Masonry, Proven Not A Valid Religion

From, THE CHARACTER, CLAIMS AND PRACTICAL WORKINGS OF FREEMASONRY
1869 By Rev. C. G. FINNEY - CHAPTER XV. - FREEMASONRY IS A FALSE RELIGION.

“This brings me to the third inquiry: Are the claims that Masonry is a true and saving religion valid? To this question I reply that it is utterly false;”

“The third question proposed for discussion in my last number is: Are the claims of Masonry to be a true and saving institution valid? To this I answer, No.”

“They do, indeed, promise to assist each other in distress, and to help each other's families, provided they fall into poverty. But on what condition do they promise this? Why, that a certain amount is to be paid into their treasury as a fund for this purpose. But this, surely, is not benevolence, but the simple payment of a debt, on the principle of mutual insurance.” [This proves Masonry is not a religion(?). The only money a Mason pays the Lodge is the annual dues, which are used to pay the operating expenses of the Lodge.]

“. . . Again, the motives presented in Freemasonry to secure the course of action to which they are pledged are by no means consistent with the law or the Gospel of God.”

“. . . The motive urged by Masons is, to honor Masonry, to honor the institution, to honor each other. While they are pledged to assist each other in distress; to keep each other's secrets, even if they be crimes; and to aid each other, whether right or wrong, so far as to extricate them from any difficulty in which they are involved; yet they never present the pure motives of the Gospel. They are pledged not to violate the chastity of a brother Mason's wife, sister, daughter, or mother; but they are not pledged by Masonry, as the law and Gospel of God require, to abstain from such conduct with any female whatever. But nothing short of universal benevolence, and universal morality, is acceptable to God.” [Again, the good Rev. C. G. Finney proves Masonry is not a religion.]

“. . . It also professes to be entirely consistent with the Christian religion. And this it does while it embraces as good and acceptable Masons hundreds of thousands who abhor Christianity, and scoff at the Bible and everything that the Bible regards as sacred. In a Christian nation it professes to receive Christianity as a true religion; in Mohammedan countries it receives the Koran as teaching the true religion; in heathen countries it receives their sacred books as of as much authority as that which is claimed in Christian countries for the Bible. In short, Freemasonry in a pagan country is pagan, in a Mohammedan country it is Mohammedan, and in a Christian country it professes to be Christian; but in this profession it is not only grossly inconsistent, but intensely hypocritical.” [Once again, the good Rev. C. G. Finney proves the Masons point. Masonry is not a religion, but a group of religious men that includes men of other faiths.]

An Open Letter To Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon Part II

Dear Sirs,

I have noticed that you, as many anti-Masonic writers do, base most of your theories regarding Masonry on information you come across in books by the “Authorities” of Freemasonry. Of course, the fact that there is not and never has been a Mason who is over any Masons other then those in his own particular state doesn’t mean anything to anti-Masons. If any Mason writes anything they can use, it doesn’t mater if he is the newest Mason and the Junior Steward in a rural Lodge with 20 members, he would be a “Masonic Authority” for your purposes.

Personally, I find it very disturbing that those of you who appear to be well educated can base your reasoning for condemning Freemasonry on what some self appointed authority wrote a hundred years ago. And, especially on information learned from some radical misfit who swore on the Holy Bible that he would never reveal. Have you have relinquished your own intelligence to the theory that so many “Experts” against Freemasonry use. If it’s printed in a book it has to be the gospel truth. What happened to thinking and reporting what you actually know from personal experiences and investigations.

For instance, in “Where Do Masonry and Christianity Conflict? – Part 1” you state;

“But Masons do not need to take our word for it. They only need to listen to their respected Masonic authorities. In his Masonic Encyclopedia, Henry Wilson Coil quotes the definition of religion given by Funk and Wagnalls’ New Standard Dictionary (1941), and then asserts that Freemasonry fits not only this definition, but also fits the dictionary definition of what constitutes a “church.” Coil states:”

The definition was, 1) “[a] belief in a divine or superhuman power... to be obeyed and worshipped as the Creator and ruler of the universe; 2) expression of... [this] belief in conduct and ritual.”

Just for the sake of this discussion, let’s say that you are 100% correct. If that is so, by your reasoning, would we not have to agree that any organization that has their own Chaplin and opens with prayer and uses rituals and most members express a belief in a divine or superhuman power, exactly like Freemasonry would also have to be a religion.

Now we would have to recognize the “Senate Religion”. By these broad definitions the U.S. Senate is definitely a religion. Almost every Senator believes in a divine power and they express it in prayer and rituals. Did you ever watch a movie or newscast of Japanese auto manufacturing companies starting the work day and during company meetings. So of course we also have the “Toyota Religion”. And of course there are the Elks, Moose, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and even a separate from the Catholic Church, Knights Of Columbus religions.

By now you are saying, “Brother John you are just being ridicules.” Of course I am, just like you who say Masonry is a religion because there is a Holy Bible in the Lodge Room, meetings are opened with a prayer and Masonry teaches living together with peace and harmony.

Let’s leave what appears to be a ridiculous definition of Freemasonry as a religion and go to the Anti-Masons "main authority" on things Masonic, Albert Pike and his book “Morals And Dogma”.

Anti-Masons, particularly the really rabid ones love to quote from “Morals And Dogma”. Of course their quotes are always from the fictional version written by the admitted hoaxer Leo Taxil. But, even when quoting from Morals And Dogma, they are very careful to only quote only the fictional parts that justify their particular brand of poison. Not one mentions that on April 19,1897, Leo Taxil used his celebrity status to attract a large audience for a “Press Conference” in Paris for journalists and members of the Catholic hierarchy. There instead of more condemnations of Masonry that they all expected to hear, Taxil publicly announced that everything he had written about Masonic devil worship was the product of his own fertile imagination. He finally had his revenge on the Catholic Church by making them fall for the lies about Freemasonry they had wanted to hear.

Now in all fairness to both sides let’s quote Pike’s actually writings from his original version of “Morals And Dogma”. You can find a copy on the internet at, “PIETRE-STONES REVIEW OF FREEMASONRY”.

Chapter I

• The Bible is an indispensable part of the furniture of a Christian Lodge, only because it is the sacred book of the Christian religion.” [furniture meaning the indispensable items required to make any room a Lodge room]
• The obligation of the candidate is always to be taken on the sacred book or books of his religion, that he may deem it more solemn and binding; and therefore it was that you were asked of what religion you were. We have no other concern with your religious creed.
• Thy religion shall be, to do good because it is a pleasure to thee, and not merely because it is a duty.[in describing the second commandment.]
• Though Masonry neither usurps the place of, nor apes religion, prayer is an essential part of our ceremonies.

Chapter II

[Instead Of Pike’s words, I’ll quote the actually bible verses he refers to]

• James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

• Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead.

Chapter IV

• It’s [Masonry’s] teachings are eminently practical; and its statutes can be obeyed by every just, upright, and honest man, no matter what his faith or creed. Its object is to attain the greatest practical good, without seeking to make men perfect. It [Masonry] does not meddle with the domain of religion, nor inquire into the mysteries of regeneration.
• Speak kindly to your erring brother ! God pities him: Christ has died for him: Providence waits for him:

How can anyone believe that Pike is saying Freemasonry is a Religion or that he is saying anything anti-Christian after reading his values, above. Unless of course a profit can be made by those “false Christian Leaders” who have never read Christ’s own commandment, (Luke 6:37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:.

BUT, wait a minute, could Luke have made an error, that sounds like something that Freemasons teach.

Brothers Ankerberg and Weldon, get out and talk to some of the state Grand Masters and Worshipful Masters of individual Lodges. Actually investigate what you are saying instead of aping others.

Better yet, join a Masonic Lodge and see for yourself what really goes on inside. I am sure in your mind God would forgive you if you are really doing the right thing by exposing Freemasonry. You’ll never find that the Masonic Lodge is teaching religion or teaching against any ones religion. Now that means the teachings of Freemasonry and not the beliefs of some individual Mason. Then you'll never be able to look any Mason in the eye and say from personal experience, “Freemasonry is a religion.”

And hey, you can always quit the Lodge later and make lots of money with a first hand expose like many of your “expert sources” have done. Use John J. Robinson as an example. Well no, that wouldn’t work because after 5 years of actually getting out of his office, investigating around the world and studying the subject first hand, he became a Freemason because of the truths he learned from his investigations about the Fraternity.

Is (Our Brother) The Pope A Catholic?

How many times have you heard someone ask a question like, “Is George Bush a Republican?” and, as an answer, you hear, “Is the pope a Catholic?” for an indisputable yes? I know I’ve used it myself to emphasize a yes as an answer to a question.

Well sir, it looks like I’ll have to start using, “Does a bear poop in the woods?”. The other day, I stumbled upon the assertion that one of the popes was not legally a pope, not even legally a Catholic, and worse yet, it was because he was a Freemason. A little bit of research on the internet quickly brought out the accusations that there was more then one pope who was a Freemason.

I had never given much thought to the fact that two of Lodge Brothers are practicing Catholics or even the fact that one of them is also an active member of the Knights Of Columbus, but having a pope as a Brother is something else.

Pope” John XXIII

Strong information that “Pope” John XXIII was a practicing Freemason surfaced a few years ago. Other allegations surface that he was also closely associated with Communists and illegally usurped the papacy from the lawfully elected and true Pontiff, Pope Gregory XVII.

The Portugal Daily News

(November 11, 2002)

Fatima International (FI), an historic review organization with offices in Australia , USA, Paraguay and Portugal, has issued a further press release claiming that Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, who was elected as Pope John XXlll in 1958, was a Freemason. In 1994 the Portuguese newspapers "O Dia" and "Correio de Domingo" published a summary of FI's investigations into the case, which stated that Pope John XXlll [Roncalli] had been initiated into a secret society, the Order of Rosicrucians, whilst serving as the Vatican's Charge d’Affairs in Paris during 1935.

The implications of FI's disclosures are of tremendous importance to Catholics worldwide. Under Canon Law any Catholic who becomes a Mason is ipso facto excommunicated from the Church. This means that Roncalli, would have been excommunicated and could not have been elected as a pope. FI also points out that any decrees issued by Roncalli under the mantle of the Papacy would therefore be null and void, including the convoking of the Second Vatican Council in 1962.

Then long-standing suspicions regarding John XXIII's links to Masonry were further aroused Then in 1977, after his death John XXIII, links to Masonry were further aroused when an advertisement published in the USA, Boston Pilot Magazine, offered for sale replicas of John XXIII's pectoral cross. The cross was decorated with several Masonic symbols and had been authorized for sale by Archbishop Capovilla of Loreto, Italy , with the backing of the Vatican.

Robert Bergin an Australian and a founder member of FI who spent the last years of his life trying to persuade the Vatican to investigate Roncalli' s Masonic connections was unsuccessful. This was of little surprise, because the Vatican also failed to respond to the an Italian journal that published a list of over one hundred bishops and cardinals that it declared were Freemasons.

Pope John Paul II

On January 1, 2004 Pope John Paul II called for a "new world order... based on the goals of the United Nations." Some believe that when a world leader uses this terminology, it can only mean one thing. He is a part of the Luciferian conspiracy to create a totalitarian world government.

Piers Compton, a former Catholic priest, claims the Papacy was actually subverted by the Illuminati in 1958 when John XXIII became Pope. This was the culmination of their centuries old movement to infiltrate and destroy the Catholic Church.

Pope Paul VI

“Cardinal Giovanni Montini, who succeeded John XXIII as Pope Paul VI in 1963, was also a Freemason and socialist. (In 1944 Pope Pius XII had dismissed him as Vatican Secretary of State for conducting secret negotiations with the Communists. 53)

Paul VI revealed his true colors in a speech to the United Nations in 1965: "It is your task here to proclaim the basic rights and duties of Man. You are the interpreters of all that is permanent in human wisdom; we could almost say of its sacred character."

In 1976, a list of 125 top clerics who were Freemasons in contravention of Church law was printed including the heads of Vatican radio and press, Catholic education as well as numerous high officials, Cardinals and Archbishops. It was claimed that because Paul VI was Pope (and a Freemason), nothing came of it. He was quoted in 1969, saying, "We are about to witness a greater freedom in the life of the Church...fewer obligations and fewer inward prohibitions. Formal disciplines will be reduced...every form of intolerance will be abolished." [Freemason thoughts?]

This repudiation of the church's spiritual authority was symbolized by giving the Papal Ring and his Pectoral Cross to Secretary General U Thant who sold them at an auction.”

I would hope that it could be true, because if it is, it could be the first phase in ending centuries of the condemnation of Freemasonry by the Catholic Church and we can exist as allies in trying, each in our own separate, but non-conflicting ways to make mankind better.

SOURCES

Save The Males at;
http://www.savethemales.ca/000338.html

Arctic Beacon at;
http://www.arcticbeacon.com/19-Sept-2006.html

Answers.com - Pope John XXIII at;
http://www.answers.com/topic/pope-john-xxiii

Answers.com - Criticism of Pope John II at;
http://www.answers.com/topic/pope-john-ii