by David Allen Rivera www.viewfromthewall.com
Freemasons, or Masons, are members of a secret
fraternal order known as the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, whose goals
are, supposedly, to promote brotherhood. One of the major sourcebooks of
Masonic doctrine is Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Masonry, written in 1871 by Albert Pike, and
considered to be the "Masons guide for daily living." In it, he writes:
"Masonry is a search after Light..."
According to early Masonic manuscripts, its origins can be traced back to
Adam, who was said to be the first Mason. The apron of Masonry allegedly
represents the fig leaves worn by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The
knowledge received by Adam after eating from the forbidden tree, was
carried on by his son Seth, and then Nimrod (who was responsible for the
Tower of Babel), the great-grandson of Noah. Dr. Albert Mackey (33rd
Degree), in writing his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, referred to
the "York manuscript, No. 1" which contained information from a parchment
that dated back to the year 1560, which identified Babylon as the
originator of Masonry. He also cited the Cooke Manuscript ("The Legend
of the Craft", which was written in 1420, and is said to be the second
oldest Masonic manuscript), which reveals that Nimrod taught the craft of
Masonry to the workers at the Tower of Babel. When God confused their
language, these secrets were said to be lost.
When King Solomon was building the Temple, it is taught that Freemasonry
was revived. Mackey said that the "Masonic Lodges were initially dedicated
to King Solomon, because he was our first Most Excellent Grand Master."
However, Martin L. Wagner revealed in An Interpretation of Freemasonry
that the "name Solomon is not the Israelite king. It is the name in form,
but different in its meaning. It is a substitute...a composite, Sol-om-on,
the names of the sun in Latin, Indian and Egyptian, and is designed to
show the unity of several god-ideas in the ancient religions, as well as
with those of Freemasonry."
A story recounted in Masonic tradition, has to do with Hiram Abiff, a
Syrian Master Mason, known as the architect of Tyre, who was said to be
hired by Solomon to build the Temple. He was killed by three
Fellow-Craftsmen, when he would not reveal the secret Masonic word (so
they could get Master's wages in foreign countries), which was engraved on
a gold triangle he wore around his neck. Solomon found the triangle, and
had it placed in a secret vault under the Temple. Abiff later became a
Christ-like figure to the Masons. Mackey said that "Hiram represent(s) a
popular Syrian god against whom the champions of Jehovah (the Jews) strove
ceaselessly." Another Mason, Daniel Sickles, correlates him with an
Egyptian god, and Pierson's Traditions of Freemasonry said that he
actually represented all of the pagan sun gods, as does Mackey's
Lexicon of Freemasonry. What this does, is to relate the message that
it was the sun god who was the builder of the Temple, which makes this
Temple symbolic, and not to be confused with the Jewish Temple. Pike said
in his Morals and Dogma, that the "Temple of Solomon presented a
symbolic image of the Universe; and resembled, in its arrangements and
furniture, all the temples of the ancient nations that practiced the
mysteries."
In ancient Greece, there were organized groups, or guilds (like our
unions), such as the "Dionysiacs," and in Rome, the "Collegium Muriorum,"
who built the temples and stadiums. These groups who were the forerunners
of the Masons, were the draftsmen, builders, carpenters, and craftsmen who
erected the huge cathedrals, castles, abbeys and churches during the
Middle Ages. Because they "lodged" or lived together during the
construction, this is where the term "masonic lodge" was originated.
The First Grand Lodge of England met at York in 926, where they adopted
hand signs and passwords to identify themselves. Their workplace, or
Lodges, was where their initiations, rites, rituals and ceremonies took
place. Within their inner circles, witchcraft was practiced.
In the 13th century, they formed an association, headquartered at Cologne,
with Lodges at Strasbourg, Vienna, and Zurich. They called themselves Free
Masons, and had ceremonies for initiation. Near the end of the 16th
century, people who weren't builders, were admitted into the fraternity,
and were called "Accepted" Masons. They were usually distinguished members
of the community, or in short, a source of funding. Becoming more
symbolic, the working masons and builders eventually quit, as did the
Accepted Masons, who had become disappointed at what the organization
really was.
The Bruton Vault
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), an English Lord, the son of Elizabeth I,
was recognized as the "founder of Free Masonry...the guiding light of the
Rosicrucian Order, the members of which kept the torch of the true
universal knowledge, the Secret Doctrine of the Ages, alive during the
dark night of the Middle Ages." Fluent in many languages, he was known to
have edited the King James Version of the Bible, and is believed to be the
true author of the William Shakespeare plays. He had been initiated by a
secret society of intellectuals dedicated to civil and religious freedom.
In his book Instauratio Magna, he wrote of a movement to
"reorganize the sciences and restore man to the mastery over nature that
he was conceived to have lost by the fall of Adam."
Bacon's novel, New Atlantis, published in 1627, a year after his
death, by his secretary William Rawley, represented his vision for a new
"Golden Age." It was about a crew of shipwrecked sailors who arrived on
the shores a mysterious, unknown land, whose people had a much higher
developed culture and possessed a technology unlike anything they had ever
seen. He talked about buildings a half a mile high, flying machines,
underwater vehicles, and a government of philosopher-scientists working on
behalf of an enlightened group of people who were committed to learning,
and a higher level of achievement.
Manly Palmer Hall (1901-1990), founder of the Philosophical Research
Society in 1934, and one of the foremost experts in the realm of the
metaphysical and the occult, authored over 200 books, and in six decades
delivered more than 8,000 lectures. In his 1944 book The Secret Destiny
of America, he revealed that even though the New Atlantis had been
completed, the entire version was never published. He wrote: "The final
(unpublished) chapters revealed the entire pattern secret societies had
been working on for thousands of years to achieve the ideal commonwealth
in the political world." It included details for nurturing the "New Order
of the Ages," how this long range "Great Plan" would restore mankind to
the original state that was intended to reflect the inner philosophical
tradition of Freemasonry, and proposed timetables.
In The Secret Destiny of America Hall also wrote: "There exists in
the world today, and has existed for thousands of years, a body of
enlightened humans united in what might be termed, an Order of the Quest.
It is composed of those whose intellectual and spiritual perceptions have
revealed to them that civilization has a secret destiny...The outcome of
this 'secret destiny' is a World Order ruled by a King with supernatural
powers. This King was descended of a divine race, that is, he belonged to
the Order of the Illumined for those who come to a state of wisdom that
belong to a family of heroes - perfected human beings."
The full-length version (which included the missing chapters) was taken to
Jamestown in 1635 by his descendant Nathaniel Bacon, where it was buried
under the altar of the old brick church. In 1676, it was moved to
Williamsburg, Virginia, where it was buried "in a great vault beneath the
tower center of the first brick church in Bruton Parish." The current
church, known as the Bruton Parish Church (which was declared a National
Historic Landmark), was built in 1715, and within the grounds of its
graveyard (the site of the original church), that is where the Bruton
Vault is located.
It is believed by many serious researchers that Sir Francis Bacon faked
his death (actually dying in 1684), and constructed the vault with the
help of his Wild Goose Club. It is a 10 ft. by 10 ft. brick vault,
possibly part of an underground Freemasonry Lodge, that is buried 20 ft.
deep, and marked by certain strategically placed encoded memorials in the
cemetery above.
The reason for the Rockefellers making such an investment to restore the
town of Colonial Williamsburg, was the prospect of locating the fabled
vault, which had three tunnels leading to it from homes in the area.
Fortunately, ownership of the grounds remain in the hands of the Page and
Bray families.
Deposited along with the unabridged copy of the New Atlantis were
other secret documents, including ancient writings that had been in the
possession of certain secret societies. One such artifact was the "Book
of Thoth," which had been retrieved from a golden box out of an inner
sanctuary in an ancient Egyptian temple. Known as the Sacred Torch,
the most important document ever given to Man, it is believed that anyone
who is able to decipher it will have their consciousness enhanced to the
point that they will be able to see the invisible Immortals and enter the
presence of the Superior Gods. Manley Hall wrote in his book, The
Secret Teachings of All Ages that the Book "was lost to the Ancient
World with the decay of the Mysteries, but its faithful initiates carried
it sealed to another land. The book is still in existence..."
The vault also contains instructions, maps, and documents that lead to 144
sacred burial sites of certain forefathers, patriots and early leaders in
our country that in turn contain original writings, diaries and
documentation that will prove how history has been rewritten today to
reflect the biased political views of certain leaders in this country.
Hall wrote in the The Secret Destiny of America: "Not only were the
founders of the United States Government Masons, but they received aid
from a secret and august body existing in Europe, which helped them to
establish this country for a peculiar and particular purpose known only to
the initiated few."
Masonry was not always as it appears today. Many early Christian patriots
during the foundational period of American history were part of the
predominant York Rite, which promoted values, ethics, and brotherhood
among its members. It has been reported that true Freemasonry Lodges were
established in the cellars of Episcopalian and Presbyterian Churches. It
was the Illuminati infiltration of the American Fraternal Lodges by the
Jesuit-spawned Scottish Rite that moved through the ranks like a virus to
take them over from within.
It is believed that the vault also contains a quantity of gold, an
original edition of the Bacon-edited King James Bible, inventions that
were ahead of its time, and a device that will enable their codes to be
deciphered.
There is some evidence to indicate that handwritten copies of certain
documents were made during the administration of President Washington and
hidden at a remote location in Virginia.
According to Colin Dyer in his book Symbolism in Craft Masonry, in
1804, Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) was the last person to examine the
contents of this vault. It was believed that the contents were removed and
placed in a secret location either at the University of Virginia (founded
by Jefferson), or the capitol building in Washington, D.C. However, Manley
Hall became a leading proponent for the Bruton Vault as being the location
of this sacred repository. His quest to protect it from falling into the
wrong hands cost him his life, because he was strangled to death by two
members of the Skull and Bones Society - Morgan Brandt and Daniel Fritz.
Luckily all of his research notes, documents, maps, books, photos, and
artifacts relating to 50 years of work on the vault had already been sent
to a secret location in Russia.
In The Secret Destiny of America Hall wrote: "America's true
destiny will remain a secret as long as great masses of people have no
knowledge whatsoever that enlightened humanitarians through thousands of
years have in their own and succeeding generations remained united on the
high purpose of eventually instituting democratic rule throughout the
world. It is necessary to know, too, that it was anciently planned that
leadership would fall to America- to a nation established on the Northern
continent of the Western Hemisphere...Long before Columbus, they were
aware of the existence of the Western hemisphere, and selected it to be
the site of the philosophic empire. The American continent was set apart
for establishing here a great democratic nation, centuries before the
founding fathers and colonists envisioned the Union...
When President Theodore Roosevelt visited the site, and learned of its
significance, he vowed to protect it, and out of appreciation, he was
honored by having his image placed on Mount Rushmore. David Rockefeller
and Queen Elizabeth have shown a particular interest in the vault's
contents.
The contents of the Bruton Vault are priceless, and considered so
important that it is referred to as the "Seventh Seal."
A group known as Sir Francis Bacon's Sages of the Seventh Seal have been
the driving force behind the movement to uncover the vault. Though there
were unsuccessful attempts in 1938 (which did discover the original church
foundations) and 1992, they now believe that a spiral staircase exists
beneath the pyramid-shaped monument that marks the centuries-old graves of
David and Elizabeth Bray, and leads to the vault, which they refer to as a
"Freemasonry library." Armed with new evidence from their continued
research, the group has lobbied the Rev. Herman Hollerith IV, rector of
the Episcopal church, to authorize a new, controlled, archeological dig,
to raise the vault, so that its contents can be studied, and protected
from forces hostile to the information it contains.
The Growth of the Mason Movement
Inigo Jones (1573-1652) reorganized the Lodges, introducing the Descartes
rationalism, and they were now known as the Free and Accepted Masons.
Elias Ashmole, a banker, Rosicrucian, and founder of the Oxford Museum,
who became a Mason in 1648, established the three basic degrees: 1)
Entered Apprentice, 2) Fellow-Craft, and 3) Master Mason.
On June 24, 1717, the four lodges in London were united into a Grand Lodge
(sometimes called the Grand Mother Lodge) by three members who met at the
Apple-Tree Tavern, thus beginning the era of modern Freemasonry. Rather
than being a guild of stone masons and builders, they altered their
philosophy and became a pseudo-religion who "tried to cooperate with the
Church so as to be able to work from the inside, rationalize the doctrine
of Jesus and empty it gradually of its mystical content. Freemasonry hoped
to become a friendly and legal heir to Christianity. They considered logic
and the rules of scientific thinking as being the only absolute and
permanent element of the human mind." By 1725, the movement had spread to
France.
The members of the Grand Lodge of England brought their fraternity to
America. In 1730, Daniel Core was appointed Provincial Grand Master of New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, after the first lodge was established
in Philadelphia. A lodge was established in Boston in 1733. By the time of
the American Revolution, there were 100 Masonic lodges. The Masons were
firmly entrenched in the eastern colonies, but since 95% of the population
identified themselves as Christians, they had to modify their philosophies
to include Christian teachings. The Grand Lodge of the United States was
established in 1777, which officially cut all ties to their British
counterparts.
One writer summed up Masonry this way: "Freemasonry has incorporated bits
of other systems in its initiations and higher degrees, such as mystery
schools, Mithraism, the Egyptian priesthood, the system of the
Pythagoreans, Essenes, Cabalists, Druids, the Orders of the Knighthood,
Rosicrucians, Arabic secret societies, and the Knights Templar."
Masonry slowly spread throughout the world: France (1718-25) , Ireland
(1725-26), Spain (1726-27), Holland (1731), Germany (1730-33), Africa
(1735), Scotland (1736), Portugal (1736), Switzerland (1737), Italy
(1733-37), Russia (1731-40), Canada (1745), Sweden (1735-48), Prussia
(1738-40), Austria (1742), Poland (1784), and Mexico (1825).
Originally against the Masonic Order, Benjamin Franklin became a Mason in
1731, at the age of 25. He became the Provincial Grand Master of
Pennsylvania in 1734, and was the "appointed spokesman" of the secret
societies. As ambassador to France, he was honored there at a major
Masonic lodge. It is believed that while he was on a diplomatic trip to
Paris to seek financing for the Revolution, he was initiated as a member
of the Illuminati. George Washington joined the Fredericksburg Lodge #4 in
Virginia, in 1752, and when he was elected President in 1789, he was the
Grand Master of the Lodge (the highest official). He took his Oath of
Office on a Masonic Bible, as did his Vice-President, John Adams, who was
also a Mason. This Masonic Bible from the altar of St. Johns Lodge No. 1
in New York City, which was printed in London in 1767, was later used for
other Oaths administered to Harding, Eisenhower, Carter, Reagan and Bush.
This Masonic Bible has an introductory section that explains that Masonry
is not a Christian fraternity, but in fact supports all religions. Eight
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were also members of the
Fredericksburg Lodge. Actually, 51 of the 56 signers were believed to be
Masons; however, only 8 were known to be members, while another 24 were
suspected of being members.
It is also believed that 8 to 10 signers of the Articles of Confederation
were Masons. There were 9 Masons that signed the Constitution, while 6
others later became members. Other sources have used the figure of 13,
while some have said there were as many as 28 members who signed the
Constitution.
Because of the disagreement between various books and on-line sources,
representing Masonic and non-Masonic sources, it's easy to see how
erroneous information becomes perpetuated as fact, and truth. If the
Masons can't even nail down the specifics of their own history, then, the
only thing we can hope to do, is to produce as accurate of a picture as
possible, based on the facts.
Among the ranks of the Masons were: Patrick Henry (all Masonic researchers
do not agree on this), John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Paul Jones,
Alexander Hamilton, Benedict Arnold, John Marshall, Samuel Adams, Anthony
Wayne, Francis Marion ("The Swamp Fox") and Ethan Allen. In the military,
24 of Washington's Major Generals, and 30 of his 33 Brigadier Generals
were Masons (another fact that Masonic researchers do not agree on).
It was actually the Masons who instigated and carried out the American
Revolution. The secrecy of the Masonic lodges allowed the Colonial
patriots to meet and discuss strategy. It was commonly believed that the
reason for the Revolution was "taxation without representation", when
actually it was because the Parliament in the 1760's passed a law that no
colony could issue its own money. The colonies had to issue bonds, and
sell them to the Bank, who would then loan them money. This forced the
colonies to pay interest on their money. The Revolution was ignited by the
Boston Tea Party, which was planned during a dinner at the Bradlee home.
The participants were from the St. Andrew Lodge in Boston, who dressed up
as Mohawk Indians, and went aboard the Dartmouth, which was anchored in
the harbor, and dumped its load of tea overboard. The British government
responded by closing the port, and sending in British troops. Empress
Catherine the Great of Russia, who wasn't controlled by the International
Bankers, refused to send in 20,000 Russian troops against the colonists,
when asked by King George III of England. The attack unified the colonies
against England.
The Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Freemasonry was established in
Charleston, South Carolina in 1801, because that area was geographically
located on the 33rd parallel. They are an extension of French Freemasonry,
and considered liberal. In 1755, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry had expanded to 32 degrees, and then they added a 33rd degree.
In 1813, the Northern Supreme Council was established, consisting of 15
states, and was headquartered in Boston. They were an extension of English
Freemasonry, and are considered conservative. The Supreme Council, which
represented the Southern jurisdiction, relocated to Washington, D.C., and
covers the remaining 35 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S.
protectorates. It is considered the Mother Supreme Council of the World.
Among the Presidents who have been Masons: Washington, Jefferson (33rd
Degree), Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson (32nd
Degree and Grand Master), Garfield , McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft,
Harding (32nd Degree), Franklin Roosevelt (32nd Degree), Truman (33rd
Degree and Grand Master), Eisenhower, Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson (1st
Degree), Nixon, Ford (33rd Degree), Carter, Reagan (33rd Degree), and
George H. W. Bush, Sr.
Many State Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen are Masons. The
Masonic Bible says that "for well over 150 years, the destiny of this
country has been determined largely by men who were members of the Masonic
fraternity."
There are about 16,000 Blue or Symbolic Lodges, with a Grand Lodge in
every state, which represent more than four million members. There are 150
Grand Lodges in the world, and a world-wide membership of over 6,000,000.
Members must be 21 years old, however, sons of members can be initiated at
18. Before consideration, an initiate must prove themselves to be
"mentally and physically competent, of good moral character, and believe
in the existence of a Supreme Being." Among their affiliated
organizations: The Order of Demolay, The Order of Rainbow for Girls, and
The Order of Job's Daughters, which allow children as young as 11 to
become indoctrinated in Masonic teaching. The Order of the Eastern Star,
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Daughters of the
Nile are organizations closely aligned with the Masons.
Their literature claims that "Freemasonry is not a religion even though it
is a religion in character...does not pretend to take the place of
religion nor serve as a substitute for the religious beliefs of its
members...(and) accepts men, found to be worthy, regardless of religious
convictions." They claim that they exist "to make good men better through
its firm belief in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man (and)
consists of men bound together by bonds of Brotherly Love and Affection."
Examining Masonic Tradition
Any organization which strives to adhere to such a high moral standard
certainly should deserve our admiration and respect. However, why have
they elicited the criticism that they have? The Vatican has issued many
Edicts condemning Masonry: Pope Clement XII in 1738, Pope Benedict XIV in
1751, Pope Plus VII in 1821, Pope Leo XII in 1825, Pope Plus VIII in 1829,
Pope Gregory XVI in 1832, Pope Plus IX in 1846 and 1873, and Pope Leo XIII
in 1884 and 1892. Pope Leo XXIII said that the goal of the Masons was the
"overthrow of the whole religious, political and social order based on
Christian institutions and the establishment of a state of things based on
pure naturalism." Until 1974, the Roman Catholic Church had forbidden its
members to be Masons, and on March 21, 1981, the Vatican warned that "all
Roman Catholics who belong to Masonic lodges risk excommunication."
In 1784, and again in 1845, the Bavarian government considered Masonry a
danger to the state. In 1814, The Regency of Milan and Governor of Venice
echoed these same sentiments. King John VI of Portugal issued orders in
1816, and again in 1824, prohibiting the operation of the fraternity. In
Russia, in 1820, Alexander I banished the Order.
Many writers in the late 1800's, such as Archbishop Meurin and Dr.
Bataille, said that Masonry was just a cover organization for Satan
worship, which occurred within its higher degrees, and was unknown to the
ordinary member. In 1921, Dr. James Anderson wrote a booklet on
Freemasonry called The Anderson Constitution in which he wrote:
"Freemasonry rapidly expanded in Europe. In France, a number of the
Masonic sects dabbled with magic and occultism. In Germany some were
called Order of the Gold, and Rosy Cross (or Rosicrucians). In England,
during the 1880's, the famous magical society, the Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn adopted most of the Masonic grades." Many Druid ceremonies and
witchcraft rites have been incorporated into Masonic rituals.
So, are the Masons a Christian organization? The answer is a resounding
No! Their literature claims that Jesus was just a man, equal to Mohammed
and Krishna, the Hindu God. He is called the "son of Joseph," not the Son
of God. Initiates are told that Masonic rituals are "based on the Bible,"
however in Chase's Digest of Masonic Law it says that "Masonry has
nothing whatever to do with the Bible...it is not founded upon the Bible,
for if it were it would not be Masonry, it would be something else." Chase
said that the Bible is just one of the "holy books" of man, equal to the
Koran, Hindu Scriptures and others. Its literal meaning was meant only for
the ignorant masses. At the end of the initiation for the Royal Arch
degree, the initiate has the lost name of "God" whispered to him: "Jebulon."
Mackey, in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, said that "Freemasonry
is not Christianity" and indicates that this name actually represents a
composite of the names of the sun god of three religions: "Jah," the
Syrian form of Jehovah; "Eel," which is Baal; and "On," the Egyptian sun
god. J. D. Buck (32nd degree) wrote in Mystic Masonry (1925): "The
only personal God Freemasonry accepts is humanity in toto...Humanity
therefore is the only personal God that their Masonic philosophy is that
God is whatever you want him to be and is referred to in general terms as
the "deity" and the "Great Architect of the Universe," but in higher
degrees, he is identified as a force of nature, usually the sun.
Mackey, in his Masonic Rituals said that the elimination of the
name of Jesus, and references to him, in Bible verses used in rituals are
"slight but necessary modifications." Mackey also wrote in his Lexicon of
Freemasonry: "The religion then of Masonry is pure theism on which its
different members engraft their particular opinions, but they are not
permitted to introduce them into the lodge or to connect their truth or
falsehood with the truth of Masonry...A Christian Mason is not permitted
to introduce his own peculiar opinions with regard to Christ's mediatorial
office into the Lodge." No masonic prayers in monitors, handbooks and
guides, end in Jesus' name, and if it is discovered that they do, the
Grand Lodge of that state will revoke their charter. Edmond Ronayne a
Master Mason), wrote on page 74 of the Masonic Handbook (later
revised to eliminate the passage): "When a brother reveals any of our
great secrets...or whenever a minister prays in the name of Christ in any
of our assemblies, you must always hold yourself in readiness, if called
upon, to cut his throat from ear to ear, pull out his tongue by the roots,
and bury his body at the bottom of some lake or pond." According to Morris
in The Freemason's Monitor (or Webb's Monitor), which omits any
reference to the name of Jesus: "Prayer...should be of a general
character, containing nothing offensive to any class of conscientious
brethren."
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), author of The Power of Positive
Thinking was a 33rd degree Mason, and his name appeared in many
Masonic publications. In March, 1991, he was featured in the cover story
of The Scottish Rite Journal (formerly known as the New Age
magazine), and is quoted as saying that "Masonry became an early and
essential part of my success." On Sunday, February 24, 1991, Peale had
told the congregation of Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in
California: "Jesus Christ, Buddha and Krishna are examples of great
philosophers who taught how to use mind power." In May, 1991, at a Dallas,
Texas seminar for Christian writers, Dina Donahue, a contributing editor
for Guidepost magazine (which Peale founded), said that any
submission to the publication can never refer to the deity of Jesus, and
claim that He is the only means by which salvation can be achieved. He can
only be presented in a historical context as a prophet and philosopher.
She said that the reason for this was that "Guidepost is an interfaith
magazine, and Dr. Peale does not want to offend those who are not
Christians."
In Les Sectes et Societies Secretes published in 1863, Le Couteulx
de Canteleu wrote that the goal of the Masonic Order "was, is and will
always be the struggle against the Church and the Christian religion..."
Joseph Fort Newton wrote in The Builders: "Masonry...is Religion, a
worship in which all good men may unite, that each may share the faith of
all...Where else, except in a Masonic lodge, could men of many religions
meet, each praying for all and all for one." Mackey wrote in his
Textbook of Masonic Jurisprudence, that Masonry is "undoubtedly a
religious institution"; and also in his Manual of the Lodge, he
emphatically states that "Masonry is a religious institution." Buck wrote
in Mystic Masonry that Masonry is "a world wide religion...Masonry
is the universal religion only because and so long as it embraces all
religions."
High level Masons believe that Lucifer never fell to earth, and that
Lucifer is really God, and refer to Jehovah by the name of "Adonay,"
saying that he is the god of evil because he forces men to be subservient
to his repressive dictates. Masonic books given to handpicked members of
the 32nd and 33rd Degrees, say that Jesus was an impostor, and that
Lucifer is the true God. The Masons have their own Luciferian based
calendar. Where ours is based on the years before (B.C.) and after (A.D.)
the birth of Christ, theirs counts its years with the suffix A.L. means
Anno Lucis or "Year of Light (Lucifer)."
In Morals and Dogma, Pike wrote: "Every Masonic lodge is a temple
of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion...Masonry, like
all religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its
secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false
explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead...to conceal
the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from
it...The truth must be kept secret, and the masses need a teaching
proportioned to their imperfect reason." He wrote that "every man's
conception of God must be proportioned to his mental cultivation,
intellectual powers, and moral excellence. God is, as man conceives him,
the reflected image of man himself." The next statement reduces the
Masonic philosophy to a single premise. Pike writes: "The true name of
Satan, the Kabalists say, is that of Yahveh reversed; for Satan is not a
black god...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...Doubt it not!"
These various passages should settle any arguments concerning the
anti-Christian nature of the Masons. Their role in history seemed to be to
act as a diluting factor, to lessen the impact of Christianity through
tolerance, and to politically work towards the goals established by the
Illuminati.
The Masonic Organizational Structure
The Blue Lodge (Symbolic Lodge of Masonry):
1) Entered Apprentice
2) Fellow-Craft
3) Master Mason
Albert Pike explained in Morals & Dogma: "The Blue Degrees are but the
outer court or portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed
there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally misled by false
interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it
is intended that he shall imagine he understands them. Their true
explication is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry...It is
well enough for the mass of those called Masons, to imagine that all is
contained in the Blue Degrees; and whoso attempts to undeceive them will
labor in vain."
Lodge of Perfection (Scottish Rite or Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite):
4) Secret Master
5) Perfect Master
6) Intimate Secretary
7) Provost and Judge
8) Intendant of the Building
9) Master Elect of Nine
10) Elect of Fifteen
11) Sublime Master Elected (Sublime Knights Elect of the Twelve)
12) Grand Master Architect
13) Master of the Ninth Arch (Knight of the Ninth Arch)
14) Grand Elect Mason
Council of Princes of Jerusalem:
15) Knight of the East (Knight of the Sword)
16) Prince of Jerusalem
Chapter of Rose-Croix
17) Knight of the East and West
18) Prince of Rose-Croix (Knight of the Eagle)
The Consistory (Council of Kadosh)
19) Grand Pontiff
20) Master Ad Vitam (Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges)
21) Patriarch Noachite (Prussian Knight)
22) Prince of Libanus (Knight of the Royal Axe)
23) Chief of the Tabernacle
24) Prince of the Tabernacle
25) Knight of the Brazen Serpent
26) Prince of Mercy
27) Commander of the Temple
28) Knight of the Sun (Prince Adept)
29) Knight of St. Andrew
30) Grand Elect Knight of Kadosh
Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret
31) Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander
32) Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret
Supreme Council
33) Sovereign Grand Inspector General
The Mother Supreme Council of the World in Washington, D.C., awards all
33rd Degrees. It is the only degree that can't be earned- it is conferred
"because of outstanding service to others which reflects credit upon the
Order." All Illuminati members are 33rd Degree Masons.
Red Masonry or York Rite (or Craft Masonry):
All Masons go through the first 3 degrees of the "Blue Lodge and then must
decide whether they want to enter either the Scottish or York Rites (Capitular
Degrees).
Mark Master
Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch Mason (Holy Royal Arch)
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
Order of the Red Cross
Order of the Knights of Malta
Order of Knights Templar
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