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.]