FREEMASONS
William R. Mosher
To our brothers among the new calendarist jurisdictions, the Greek
Archdiocese, the Antiochian Archdiocese and the OCA in particular, I ask
the following question, what is the position of your jurisdiction
concerning freemasonry? Do you permissible for Orthodox Christians to be
masons? The Tradionalist Orthodox Churches, of which I am a member,
expressly forbid the faithful from joining masonic organisations.
Your unworthy servant,
Reader Alban Mosher
St. Catherine of Sinai Greek Orthodox Church (HOCNA)
St. Louis, Missouri
Michael C. Srour
Alban,
I have read your comments with much interest. For further reading refer to
Fr. Stanley Harakas Comtemport Moral Issues Pp. 53-46. Fr. Stanley gives a
brief and detail account on the subject.
IThis subject have been one of trouble for me over the eyars, due in part to
the 'sins of the fathers' has resulted in this problem for the Church. Over
previous geberation of our fathers, uncles and Grand-fathers were at one
point affiliated to the free-mason movement, not our of conviction to its
belief but as a way to make business contacts and have social ties as well.
In fact specific lodges were setup for ethnic minorities, like here in Los
Angeles "Arabivc Lodge"
In fact several of our Hierarchs of the Greek and Antiochian Archdiocese
were MAsons I.e. Metropolitan Antony Bashir and Archbis (later Patriarch of
Constantinople) Anthargorios - in fact President Truman was a fellow lodge
brother of his and transported him to Turkey on Airforce One.
Thee present policy of the Antiochian Archdiocese is that we can belive in
one God and no one can have two religions - I have heard Metropolitan Philip
convay this point. However I have seen several funeral Gravesides that the
Masonic Funeral is done after the Orthodox Priest complete the Graveside
service. In other words there is a double stand in place due to not rocking
the boat of the elder members of our PArishes, but I can also state that the
massonic lodges are seeing a decree in new members and not many Orthodox are
becoming members as well.
The policy that the OCa Bishop's have is quite harsh, we have to approach
this subject on a local level with pastoral care.
.
Michael C. Srour
Alban,
this subject on a local level with pastoral care. My coments are my
opinions and not of the Antiochian rchdiocese.
Michael srour
.
Caedmontwo
>To our brothers among the new calendarist jurisdictions, the Greek
>Archdiocese, the Antiochian Archdiocese and the OCA in particular, I ask
>the following question, what is the position of your jurisdiction
>concerning freemasonry? Do you permissible for Orthodox Christians to be
>masons? The Tradionalist Orthodox Churches, of which I am a member,
>expressly forbid the faithful from joining masonic organisations.
Dear Alban:
I don't know anything about GOA or the Antiochian's position. In the Diocese of
the South, (OCA), Archbishop Dimitri forbids the giving of communion to Masons.
I also know that in the Diocese of the West, Bishop Tikhon has a similar
policy.
In Him,
the sinner Caedmon
sp...@erols.com
William R. Mosher wrote:
> To our brothers among the new calendarist jurisdictions, the Greek
> Archdiocese, the Antiochian Archdiocese and the OCA in particular, I ask
> the following question, what is the position of your jurisdiction
> concerning freemasonry? Do you permissible for Orthodox Christians to be
> masons? The Tradionalist Orthodox Churches, of which I am a member,
> expressly forbid the faithful from joining masonic organisations.
>
> Your unworthy servant,
> Reader Alban Mosher
> St. Catherine of Sinai Greek Orthodox Church (HOCNA)
> St. Louis, Missouri
as is proper. Masonry is a syncretistic pseudo religion
sp...@erols.com
Michael C. Srour wrote:
> Alban,
>
> In fact several of our Hierarchs of the Greek and Antiochian Archdiocese
> were MAsons I.e. Metropolitan Antony Bashir and Archbishop (later Patriarch of
>
> Constantinople) Athenagoros - in fact President Truman was a fellow lodge
> brother of his and transported him to Turkey on Airforce One.
He was not the only Masonic prelate that Truman flew Air Force 1!
>
>
> The policy that the OCa Bishop's have is quite harsh, we have to approach
> this subject on a local level with pastoral care. My coments are my
> opinions and not of the Antiochian rchdiocese.
>
> Michael Srour
>
> .
Lot of Islamic symbolism in Masonry and it is elitist, hereditary and racist
(only certain races excluded). Didn't John Dunlop write a rather lengthy
excurses on masonry for graduate work at Saint Vlad's? I asked this before.
Does anyone have it?
Galina
nick cobb
You got it!
nick cobb
sp...@erols.com wrote:
>
> Lot of Islamic symbolism in Masonry and it is elitist, hereditary and racist
> (only certain races excluded). Didn't John Dunlop write a rather lengthy
> excurses on masonry for graduate work at Saint Vlad's? I asked this before.
> Does anyone have it?
>
> Galina
-----------------------------------------------------
Could be--you'll have to call the Library and ask. 914-961-8313.
Evan Kalenik
sp...@erols.com wrote:
> Lot of Islamic symbolism in Masonry and it is elitist, hereditary and racist
> (only certain races excluded).
Well I know someone who is Black and the Grand Master of the Masonic Temple here.So
what races are excluded, I don't know.
Not that I am defending Masons.
I think most people who have gone to college and joined a fraternity or sorority are
about as guilty as anyone who joins the Masons.
One can also consider equally "bad" folks who join the Elks, the Moose, etc. One
can find fault with all of them.
The one difference with the Masons seems to be the requirement of a belief in God.
And perhaps the way they define God. I don't know what that is but it seems to be
an issue. But most folks don't look at the Masons as some kind of religion. Should
they is another question. Had an earlier pope not been "black balled" by the lodge
in Rome, Masonry would be fine for today's Roman Catholics (and seems to be from
some things that I have seen).
If someone was to ask me if I thought it was OK for them to join the Masons, I would
say it wasn't. If pressed for a "why not", it would simply be that there seems to
be some debate within the Church on the subject and it would be better to sit it
out.
Evan
William M. Klimon
Evan Kalenik wrote in message <350A9EA7...@webspan.net>...
>The one difference with the Masons seems to be the requirement of a belief
in God.
>And perhaps the way they define God. I don't know what that is but it
seems to be
>an issue. But most folks don't look at the Masons as some kind of
religion. Should
>they is another question. Had an earlier pope not been "black balled" by
the lodge
>in Rome, Masonry would be fine for today's Roman Catholics (and seems to be
from
>some things that I have seen).
Wrong and wrong. You are spinning pure fantasy here:
(1) Freemasonry (the "Company of the Trowel") only reached Italy in 1733.
Pope Clement XII (r. 1730-40) issued the first papal condemnation of
Freemasonry in the constitution *In eminenti* (Apr. 28, 1738), on the
grounds of Masonry's naturalistic bias, demand for secret oaths, religious
indifferentism, and possible threat to church and state. There is
absolutely no evidence for the conspiracy you suggest.
(2) Membership in a Masonic lodge incurred the penalty of excommunication
under Canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Under the new Code (1983),
such membership is covered by Canon 1374, which, the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith clarified on Nov. 26, 1983, means that membership in
Masonry is "grave sin", the punishment for which is interdict.
_____________________________________________________________________
William M. Klimon ("13") wkl...@worldnet.att.net
wkl...@umaryland.edu http://home.net.att/~wklimon
University of Maryland School of Law
500 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-1786
sp...@erols.com
nick cobb wrote:
> sp...@erols.com wrote:
>
> >
> > Lot of Islamic symbolism in Masonry and it is elitist, hereditary and racist
> > (only certain races excluded). Didn't John Dunlop write a rather lengthy
> > excurses on masonry for graduate work at Saint Vlad's? I asked this before.
> > Does anyone have it?
> >
> > Galina
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> Could be--you'll have to call the Library and ask. 914-961-8313.
thanks for the number
Robert W. Mounger
Michael C. Srour wrote:
> but I can also state that the massonic
> lodges are seeing a decree in new members
> and not many Orthodox are becoming members as well.
Greetings,
If what you meant was that there is a decline
in new members, this is true at least in Texas.
My Father-in-law is a 33rd, and he says that
freemasonry is dying out. Even he plans to be
cremated and forgo a masonic funeral.
There was a Byzantine Catholic gent who used
to come to great Vespers often who claimed that
anyone who really wanted to understand freemasonry
should read "Morals & Dogmas" by Albert Pike, a
confederate general and founding member of the KKK.
Never read it myself, not that interested.
unworthy subd. A.
nick cobb
Here's some info on the WEB about masonry. If you want more, use a
search engine and read to your heart's content. It is quite obvious,
this IS a religion!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.crocker.com/~acacia/text_ms_fme.html
> =
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> =
> FREE MASONRY EXPOSED:
> =
> [Image] =A9
> =
> The Subject Treated From A Bible Standpoint.
> Showing The Difference Between
> Masonic Religion And Bible Salvation.
> =
> BY FRED HUSTED.
> =
> =A9 1996 Acacia Press, Incorporated.
> MONTAGUE, MASSACHUSETTS.
> =
> Originally Published:
> circa 1910
> GOSPEL TRUMPET PUBLISHING COMPANY
> GRAND JUNCTION, MICHIGAN
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> =
> PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.
> =
> As many volumes, both opposing, and favoring Free Masonry, have been
> published and scattered broadcast throughout the land, yet we realize
> the great need of a brief work being placed in the hands of every
> person belonging to a secret order, or who may have any intention of
> joining such with the hope of bettering their condition.
> =
> It is hoped that these few pages will have the desired effect, and be
> the means of rescuing many precious souls from the snare that is laid
> to entrap them and lead them on and on until redemption is beyond
> their reach.
> =
> It is our aim to sound the alarm, and give a note of warning in due
> time to the great danger in pursuing the deceptive course marked out
> for them, leading them on into mysterious and unknown paths, bringing
> peril and eternal destruction to their souls. It is also intended to
> show the plane of Masonic religion, and compare it with the teachings
> of the Holy Bible. Every professing Christian should know these
> things, not only for their own benefit, but also for the purpose of
> warning their children and others against impending danger.
> =
> Dear reader, if you are a member of a secret order, do not cast this
> book aside until you have read and re-read its pages and pondered over
> the truths contained therein. Your soul is in the balance, and much
> depends upon your decision in the matter; a wrong step will prove
> fatal. And to those who have escaped the snare, or have never been led
> into its clutches, we trust you will extend a helping hand and aid in
> the rescue, sparing neither time nor means in so doing, and should you
> consider this volume worthy the place for which it is intended, see to
> it that each of your friends has a copy of the same. We send it forth
> in the name of Jesus, asking his blessings upon it. Yours in Him,-The
> Publishers at Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company.
> =
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> =
> CONTENTS.
> =
> Masonic Obligations.
> =
> The Masonic Trinity.
> =
> Masonry is a Religion.
> =
> Masonic Salvation.
> =
> Masonic Mysteries.
> =
> Hiram Abiff vs Osiris of Egypt.
> =
> Masonic Traditions.
> =
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> =
> CHAPTER 1:
> =
> MASONIC OBLIGATIONS.
> =
> AMONG the various institutions of to day there are very few, if any,
> that are more binding in their obligations upon their members than is
> the Masonic order. Masonry as an institution, as a craft, owes much of
> its great power today as well as in times past, to the stringency of
> its obligations. The balance of its power is based upon two claims,
> that of being very ancient, as well as a very religious institution.
> Rob Masonry of its obligations or oaths and it would fall, so take
> away its boast of age or semblance of religion and the same result
> would follow.
> =
> Mystery in itself is powerful. So Masons have shrouded their craft in
> mystery. There is nothing mysterious about Masonry when its cloak is
> taken away. There is no light in the boasted knowledge of the craft.
> Earthly, sensual and devilish in the extreme do we find every point of
> its workings when analyzed by the Spirit and the Word of God.
> =
> To untie a mystery we must first look to the bands that enclose it.
> The Masonic obligation, it is claimed among Masons, cannot be broken.
> To obtain a clear idea of Masonry we must first inform ourselves as to
> what Masons are expected to live up to, what they are expected to do,
> and as the obligation must certainly cover a man's duty as a Mason, we
> give those duties as set forth in the obligation, that is, those that
> can be spoken to all ears, as there is at least one section that for
> reasons well known is strictly for men only. Many wonder why men
> consider Masonic obligations so binding especially so when their awful
> nature is revealed. Ministers (shall we say of the gospel?) no doubt
> also consider them binding, at least they attend their lodges and
> partake of all the nature and benefits of the craft. We now consider
> the nature of the obligation.
> =
> The first or E. A. degree obligation contains only the duty of secrecy
> as respects the workings of the lodge. This duty is bound by the
> following penalty which is spoken by the "worshipful master" and
> repeated by the candidate:
> =
> "To all of which I most solemnly and sincerely promise and
> swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and
> perform the same without the least equivocation, mental
> reservation of self evasion whatsoever: binding myself under
> a no less penalty than that of having my throat cut from ear
> to ear, my tongue torn out by the roots and buried in the
> rough sands of the sea at low water mark where the tide ebbs
> and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I in the least
> knowingly or willfully violate or transgress this my entered
> apprentice obligation. So help me God and keep me
> steadfast." (Some lodges add, "in a due performance of the
> same.")
> =
> There is enough of a threat conveyed in the above obligation or
> penalty to keep the younger initiate in subjection and wonder until he
> is brought a second time in reach of Masonic light where he is again
> sworn to keep the secrets of the F. C. degree in like manner. Four
> ties are now added covering duties to Brother Fellow crafts and the
> lodge as to the answering of summons, assistance of Brethren, etc. The
> candidate here promises not to cheat, wrong or defraud a lodge of F.
> C's or a brother of that degree knowingly or willfully, (nothing is
> said of other parties) and the penalty as here given binds the same.
> =
> "To all of which I most solemnly and sincerely promise and
> swear with a steadfast resolution to keep and perform the
> same without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or
> self evasion whatsoever, binding myself under a no less
> penalty than that of having my left breast torn open, my
> heart plucked from thence and given to the wild beasts of
> the field and the fowls of the air as a prey, should I in
> the least knowingly or willfully violate this, my fellow
> craft obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast."
> =
> This form is the one followed in Kansas and recommended by their grand
> lodge. Colorado however adds somewhat to it, but in no material way
> changing the sense.
> =
> This carries the candidate somewhat deeper into the mysteries, and
> when he is carefully lectured and a sufficient length of time has
> transpired he is given the Master Mason's degree which increases his
> Masonic "light" darkness and he finds himself bound tighter in the
> ungodly yoke.
> =
> The M. M. obligation contains ten "ties" or sections besides the one
> of secrecy. These ten cover the ground of Masonic duty and constitute
> the Masonic code of duties. They include the duties of answering and
> obeying all summons under certain restrictions, obedience to all
> Masonic authority, with duties to each other and their relatives and
> families. The most notable are the following:
> =
> "I furthermore promise and swear that I will keep the
> secrets of a Master Mason when communicated to me as such,
> 'murder and treason' excepted, and they left to my own
> election."
> =
> Note, those not excepted would probably count among their number,
> burglary, arson, robbery, rape, piracy, theft, forgery, and many other
> things too numerous to mention, excepting of course murder and
> treason. And yet Masons tell us, and I for one was informed that there
> was nothing in the obligation that would interfere with my duty to my
> God, my country, my neighbor, my family, or myself; and I took the
> above obligation understanding it so, and with the assurance of
> "worshipful master" in an official capacity that such was the case.
> Would that section interfere with my duties to my neighbor if I
> protected a Mason who had stolen his horse and sent him on his way
> rejoicing? Any candid Mason can see at once that his M. M. obligation
> commands him to keep crime a secret, except murder and treason which
> of course his obligation tells him he can conceal or not as he likes,
> which of course is not violating his obligation if he also keeps. What
> do you think of that, you professing Christian, preacher or layman who
> are under the same cursed yoke? "Be not partakers of their evil
> deeds." How are you going to do that and keep that section? Every
> Mason when he comes to the bar of God will be asked something about
> the way he has kept his obligation. If he has kept it to the letter,
> that clause will send him to destruction. If he has not kept it he has
> violated his Masonic obligation and is in the sight of all Masonic
> eyes a perjured man, and had just as well violate them all. A
> ten-year-old boy can see that, and also see what to do when it comes
> to obeying God or man.
> =
> I have never yet asked God to pardon me for breaking that or any other
> Masonic obligation, nor do I ever intend to do so. Another obligation
> or section binds a man to respect the chastity of a Master Mason's
> wife, mother, sister or daughter, but says nothing about wives,
> mothers, sisters and daughters of other men, not Masons. Thus licensed
> they will keep their secrets should they do so and again come under
> condemnation of God and man. There are other "ties," but lack of space
> prevents their setting forth.
> =
> PENALTY, M. M. DEGREE.
> =
> "To all of which I most solemnly and sincerely promise and
> swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and
> perform the same without the least equivocation, mental
> reservation or self evasion whatsoever, binding myself under
> no less a penalty, than that of having my body severed in
> twain, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes and
> they scattered to the four winds of heaven that there might
> remain no remembrance among men or Masons, of so vile a
> wretch as I would be, should I in the least knowingly or
> willfully violate or transgress this my M. M. obligation. So
> help me God and keep me steadfast ."
> =
> I have repeated these from memory and to the best of my recollection,
> what I have given is verbatim. Is it necessary to call attention to
> the grossness and vileness of an institution, bound by such monstrous
> obligations-obligations that would shock a band of thieves, if they
> were compelled to take them, to say nothing of professed ministers of
> the gospel? Praising God for free salvation and complete deliverance
> from the power of Satan, I feel it my duty to enlighten my ex-brother
> Masons, as well as any others that may contemplate joining the order.
> =
> CHAPTER 2:
> =
> THE MASONIC TRINITY.
> =
> Masonry like nearly all other religions is based upon a symbolic
> foundation. The true religion, or salvation was designed, created and
> carried out by the triune God=97God, the Father, Son, and Holy
> Ghost,=97three in one.
> =
> Masonry, a false religion, also has a trinity. Ancient idolatry had
> its trinities, and modern idolatry has its trinities. Satan, the
> arch-counterfeiter, is the father of all lies as well as false systems
> of worship. Now in order to deceive people, and especially an
> intelligent people, his device, or plan, or counterfeit must be built
> likewise, so as to appear genuine. A counterfeit dollar is the more
> dangerous the more nearly it resembles the real, because it is the
> more likely to deceive. Every one understands, or rather is aware that
> God is known as a triune being; recognizes himself as such. God the
> Father is represented as strength, as a rock. Isa. 17: 10; Psa. 24:8;
> Job 9:19. God the Son is represented as the Savior. Matt. 1:21. A
> mediator. I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6. The true light. Jno. 1:4,9, etc. God
> the Holy Ghost. represented as wisdom, or the source of wisdom. Jno.
> 14:26. As inspiring scripture. 2 Tim. 3:16. As directing the world or
> gospel of God, as to where it should be preached. Acts 16:6,7,10. How
> it should be preached. I Cor. 2:4. Reveals what the gospel is. I Cor.
> 2:12. These three are here set forth in their offices in the true
> system. References will be found to many of the above scriptures that
> will enable the reader to push investigation as much further as he
> likes. The above will give the offices of each in a general way
> sufficient to see the illustration to follow.
> =
> Masonry in a way acknowledges what it calls the Grand Architect of the
> Universe; but prefers to symbolize him by three persons, whom we now
> proceed to investigate.
> =
> First, the symbolic structure of Masonry is supported by three
> symbolic pillars; namely, wisdom, strength, and beauty. These three
> pillars are in Masonic terms, Solomon, representing in the Masonic
> trinity the pillar of wisdom. Hiram, king of Tyre, representing the
> pillar of strength, and Hiram Abiff, the widow's son, representing the
> pillar of beauty. Here we have the Masonic foundation. Their trinity
> upon which Satan builds one of his most cunning, if not his most
> cunning and elaborate counterfeit of God's divinity, and God's plan of
> salvation.
> =
> The offices of Solomon as wisdom, and Hiram as strength, i. e.,
> counterfeits of the Holy Ghost, and of the Father, can be readily seen
> from the above. The Masonic lectures clear up that matter wonderfully.
> The question here arises: Who was Hiram Abiff? If he is a symbol of
> the Son, how does it appear that he is known as the pillar of beauty,
> or one of the trinity. Christ in the trinity is our example. I Jno.
> 1:26. Hiram Abiff is the standard of true Masonry, and all Masons are
> instructed to pattern after him. (See Masonic Lectures.) Being assured
> that if they do so they will gain an entrance into "The Grand lodge"
> that Masons tell us is above, where the lecture tells us the Grand
> Architect presides, etc., etc. Hiram Abiff then is the Masonic
> mediator, even as Christ is the Christian mediator. Christ suffered
> for the sins of the world in order to complete the Father's plan.
> Hiram Abiff, (see Legend of the Temple Builders) was put to death by
> fellow crafts because he would not comply with their demands, and
> break his word, and so violate his compact with Solomon and Hiram of
> Tyre in reference to the Master's Word," which was the most important
> secret or tie of Masonry, and held by those three alone at that time.
> This word, had it been revealed, would have destroyed the foundation
> of Masonry and the plan of its "alleged" founders. Hence Masonry
> according to their Masonic fable was preserved by the faithfulness of
> Hiram Abiff, who preferred death to the giving up to the temptation to
> purchase life by the violation of his oath. This is simply a condensed
> account of Hiram Abiff to show his part or place in the Masonic
> trinity.
> =
> Turn now to the scripture and we find that when man sinned the Trinity
> had a plan for man's salvation. The Son was ordained as the sacrifice,
> who should put on the body of flesh, and come among men and suffer
> death as a man, in order that the plan of salvation might be carried
> out. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet he maintained his
> integrity, and at the cost of his life carried out the work God
> assigned him, so that salvation was realized.
> =
> In the Masonic plan we find two wonderful men, kings Solomon and
> Hiram; one strong and one wise. Solomon, to whom David gave the plan
> of the temple, being the author, gave the designing into the hands of
> Hiram Abiff, who drew the designs for the work on his trestle board
> for the workmen to copy after and work by.
> =
> So Christ was among men, and by his life and work among men, gave them
> a design, or pattern by which to build a spiritual house.
> =
> We recognize readily by the Bible that the building of the temple was
> a type of the spiritual house, or temple of God, "which temple ye
> are." And as there was no sound of hammer or tool of iron when it went
> up, so should the temple of God be built to day. The word and Spirit
> reveal that fact clearly. Solomon in building the temple represented
> wisdom, or the Holy Ghost himself acting as a type of the Holy Ghost
> workman in the building to be built in the heavens. Hiram as
> furnishing workmen, timber, etc., and fetching them from different
> points represents the strength of the Father considered separate from
> the others for the sake of illustration.
> =
> Hiram, the workman and designer drew patterns as God showed him, and
> while there with them directed the work until his "alleged" death,
> which of course Masons have no Bible foundation for. The only places
> where Hiram, or Huram the Architect is mentioned being in 2 Chron.,
> 4th chapter, and I Kings 7th chapter, and those have reference only to
> his nativity, his world and its quality. So as nothing more was said
> of him, Satan filled the hearts of Masonic founders to take this man
> and make a savior out of him.
> =
> The Masonic story of Hiram Abiff then is a fable, continued by Satan
> to mock the word of God. "The Legend of the Temple Builders" is acted
> out in full while conferring the latter part of the third, or Master
> Mason's degree. The candidate is assaulted and the "word" is demanded
> of him (which as yet he has not received); he is then at the third
> assault struck on the head by a stuffed club called a setting maul,
> and symbolically killed. Then after a number of maneuvers he is buried
> on Mt. Moriah. He is missed, and after a long search his grave is
> found. Then comes the most damnable piece of mockery that Satan and
> the councils of hell could invent. A mock resurrection follows, and by
> the aid of Solomon and Hiram of Tyre he is raised from the dead by a
> grip known as the "Strong grip of the Lion of the tribe of Judah."
> Satan's counterfeit is complete, and the fiends of hell rejoice every
> time they see a poor blind candidate put through the mockery of coming
> from darkness to "Masonic" light. And yet men who profess to not only
> follow Christ, but preach his gospel also, support, countenance,
> attend, and recommend the institution to their sons and their friends.
> =
> The "Legend of Hiram Abiff the Temple Builder" is copied from the
> legend of Osiris the Egyptian deity, and so closely resembles it as to
> prove the one to be copied from the other. Mackey says a great deal
> about "ancient mysteries," Egyptian rites, and also speaks of Osiris
> and others; and by following up his works, notes etc., "Pierson's
> Traditions," and "Morris' Dictionary" we are able to trace Masonry to
> right where it originated, i. e., in ancient Baal or sun worship. See
> Ezek. 8th chapter and especially 16th verse. Ezekiel clearly saw
> ancient Masonry in that vision. Tammuz, spoken of in verse 14, has
> reference to Adonis, another person, whose, history corresponds to
> that of Hiram and Osiris. Sun worship it clearly is, worked over to
> make what Dr. Oliver proudly calls "A universal religion." Dr. Oliver
> is a noted English Masonic writer and historian. He says, "To
> Christianize Masonry by praying to or through Christ would sink it
> from its sublime position as a universal religion to the level of a
> sect." There is a "learned Masonic" opinion of Christ. What do you
> think of it? No Christ there, is there? One Mason of my acquaintance,
> who at the time of which I speak had been a member of this order only
> a few months, said to me, "There is a god in Masonry, but no Christ."
> He had learned that in a few months, and yet said that he was a
> follower of Christ.
> =
> Beloved, how can these things be? All Masons know the truth of this
> matter. Can God look in mercy upon a man who professes his name, and
> yet touches these unclean, unholy, idolatrous worlds, or partakes with
> them?
> =
> Again before all of God's people I praise him for delivering me from
> such works. "Whom Christ makes free is free indeed." Such works as
> "Mackey's Lexicon," also his "Ritual," "Pierson's Traditions,"
> "Morris' Dictionary," and other works Show what those great Masons who
> are acknowledged authority, say of Masonry as a religion, as well as
> of other points.
> =
> Those men have by their works enabled me to see more of Masonry than
> the average Mason sees in a life time. The books referred to, as well
> as their authors, are all standard, and are not "exposes" in any sense
> of the word, yet they are keys by which he who has been in the secret
> chambers of the lodge can unlock the secrets of Masonry to the world,
> and prove every step he takes. Truly, truly, did Christ say "Out of
> thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant."=97Luke 19:22.
> "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt
> be condemned.=97Matt. 12:37.
> =
> O foolish Masons, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the
> truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
> crucified among you! So Satan has overstepped himself, and while he
> thinks himself safely entrenched, God has found him out, and will pull
> him and his worlds down, even though they have climbed up another way.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> =
> * Return to Freemasonry menu
> * Return to main/order menu
> =
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Last updated 1/18/96
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Date: Sun, 14 Dec 97 04:18:04 +0000
To: <ni...@cris.com>
From: ni...@cris.com
Subject: Masonry
FREEMASONRY: THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF
THE CHURCH OF GREECE (1933)
St. Nectarios Educational Series, No. 22
It is clear from the following statement that Orthodox Christians must
disavow
the Masonic movement and resign from it if they have joined it in
ignorance of
its goals. Pike, in his Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry tells us that "Every Masonic Lodge is a
temple
of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion." (p. 213)
"Masonry,
around whose altars the Christian, the Hebrew, the Moslem, the Brahim,
the
followers of Confucius and Zoroaster, can assemble as brethren and unite
in
prayer to the one God who is above all the Baalism." (p. 226) "Masonry,
like
all religions, all the Mysteries, conceals its secrets from all except
the Adepts
and Sages or Elect and uses false explanations and interpretations of
its
symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled." (p. 105 )
Patriarch Athenagoras and Archbishop Iakovos have frequently quoted or
rephrased the following from Chapter 10 of the above work. "No human
being
can with certainty say, in the clash and conflict of hostile faiths and
creeds,
what is truth, or that he is surely in possession of it, so every one
should feel
that it is quite possible and another equally honest and sincere with
himself, and
yet holding a contrary opinion, may himself be in possession of the
truth." One
needs only to read the Christmas 1967, statement of Patriarch
Athenagoras or
Archbishop Iakovos=92 sermon at St. Patrick's Cathedral, January 19,
1969=
,
to
realize that they continually expound Masonic doctrine which is opposed
to
sound Orthodox teaching. The very ecumenical movement's founders and
chief
exponents are members of the Masonic order which inspires them and gives
them their guidelines. Is it no wonder then that Orthodoxy becomes
unimportant to these people?
Read and reread this statement in order to understand the correct
Orthodox
opinion in this matter.
The Official Statement
The Bishops of the Church of Greece in their session of October 12,
1933,
concerned themselves with the study and examination of the secret
international organization, Freemasonry. They heard with attention the
introductory exposition of the Commission of four Bishops appointed by
the
Holy Synod at its last session; also the opinion of the Theological
Faculty of
the University of Athens, and the particular opinion of Prof. Panag
Bratsiotis
which was appended thereto. They also took into consideration
publications
on this question in Greece and abroad. After a discussion they arrived
at the
following conclusions, accepted unanimously by all the Bishops.
"Freemasonry is not simply a philanthropic union or a philosophical
school, but
constitutes a mystagogical system which reminds us of the ancient
heathen
mystery-religions and cults=97from which it descends and is their
continuation
and regeneration. This is not only admitted by prominent teachers in the
lodges, but they declare it with pride, affirming literally:
"Freemasonry is the
only survival of the ancient mysteries and can be called the guardian of
them;"
Freemasonry is a direct offspring of the Egyptian mysteries; "the humble
workshop of the Masonic Lodge is nothing else than the caves and the
darkness of the cedars of India and the unknown depths of the Pyramids
and
the crypts of the magnificent temples of Isis; in the Greek mysteries of
Freemasonry, having passed along the luminous roads of knowledge under
the
mysteriarchs Prometheus, Dionysus and Orpheus, formulated the eternal
laws
of the Universe!
"Such a link between Freemasonry and the ancient idolatrous mysteries is
also
William R. Mosher
Dear Nick:
Thanks for the posting, it is one of your better ones. What is the position
of St. Vladimir's Seminary concerning freemasonry? Are there any hierarches
in the Greek Archdiocese that are masons? I have heard that some are.
nick cobb
ALL the Orthodox do not accept Masonry--it doesn't change from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It may be over-looked by some.
Evan Kalenik
William M. Klimon wrote:
> Wrong and wrong. You are spinning pure fantasy here:
> (1) Freemasonry (the "Company of the Trowel") only reached Italy in 1733.
> Pope Clement XII (r. 1730-40) issued the first papal condemnation of
> Freemasonry in the constitution *In eminenti* (Apr. 28, 1738), on the
> grounds of Masonry's naturalistic bias, demand for secret oaths, religious
> indifferentism, and possible threat to church and state. There is
> absolutely no evidence for the conspiracy you suggest.
And maybe because he was black balled?
I read that a while ago. I will see if I can find it again.
> (2) Membership in a Masonic lodge incurred the penalty of excommunication
> under Canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Under the new Code (1983),
> such membership is covered by Canon 1374, which, the Congregation for the
> Doctrine of the Faith clarified on Nov. 26, 1983, means that membership in
> Masonry is "grave sin", the punishment for which is interdict.
Well, I know a number of Roman Catholics who are Masons and they have told me
that their priest said it was OK.
Maybe there is some underground dispensationalism going on that you are not
aware of.
Evan
R. Gronoff
I've just finished reading a very good (I think) book about the true nature
of freemasonry. It's not only good, but also cheap (pocket book) and not too
long :-)
It's been written by a former mason who eventually turned to Jesus Christ
(he's a protestant).
It's called "Freemasonry", by Jack Harris, published by Whitaker House.
Good Sunday to you all,
Vassili R. Gronoff
mail to: rgro...@imaginet.fr
Homepage: http://wwwusers.imaginet.fr/~rgronoff/
IC | XC
---+---
NI | KA
Mt 11:28 " Venez à Moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et je vous
donnerai du repos."
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest."
William M. Klimon
Evan Kalenik wrote in message <350B520E...@webspan.net>...
>> (1) Freemasonry (the "Company of the Trowel") only reached Italy in 1733.
>> Pope Clement XII (r. 1730-40) issued the first papal condemnation of
>> Freemasonry in the constitution *In eminenti* (Apr. 28, 1738), on the
>> grounds of Masonry's naturalistic bias, demand for secret oaths,
religious
>> indifferentism, and possible threat to church and state. There is
>> absolutely no evidence for the conspiracy you suggest.
>
>And maybe because he was black balled?
>
>I read that a while ago. I will see if I can find it again.
Yeah, well, I won't hold my breath for you to find it.
>> (2) Membership in a Masonic lodge incurred the penalty of excommunication
>> under Canon 2335 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law. Under the new Code
(1983),
>> such membership is covered by Canon 1374, which, the Congregation for the
>> Doctrine of the Faith clarified on Nov. 26, 1983, means that membership
in
>> Masonry is "grave sin", the punishment for which is interdict.
>
>Well, I know a number of Roman Catholics who are Masons and they have told
me
>that their priest said it was OK.
>
>Maybe there is some underground dispensationalism going on that you are not
>aware of.
Not at all. If priests, on their own, violate the rules of the Church they
will
have to answer to God for their actions.
nick cobb
In this country, the US, the Masons are looked on as just another
"do-good-club" like the Elks, Lions, etc. On this level, many
unsuspecting Christians join and participate in this organization. Only
when one digs deeper will they find that this club, is really a religion
with its own rites, celebrations, beliefs, etc.
The Orthodox Church cannot have another church within her. You cannot
serve two masters. Either you believe in Christ and serve Him and the
Truth or you serve something else. Can't do both!
Evan Kalenik
William M. Klimon wrote:
> >Maybe there is some underground dispensationalism going on that you are not
> >aware of.
>
> Not at all. If priests, on their own, violate the rules of the Church they
> will
> have to answer to God for their actions.
I chose my words carefully. I noted the difference that you have when talking
about Roman Catholic priests who may be doing things on the sly, compared to
when you misunderstood what Fr. John Morris wrote and stated:
"The other alternative is that this is a kind of underground economia,
communio on the sly. I personally know Oriental Orthodox who go back and
forth between Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. Are their priests
totally unaware of this? I think not. Will they admit it publicly, when
they will have the canons thrown up in their faces. Again, I think not."
Your comments and attitudes about the Church that Christ established only
further convinces me how wrong you and the Roman Catholic Church are.
Evan
Christopher Beattie
Evan Kalenik wrote:
>
> Well, I know a number of Roman Catholics who are Masons and they have told me
> that their priest said it was OK.
the penalty of excommunication. Sometime priests don't always check
up on the teachings of the Church.
From <http://www.sni.net/advent/faq/930606.htm>
Because the revised code of canon law is not explicit on this point,
some drew the mistaken conclusion that the Church's prohibition of
Freemasonry had been dropped. As a result of this confusion, shortly
before the 1983 code was promulgated, the Sacred Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement indicating that the penalty
was still in force. This statement was dated November 26, 1983 and
may be found in Origins 13/27 (Nov. 15, 1983), 450.
<end of quote>
This statement can be found
at <http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/masons1.htm>
Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith on November 26, 1983.
It has been asked whether there has been any
change in the Church's decision in regard to
Masonic associations since the new Code of
Canon Law does not mention them expressly,
unlike the previous Code.
This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply
that this circumstance is due to an editorial
criterion which was followed also in the case of
other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch
as they are contained in wider categories.
Therefore the Church's negative judgment in
regard to Masonic associations remains
unchanged since their principles have always been
considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the
Church and therefore membership in them remains
forbidden. The faithful who enroll in Masonic
associations are in a state of grave sin and may not
receive Holy Communion.
It is not within the competence of local
ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the
nature of Masonic associations which would imply
a derogation from what has been decided above,
and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred
Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf.
AAS 73 [1981] pp. 240-241).
In an audience granted to the undersigned
Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II
approved and ordered the publication of this
Declaration which had been decided in an
ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.
Rome, from the Office of the Sacred
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26
November 1983.
<end of quote>
In the United States there is a tendency to associate Masonic
Lodges with fraternal organizations and as such one may be
lured to think that there is nothing wrong with membership.
--
| _______ |Christopher Beattie | 801 Eisenhower Dr|
| /__ __\ Peace |Tantalus Inc. | Key West, FL 33040|
| / \ and |Development Div. |Phone: (305) 293-8100|
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Panagiotis Kanavos
Greek bishops are not allowed to be freemasons. So, even IF one of them was
a freemason, he would do his best to keep it a secret.
The problem with such accusations is that, unfortunately, they are next to
impossible to disprove.
William R. Mosher wrote in message <350B30EC...@hotmail.com>...