Debunking Myths about Freemasonry
There are all kinds of myths about Freemasonry which contribute to the misunderstanding of the fraternity. Here are just a few.
Myth 1: Freemasonry is a Religion - Freemasonry is not nor ever has been a religion. Freemasonry does not offer worship, sacraments, salvation, or any of the other attributes of a religion. The confusion seems to originate from the requirement that you must believe in God to be a member. There are a number of organization which are not a religion, including the Boy Scouts of America, that require a belief in God for membership.
Myth 2: Freemasonry is anti-Christian and teaches anti-Christian beliefs - This one goes back to Myth 1. Christianity does not teach anything that conflicts with Christian faith. Masonry teaches ethical behavior, morality, friendship, and charity. The only exception to this would be tolerance. If you are from an intolerant fundamentalist branch of Christianity that doesn't believe in Freedom of religion or Separation of Church and state than you don't want to a Mason. But, then again, you'd not want to be part of my church either since it teaches toleration, religious freedom, and Church and state separation.
Myth 3: Christians who are Freemasons have been deluded, fooled, or have not been told the whole truth about Freemasonry or they would not be a Masons. - This myth has its base in the anti-Masons trying to figure out why Christian masons won't agree with them when they trot out some nutty stuff by Mackey or dust off old Albert Pike (and generally misquote or misread him)
The truth is that most Masons in the US are active Christians who know both what the Bible teaches and what Freemasonry teaches. I know a fair number of Christian clergy that are Masons who are theologically trained and deeply involved in Masonic lodges, Masonic research, and Masonic leadership. The most recent Grand Master of Cryptic Masonry in Iowa is a Methodist minister. Past Grand Masters of Minnesota and Kentucky are ministers (Methodist and Baptist). One of the Past Grand Masters of Kansas was a Disciples of Christ Minister. The founder of Murrow Indian Home in Oklahoma was a Baptist missionary and helped found the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Freemasonry is full of learned and educated Christians who have risen to the highest ranks in Freemasonry and know exactly what it teaches.
Myth 4 - Freemasonry is a Secret Society and is hiding some evil purpose. - Not really. If we were a secret society you'd not know we existed. Freemasons don't hide their existence other than in nations that persecute Masons such as happened in Nazi Germany.
We do have "secrets." They are of two varieties. One is modes of recognition. These are methods of allowing Masons to identify each other and comes from the middle ages when Masons held the secrets of architecture and stone Masonry. To prove that you were really a Mason you had to be able to give certain secrets bits of information. Remember, there were no ID cards, diplomas or credentials.
The second kind of secret are the specifics of our degrees. The main reason for this is to preserve the experience of the Mason taking the degree. It is like preventing someone from telling you the ending of the last Harry Potter novel before you get a chance to read it. We want each candidate to enjoy the ritual without it being previewed to them. The lessons of morality and virtue taught in these rituals are no secret and are not anything unique to freemasonry.
The third kind of secret is the lessons taught to us in the ability to keep a confidence. As a pastor I must always be able to keep in confidence private information shared with me by parishioners. I must protest those "secrets" to protect my flock and the members of it. In a similar way, Masons are taught to preserve secrecy to learn the character of a man who can keep his word and keep a confidence.
It is not that you can't go all over the internet and find out what goes on in a Masonic degree. The fact that you find out from someone else is of no moment to me. But, you will never learn from me that which I have promised to keep in confidence.
As an aside, one of the problems with our society is that we think we have a right to know everyone else's business. We hear blow by blow descriptions of the sad lives of Hollywood stars, their failures, and their relationships. We are a nation hooked on juicy gossip. Masons don't believe in gossip, don't gossip, and won't fulfill your prurient interest in such. We intend to be men of higher thoughts and nobler deeds.
How I got here - I studied Freemasonry for over a decade before joining the Craft reading every Masonic and anti-masonic work I could get my hands on. I found in my reading that the Masonic writers were more truthful, more consistent, and more reasonable than the anti-masonic material which was all usually based on the same old tired myths and could be debunked over and over again. And based on a handful of writers that really don't represent Freemasonry.
I am a born again Christian, a Baptist minister and Senior Pastor of a Baptist Church. I have served in Baptist churches for 20 years. I have been a Freemason for seven years, am Past Master of my local lodge and am involved in Masonic research societies as well as both Scottish Rite and York Rite.
There is NO CONFLICT between being a Christian and being a Mason as thousands of Christians who are Freemasons can tell you.
Myth 5: We are protecting a large treasure hidden under Trinity Church - I wish! (Great movie and a lot of fun. It got people interested in the topic of Freemasonry.)
Technorati Tags: Freemasonry, Myths about Freemasonry, Anti-Masonic Myths
Myth 1: Freemasonry is a Religion - Freemasonry is not nor ever has been a religion. Freemasonry does not offer worship, sacraments, salvation, or any of the other attributes of a religion. The confusion seems to originate from the requirement that you must believe in God to be a member. There are a number of organization which are not a religion, including the Boy Scouts of America, that require a belief in God for membership.
Myth 2: Freemasonry is anti-Christian and teaches anti-Christian beliefs - This one goes back to Myth 1. Christianity does not teach anything that conflicts with Christian faith. Masonry teaches ethical behavior, morality, friendship, and charity. The only exception to this would be tolerance. If you are from an intolerant fundamentalist branch of Christianity that doesn't believe in Freedom of religion or Separation of Church and state than you don't want to a Mason. But, then again, you'd not want to be part of my church either since it teaches toleration, religious freedom, and Church and state separation.
Myth 3: Christians who are Freemasons have been deluded, fooled, or have not been told the whole truth about Freemasonry or they would not be a Masons. - This myth has its base in the anti-Masons trying to figure out why Christian masons won't agree with them when they trot out some nutty stuff by Mackey or dust off old Albert Pike (and generally misquote or misread him)
The truth is that most Masons in the US are active Christians who know both what the Bible teaches and what Freemasonry teaches. I know a fair number of Christian clergy that are Masons who are theologically trained and deeply involved in Masonic lodges, Masonic research, and Masonic leadership. The most recent Grand Master of Cryptic Masonry in Iowa is a Methodist minister. Past Grand Masters of Minnesota and Kentucky are ministers (Methodist and Baptist). One of the Past Grand Masters of Kansas was a Disciples of Christ Minister. The founder of Murrow Indian Home in Oklahoma was a Baptist missionary and helped found the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Freemasonry is full of learned and educated Christians who have risen to the highest ranks in Freemasonry and know exactly what it teaches.
Myth 4 - Freemasonry is a Secret Society and is hiding some evil purpose. - Not really. If we were a secret society you'd not know we existed. Freemasons don't hide their existence other than in nations that persecute Masons such as happened in Nazi Germany.
We do have "secrets." They are of two varieties. One is modes of recognition. These are methods of allowing Masons to identify each other and comes from the middle ages when Masons held the secrets of architecture and stone Masonry. To prove that you were really a Mason you had to be able to give certain secrets bits of information. Remember, there were no ID cards, diplomas or credentials.
The second kind of secret are the specifics of our degrees. The main reason for this is to preserve the experience of the Mason taking the degree. It is like preventing someone from telling you the ending of the last Harry Potter novel before you get a chance to read it. We want each candidate to enjoy the ritual without it being previewed to them. The lessons of morality and virtue taught in these rituals are no secret and are not anything unique to freemasonry.
The third kind of secret is the lessons taught to us in the ability to keep a confidence. As a pastor I must always be able to keep in confidence private information shared with me by parishioners. I must protest those "secrets" to protect my flock and the members of it. In a similar way, Masons are taught to preserve secrecy to learn the character of a man who can keep his word and keep a confidence.
It is not that you can't go all over the internet and find out what goes on in a Masonic degree. The fact that you find out from someone else is of no moment to me. But, you will never learn from me that which I have promised to keep in confidence.
As an aside, one of the problems with our society is that we think we have a right to know everyone else's business. We hear blow by blow descriptions of the sad lives of Hollywood stars, their failures, and their relationships. We are a nation hooked on juicy gossip. Masons don't believe in gossip, don't gossip, and won't fulfill your prurient interest in such. We intend to be men of higher thoughts and nobler deeds.
How I got here - I studied Freemasonry for over a decade before joining the Craft reading every Masonic and anti-masonic work I could get my hands on. I found in my reading that the Masonic writers were more truthful, more consistent, and more reasonable than the anti-masonic material which was all usually based on the same old tired myths and could be debunked over and over again. And based on a handful of writers that really don't represent Freemasonry.
I am a born again Christian, a Baptist minister and Senior Pastor of a Baptist Church. I have served in Baptist churches for 20 years. I have been a Freemason for seven years, am Past Master of my local lodge and am involved in Masonic research societies as well as both Scottish Rite and York Rite.
There is NO CONFLICT between being a Christian and being a Mason as thousands of Christians who are Freemasons can tell you.
Myth 5: We are protecting a large treasure hidden under Trinity Church - I wish! (Great movie and a lot of fun. It got people interested in the topic of Freemasonry.)
Technorati Tags: Freemasonry, Myths about Freemasonry, Anti-Masonic Myths
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Timothy Bonney
1 Comment
Reader Comments (1)
Thank you for concise, and erudite summation of the refutations to the popular myths about the Craft.
Should you ever find yourself in Connecticut, look me up, I'd be glad to take you to Lodge here.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Traveling Man