a
Dallas, Texas seminar for Christian writers, Dina Donahue, a
contributing editor for Guidepost magazine (which Peale
founded), said that any submission to the publication can never refer to
the deity of Jesus, and claim that He is the only means by which
salvation can be achieved. He can only be presented in a historical
context as a prophet and philosopher. She said that the reason for this
was that "Guidepost is an interfaith magazine, and Dr. Peale does not
want to offend those who are not Christians."
In Les Sectes et Societies Secretes published in 1863, Le
Couteulx de Canteleu wrote that the goal of the Masonic Order "was, is
and will always be the struggle against the Church and the Christian
religion..." Joseph Fort Newton wrote in The Builders:
"Masonry...is Religion, a worship in which all good men may unite, that
each may share the faith of all...Where else, except in a Masonic lodge,
could men of many religions meet, each praying for all and all for one."
Mackey wrote in his Textbook of Masonic Jurisprudence, that
Masonry is "undoubtedly a religious institution"; and also in his
Manual of the Lodge, he emphatically states that "Masonry is a
religious institution." Buck wrote in Mystic Masonry that
Masonry is "a world wide religion...Masonry is the universal religion
only because and so long as it embraces all religions."
High level Masons believe that Lucifer never fell to earth, and that
Lucifer is really God, and refer to Jehovah by the name of "Adonay,"
saying that he is the god of evil because he forces men to be
subservient to his repressive dictates. Masonic books given to
handpicked members of the 32nd and 33rd Degrees, say that Jesus was an
impostor, and that Lucifer is the true God. The Masons have their own
Luciferian based calendar. Where ours is based on the years before
(B.C.) and after (A.D.) the birth of Christ, theirs counts its years
with the suffix A.L. means Anno Lucis or "Year of Light (Lucifer)."
In Morals and Dogma, Pike wrote: "Every Masonic
lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in
religion ... Masonry, like all religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism
and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages,
or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its
symbols to mislead ... to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from
them, and to draw them away from it ... The truth must be kept secret,
and the masses need a teaching proportioned to their imperfect reason."
He wrote that "every man's conception of God must be proportioned to his
mental cultivation, intellectual powers, and moral excellence. God is,
as man conceives him, the reflected image of man himself." The next
statement reduces the Masonic philosophy to a single premise. Pike
writes: "The true name of Satan, the Kabalists say, is that of Yahveh
reversed; for Satan is not a black god ... Lucifer, the Light Bearer!
Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer,
the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light ... Doubt it not!"
These various passages should settle any arguments concerning the
anti-Christian nature of the Masons. Their role in history seemed to be
to act as a diluting factor, to lessen the impact of Christianity
through tolerance, and to politically work towards the goals established
by the Illuminati.
The Masonic Organizational
Structure
The Blue Lodge (Symbolic
Lodge of Masonry):
1) Entered Apprentice
2) Fellow-Craft
3) Master Mason
Albert Pike explained in Morals & Dogma: "The Blue Degrees are but the
outer court or portico of the Temple. 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 he shall imagine he understands them. Their true
explication is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry ... It is
well enough for the mass of those called Masons, to imagine that all is
contained in the Blue Degrees; and whoso attempts to undeceive them will
labor in vain."
Lodge of Perfection (Scottish Rite or Ancient and Accepted Scotch
Rite):
4) Secret Master
5) Perfect Master
6) Intimate Secretary
7) Provost and Judge
8) Intendant of the Building
9) Master Elect of Nine
10) Elect of Fifteen
11) Sublime Master Elected (Sublime Knights Elect of the Twelve)
12) Grand Master Architect
13) Master of the Ninth Arch (Knight of the Ninth Arch)
14) Grand Elect Mason
Council of Princes of
Jerusalem:
15) Knight of the East (Knight of the Sword)
16) Prince of Jerusalem
Chapter of Rose-Croix
17) Knight of the East and West
18) Prince of Rose-Croix (Knight of the Eagle)
The Consistory (Council of Kadosh)
19) Grand Pontiff
20) Master Ad Vitam (Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges)
21) Patriarch Noachite (Prussian Knight)
22) Prince of Libanus (Knight of the Royal Axe)
23) Chief of the Tabernacle
24) Prince of the Tabernacle
25) Knight of the Brazen Serpent
26) Prince of Mercy
27) Commander of the Temple
28) Knight of the Sun (Prince Adept)
29) Knight of St. Andrew
30) Grand Elect Knight of Kadosh
Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret
31) Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander
32) Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret
Supreme Council
33) Sovereign Grand Inspector General
The Mother Supreme Council of the World in Washington, D.C., awards all
33rd Degrees. It is the only degree that can't be earned -- it is
conferred "because of outstanding service to others which reflects
credit upon the Order." All Illuminati members are 33rd Degree Masons.
Red Masonry or York Rite (or Craft Masonry):
All Masons go through the first 3 degrees of the "Blue Lodge and then
must decide whether they want to enter either the Scottish or York Rites
(Capitular Degrees).
Mark Master
Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch Mason (Holy Royal Arch)
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
Order of the Red Cross
Order of the Knights of Malta
Order of Knights Templar
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