Why do the elite and their secret societies worship Saturn, also called The Black Sun? Saturn has been associated with Satan and his Luciferian doctrines since Genesis 6 (pre-Flood). And what is the secret occult history behind the elite families of the world and their creation, support, and involvement with secret societies and Babylonian, Canaanite, and Egyptian Mystery Religions?
Michael Tsarion answers some of these questions and more as he exposes the foundation, histories, and doctrines of the elite secret societies and their Satanic belief systems.
The following is an excellent production from a Canadian filmmaker. In this presentation Leonard Ulrich lays out the formation and structure of the major secret societies and how they have been and are in the process of establishing the framework for a New World Order, a 'Golden Age'. Their Alchemical/Hermetical Process (of engineering, programming, conforming, and conditioning humanity) is almost complete as evidenced by their continual Revelation of the Method. Please read the radio transcript from Cutting Edge (below the video.)
"This is David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries."
"And this is the Cutting Edge, a radio program dedicated to warning and informing God's people. We are committed to the study and exposition of the inerrant, inspired and authoritative Word of God. The views expressed belong to us, and are not necessarily shared by this station.
Our society is deteriorating, and Bible-believing Christians are ill-prepared to face that deterioration. This radio program is dedicated to preparing God's people to meet the challenges of the Day, and to encourage obedience to the Word of God in being separated from worldliness and false doctrine.
The moral bankruptcy of our society is well-documented.
Few people understand why we have become morally bankrupt. However, when we look at society through the eyes of God, through the Bible, we can easily see why we are facing the unprecedented troubles today. This study of America through the eyes of God is what we will always do try to here; stay with us for some eye-opening truths.
In several of our previous programs, we have mentioned that many of the Plans of the New World Order, if they are realized, would fulfill Biblical Prophecy to an astonishing degree. In addition, doctrines of the New World Order, as stated, do fulfill those Biblical Prophecies which apply to the beliefs of the kingdom of Anti-Christ.
Today, we will examine some of these instances, and in so doing, will enable your faith in God's Omnipotent power and Foreknowledge to grow dramatically.
We will proceed by explaining the specific plank of the New World Order Plan and then the specific Biblical prophecy which foretold it."
1. NWO: The world will be united under One-world Government, led by the Maitreya the Christ.
BP: Revelation 13:15-17 clearly shows that the Beast will rule the world with absolute authority. Only a One-World Government would have the ability to force all the peoples of the world to worship him and to take his mark, without which no one could buy or sell.
2. NWO: The world's religions will be united into one Religion.
BP: Revelation 13:11-15 shows that the False Prophet will assist the world in worship. He will force all men of the world to worship the image of the beast, under the pain of death. This is a One-World Religion.
3. NWO: The world's Economy will be united into one global system.
BP: Revelation 13:16-17, foretells that the Beast, aided by the False Prophet, will force everyone on earth to take a mark, without which they cannot buy or sell. Only a Global System, backed by political and spiritual authority, could accomplish such a feat.
4. NWO: When Maitreya the Christ arises, he will claim to be the Christ. By using these 2 words, The Christ, Maitreya will be laying claim to the office of Messiah while separating it from the person, Jesus.
BP: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-Christ..." (1 John 4:3). Literally, this passage means that anyone who would seek to separate Jesus the Man/God from the office of Messiah is of the spirit of Anti-Christ. This is precisely what Maitreya will be doing.
5. NWO: The One-World Economy will control the world's food supply, and will force all nations to share equally.
BP: Clearly, if the Global Government as foretold in Revelation 13:16-17, could force everyone to take a mark which would be utilized economically, they could also control the world's food supply.
6. NWO: Soon after Maitreya the Christ arises, the peoples of the world will be forced to undergo a massive, "World-Wide Luciferian Initiation". Anyone who refuses to cooperate will be killed. Christians and orthodox Jews are specifically targeted.
BP: "And he shall speak great words against the Most and shall wear out the saints of God...and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (3 1/2 years)". (Daniel 7:25). Revelation also speaks of God allowing Anti-Christ to kill many saints of God, in 6:9-11;7:14-17; 12:11; 13:5-7; 14:12-13; and 20:4.
Benjamin Creme has repeatedly threatened the sword of cleavage against all who refuse to cooperate with Maitreya. This brings to mind the Biblical prophecy in Revelation 20:4 that "I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God..."
7. NWO: "Guiding Spirits" of the New World Order leaders have begun to tell them to be prepared for a simultaneous, world-wide disappearance of millions of people. These spirits ascribe this phenomenon to the fact that these people will never be able to accept Maitreya the Christ. Their continued existence on this plane will inhibit the full implementation of the New World Order; therefore, the Masters of the Illuminati have made the decision to transport them into another dimension, where their spirits will be retrained to accept the New World Order.
BP: "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God...Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together...in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air..." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-7).
8. NWO: The New Age teaches that each human has a potential godhead dwelling within them. All that is necessary for anyone to fulfill this potential is to "expand their consciousness" level properly. But, the bottom line message is: "You Are All Gods". (Alice Bailey, Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 663). This teaching seems very alluring to someone who is not saved, for they are being promised godhood.
BP -- "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils..." (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
9. NWO: Peter LeMesurier, in his book, The Armageddon Script, states that tremendous miracles will surround the appearance of Maitreya. These miracles will be part technology, part deliberate staging, and part media hype by the world's mass media. Cumbey, in her book, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, quotes writings which reveal plans to utilize 3-dimensional laser beams from satellites to create the image of Maitreya to speak to all the world simultaneously, speaking to each area in their particular language. [Research the Blue Beam Project] Finally, in a seminar which I attended in Boston, August, 1991, given by the New England Director of the Theosophical Society, it was revealed that Maitreya will be able to appear as different beings to different people. He will appear as a woman to a woman, as a man to a man; he will appear as a Caucasian to a Caucasian, as Black to a Black, etc.
Further, New World Order planners intend to beam down streams of fire from the heavens, using Supernatural Psychic power, to impress people as to the divine nature of Maitreya.
BP: Revelation 13:13-14, "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceivth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles..."
10. NWO: New Age Leaders, including the Illuminati, worship the Lord of this World, whose name is Sanat Kumara (Alice Bailey, Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p.676, 709, 725; and Elizabeth Van Buren, The Secret of the Illuminati, p. 1). Bailey goes on to explain that Sanat Kumara is the "life and the forming intelligence", presiding over the Council of Shamballa [the Heaven according to New Age doctrine]. (The New Age Dictionary, p. 172) Further, Sanat Kumara is "the eternal youth from the Plant Venus. Lucifer is known in occultic lore as Venus. Therefore, Sanat Kumara is merely another name for Satan or Lucifer. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow.)
BP: It is impossible to overlook the fact that Sanat is just a translocation of the spelling, Satan. And the Bible calls Satan the "God Of This World". (2 Cor 4:4). Remember, the context is worship of Sanat Kumara (Satan). Revelation 13:15, "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast...and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Thus, in accordance with Biblical prophecy, the Plan envisions worship of Sanat Kumara.
11. NWO: When a person can come into full accord with the attribute of the Love of the Great One, they may "enter fully into the Spirit of God of Force." (Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, p.16). It is very obvious that New Agers literally worship Lucifer, the god of Forces. This worship is littered all throughout their writings.
BP: Daniel 11:38 -- "But in his estate shall he honour the god of forces..." New Age leaders and followers literally worship Lucifer, the god of forces.
12. NWO: Jesus was not THE ONE AND ONLY Divine Son of God; rather, he was an Avatar, a world teacher who periodically has come to earth during a particular time in world history to lead mankind to a new level of consciousness. Human Jesus experienced the infilling of the Divine Christ Consciousness at the time of His baptism by John The Baptist. This Christ Consciousness then left Him at the Cross. This Divine Consciousness has never left the earth, but is just waiting for the right moment to reappear in the human body of Maitreya the Christ. (Alice Bailey, The Reappearance of The Christ, p. 36-60, and Marilyn Ferguson, The Aquarian Gospel, p. 14).
BP: "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1). This New Age denial of one of THE key doctrines of Christianity, taught by Jesus personally, is a doctrine of devils. Jesus refuted this lie most succinctly when He said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).
13. NWO: New Age leaders have consistently taught that the earth is seriously overpopulated. Friends of the Earth has most succinctly stated this position, stating, "an earth population of 6 billion, already overburdened by 4 billion." (Cumbey, A Planned Deception: The Staging of A New Age Messiah, p. 164-5). Further, they have set a time limit on this overpopulation -- 2,000 AD. New Age leaders seem to be fixated on the number two-thirds regarding population reduction. Why two-thirds? Scripture holds the understanding. I believe that, since these leaders are Satanists, we have to examine possible reasons that Satan may hate two-thirds of mankind.
BP: Revelation 12:4, "And his (Satan's) tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them down to the earth..." This Scripture reveals that, when Satan fell because of his rebellion against God, one-third of the angels of Heaven decided to become a part of his rebellion. This statistic means that two-thirds of God's angels remained faithful to God. Satan must hate these angels, but he cannot overcome God's power so that he could punish these angels. I believe it possible that Satan then turned his anger toward the being which was made in God's image (man), and against God's chosen race (the Jews).
Zechariah 13:8 (the time frame is End Times Prophecy), "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land (Israel), saith the Lord, two parts (two-thirds) therein shall be cut off and die, but the third part shall be left..." God is going to allow Satan to kill two-thirds of the Jewish population at the time of the end, during the Great Tribulation but will preserve the remnant of one-third. The parallel is found in Revelation 12, where God protects Israel in the wilderness for 42 months.
In this regard, we cannot ignore an interesting fact of recent history. Adolf Hitler believed that he was the Anti-Christ; as such, his unfathomable hatred of the Jews reflected the burning hatred of Satan. We see, throughout the Scriptures, that Satan hates the Jews and is constantly attempting to destroy them. Hitler's goal was to totally eliminate the Jewish population. New Age author Nigel Pennick, states in his book, Hitler's Secret Sciences, in Chapter 14, entitled Genocide -- An Act Of Black Magic, that Hitler intended, prior to WWII, that the Genocide program against the Jews would require physically conquering countries in Europe from Britain to Russia. Thus, Hitler's war effort was determined by his desire to conquer countries with Jewish populations so he could complete his world-wide program of genocide. This startling concept certainly explains why precious resources continued to flow to the death camps, even during the last stages of the war, when men, material, and transportation facilities were desperately needed by the military. Pennick concludes, "Genocide was the magical act whereby the history of the world would forever be transformed..the elimination of the Jews...would leave a vacuum for the ascendance of the demonic powers ...controlling the Third Reich." (p. 137)
God allowed Hitler to kill two-thirds of the world's population of Jews, preserving the one-third remnant to establish the nation of Israel in 1948. In precisely the same manner, God will allow Anti-Christ to kill two-thirds of the Jews during the last half of the Great Tribulation, preserving the one-third remnant to establish the Israel for the return of Jesus Christ.
I believe that the reason the New World Order seems so intent on killing two-thirds of mankind is that two-thirds of God's angels remained true to Him when Satan rebelled.
14. NWO: This New World Religion will be a re-establishment of the ancient Mysteries of Initiation. (Alice Bailey, The Reappearance of the Christ, p. 71; Bailey, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 511-515). Literally, this statement means that the Ancient Satanic Mysteries of Babylon and Egypt will be re-established as the religion of the world. In other words, public Satanism will be established, and will be practiced as openly as Christianity is today!
BP: "And at the latter end of the kingdom...a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark trickery and craftiness shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power..." (Daniel 8:23-24) The words "understanding dark trickery and craftiness" refers to the knowledge of the occultic arts. This has been the goal of members of secret societies for over 3,000 years. The Ancient Satanic Mysteries of Babylon will be re-established.
15. NWO: The Christian Trinity is inferior to the Solar Logos Trinity. This false Trinity is not a personal godhead but a godhead of Forces. The Bailey writings list a hierarchy of superior offices, and at the bottom, many masters. Guess who is at the bottom of the masters? Jesus. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 65-67).
BP: Daniel 11:36 (The context in this passage is the Anti-Christ), "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous (literally, astonishing) things against the God of gods..."
This Scripture literally means that Anti-Christ shall utter the most blasphemous words possible against God. No one can say anything more blasphemous than to say that Jesus is not God, but just a lowly master, far more lowly than Sanat Kumara (Satan).
16. NWO: Threatens violence and extermination of anyone who will not cooperate with Maitreya. Special hatred is vented toward fundamental Christians and Jews. David Spangler, in his book, Revelation: The Birth Of A New Age, states that those who will not cooperate will be sent to "another level of Earth's own consciousness where they can be contained and ministered to until such time as they can be released safely into physical embodiment again". (p. 163-4)
Obviously, to be released back into physical embodiment again means that these people must be first separated from their present physical embodiment. The only way to accomplish this separation is to physically kill those who cannot accept Maitreya.
BP: "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God..." Revelation 6:9.
"As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them." (Daniel 7:21)
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them..." (Revelation 13:7)
17. NWO: "Since most people will not exercise [economic] restraint [from over-consumption, we must] take control of the world...to reduce the economic inductance of the world to a safe level by a process of benevolent slavery and genocide." (William Cooper, Behold A Pale Horse, p. 49). This statement is incredibly arrogant. The last time that a New Age Disciple threatened benevolent genocide was during the 1930's when Hitler was threatening to exterminate the Jews; Hitler viewed his planned extermination as benevolent for Germany, the world, and even the Jews. This statement is clearly a call for war against all people who are deemed unworthy for the New World Order. BP: "And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given unto him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword." (Revelation 6:4).
Notice that the sword given to this rider of the Red Horse of War was a great sword. How great? We get an excellent idea from Alice Bailey's, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 548, "As a means in the hands of the United Nations...the atomic bomb does not belong to the... nations who...own the secrets at present...It belongs to the United Nations for use...or threatened use..." Certainly, the atomic bomb would qualify as a great sword.
18. NWO: The New World Order will be a combined system of Progressive Socialism and Fascism, in which the means of production and distribution will be tightly controlled and in which national currencies will have been replaced by a universal monetary exchange. (Bailey, The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 580-1). Bailey further deals specifically with the change-over in economic thinking and systems on page 666, with the revelation that this change-over will be regulated by a specific Master Ashram (demonic angel). It is no accident that economic change is specifically covered on page 666.
BP: The Bible states that the identifying number of the economic system of Anti-Christ shall be the number 666 (Revelation 13:18).
19. NWO: "Eventually, every individual element of the [economic] structure come under computer control...with identified consumers identified via association with the use of a credit card and later a permanent tattooed body number invisible under normal ambient illumination." (Cooper, Behold A Pale Horse, p. 44). ]
BP: "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17)
20. NWO: As the world proceeds to full implementation of the New World Order, the present line-up of 170 sovereign nations must give way to a regionalization. Specifically, the world should be reorganized into 10 Super Nations:
1. North America 2. Western Europe 3. Japan 4. Australia, South Africa, and the rest of the market economy of the developed world. 5. Eastern Europe, including Russia 6. Latin America 7. North Africa and the Middle East 8. Tropical Africa 9. South and Southeast Asia 10. China (Eduard Pestel, Mankind At The Turning Point, Reader's Digest Press, 1974).
Why did the leaders of the New World Order conceive of 10 nations, instead of some other number? The answer, from man's point of view, lies in a knowledge of occultism. Occultists consider the Number 10 a magical symbol, consisting of an upright man (as represented by the vertical 1) standing before the circle (as represented by the zero). In magical terms, the most important part of this symbol, 10, is the space between the 1 and the 0. This space represents an upright man contemplating the universe in freedom. (Frederick Goodman, Magic Symbols, p. 46-7).
Freedom from what? Freedom from religion, as represented by the 0. Thus, man is arrogantly pictured as standing apart from organized religion. The number 10 is the ultimate expression of the prideful way in which the New World Order leaders conceive of themselves in relation to the world and to religion.
BP: Daniel 7:7, "And this I saw in the night visions, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly...and it had ten horns..." Biblical prophecy clearly states that the kingdom of Anti-Christ will be global and will consist of 10 horns (nations). We see this picture again in Revelation 17:16-17.
No other single Scripture of prophecy convinces more of God's Sovereignty than Revelation 17:17. "For God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill His will...until the words of God shall be fulfilled." If Satan were more powerful than God, he would choose any number other than ten for the number of his final national reorganization; the very fact that New World Order leaders chose the number 10 for the global reorganization prior to the appearance of Anti-Christ shows God's absolute sovereignty.
21. NWO: Writing in August, 1939, Alice Bailey stated, "In the preparatory period for the New World Order there will be a steady and regulated disarmament. It will not be optional. No nation will be permitted to produce and organize any equipment for destructive purposes or to infringe the security of any other nation." (The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, p. 191).
Certainly, no one could ever argue with this premise; if this plan were ever really carried out, we would have peace and safety. Indeed, peace and safety of all nations is precisely the goal of the New World Order.
BP: Biblical prophecy is also quite clear that this is the way in which the Anti-Christ will obtain his kingdom. Daniel 11:21b states, "he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom with flatteries". Paul also states that the peoples of the world at the time of the end will believe that they have achieved peace and safety. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
However, Paul warns that this belief will prove to be false, because, just when they are saying this to one another, sudden and complete judgment falls upon them. This judgment falls so quickly and completely that no one escapes it awful destruction. What weapon in the history of warfare will destroy this completely and suddenly? Clearly, only nuclear warfare.
Does Bailey shed any further light on this matter? Yes, writing in April, 1946, in The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy, she states, "The atomic bomb does not belong to the...nations who...own the secrets at present...It belongs to the United Nations for use (or...for threatened use when aggressive action on the part of any nation rears its ugly head." (p. 548) Wow! The Planners of the New World Order have plans to wage nuclear war against any nation or group of people who threaten the rule of Maitreya the Christ. Now we can understand how the next horse out of heaven after the white horse of Anti-Christ is the horse of war, carrying a great sword.
22. NWO: Part of the New World Order Plan is to abolish traditional religious holidays, substituting pagan festivals such as good Friday and Christmas. (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers Of The Rainbow, p. 83).
BP: "And he shall...think to change times and laws". (Daniel 7:25) [See also: Time, CERN, and the Bible]
23. NWO: Bailey states repeatedly in The Externalisation Of The Hierarchy that traditional Protestant religions must change their doctrines prior to the establishment of the New World Order. They must abandon their insistence on rigid doctrinal positions. Mankind has a great "need for spiritual unity and to throw overboard all separative theological attitudes and dogmas in every field of thought." (p. 378). These old dogmatic doctrines must give way to the ancient Satanic Mysteries, as we have already quoted.
BP: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." (1 Timothy 4:1).
24. NWO: Teaches the doctrine that Maitreya will be greater than Jesus Christ. "While Jesus had had a resurrected body after the crucifixion, he had to forfeit that body because he had not earned the right to keep it [because] Jesus was only a fourth level initiate, whereas Gautama Buddha was a sixth level initiate. However, Lord Maitreya himself was a seventh level initiate and the only one eligible for such a high level of initiation." (Cumbey, Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow, p. 96-7).
BP: "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished.." (Daniel 11:36). ALSO:
"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Clearly, the arrogant attitude on the part of Maitreya which will cause him to claim to be God is present in these incredible blasphemies against the person of Jesus Christ. Remember, also, that these planned heresies were written by people who claim that their writings have been inspired by their 'guiding spirits'.
We have examined over 20 instances where New World Order doctrines and plans precisely mirror Biblical prophecy. According to the Laws of Probability, the odds against only 20 prophecies coming to pass accidentally are 1,048,000 to 1. To arrive at this figure, we did not figure into the equation any time frame or sequence of fulfillment, which would make the numbers higher. All we calculated is the chance that such a prophecy could be accidentally fulfilled.
Clearly, this exercise builds one's confidence that we are living in the very end of the age. When you have this amount of potential Biblical prophecy fulfillment, simultaneously occurring at the same time as many other Biblical prophecies, such as the restoration of Israel, you must seriously conclude that Jesus Christ is most probably at the door.
You have been listening to the Cutting Edge, a radio program of Old Paths Ministries.
Many who have attempted to lead a
"Christian" Mason away from the Lodge (that is, they have tried to lead
him to repentance and into fellowship with Jesus Christ) have heard
Masonic defenses which they know are untrue. Probably one of the most
absurd claims which "Christian" Masons regularly make is that they are
members of a "CHRISTIAN Lodge." "All of the members in my Lodge
are Christians," they claim; "Prayers in my Lodge are closed in the name
of Jesus." "There may be some bad things about Freemasonry in other
states, or in foreign countries, but none of that goes on in my Lodge.",
they explain.
Many mature Christians are able to see that any claim that all the
members of a Lodge are Christians must be doubted, based on common
sense. In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke of the wheat and the tares. Mature
Christians know that all "members of the church" are not genuine
Christians - how could the Lodge attain a higher standard? Any Christian
who carefully examines the content of Masonic ritual will know that
those who embrace Masonic teaching cannot possibly be Christians. Yet
Masonic secrecy causes most people not to be in a position to know
and/or prove the facts about Freemasonry.
The myth of the "Christian Lodge" has proven to be effective with many
who don’t have access to Grand Lodge documentation which demonstrates
the truth. Few non-Masons have access to Masonic documents. Without
evidence to the contrary, the desire to give a member of the
congregation who is a Mason the benefit of the doubt often causes the
reluctant acceptance, or sometimes whole-hearted belief, of the myth.
The myth of the "Christian Lodge" has caused doubt in the minds of many
people we have spoken with. You can imagine how fervently the Christian
mother or wife of a Mason must want to believe that her Mason is a good
Christian man who would never, NEVER embrace paganism. The
members of a congregation with a Masonic pastor want to believe that
they are following a genuine spiritual leader, rather than a man who has
mocked the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in secret. Mothers
of guilty death row inmates often believe that their sons are innocent
of wrong doing. This irrational aspect of human nature is familiar to
all of us. The more grievous the heresy or wrongdoing, the less we want
to believe that our friend or loved one could be involved in it. When
our man is involved in something which has not been fully revealed, if
he is involved in it, then it must not be heresy. The logic is simple --
and flawed.
Grand Lodge documents from all states we have examined can be used to
quickly settle the issue in the minds of honest men. Simply examining
the elements of ritual found in all Masonic monitors will provide
incontestable evidence that Freemasonry has a plan of salvation which
does not include Jesus Christ. How could any Lodge actually be composed
of Christians who gathered together to teach a false plan of salvation?
Freemasonry rejects faith in Jesus Christ as the critical factor in
salvation. In the Legend of the Third Degree, Masons reenact the death
burial and resurrection -- not of Jesus -- but of Hiram Abif, the
Masonic savior. [See An Open Letter to a Christian Mason for complete details and copies of the Grand Lodge documents which prove the facts. They are located at: ephesians5-11.org/opnltr.htm]
There is another selected group of Masonic documents we want to use for
the purpose at hand. They speak directly to the credibility of the claim
that there are "Christian Lodges." Unfortunately, this particular
collection of documents will also be used to show how the myth of the
"Christian Lodge" is being most effectively promoted.
Masonic Grand Lodge documents actually make no claim that Freemasonry is
Christian in nature. In fact, they contain statements quite to the
contrary. For example, the Grand Lodge of Louisiana has this to say:
Thus Freemasonry comes to us from the Temple,...It makes no
profession of Christianity, and wars not against sectarian creeds or
doctrines; but looks forward to the time when the labor of our ancient
brethren shall be symbolized by the erection of a spiritual temple whose
moral grandeur shall be commensurate with civilization; A temple in
which there shall be but one altar and but one worship; one common altar
of Masonry, on which the Veda, Sutra, Zend-Avesta, Koran, and Holy
Bible shall lie untouched by sacrilegious hands; and at whose shrine the
Hindoo, the Persian, the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Egyptian, the
Chinese, the Mohammedan, the Jew, and the Christian may kneel and with
one united voice celebrate the praises of the Supreme Architect of the
Universe. -Louisiana Masonic Monitor, p. 111, 1988
Unity in one common worship among Hindu, Mohammedan, Jew and "Christian"
Masons must necessarily exclude Jesus Christ as the object of worship.
Since all Lodges are under the authority of, and the ritual is under
control of, the Grand Lodges, it would be impossible for anyone who had
credibly examined the Louisiana Masonic Monitor to believe that a
Christian Lodge could exist in Louisiana. Claims that Indiana
Freemasonry would allow "Christian" Masons to practice Christianity in
Lodges subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Indiana are laid bare by text
found in the Mentor’s Manual:
The same prohibition, plus another in the first of the Old Charges, prohibits discussion of sectarian religion.
Sectarian religion does not refer to Christian denominations; it refers
to Christianity the same as any other of the world’s several religions.
That means that Christian sermons should not be delivered at Lodge
gatherings, nor should Christian prayers be offered, nor Christian
symbols displayed.
The prohibition on discussion of religious subjects in Masonic meetings
applies to Masons even if every member of the Lodge is of the same
religious belief. -Mentor’s Manual, p. 16 Grand Lodge of Indiana, 1975
The Grand Lodge of Indiana has taken a clear position. Even if every
member of a Lodge professes to be a Christian and even if they are all
members of the same denomination, Christian prayers are not to be
offered in Lodge. Christian teaching is unwelcome within Lodge and
Christian symbols, such as a Christian flag, are unwelcome. If the
members are required to leave Jesus Christ outside when they enter the
Lodge and the rituals which they perform teach salvation without Jesus,
how could those men be members of a "Christian Lodge?"
Membership Requirements
The key membership requirement for Freemasonry is well known. Literature
produced by the Grand Lodges makes plain the fact that faith in Jesus
Christ is not required as a condition of membership. Faith in God is not
required, contrary to the claims of many Masons. What Freemasonry
actually requires is faith in the existence of "A Supreme Being."
Freemasonry is willing to accept faith in Vishnu - a Hindu god, Buddha,
or any other pagan god, as a valid expression of "A Supreme Being."
Freemasonry teaches that all men, of all religions worship the same God,
knowing Him by many different names.
The truth is quite different. The Scriptures clearly reveal that there
is only one God and also reveal that the gods of pagan nations are
idols. (Isaiah 45:5, Psalms 96:5) The objects of idol worship are demons, rather than God, according to Scripture. (1 Corinthians 10:19-21).
When Freemasonry accepts the Christian, Jew, Buddhist and Hindu as
having met the requirement of faith in the existence of "A Supreme
Being," it holds pagan gods as equal in nature to the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible. The nature of Masonic worship is
documented in Grand Lodge documents:
...Freemasonry is non-sectarian. Before its altar Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, Buddhist, Gentile, Confucian, may kneel together.
Masonry accepts good men who are found to be worthy, regardless of their
religious convictions, and strives to make better men of them by
emphasizing a firm belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of
Man, and the Immortality of the Soul. -Mentor’s Manual, p. 17 Grand Lodge of Indiana
The Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of Man doctrine teaches that all men
of all religions are children of God, whether they be Hindus, Moslems,
Buddhists, Jews, or Christians. The Scriptures teach something quite
different. Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God. (John 3:16)
Man may become an adopted child of God through faith in Jesus. Even
Jews who reject Jesus are not children of God, according to Scripture:
He came to that which was his own, but His own did not receive him. Yet
to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the
right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent,
nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.(John 1:11-13)
Scripture reveals that a person becomes a child of God by ADOPTION through faith in Jesus Christ:
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption of our bodies.(Romans 8:23)
If Jews, like Paul, and the members of the pagan nations who accept
Jesus are already children of God, adoption would not be possible. One
cannot adopt his own child.
Masonic worship within "Christian Lodges" is identical in nature to
worship in all other Lodges; they practice the same ritual. Prayers in
ritual are prescribed. Many are found in Masonic documents. Freemasons
do not worship God in Lodge, but rather a SYMBOL:
One fundamental of Freemasonry is its non-sectarian character. Any
man may offer his devotions to the Deity he reveres, under the Masonic
title, no matter what name he may use in his religious worship. . .
Thus, Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations) is a
symbol of Deity as named and worshiped in all religions. -Mentor’s Manual, p. 49 Grand Lodge of Indiana
Worship of an idol, symbol, or false concept of God is idolatry, even if offered by a "Christian" Mason.
The Scriptures reveal that a Christian is able to approach the throne of God with confidence because of faith in Jesus. (Eph 3:12, Heb 4:16) Freemasonry teaches that all men may approach God at the Masonic altar on a common level:
To the altar of Freemasonry all men bring their most votive
offerings. Around it all men, whether they have received their teachings
from Confucius, Zoroaster, Moses, Mohammed or the founder of the
Christian religion--just so long as they believe in the universality of
the fatherhood of God and universality of the brotherhood of man--meet
upon a common level. The Jew returns to his synagogue, the Mohammedan to
his mosque and the Christian to his temple--each better prepared for
the solemn duties of life by the associations in this universal
brotherhood. -Louisiana Masonic Monitor, p. 150, Grand Lodge of Louisiana, 1988
Part of this Masonic teaching is actually true, but not in the sense
that they meant it. Anyone who believes the doctrine of the Fatherhood
of God, Brotherhood of Man has not embraced the Gospel. On that basis,
he is as lost as the Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Hindu, or Jew who rejects
Jesus Christ.
Quite clearly, the myth of the "Christian Lodge" is not true. Any man
who has thoughtfully listened to Masonic ritual, or studied Masonic
Grand Lodge documents knows that it is not true. Simply put, it is a lie
and a Mason or studied person offering it generally knows it is a lie.
Maximizing Effectiveness of a Lie
Often times, a lie which is told for a man by someone else is more
effective and believable than the lie the man would be able to offer
with his own lips. Guilty individuals have been found innocent on many
occasions in trials where false testimony was given to establish an
alibi. Former Worshipful Master and United Methodist Pastor, Harmon
Taylor, stated that while he was both a Mason and a pastor and someone
in the church found fault with his duplicity, Masonic members of the
congregation would "run interference" for him. Harmon usually did not
have to deal with those who were critical of the craft. Often, Masons
will enlist the efforts of pastors who are Masons to effectively deceive
or rebuff a wife, or someone else, who opposes his involvement in
Freemasonry. Of course, a more effective defense can be mounted using a
shill who is not and has never been a Mason. What would he have to gain
by lying? Sometimes the non-Mason defender of the craft actually
believes the lie and that makes him just that much more effective.
Occasionally, a pastor who "knows what is good for him" will spread the
lie of the "Christian Lodge" to defend the Masonic involvement of
members, deacons, or elders of the church. He may want to believe it to
salve his conscience. Who could possibly be a more effective liar than a
pastor? The answer is pretty obvious, actually: a group of pastors, or a
group of respected church leaders, who conspired to "investigate" a
matter and then provide false testimony.
Scripture tells us that Satan is in control of the world. (1 John 5:19, Rev 12:9)
If a prosecutor and the investigators in a fairly well publicized
criminal case chose to aid the guilty party, rather than seek justice,
they could conspire to falsely investigate the crime and focus the
state’s case on minor issues. This latter aspect would be necessary to
cause the public to believe that justice was being served. For example,
they could concentrate on physical evidence from a store which was proof
of shoplifting, while ignoring the body in the back room. If an earthly
judge were part of the plan, he might sentence the guilty person to
probation. Deals made behind closed doors often have an impact on
justice even when all of the facts of a crime become known. Anyone who
lived through the Clinton years has seen evidence of this.
Unfortunately, such influence is not limited to what we perceive as the
world. History and Scripture have demonstrated that Satan is at work
within the church as well.
If a group of Godly men were to study Freemasonry and issue a report
outlining the compatibility, or incompatibility of Freemasonry with
Christianity, they would issue a report which contained truth. They
would produce a report which was unbiased and objective. If they issued a
false report which distorted the teachings of Freemasonry to make it
seem compatible with Christianity, you would know that the work was not a
Godly effort and you would further know that they did not have the best
interests of Freemasons in mind. If many influential members of the
congregation(s) authorizing the study are Freemasons and they were able
to cause the report to actually be a veiled defense of Freemasonry, it
would be an example of what Paul warned Timothy would occur:
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They
will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(2 Timothy 2:3-2)
The Southern Baptist Convention
Today, the most effective group which is promoting the myth of the
"Christian Lodge" is the North American Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention. The SBC is the largest denomination in the United
States which can be shown to understand the Gospel. (Catholicism is larger, but they teach salvation on the basis of faith AND works. See Ephesians 2:8-9)
In 1992, at the convention in Indianapolis, the Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Mission Board - the group which became the North American Mission Board - was directed to do a study of Freemasonry and issue a report with recommendation. They completed and published A Study of Freemasonry and issued A Report on Freemasonry, along with a recommendation. A Report on Freemasonry was approved by the convention and remains the official Southern Baptist position on Freemasonry.
A Report on Freemasonry can be found on the website of the North
American Mission Board. While the report does list eight elements of
Freemasonry which are incompatible with Christianity, it attempts to
perpetuate the believe that a man can be both a sincere Christian and a
Mason.
For example, consider the following statement from the report:
We acknowledge That many outstanding Christians and Southern Baptists
now are, and in the past have been Masons, including such notable past
Southern Baptist leaders as... -A Report on Freemasonry, p.2
Clearly, the SBC maintains the position that a man can be an outstanding
Christian and a Freemason. If you ponder the position taken in the
report, you might wonder, "How could a man be an outstanding Christian
if he is involved in eight things which are genuinely incompatible with
Christianity?"
Additionally, the SBC continues to promote the belief that there are Christian Lodges. In the report we find:
To be sure, not all Grand Lodges affirm Christian doctrine, and many
do not declare Jesus as the unique Son of God; but many do, and for this
we commend them. There is not complete uniformity in tenets or practice
among lodges. -A Report on Freemasonry, p.4
Those familiar with the foundational teachings of Freemasonry will
instantly know that this statement is false. Some who did not have
access to the documents the study and report had been based on, still
doubted the truth of the claim that there are "Christian Lodges." When A Report on Freemasonry was published in 1993, Jenifer Falk read that paragraph and then wrote a letter to the Home Mission Board
(the group which did the study and wrote the report), asking them to
name an example Grand Lodge which lifted up Jesus Christ in this way.
She received a reply from the HMB which stated:
Our research did not find any local Masonic lodge nor any Grand Lodge
which have taken a position for or against the biblical teaching
affirming the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. - HMB letter from Tal Davis to Jenifer Falk, September 15, 1993
The HMB response to Jenifer’s letter is interesting in two ways. First,
it clearly states that those at the HMB knew that the statement on page 4
of the report claiming that some Grand Lodges declared Jesus as the
unique Son of God, was not true when they wrote it. Second, the
response itself demonstrates either another lie, or additional gross
incompetence. It is obvious that the HMB researchers who examined
Freemasonry, as well as the man who responded to Jenifer, conveniently
ignored or did not comprehend, the foundational Masonic teaching of the
Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of man. Since Masonic doctrine declares
that men of all religions are all sons of God, obviously all Grand
Lodges have taken a stand against "the biblical teaching affirming the
uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the Son of God" simply by promoting the
Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of Man doctrine. That doctrine is uniform
among all Lodges, quite contrary to the position of the SBC report.
Though HMB and NAMB personnel have long known that there are no Lodges,
or Grand Lodges which lift up Jesus as the unique Son of God, they
continue to distribute the report which contains this falsehood. [This report can be viewed in full as a PDF file at: 4truth.net]
New Evidence of SBC Collusion
Recently, this year and last, additional facts concerning the actions of
the SBC have come to light. A few Southern Baptists have reported that
the North American Mission Board is now producing legitimate apologetic
materials on Freemasonry. They are under the impression that the efforts
of the North American Mission Board are now honest and true.
Last year, we came into possession of several of the documents which were used as the basis of A Study of Freemasonry and A Report on Freemasonry. Having these documents allowed us to check the context of quotes found in A Report on Freemasonry.
Examination of these documents demonstrates portions of Masonic
teaching which were in SBC hands during the study. This new information
has provided additional evidence of the character of the current SBC
position, based on the continued use of the report. All of the Masonic
quotes used in this paper were taken from those documents.
Consider the following statement in the report which was used in an
attempt to support the believe that there is such a thing as a
"Christian Lodge."
Or the explicit reference to Jesus in the Masonic Code of the Grand
Lodge of Alabama: "It is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic
law and tenets for a Mason who believes in the Christ Jesus to offer
prayers in the Lodge in His Name." - A Report on Freemasonry, p.2
The actual text in the quoted Masonic document is as follows:
339. MASONRY AND RELIGION Masonry has no religious dogma other
than that it requires a belief in Deity. Any man, good and true,
whether he be Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, Parsee, Buddhist, Brahman or
Deist may be admitted to Masonry because all these religions require a
belief in Deity.
340. SECTARIANISM - WHAT IS NOT A Mason offering prayer in the
Lodge may pray to his God -- observing his own conception of Deity. It
is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic law and tenants for a
Mason who believes in the Christ or Jesus to offer prayer in the lodge
in His Name. None should take umbrage because he addresses his prayer to
his own conception of Deity. He must use prayer in the Ritual in all
ritualistic ceremonies. Any other prayer is out of order in such
ceremonies. - Masonic Code of Alabama, p. 141-2, 1963
First, notice that the SBC report intentionally misquoted the section of
text from Masonic Code of Alabama. They left out one critical word, the
word "or." Notice how the meaning changes when this single word is
included, or excluded. "The Mason who believes in the Christ Jesus"
would refer to a "Christian Mason." "The Mason who believes in the
Christ or Jesus" would refer to a Mason who believes that Jesus
is not necessarily the Christ. Clearly, the Grand Lodge of Alabama takes
this latter position because they placed the word "or" to imply there
is a difference between Christ and Jesus. The SBC report uses falsehood
to attempt to create a favorable impression of Freemasonry, namely that
Lodges and Grand Lodges lift up Jesus Christ in a meaningful way, while
just the opposite is true.
Notice the context of the quoted passage. The text just immediately proceeding states: "A Mason offering prayer in the Lodge may pray to his God -- observing his own conception of Deity." Take a look at the context in the paragraph 339 - Masonry and Religion,
immediately preceding the quote. Notice that Freemasonry admits men who
have faith not in God, but in any god. The Buddhist is accepted based
on his faith in Buddha. The Hindu (Brahman) is accepted based on his
faith in Vishnu.
SBC officials were being intentionally deceptive when they misquoted "It
is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic law and tenets for a
Mason who believes in the Christ Jesus to offer prayers in the Lodge in
His Name." Not only was the quote altered by removing a word, but
it was taken out of a context which demonstrates the opposite of what
those SBC officials attempted to show. The truth of the matter in
Alabama Lodges is that a Mason may offer prayer in the name of "Christ
or Jesus" or Vishnu, Buddha, or any demon a pagan Mason may worship. Of
course, in the rituals which teach salvation, the prayers are
prescribed. The position of the Grand Lodge of Alabama is that, "None should take umbrage because he addresses his prayer to his own conception of Deity."
If the SBC report were a Godly effort, would the Southern Baptist
officials who prepared the report have avoided taking issue with this
obvious statement that pagan worship is welcome and defended in Masonic
Lodges?
When a man joins in prayer to any god who is not defined as Father, Son
and Holy Spirit, he engages in idolatry. The GAOTU is defined as Vishnu,
Buddha, Allah, and a host of other pagan deities which Freemasonry
declares to be the same spirit as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Worship of the GAOTU is idolatry. Idolatry will prevent a man from
entering heaven, according to Ephesians 5:5.
The Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention produced a
falsely favorable report. The North American Mission Board continues to
distribute A Report on Freemasonry, taking the position that it
is honest and true, even though falsehood has been identified to them.
Do they intend to allow Masons to go to hell without warning about the
perils of worshiping a false god?
New Materials by NAMB
The North American Mission Board has published two additional documents, A Closer Look at A Bridge To Light and A Closer Look at Freemasonry,
which some believe represent a Godly effort. After examining this new
work and other NAMB materials, it appears that the current Masonic
strategy being implemented by the NAMB is as follows:
Maintain the dishonest report produced by the Home Mission Board, A Report on Freemasonry, as the foundation of the NAMB "apologetic" with regard to Freemasonry.
- Display the report prominently on the NAMB web site.
- Do not admit that it is a product of intentional dishonesty.
- Allow the report to constrain the issues which are addressed.
Maintain the position that a man can be an outstanding Christian and a Mason at the same time.
Continue to promote the myth of the Christian Blue Lodge.
Maintain a double standard when dealing with Freemasonry and other false religions.
When dealing with other false religions, such as Mormonism:
- Take issue with the key elements of the nature of their false god and their false plan of salvation.
When dealing with Freemasonry, deal with lesser issues.
- Do not address the demonic nature of the GAOTU, the false god which all Freemasons pray to in the Blue Lodge.
- Do not address the Masonic plan of salvation which is based on imitation of Hiram Abif, the Masonic savior.
- Most Masons are only in the Blue Lodge -- focus on the teachings of the York Rite, and/or Scottish Rite.
- When addressing Blue Lodge issues mentioned in the report, attempt to
redirect the problem away from the Blue Lodge by focusing on Scottish
Rite literature.
- Urge Southern Baptists to avoid embracing false teachings and doctrines such as found in the York and Scottish Rites.
Do not warn the churches that persistent "Christian" Masons are
really no different in God’s eyes than "Christian" Buddhists, or
"Christian" Hindus.
Continue to send Southern Baptist Masons out as missionaries.
Today, the Southern Baptist Convention is the most effective voice
promoting the myth of the "Christian Lodge." When Jesus returns, will
Southern Baptists still be standing shoulder to shoulder with men who
meet in secret to teach salvation on the basis of another savior? What
WILL Jesus do? [See Rev 2:18-29] Individuals and congregations which fund the NAMB are guilty of saying Godspeed in the most effective way possible. [See 2 John 9]
Among those noble men who have denounced Freemasonry and openly taken a stand against it are:
John Wesley, Alexander Campbell, Daniel Webster, Wendell Phillips, Chief Justice Charles Marshall, Charles Sumner, John Hancock, Horace Greeley, Pastor Dwight L. Moody, Pastor R. A. Torrey, Timothy Dwight, Evangelist Charles G. Finney, Charles Blanchard, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Madison, Amos Wells, Simon Peter Long, James M. Gray, Evangelist Billy Sunday, Dr. John R. Rice and Ulysses S. Grant.
Dwight L. Moody and Charles G. Finney ...Expose Freemasonry!
"I do not see how any Christian, most of all a Christian minister, can go into these secret lodges with unbelievers. They say they can have more influence for good, but I say that they can have more influence for good by staying out of them and reproving their evil deeds. You can never reform anything by unequally yoking yourself to ungodly men. True reformers separate themselves from the world. But, some say to me, if you talk that way you will drive all the members of secret societies out of your meetings and out of your churches. But what if I did? Better men will take their places. Give them the truth anyway, and if they would rather leave their churches than their lodges, the sooner they get out of their churches the better. I would rather have ten members who are separated from the world than a thousand such members! Come out from the lodge. Better one with God than a thousand without Him! We must walk with God, and if only one or two go with us, it is all right. Do not let down the standard to suit men who love their secret lodges or have some darling sin they will not give up!"
Charles G. Finney on Freemasonry:
In The Character, Claims and Practical Workings of Freemasonry, Finney wrote:
We are now prepared to consider the question of the relation of Freemasonry to the Church of Christ. On this question I remark:
God holds the church and every branch of it, responsible for its opinion and action in accordance with the best light, which, in his providence, is afforded them. . . If any particular branch of the church has better means of information and therefore more light on moral questions, than another branch, its responsibility is greater, in proportion to its greater means of information. Such a branch of the church is bound to take a higher and more advanced position in Christian life and duty, to bear a fuller and lighter testimony against every form of iniquity, than that required by less favored and less informed branches of the church. They are not to wait till other branches of the church have received their light, before they bear a testimony and pursue a course in accordance with their own degree of information.
While Masonry was a secret, the church had no light, and no responsibility respecting it. Although individual members of the church were Freemasons, as a body, she knew nothing of Masonry; therefore she could say nothing. . .
But the state of the case is now greatly changed. Freemasonry is now revealed. It is no longer a secret to any who wish to be informed..... Now, since these revelations are made, and both the church and the world are aware of what Masonry really is, God demands, and the world has a right to expect, that the church will take due action and bear a truthful testimony in respect to this institution. She can not now innocently hold her peace. The light has come. Fidelity to God, and to the souls of men, require that the church, which is the light of the world, should speak out, and should take such action as will plainly reveal her views of the compatibility or incompatibility of Freemasonry with the Christian religion. As God’s witnesses, as the pillar and ground of the truth, the church is bound to give the trumpet no uncertain sound, upon this question, that all men may know, whether, in her judgment, an intelligent embracing and determinate adhering to Freemasonry are compatible with a truthful profession of religion.
Every local branch of the Church of Christ is bound to examine this subject, and pronounce upon this institution, according to the best light they can get. God does not allow individuals, or churches, to withhold action, and the expression of their opinion, until other churches are as enlightened as themselves. We are bound to act up to our own light, and to go as far in advance of others as we have better means of information than they. We have no right to say to God that we will act according to our own convictions, when others become so enlightened that our action will be popular and meet their approval.
Again: Those individuals and churches, who have had the best means of information, owe it to other branches of the church, and to the whole world, to take action and to pronounce upon the unchristian character of Freemasonry, as the most influential means within their reach of arousing the whole church and the world to an examination of the character and claims of Freemasonry. If churches who are known to have examined the subject withhold their testimony; if they continue to receive persistent and intelligent Freemasons; if they leave the public to infer that they see nothing in Freemasonry inconsistent with a creditable profession of the Christian religion, it will justly be inferred by other branches of the church, and by the world, that there is nothing in it so bad, so dangerous and unchristian as to call for their examination, action, or testimony. Before the publishing of Morgan’s book, the Baptist denomination, especially, in that part of the country, had been greatly carried away by Freemasonry. A large proportion of its eldership and membership were Freemasons. A considerable number of ministers and members of other branches of the Christian Church had also fallen into the snare.
The murder of Wm. Morgan, and the publication of Masonry consequent thereupon in the books I have named, broke upon the church - fast asleep on this subject - like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. The facts were such, the revelations were so clear, that the Baptist denomination backed down, and took the lead in renouncing and denouncing the institution. Their elders and associated churches, almost universally, passed resolutions disfellowshipping adhering Masons. The denomination, to a considerable extent, took the same course.
Throughout the Northern States, at that time, I believe it was almost universally conceded that persistent Freemasons, who continued to adhere and co-operate with them, ought not to be admitted to Christian churches. Now it is worthy of all consideration and remembrance, that God set the seal of His approbation upon the action taken by those churches at that time, by pouring out His Spirit upon them. Great revivals immediately followed over that whole region. . .
And should the question be asked, ‘What shall be done with the great number of professed Christians who are Freemasons?’ I answer, let them have no more to do with it. Again, let Christian men labor with them, plead with them, and endeavor to make them see it to be their duty to abandon it. . . Let them be distinctly asked whether they intend still to aid and abet the administration and taking of these oaths, if they still intend to countenance the false and hypocritical teachings of Masonry, if they mean to countenance the profanity of their ceremonies, and practice the partiality they have sworn to practice. If so, surely they should not be allowed their places in the church.
(Charles Grandison Finney was born in Warren, Connecticut on August 29, 1792, and died on August 16, 1875)
"If I had a sword and went through the aisles piercing people, I could not pierce people as fast as they were falling out of the pews", quoted Finney who often preached so hard people would fall in the aisle, screaming for mercy and asking God to save them.
Many consider Finney to be the father of modern revivalism, with over 500,000 conversions. He began his life as a lawyer, and during his studies he found many laws were based on the Bible, so in 1821 troubled and unfocussed, Finney took a long walk in the woods and it was here that he was saved. He remembers being alone with God kneeling in prayer and being converted, and he felt "as if waves of liquid love were flowing throughout my body" he would later say of this profound event.
From that day on he became a minister of the gospel, and was licensed to preach in 1823. Finney ignited a revival fire that would sweep across the country. Referred to as the "nine mighty years", 1824-32, he conducted powerful revival meetings throughout the Eastern states. It was in Rochester where "the place was shaken to its foundations" - 1200 people united with the churches of Rochester Presbytery, over 40 of the converts entered the ministry. Fifteen hundred revivals broke out in other towns as a result of Rochester! It is felt that Finney carved the original path for mass evangelists such as D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham.
During his 40 years as a dramatic evangelist he also found time to write 17 books, four of which are in print today, and lectured for 31 years at Oberlin College until his death. Someone said of Charles Finney, "he was a man of the wilderness, not damaged by religious or traditional thought patterns, but trained and raised of God and filled with the Holy Spirit."
Why I Left Freemasonry
Author: Charles G. Finney, D.D. Source: Isaiah54.com
When I was converted to Christ I had belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Adams, New York, about four years. During the struggle of conviction of sin through which I passed, I do not recollect that the question of Freemasonry ever occurred to my mind. New Views of Lodgism But soon after my conversion, the evening came for attendance upon the Lodge, and I went. They, of course, were aware that I had become a Christian and the Master called upon me to open the Lodge with prayer. I did so, and poured out my heart to the Lord for blessings upon the Lodge. I observed that it created considerable excitement. The evening passed away, and at the close of the Lodge I was asked to pray again. I did so, and retired much depressed in spirit. I soon found that I was completely converted from Freemasonry to Christ, and that I could have no fellowship with any of the proceedings of the Lodge. Its oaths appeared to me to be monstrously profane and barbarous.
At that time I did not know how much I had been imposed upon by many of the pretensions of Masonry. But, upon reflection and examination, a severe struggle and earnest prayer, I found I could not consistently remain with them. My new life instinctively and irresistibly recoiled from any fellowship with what I now regarded as "the unfruitful works of darkness."
Quietly Withdrawing Membership Without consulting anyone, I finally went to the Lodge and requested my discharge. My mind was made up. Withdraw from them I must -- with their consent if I might; without this consent if I must. Of this I said nothing; but somehow it came to be known that I had withdrawn.
They therefore planned a Masonic festival and sent a committee to me, requesting me to deliver an oration on that occasion. I quietly declined to do so, informing the committee that I could not conscientiously, in any wise, do what would show my approval of the institution, or sympathy with it. However, for the time, and for years afterward I remained silent, and said nothing against Masonry; though I had then so well considered the matter as to regard my Masonic oaths as utterly null and void. But from that time I never allowed myself to be recognized as a Freemason anywhere.
1. To conceal each others crimes. 2. To deliver each other from difficulty, whether right or wrong. 3. To unduly favor Masonry in political action and in business matters. 4. Its members are sworn to retaliate and persecute unto death the violators of Masonic obligations. 5. Freemasonry knows no mercy, and swears its candidates to avenge violations of Masonic obligations unto death. 6. Its oaths are profane, taking the Name of God in vain. 7. The penalties of these oaths are barbarous, even savage. 8. Its teachings are false and profane. 9. Its designs are partial and selfish. 10. Its ceremonies are a mixture of puerility and profanity. 11. Its religion is false. 12. It professes to save men on other conditions than those revealed in the Gospel of Christ. 13. It is wholly an enormous falsehood. 14. It is a swindle, obtaining money from its members under false pretenses. 15. It refuses all examinations, and veils itself under a mantle of oath-bound secrecy. 16. It is virtual conspiracy against both Church and State.
Some Fair Conclusions No one, therefore, has ever undertaken to defend Freemasonry as judged by the above. Freemasons themselves do not pretend that their institution as revealed in reliable books, and by some of their own testimony, is compatible with Christianity. So it must follow that,
First, the Christian Church should have no fellowship with Freemasonry; and those who adhere intelligently and determinately to such an institution have no right to be in the Christian Church. We pronounce this judgment sorrowfully, but solemnly.
Second, should the question be asked, "What shall be done with the great number of professed Christians who are Freemasons?" I answer, let them have nothing more to do with it. Let it be distinctly pressed upon their consciences that all Masons, above the first two Degrees, have solemnly sworn to conceal each other's crimes, murder and treason alone excepted; and that all above the sixth Degree have sworn to espouse each other's cause, and to deliver them from any difficulty, whether right or wrong.
Third, if they have taken those Degrees where they have sworn to persecute unto death those who violate their Masonic obligations, let them be asked whether they really intend to do any such thing. Let them be distinctly asked whether they intend to aid and abet the administration and taking of these oaths. Or if they still intend to countenance the false and hypocritical teachings of Masonry. Or if they mean to countenance the profanity of their ceremonies, and the partiality of their sworn practice. If so, surely they should not be allowed their place in the Christian Church.
Fourth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to the Master's oath to conceal any secret crime of a brother of that Degree, murder and treason excepted, be a safe man with whom to entrust any public office? Can he be trusted as a witness, as a juror, or with any office connected with the administration of justice?
Fifth, can a man who has taken, and still adheres to, the oath of the Royal Arch Mason be trusted to public office? He swears to espouse the cause of a companion of this Degree when involved in any difficulty, so far as to extricate him, whether he be right or wrong. He swears to conceal his crimes, MURDER AND TREASON NOT EXCEPTED. Is such a man bound by such an oath to be trusted with office? Ought he to be accepted as a witness or juror when another Freemason is a party in the case? Ought he to be trusted with the office of Judge, or Justice of the Peace, or as a Sheriff, Constable, Marshal or any other office?
What Is Your Answer? I appeal to your conscience in the sight of God, for an honest answer to these three questions
1. Is any man who is under a most solemn oath to kill all who violate any part of Masonic oaths, a fit person to be at large among men?
2. Ought Freemasons of this stamp to be fellowshipped in the Christian Church?
3. Do you believe that the sins of Masonic oaths are forgiven only to those who repent? And that we do not repent of those sins to which we still adhere? And that adherence makes us also partaker of other men's sins?
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin." "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (I John 1:17; 3:3).
(Reprinted from "Memoirs" of President Finney, formerly of Oberlin College.)
Copied from a tract published by National Christian Association -- publishers since 1868 of literature exposing secret societies.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Indiana publishes a small book titled, INDIANA MONITOR AND FREEMASON'S GUIDE. A "Monitor" is given to every Mason when he is raised to the degree of Master Mason. Under "Declarations of Principles" they state that the Lodge "is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that men may forgather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary work of education, of worship, and of charity."
What is the attitude of the Lodge toward a Christian who seeks to become a Mason?
The monitor of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina is entitled THE AHIMAN REZON. It reveals the answer:
"There he stands without our portals, on the threshold of this new Masonic life, in darkness, helplessness, and in ignorance. Having been wandering amid the errors and covered over with the pollutions of the outer and profane world, he comes inquiringly to our doors, seeking the new birth, and asking a withdrawal of the veil which conceals divine truth from his uninitiated sight." (page 61)
When a man is initiated into Masonry, the Senior Deacon of the Lodge describes him as one "who has long been in darkness, and now seeks the light."
Would a true Christian allow himself to be described that way? What did Jesus say?
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.." (John 8:12) What does Masonry teach about Jesus Christ?
In Mystic Masonry, by J. D. Buck, the following Masonic teaching is found:
"It is far more important that men should strive to become Christs than that they should believe that Jesus was Christ." (page 62)
"The perfect man is Christ: and Christ is God. This is the birth-right and destiny of every human soul." (page 86)
What does Masonry teach about salvation?
Lynn Perkins writes in The Meaning of Masonry:
"Therefore Masonry teaches that redemption and salvation are both the power and the responsibility of the individual Mason. Saviors like Hiram Abiff can and do show the way, but men must always follow and demonstrate, each for himself, his power to save himself, to build his own spiritual fabric in his own time and way. Every man in essence is his own savior and redeemer; for if he does not save himself, he will not be saved." (page 95)
Whom do Masons worship?
Manly Palmer Hall reveals the answer in The Lost Keys of Freemasonry:
"The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as a Mason his religion must be universal: Christ, Buddha or Mohammed, the name means little, for he recognizes only the light and not the bearer. He worships at every shrine, bows before every altar, whether in temple. mosque or cathedral, realizing with his truer understanding the oneness of all spiritual truth." (page 65)
What is the source of Masonic Light?
Morals and Dogma, by Albert Pike, was published by the authority of the Supreme Council of the Thirty Third Degree. Masonry holds an alternate view of Jesus Christ and salvation. Pike reveals in Morals and Dogma that they hold an alternate view of Lucifer as well. Lucifer is presented as not necessarily evil but, rather an agent of liberty and free will. Pike states that Lucifer is the source of Masonic Light:
"The devil is the personification of Atheism or Idolatry. For the Initiates, this is not a Person, but a Force, created for good, but which may serve for evil. It is the instrument of Liberty or Free Will. They represent this Force, which presides over the physical generation, under the mythological and horned form of the God Pan; thence came the he-goat of the Sabbat, brother of the Ancient Serpent, and the Light-bearer or Phosphor, of which the poets have made the false Lucifer of the legend." (page 102)
"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, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls? Doubt it not!" (page 321)
Lucifer is the god of the Masonic Lodge. The "light " of the Lodge comes from the Spirit of Darkness.
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." (2Cor. 11:14)
"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! " (Matt. 6:23)
Will "Christian" Masons have salvation? What did Jesus say?
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:21-23)
What does the Lodge say about Judgment Day?
From the Grand Lodge of Nebraska Monitor & Ceremonies -AF&AM:
"My brother, I now present you with the lambskin or white leather apron...[your covering].... when you stand before the Great White throne...." (page 18) (The same text is also found many other monitors, such as the Florida Monitor on page 118, in the Indiana Monitor & Freemason's Guide on page 56 and in the Kentucky Monitor on page 14.)
The Lodge teaches that its members will stand before God's final judgment at the Great White Throne judgment! But the Bible clearly teaches, in Revelations, Chapter 20, that the Great White Throne judgment is the judgment of the damned. No Christian will face that judgment but Lucifer wants each Mason to take the stand before God with the lambskin apron as his covering rather than the blood of Jesus Christ. Are You a "Christian" Mason?
If you consider yourself a Christian and a Mason, will you continue to stand with those who disown Jesus? Will you go willingly to stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment before being cast into the fires of hell with the unbelievers or will you repent of your involvement in Masonry and make Jesus the Light in your life today?
The Bible says:
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. " (2Cor. 6:17 ; 2Cor. 7:1)
What other opinion really matters? If you have friends or loved ones who are Masons, won't you plead with them to leave Masonry and accept Jesus as their personal savior? Their salvation is assured only when Jesus is truly the real light of their life.
How can a man call himself a Christian and at the same time be a member of another religion which disowns Jesus Christ and sets up altars to other gods?
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (1 John 4:2 -7)
"...ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." (1Kgs. 18:18, 21)
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