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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781575679938 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Moody Publishers |
| Publication date: | 04/08/1990 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 336 |
| File size: | 439 KB |
About the Author
JOHN ANKERBERG (B.A., University of Illinois; M.A., and M.Div., Trinity Evangelical School; D.Min., Bethel Theological Seminary) is the president and founder of The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute and the producer and host of the nationally televised John Ankerberg Show. He is the author, co-author and/or editor of 76 books, including Middle East Meltdown, The Da Vinci Code Controversy and Ready with An Answer for the Tough Questions About God. John and his wife, Darlene, have one daughter and reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
JOHN ANKERBERG received his B.A. from the University of Illinois, his Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees at Trinity Evangelical School, and his Doctor of Ministry degree at Bethel Theological Seminary. He is the president and founder of The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute and the producer and host of the nationally televised John Ankerberg Show presenting contemporary spiritual issues and defending biblical/Christian answers.
John is the author, co-author and/or editor of 76 books, including Middle East Meltdown, The Da Vinci Code Controversy: 10 Facts You Should Know, Ready with An Answer for the Tough Questions About God, and Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs.
He and his wife, Darlene, have one daughter and reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Read an Excerpt
The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge
A Christian Perspective
By John Ankerberg, John Weldon
Moody Publishers
Copyright © 1990 The Ankerberg Theological Research InstituteAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57567-993-8
CHAPTER 1
Masonic Nature and Influence
Masonry (also known as Freemasonry or "The Lodge") is a powerful, old fraternal order that began early in the eighteenth century. According to most Masonic authorities, modern Masonry (also called "speculative" Masonry) can be traced to the founding of the first Grand Lodge in London in 1717.
The Lodge is also a secret society. In fact, the Encyclopaedia Britannica classifies it as the largest secret society in the world. To maintain its secrets, Masonry uses symbolism, secret oaths, and secret rituals to instruct new members called "Initiates." Each new member swears during these secret ceremonies to remain loyal to the Lodge and its teachings. The teachings instruct each new candidate how he is to serve and the rewards he can expect.
In addition, Masonry views its mission in life as helping to bring the beliefs of all men into harmony—a harmony based primarily on Masonic teachings. Two of these teachings form the foundation of all Masonry.
First is their belief in the universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man. By this, Masons teach that all men—Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Mormons, Buddhists, and Christians—regardless of their personal religious views, are the spiritual sons of God. Masonry's second foundational belief is that reforming personal character and practicing good works will secure God's favor. In other words, the Masonic Lodge clearly teaches that the good character and good works of a Mason will earn him a place in the "Celestial Lodge Above" (i.e., heaven).
The Nature of Masonry
Several leading Masons have defined Masonry. According to Albert G. Mackey in Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, "All [Masons] unite in declaring it to be a system of morality, by the practice of which its members may advance their spiritual interest, and mount by the theological ladder from the Lodge on earth to the Lodge in heaven." Other respected Masonic authorities define Masonry in the following ways:
"Masonry is the realization of God by the practice of Brotherhood."
"It is a science which is engaged in the search after Divine Truth, and which employs symbolism as its method of instruction."
"[Masonry is] that religious and mystical society whose aim is moral perfection on the basis of general equality and fraternity."
"Freemasonry, in its broadest and most comprehensive sense, is a system of morality and social ethics, a primitive religion and a philosophy of life.... Incorporating a broad humanitarianism, ... it is a religion without a creed, being of no sect but finding truth in all.... It seeks truth but does not define truth."
A man who becomes a Mason is defined by Masonic authorities as "one who has been initiated into the mysteries of the Fraternity of Freemasonry."
On the other hand, defining Masonry presents us with a dilemma. No single definition of Masonry is accepted by all Masons. This is because the practice of Masonry means many different (and sometimes contrary) things to individual Masons. For some of its members, Masonry has become little more than a social club; for others, Masonry dominates their life and work. This point is well stated by leading Masonic authority Henry Wilson Coil in A Comprehensive View of Freemasonry:
Nobody knows what Freemasonry is, or, if that statement be deemed too strong, at least no one has been able to demonstrate that he knows the answer to the question. What one [Mason or Masonic authority] asserts another of apparently equal ability doubts or denies.... Nor is this divergence of opinion due to ignorance or lack of investigation, for conflicts arise principally among the most zealous and erudite of Masonic students. The Fraternity has no central authority to declare its creed and no censor of books to check aberrations. Anyone, either within or without the Society, may speak or write about it what he wills, and many have taken advantage of that liberty.
Coil proceeds to discuss the basic problem of definition presented by Freemasonry:
Freemasonry has spread so widely, has expanded into so many degrees [more than 1,100 degrees according to Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, p. 600; cf. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia, 15th ed., s.v. "Freemasonry"], and has undergone so many changes, to say nothing of having been subjected to so many diverse interpretations, that the question: What is Freemasonry? must first be answered by another question: When, where, and what phase of it? Though much of Masonic doctrine has remained remarkably well fixed and stable, its laws have changed, its degrees have changed, its ceremonies have changed, its religion has changed, and doubtless the concepts of it by its members have changed.
Through its history Masonry has changed, and even today Masonry worldwide is not uniform. This characteristic of Masonry presents an important issue that needs to be resolved at the outset: Does Masonry's lack of a central authority make it incapable of being subject to legitimate criticism? The answer is no. The mere fact that Masonry has evolved historically or that Masons disagree among themselves is irrelevant to the production of a factual analysis. Some Masons imply that because Masonry has no "official voice," some Masonic writers are only voicing personal opinions that have no authority. Consider the argument of Masonic historian Alphonse Cerza. Cerza claims that some Masons have advanced theories or made statements that merely express personal views, implying that such views are not Masonic and therefore irrelevant to Masonry:
Some Masonic authors have unintentionally supplied opponents of the Craft with some of their arguments. Dr. Albert Churchward, J. S. N. Ward, W. L. Wilmshurst, Arthur Waite, and others have advanced theories and made statements that express personal views. Some of their statements are not based on fact, are mere theories, and are not generally accepted by Masons. But the anti-Masons pick up these statements and hold them up to ridicule by stating that they are from books of "Masonic authority." These anti-Masons have difficulty in understanding that Freemasonry has no "official voice" and that freedom of thought and expression is one of the fundamental principles of the Order.
Cerza cites the lack of a central authority in Masonry as a reason critics have been able to quote Masons in their so-called unfounded attacks. But the issue is, "Are what these Masonic writers say true for Masonry?" It is not the fault of one who analyzes Masonry that Masonry has no central authority. But Masonry clearly has a specific history. Masonry clearly has a general consensus as to its world view. Even the leading Masonic authority, Albert Mackey, has admitted "the doctrine of Freemasonry is everywhere the same." As we have seen above, Coil himself admits that much of Masonic doctrine "has remained remarkably well fixed and stable."
The real issue is whether or not the statements made by these Masonic authorities are in harmony with what Masonry represents and constitutes, both historically and in terms of its world view. That is the only issue that needs to be decided. Masonry may not have a single human authority, but few Masons will dispute that Masonry itself provides the authority. In The Newly-Made Mason, H. L. Haywood refers to the obligations placed upon the new Mason:
I hereby solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that as a beginning Craftsman in the Masonry of the mind and as a Newly-Made Mason I will not permit myself to be led into making hasty conclusions. I promise and swear that I will not listen to those who are not competent to teach me. There will be nothing binding on me except the truth. If there be those who say one thing and if there be others who say the opposite thing, I will consider that it is Freemasonry itself which finally is to decide between them.
What we present in this book, therefore, is an analysis of Masonry itself, as stated by Masonic authorities recommended by at least half of the Grand Lodges in the United States. We recognize that all of what is presented may not necessarily coincide with the individual beliefs of a given Mason. Some Masons have no interest in the history and doctrines of Masonry. Some are unfamiliar with its occult aspects. But for others, Masonry is a religious world view that dominates their life and their work.
Regardless of the fluid and sometimes historically contradictory nature of Masonry, there remains a solid core of belief that is central to the majority of Masonry and to which almost all Masonic writers appeal. We have examined this core belief, but we have done a great deal more. In examining Masonry in some depth, we have tried to show that the implications of Masonry extend far beyond what the average Mason might suspect.
Before an individual supports Masonry with his oaths, vows, time, and money, he should acquire sufficient information as to the teachings and implications of his craft. It is only then that a rational decision can be made as to whether or not one can indeed support Masonry in good conscience. We have written this text in the hope that it will perform a genuine service to Masons so that this decision can be made intelligently. Further, we believe the material presented in this volume will be a considerable help to everyone outside the Lodge who needs authoritative information on Masonry.
Determining the Authoritative Sources in Masonry
Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32d Degree Mason, admitted on national television that "The authoritative source for Masonry is The Ritual. The Ritual—what happens in the Lodge, what goes on." He was correct.
But Coil points out "the misconception that originally there was somewhere one authorized ritual. The Masonic rituals were not created: they grew [historically] and there never was only one Masonic ritual; there have always been many." The question then becomes, "Who determines what the ritual will consist of in each Masonic Lodge?" The answer is, the Grand Lodge of each state has the power to regulate the ritual practiced in that Lodge. As Coil writes, it is "well understood that Grand Lodges are the highest Masonic authorities in both law and doctrine."'
What must be recognized here is that, historically and worldwide, Masonic ritual varies. But in contemporary American Masonry, it is highly uniform. Thus, if one examines Masonry historically, he will find that the Grand Lodges of each state have disagreed on many of the landmarks (principles of Masonry) and precisely what should be included in the ritual. However, when one examines the different manuals containing the current ritual for each state in America, it is apparent that the ritual and interpretations given are very close, if not identical. Therefore, the ritual in the Masonic manuals can be considered the authoritative teachings of the Lodge. Former Worshipful Master Jack Harris reveals: "In [all] other states ... the principle and the doctrines are exactly the same. The wording only varies slightly."
In addition, the ritual itself is but the reflection of Masonic doctrine. State by state the rituals may vary slightly, but the doctrines they are intended to convey are everywhere uniform. For example, Mackey states in his encyclopedia on Masonry that
in each Masonic Jurisdiction it is required, by the superintending authority, that the Ritual shall be the same; but it more or less differs in the different Rites and Jurisdictions. But this does not affect the universality of Freemasonry. The Ritual is only the external and extrinsic form. The doctrine of Freemasonry is everywhere the same. It is the Body which is unchangeable—remaining always and everywhere the same. The Ritual is but the outer garment which covers this Body, which is subject to continual variation. It is right and desirable that the Ritual should be made perfect, and everywhere alike. But if this be impossible, as it is, this at least will console us, that while the ceremonies, or Ritual, have varied at different periods, and still vary in different countries, the science and philosophy, the symbolism and the religion, of Freemasonry continue, and will continue, to be the same wherever true Freemasonry is practised.
A vast amount of Masonic literature is available to the researcher. This includes at least 100,000 volumes, among which are a minimum of 600 analytical works giving a broad treatment of the subject of Masonry. Also in print are numerous exposés of Masonry by former members who have revealed virtually all the secrets of the Craft (e.g., Byers, Harris, McQuaig, Ronayne, and Shaw). Thus, Masonry is a "secret society" only to those who have not read this literature.
Which authors and books do Masons themselves recommend to outsiders as authoritative? In order to answer this question, a letter was sent to each of the fifty Grand Lodges in America. We addressed this letter to the Grand Master of each Lodge and asked him to respond to the following question: "As an official Masonic leader, which books and authors do you recommend as being authoritative on the subject of Freemasonry?"
Twenty-five of the Grand Lodges in the United States responded. A response of fifty percent is sufficiently high to suggest that the responses of other states would not have varied significantly. In other words, we may assume that these responses are normative for U.S. Masonry as a whole. Remember, for each state, no higher jurisdictional authority than its Grand Lodge exists.
Which authors were recommended by the Grand Lodges as being authoritative for Masons?
44 percent recommended Henry Wilson Coil
36 percent Joseph Fort Newton
32 percent Albert G. Mackey
24 percent Carl H. Claudy
24 percent H. L. Haywood
20 percent Alphonse Cerza
20 percent Robert F. Gould
20 percent Allen E. Roberts
16 percent Albert Pike
Other authors recommended included W. R. Denslow, R. V. Denslow, Charles C. Hunt, Bernard Jones, Roscoe Pound, James Anderson, Henry C. Clausen, D. Darrah, Manly Hall, W. Hutchinson, M. M. Johnson, Karl C. F. Krause, W. Preston, G. Steinmetz, J. H. Van Gorden, T. S. Webb, and Louis Williams.
What individual books were recommended by the Grand Lodges as being authoritative interpreters of Freemasonry?
44 percent Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, by Henry Wilson Coil
36 percent The Builders, by Joseph Fort Newton
32 percent Mackey's Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, by Albert G. Mackey
24 percent Introduction to Freemasonry, by Carl H. Claudy
24 percent The Newly-Made Mason, by H. L. Haywood
20 percent A Masonic Reader's Guide, by Alphonse Cerza
20 percent History of Freemasonry, by Robert F. Gould
20 percent The Craft and Its Symbols, by Allen E. Roberts
16 percent Morals and Dogma, by Albert Pike
Notice that the Grand Lodges recognize Coil, Newton, and Mackey as the three leading Masonic authorities. For example, Masonic scholar Oliver D. Street observes that all Masons "will admit that Dr. Albert G. Mackey was one of the leading scholars of the Masonic world."
Albert Pike should also be listed among leading Masonic authorities. The current Sovereign Grand Commander, C. Fred Kleinknecht, relates the following about this Masonic scholar in The House of the Temple of the Supreme Council (a text extolling the headquarters of the Supreme Council, 33d Degree): "Albert Pike remains today an inspiration for Masons everywhere. His great book Morals and Dogma endures as the most complete exposition of Scottish Rite philosophy. He will always be remembered and revered as the Master Builder of the Scottish Rite" (italics added). Because of the Sovereign Grand Commander's lofty estimate, when considering the meaning of the higher degrees in the Scottish Rite, we often include what Albert Pike wrote. Masons cannot claim that Pike was only teaching his "own opinions."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge by John Ankerberg, John Weldon. Copyright © 1990 The Ankerberg Theological Research Institute. Excerpted by permission of Moody Publishers.
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTSPart 1: The Masonic Lodge
1. Masonic Nature and Influence
2. Masonic Religion
3. Masonic World View
4. Masonic Morality
Part 2: Religious Secrets: Beliefs
5. The Plan of Salvation
6. The Rule of Faith and Practice
7. The Fatherhood of God
8. The Nature of God
9. The Name of God
10. Jesus Christ
11. The Nature of Man
12. Hell
Part 3: Religious Secrets: Practice
13. Blaspheming God's Name
14. Swearing Oaths
15. Uniting All Religions
16. Influencing the Church
Part 4: Mystical Secrets
17. The Occult
18. Spiritism
19. Mystery Religions
20. Deception