by jimwalton » Thu Nov 02, 2017 2:11 pm
I don't know what "the Church" says about them—but, then again, I'm not sure "the Church" says anything about them. But I'll give you my personal thoughts.
Though they portray themselves as a positive force in society, encouraging humankind to bond together for work and pleasure, it is basically an anti-Christian organization/institution. Based on my research and understanding...
- A large portion of the Masonic rituals concentrate on murder (the rituals of the 3rd degree)
- Masonic ideas of god are vague and don't correspond to the biblical teachings about YHWH. In their effort to be accepted by Muslim, Buddhists, Taoists, etc., they refuse to define God. In the Royal Arch (4th in York Rite, equivalent to 14th in Scottish Rite) degree, the initiate is taught that the true name of God is *Jahbulon*, a combination of YHWH, Baal (But or Bel), and On (Egyptian god Osiris). This is anti-Christian. The degree of the Knights of East and West (17º Scottish Rite) calls god "Abaddon" (Rev. 9.11, a name for "Destroyer"). Albert Pike, a leading Masonic authority, writes that "The Masonic Religion should be ...maintained in the purity of Luciferian doctrine [that Lucifer is God]." The God of Christianity is discredited by Masonry. In the Masonic periodical, *New Age*, it states, "Masonry holds and teaches that with all and above all there is God, *not* essentially a Christian Triune God."
- The symbols of Masonry, the square and the compass, are Masonic symbols of deception. Albert Mackey, in *The Manual of the Lodge*, writes, "The symbol [of the point within a circle] is really a beautiful but somewhat abstruse allusion to the old sun-worship, and introduces us for the first time to that modification of it, known among the ancients as the worship of the phallus." In another work Mackey wrote, "The phallus was a sculptured representation of the male organ of generation and the worship of it is said to have originated in Egypt. In the Mysteries...we find the remote origin of the point within a circle, an ancient symbol which was first adopted by the old sun worshippers...and incorporated into the symbolism of Freemasonry."
- In the Masonic hierarchy, one of the levels is the level of Palladium. In the Palladium, there are 5 steps:
1. Adoption: The Mason is brought into fellowship with Lucifer, and sings "Glory and Love for Lucifer! Hatred! Hatred! Hatred! to God accursed! accursed! accursed! In this oath, the initiate makes a pact with Satan.
2. Illumination: The Mason is "illuminated" through drugs and occult practices.
3. Conversation: The Mason begins conversations with the "mighty dead."
4. Congress: One is married to a spirit that has possessed the body of a medium of the opposite sex. Through their intimacy, the spirit is transferred to the body of the initiate. Through repeated sexual contact, the initiate can hope to gain all of the spirit's wisdom and knowledge.
5. Union. When union is achieved, the Mason's soul is completely eclipsed by the spirit.
- Another one of the higher Masonic levels is the Ancient and Illuminated Seers of Bavaria (The "Illuminati"). The Illuminati use Hashish to produce an "illuminated" state of mind. From the Illuminati come "The Law of Fives":
1. Chaos: society has no order
2. Discord: An unhappy ruling class emerges
3. Confusion: An attempt to restore order between the two forces.
4. Bureaucracy: the destruction of the middle class and downfall of society
5. Aftermath: Society reverts to chaos.
True Christians and Freemasons are at odds with each other.