Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. Its members are joined together by shared ideals of both a moral and metaphysical nature, and, in most of its branches, by a common belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is an esoteric art, in that certain aspects of its internal work are not generally revealed to the public. Masons give numerous reasons for this, one of which is that Freemasonry uses an initiatory system of degrees to explore ethical and philosophical issues, and this system is less effective if the observer knows beforehand what will happen. It often calls itself "a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."

Criticism, persecution, and prosecution

Because of the sometimes secret nature of its rituals and activities, Freemasonry has long been suspected by both church and state of engaging in subversive activities.

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In modern democracies, Freemasonry is sometimes accused of being a sort of club, or network, where a lot of influence peddling and illegal dealings take place. In 1826, William Morgan disappeared after threatening to expose Freemasonry's secrets, causing some to claim that he had been murdered by Masons.

Related Topics:
Democracies - Influence peddling - William Morgan

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In Italy, from the 1970s to the 2000s, the P2 lodge has been investigated in the wake of a financial scandal that nearly bankrupted the Vatican in the late 1970s, as well as on suspicion of involvement in numerous murders, including the head of Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi, who was found hanging under Blackfriars bridge in London, England, with five kilos of stone in his pockets. The trial of some of Calvi's killers will begin in the autumn of 2005.

Related Topics:
Italy - 1970s - 2000s - P2 lodge

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The scandal brought down the Italian government at the time and a full blown parliamentary inquiry ruled that P2 was 'a state within a state' — it listed as members the heads of all the branches of the Italian military and intelligence services, and many corporate titans, including the present Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. The Grand Lodge of England and many North American Grand Lodges have claimed that P2 was expelled from the Grand Orient of Italy. Additionally, the Grand Master of P2, Lucio Gelli, was implicated in terrorist bombings throughout southern Europe as part of the strategy of tension. Police found paintings of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on the walls of his Tuscan mansion when they searched it.

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Gelli ran the infamous Rat-line that spirited numerous Nazi Party Members to Argentina, on behalf of both U.S. and Italian intelligence agencies. Gelli was charged with war crimes by the Italian Government Commission for his involvement with atrocities committed by the Herman Goering Division, where he served as a liaison officer. Lucio Gelli fled to Switzerland, then to France, but he was later extradited back to Italy. After posting bail, he fled again, but was returned to live under house arrest at his villa. In the summer of 2005, Gelli, now well into his 80's, found himself once again under investigation by Italian authorities, this time in connection with the trial of the murder of Roberto Calvi.

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While P2 is the most famous incident cited by critics of Freemasonry, there are other instances in other countries as well: in Nice, France, the head prosecutor accused some judges and other judicial personnel of deliberately stalling or refusing to elucidate cases involving Masons, and in Britain, the Labour Party government is currently planning to pass a law requiring all public officials who are members of any fraternal organization to make their affiliation public.

Related Topics:
Nice - France - Prosecutor - Judge - Britain - Labour Party

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Religious tolerance

Opinions about Freemasonry around the world may differ from place to place, but Freemasons always stress the Masonic principle of non-dogmatism and tolerance. This openness has led to friction between Freemasonry and organizations which hold a negative view of ecumenism, or are themselves intolerant towards other forms of belief and worship. Masons have been opposed throughout history by various religious groups, such as Catholics, some Protestants, and certain Muslims.

Related Topics:
Ecumenism - Catholics - Protestants - Muslims

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In general, there are two doctrinal objections to Freemasonry made by established Christian denominations, Catholic and non-Catholic alike:

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:*The ecumenical nature of Masonic membership, which is at odds with the claims of exclusivity of belief that distinguish the various religious denominations.

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:*The esoteric aspect of Masonic ritual, which is seen as synonymous with Gnosticism, was declared heretical and suppressed by the early Christian church. (Some believe that manifestations of Gnosticism also appeared in the Jewish and Muslim communities, as Kabbalah and Sufism respectively; however, these movements have survived within those religions.)

Related Topics:
Esoteric - Gnosticism - Heretical - Kabbalah - Sufism

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The most vigorous opposition to the fraternity has come from the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is openly hostile to Freemasonry, deeming it at least partly responsible for the French Revolution and the resulting decline of the church in Europe. The Knights of Columbus and other Catholic fraternal organizations were established to provide alternatives to Freemasonry for observant Catholics. Ironically, some Catholic organizations (not fraternal organizations) such as the Jesuits and Opus Dei have more recently been the target of anti-masonic libels. Although most Freemasons in the English-speaking world are Protestant, some Protestant churches hold that Freemasonry is incompatible with being a member of a community of Christian faith, based on the scriptural holding that "no man can serve two masters".

Related Topics:
Catholic Church - French Revolution - Knights of Columbus - Jesuits - Opus Dei

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The first papal condemnation of Freemasonry came in 1738 from Pope Clement XII in his papal bull Eminenti Apostolatus Specula, repeated by several later popes, notably Pope Leo XIII in the encyclical Humanum Genus (1884).

Related Topics:
Pope Clement XII - Eminenti Apostolatus Specula - Pope Leo XIII - Humanum Genus

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The 1917 Code of Canon Law explicitly declares that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication; the revised code issued in 1983 does not explicitly name Masonic orders among the secret societies condemned in canon 1374. According to some interpretations of canon law, Roman Catholics are forbidden to become Freemasons by their church, though Freemasons do not bar Roman Catholics and it is not unusual to find Catholic members. However, in a letter to the United States bishops from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the interpretation was made clear — the prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic orders remains. Many Catholic Masons in the United States choose to rely on the letter of the law.

Related Topics:
Canon Law - Freemasonry - Excommunication - Roman Catholic - United States - Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - Catholics

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The Eastern Orthodox church forbids its members from becoming Masons.

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One reason the Free Methodist Church was founded in the 1860s was that its founders believed the Methodist Church was being influenced by Freemasons and members of secret societies. The Free Methodist Church continues to prohibit its members from also joining societies such as the Freemasons. Recently the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest association of Baptists in the United States, also stated that participation in Freemasonry is inconsistent with its beliefs.

Related Topics:
Free Methodist Church - Methodist Church - Secret societies - Southern Baptist Convention - Baptist

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This form of criticism has been markedly reduced in recent times, since nation-states like the USA are founded on religious tolerance. Many adherents of the religions that formally oppose Masons do not disagree with the main Masonic principles.

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Political conspiracy theories involving the Masons

Freemasonry has been a long-time target of conspiracy theories, which see it as an occult and evil power, often associated with the New World Order and other "agents," such as the Illuminati and Jews — either bent on world domination, or already secretly in control of world politics.

Related Topics:
Conspiracy theories - Occult - Evil - New World Order - Illuminati

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Nowadays, the main theme of anti-Masonic criticism involves the idea that Masons involve their organization in covert political activities. This assumption has been influenced by the assertion of Masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been Masons. Opinions vary concerning this: some say the Masons constantly plot to increase their power and wealth, while others say the Masonic Brotherhood is engaged in a plot to produce a new world order of a type different (and usually more sinister) than the existing world order. These theories would be possible to apply to almost any secret society (since a society with secret meetings allows secret coordination, the very essence of a conspiracy). However, Masonry has been the largest target because of its size and notable membership.

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The historical complaints that the Masons have secretly plotted to create a society based on their ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, and religious tolerance are not denied by Masons. In a post-Enlightenment society, many people have now accepted these core Masonic values (though as a set of overall social values), and persistent enemies of the Masons have been forced to come up with ever more sinister motives as to what Freemasons allegedly conspire to achieve.

Related Topics:
Liberty - Equality - Fraternity - Religious tolerance

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Criticisms of alleged Masonic cronyism

Another criticism that may or may not have to do with the specific nature of Freemasonry, but may be applied generally to any type of organization or secret society, is the practice of cronyism, or giving favors to fellow members. For example, many people have the impression that one increases chances for employment by joining the Masons. This type of cronyism can be seen in the movie ', where the general idea is alluded to. Some Masons have been known to claim they can get out of driving tickets because of Masonic logos on their car. Again, this criticism can be easily applied to almost any fraternity, but the Masons are a target because they are the largest worldwide fraternal organization.

Related Topics:
Secret society - Cronyism

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Criticisms based on the moral faults of known Masons

Although any institution with moral overtones, religious or secular, can be criticized for the moral faults of some of their members, Freemasonry is especially vulnerable to criticism because amongst its aims is the drive to improve its members' morality above and beyond whatever religion the individual member believes in.

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A general fault ascribed to the Masons is that a Freemason would be charitable mainly to other Masons, an assumption which is made worse by the accusations of classism and racism sometimes leveled against Masonic Lodges. The phrase "charity begins at home" goes some way towards justifying this natural proclivity.

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Critics also attack what they perceive as a preoccupation with ritual minutiae and personal status within the hierarchy of the organization. Some critics also argue that the Freemasons are primarily a social club.

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Masons respond to these criticisms by pointing out that there are many programs and initiatives sponsored by lodges that do give back to the community at large; e.g. blood drives, child identification programs, and other charitable funds. Neither the Shriners Hospitals for Children nor the Scottish Rite Learning Centers are restricted to Masons, and they provide their services free of charge to those who need them.

Related Topics:
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Scottish Rite

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Allegations that Freemasonry is a new religion

In a sectarian age many hold that Freemasonry is a new religion. Externally, to some at least, it has many similarities to a religion:

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• it has an altar and a sacred book (VSL-The Volume of the Sacred Law, in most cases the Holy Bible)
• it has its own way of saying "amen" ("So mote it be," a literal translation of "Amen")
• it has far more developed rituals than many organized religions
• some groups of Masons (especially the Scottish Rite) call their meeting places "temples", (a lodge is a group of Freemasons operating under a charter or dispensation. The place where they meet is often called a temple, but usually, several lodges use the same temple.)
• it has a large amount of iconography and symbolism.

Many Masons argue in response that the ritual observances of Masons should be seen in the same context as rituals maintained in the military services, in government, and civil authorities; they impress no religious obligation whatsoever on the participants. The symbolism that Masonry uses is not indicative of any one religion, but more of universal symbols. In another sense, it has been argued that any organized system of morality (which the Masons claim to be) is a religion; the Green Party might thus qualify as such.

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Claims that Freemasonry worships Satan

While the practice of any given magical or mystical system is not specifically associated with Freemasonry, (mainstream Masonry has always tended as much to rationalism as it does to mysticism). There are some groups of Masons, such as Masonic Rosicrucians, that may interpret Masonic ritual magically (or "hermetically"), which is their right as Masons, given the fraternity's non-dogmatic stance, but is by no means indicative of the fratermity as a whole.

Related Topics:
Masonry - Rationalism - Mysticism - Rosicrucian

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However, the very existence of the possibility of hermetic interpretations within Masonry has led some Christians to label Freemasonry as Satanic. This charge is commonly made about any hermetic society that has ritualistic practices reserved for the initated and also against any beliefs other than the religion of the person making the accusation.

Related Topics:
Satanic - Hermetic

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Many Anti-Masonic activists quote Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma to try to show that Masons worship Lucifer. The oft-quoted section (Chapt. XIX; p.321) reads:

Related Topics:
Albert Pike's - Morals and Dogma

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The Apocalypse is, to those who receive the nineteenth Degree,

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the Apotheosis of that Sublime Faith which aspires to God alone,

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and despises all the pomps and works of Lucifer. LUCIFER, the

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Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit

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of Darknesss! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who

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bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble,

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sensual or selfish Souls ? Doubt it not! for traditions are full of

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Divine Revelations and Inspirations: and Inspiration is not of

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one Age nor of one Creed. Plato and Philo, also, were inspired.

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Some Masons counter that the critics who cite this as evidence of Freemasonry's Satanic leanings ignore the first part of the passage emphasizing the association of Lucifer with Light. Alternatively, the argument is made that because Pike claims the works of Plato and Philo were as divinely inspired as The Apocalypse of Saint John, and because Plato and Philo were pre-Christian pagans, and that all pagan beliefs are Satanic, therefore that Pike and other Freemasons are Satan worshippers.

Related Topics:
Plato - Philo - The Apocalypse of Saint John - Pagans

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Masons counter simply by pointing out that Masonry is non-dogmatic, and hence Pike's opinions about it are his own personal (and now somewhat out-dated) interpretations. Furthermore, Pike himself admits that his book is culled more from other sources than it is his original work.

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Another Satanic quote attributed to Pike reads:

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That which we must say to the world is that we worship a god, but it is the god that one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the brethren of the 32nd, 31st and 30th degrees: The masonic Religion should be, by all of us initiates of the higher degrees, maintained in the Purity of the Luciferian doctrine. If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay and his priests calumniate him?

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Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god. For the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two gods; darkness being necessary for light to serve as its foil as the pedestal is necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive.

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Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy, and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil.

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This quote, however, is a part of the Taxil hoax. Critics counter that the basic thrust of what Pike is claimed to have written here seems to differ little in general substance to what is found in other Pike writings about 'Luciferianism' and the occult. (Freemasonry does not contest the authenticity of these other writings, just the theological meaning.) The quotation was fraudulently published as an excerpt of a letter by Pike, the "Sovereign Pontiff of Universal Freemasonry", when in reality, Pike was Grand Commander of only the Southern Jurisdiction of the American Scottish Rite.

Related Topics:
Taxil hoax - Scottish Rite

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Criticism of alleged Masonic blood oaths

The traditional Masonic obligations sworn by a candidate during the initiation ritual are sometimes called blood oaths, particularly by those critical of the fraternity. The candidate wishes severe physical punishment upon himself should he ever reveal the secrets of Freemasonry to a non-Mason. While many non-Masons are horrified by this, Masons defend the traditional obligations as no more literal than the commonplace childhood blood oaths, like "cross my heart and hope to die" — a very psychologically powerful way to express a serious bond or promise.

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By the early 1980s, however, the oaths had become quite problematic from a public relations standpoint, and many Masonic jurisdictions replaced them with more politically correct bloodless oaths. The only real penalties awaiting someone who behaves contrary to the rules of the fraternity are reprimand, suspension, or expulsion.

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Criticisms of the process of becoming a Freemason

It is commonly held that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means, but officially an individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity. This arrangement is said by some to conflict with the Freemasons' mission to "make good men better", on the basis that a hidden society cannot promote itself publicly. If the society is secret, it is argued, how is a good man supposed to be attracted to it?

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Many of these myths have taken hold in the imagination of conspiracy buffs partly because Masons have only in recent years attempted to make their organization more open to public view.

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Support for liberty

It has been said that "the Freemason builds his life around the moral principles that lie at the heart of the Craft, and becomes in his every word and deed the epitome of brotherly love, relief and truth ~ he will thus respect the rights of others to hold beliefs and attitudes that differ radically from his own, for he knows that tolerance is an essential part of brotherly love."

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(Freemasonry, A Celebration of the Craft'~ 1993. Edited by Hamill & Gilbert for Terry Allan).

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Freemasons consider the need for vigilance in the defense of human liberty to be as great in society as it is within the Craft. It is a general source of pride within the fraternity that society's aims and values have increasingly come into line with those of Freemasonry, and they view their Order as having helped laid the foundations for many of the cultural norms and values prevalent in the western world today.

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The legend at the heart of Masonic Ritual — the story of the building and reconstruction of King Solomon's Temple — is generally seen as an allegory for the creation of a new, just and tolerant society.

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The duty of Masons to "give to the cause of Charity" was stressed by William Preston, in his Illustrations of Masonry of 1772, when he wrote: "To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Freemasons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection.

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"To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and to restore their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view."

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A Mason's duty is also in his loyalty, as a peaceful subject, to the civil authority found wherever he resides or works, and it is on these grounds, restrained from pursuing any means of disrupting the established rule of law, that Freemasonry is itself a reformist institution, its members abstaining from any thought of association with rebellion. This may seem at odds with the support given by many Masons over the years to democratic revolutions. This is usually explained by the fact that Masons tend to view their obligations, while of utmost importance, to be in a kind of hierarchy of priority: firstly to God, then to country, then to family and only then to Masonry, for example. So, if one's highest religious and moral principles are violated by an obligation to one's country, only then can that obligation be broken, in favour of the higher principle.

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