Pulling back the curtain on "the builders"

[michaelvpardo]

This book published first in 1924 is one of a series of Builders' guides intended to be a practical guide to Guild Masonry. It contains practical information on how to make bricks and mortar, how to lay brick, the tools of the trade, some history, and even some basic chemistry, geology, and mechanical engineering as it pertains to masonry. Guild Masonry is not Free Masonry, but proceeded it as the organization uniting the "trades" workers of Europe.

The first printed page of this book quotes John Ruskin, a 19th century "sage of sages" among the ranks of Free Masonry.

There's nothing particularly sinister here other than an attitude of self aggrandizement masquerading as wisdom. What I found interesting is that the first guide starts with chapter 61, leaving me to wonder what the first 60 chapters are about and where they are published.

I will be posting quotes and passages from books written by builders and Free Masons, and available in the public domain (or Masonic libraries) which give detail to the philosophies of Free Masonry and its daughter organizations that reveal its incompatibility with biblical Christianity, including the attempt to expulse Christians from the organization by some higher level Masons of the 19th century, angry at the efforts of Christians to change the basic nature of this secret society shrouded in mystery and concealed by blood oath.

 

[michaelvpardo]

Now, lets look at some quotes from Masonic authors in the light of what scripture actually says.

“Christianity, whose Founder was a Carpenter, made a mighty appeal to the working classes of Rome.” Pg. 85, “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry.” By Joseph Fort Newton

“Naturally many fine minds have been estranged from the Church, not because they were irreligious, but because they were required to believe what it was impossible for them to believe; and rather than sacrifice their integrity of soul, they have turned away from the last place from which a man should ever turn away.” Pg. 251, “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry.” By Joseph Fort Newton

“The hour was fraternal, each side willing to sacrifice prejudice in behalf of principles held by all in common, and all equally anxious to preserve the ancient landmarks of the craft - a most significant fact being that the Atholl Masons had insisted that Masonry erase such distinctively Christian color as had crept into it, and return to its first platform.”
“[1]It is interesting to note that the writer of the article on “Masonry” in the Catholic encyclopedia – an article admirable in many ways, and for the most part fair – makes much of this point, and rightly so, albeit his interpretation of it is altogether wrong. He imagines that the objection to Christian imagery in the ritual was due to enmity to Christianity. Not so. Masonry was not then, and has never at any time been, opposed to Christianity, or to any other religion. Far from it. But Christianity in those days – as alas, too often now – was another name for a petty and bigoted sectarianism; and Masonry by its very genius was, and is, unsectarian. Many Masons then were devout Christians, as they are now – not a few clergymen – but the order itself is open to men of all faiths, Catholic and Protestant, Hebrew and Hindu, who confess faith in God; and so it will remain if it is true to its principles and history.” Passage and footnote: pg.s 221-221, “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton

“Instead of criticizing Masonry, let us thank God for one altar where no man is asked to surrender his liberty of thought, and become an indistinguishable atom in a mass of sectarian agglomeration. What a witness to the worth of an order that it brings together men of all creeds in behalf of those truths which are greater than all sects, deeper than all doctrines – the glory and hope of man!” pg. 252 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916
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While there's a lot that could be said about Mr. Newton's view of Christianity, I'll only provide a passage from scripture that seems pertinent:
36. "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37. "He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all. 38. "But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39. "Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. Daniel 11:36-39

This prophetic passage from Daniel is about a man, not an organization, yet somehow seems to apply to the philosophy of Free Masonry as expressed by Joseph F. Newton. We need to look more closely at that philosophy in order to understand why it is in opposition to Christ.

​

 

[michaelvpardo]

The quotes to follow are from the same Masonic author, some of which are not opposed to Christianity at large and even parallel Christian belief in a limited way. Its important to remember that every effective lie must contain some kernel of truth in order to be received as true in its entirety by those seeking truth, but ignorant of sound doctrine.

“Out of this simple faith grows, by inevitable logic, the philosophy which Masonry teaches in signs and symbols in pictures and parables. Stated briefly, stated vividly, it is that behind the pageant of nature, in it and over it, there is a Supreme Mind which initiates, impels, and controls all.” Pg. 266 252 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916​

(Here the author acknowledges a common masonic belief in a monotheistic god)

“Upon the altar of Masonry lies the open Bible which, despite the changes and advances of the ages, remains the greatest Modern book – the moral manual of civilization” pg. 265 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916​

(Here the author acknowledges scripture as a revered book and "moral manual" without giving it any credit for divine inspiration or any notion of inerrancy)

“While Masonry is theocratic in its faith and philosophy, it does not limit its conception of the Divine, much less insist upon any one name for “the Nameless One of a hundred names.” Pg. 262 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916​

(Here the same Masonic author denies the content of the book that he previously reveres, making any name of god equivalent to the name above all names of scripture.)

11. "This is the `stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'' Acts 4:11-12

“Upon the threshold of its Lodges every man, whether prince or peasant, is asked to confess his faith in God the Father Almighty, the Architect and Master - builder of the universe.” Pg. 261 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916​

“Of no one age, Masonry belongs to all ages; of no one religion, it finds great truths in all religions. Indeed, it holds that truth which is common to all elevating and benign religions, and is the basis of each; that faith which underlies all sects and over-arches all creeds, like the sky above and the river bed below the flow of mortal years. It does not undertake to explain or dogmatically to settle those questions or solve those dark mysteries which out-top human knowledge. Beyond the facts of faith it does not go. With the subtleties of speculation concerning those truths, and the unworldly envies growing out of them, it has not to do. There divisions begin, and Masonry was not made to divide men1916, but to unite them, leaving each man free to think his own thought and fashion his own system of ultimate truth. All its emphasis rests upon two extremely simple and profound principles – love of God and love of man. Therefore, all through the ages it has been, and is today, a meeting place of differing minds, and a prophecy of the final union of all reverent and devout souls.” Pg. 254 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa,​

17. Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:17-18

Joseph F. Newton even quotes John Ruskin, the Masonic sage of sages, elevating Free Masonry above the church of our Lord Jesus the Christ.

“Masonry, as it is much more than a political party or social cult, is also more than a church- unless we use the word church as Ruskin used it when he said: “There is a true church wherever one hand meets another helpfully, the only holy or mother church that ever was or ever shall be!” It is true that Masonry is not a religion, but it is Religion, a worship in which all good men may unite, that each may share the faith of all.” Pg. 250 “The Builders, a story and study of Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton. Published by: The Torch Press, Cedar Rapids Iowa, 1916​

How is this possible? How does a man, or an organization, revere scripture without acknowledging the truth of what it says? To understand this we have to look into the nature of symbolism as it pertains to Free Masonry. Fortunately, another Masonic author gives us a book about the symbolism of Free Masonry.

 

[michaelvpardo]

In my previous post I compared the cornerstone of Christian faith with the cornerstone of Masonic philosophy as understood by Joseph Fort Newton and John Ruskin. Now we can look at the nature of interpretive symbolism in Free Masonry.

“The aspirant for masonic light – the neophyte – on his first entrance within our sacred porch, prepares himself for this consecrated labor of erecting within his own bosom a fit dwelling place for the Divine Spirit, and thus commences the noble work by becoming himself the corner-stone on which this spiritual edifice is to be erected.” Pg.162 The Symbolism of Freemasonry:” by Albert Gallatin Mackey, Published by: Clark and Maynard, 5 Barclay Street, NYC, in 1869​

(Here Masonic author Albert G. Mackey compares the Masonic initiate to Jesus Christ Himself, the chief cornerstone of the church)

But what did Jesus say?
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1

The same Masonic author gives us the following passage acknowledging the futility of this false religion:

“ It is one of the most beautiful, but at the same time most abstruse, doctrines of the science of masonic symbolism, that the Mason is ever to be in search of truth, but is never to find it. This divine truth, the object of all his labors, is symbolized by the WORD, for which we all know he can only obtain a substitute; and this is intended to teach the humiliating but necessary lesson that the knowledge of the nature of God and of man’s relation to him, which knowledge constitutes divine truth, can never be acquired in this life.” Pg. 226 “The Symbolism of Freemasonry:” by Albert Gallatin Mackey, Published by: Clark and Maynard, 5 Barclay Street, NYC, in 1869​

(a direct rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ)

But what did Jesus say?
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 KJV
And what did the beloved Apostle, John, say of the word, even of our Lord Jesus Christ?
4. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' '' 16. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:14-18

Its really no surprise that the cults deny these passages in their plain meaning and reject the words of Christ, as many of these were born of Masonic leaders, clinging to demonic doctrine and rejecting the only savior of their souls.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12