The Judeo-Christian, Part VIII. The Basic Facts of Freemasonry

Fear God and keep His Commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

- Ecclesiastes 12:13

Part VIII. The Basic Facts of Freemasonry

Freemasonry goes farther and attacks Catholicism openly.

- Catholic Encyclopedia

The Judeo-Christian Tradition has little time, or patience, for the endless number of absurd conspiracy theories that are, for the most part, a display of ignorance and misunderstanding. Nevertheless, it must be stated, with all sincerity, that Freemasonry is a totally anti-Judeo-Christian organization that may, in fact, be secretly opposed to the continued spread of the age-old Biblical faiths of Judaism and Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church, most especially its most learned and scholarly leaders, such as the Pope, have known this for literally centuries. Unfortunately, they have been completely ignored by the modern world, even though many of those opposed to Freemasonry had advanced degrees from prominent universities and were some of the most intelligent religious scholars ever known. Here is just a sampling of their documents, which includes a list of 17 different official Roman Catholic Church proclamations against Freemasonry since 1738. They can be seen as follows:

I. Clement XII, Constitution "In Eminenti", 28 April, 1738
II. Benedict XIV, "Providas", 18 May, 1751
III. Pius VII, "Ecclesiam", 13 September, 1821
IV. Leo XII, "Quo graviora", 13 March, 1825
V. Pius VIII, Encyclical "Traditi", 21 May, 1829
VI. Gregory XVI, "Mirari", 15 August, 1832
VII. Pius IX, Encyclical "Qui pluribus", 9 November, 1846
VIII. Pius IX, Allocution "Quibus quantisque malis", 20 April, 1849
IX. Pius IX, Encyclical "Quanta cura", 8 December, 1864
X. Pius IX, Allocution "Multiplices inter", 25 September, 1865
XI. Pius IX, Constitution "Apostolicæ Sedis", 12 October, 1869
XII. Pius IX, Encyclical "Etsi multa", 21 November, 1873
XIII. Leo XIII, Encyclical "Humanum genus", 20 April, 1884
XIV. Leo XIII, "Præclara", 20 June, 1894
XV. Leo XIII, "Annum ingressi", 18 March, 1902
XVI. Leo XIII, Encyclical "Etsí nos", 15 February, 1882
XVII. Leo XIII, "Ab Apostolici", 15 October, 1890

It seems most unfortunate that many Christian believers have little, to no, idea what the historical facts are about Freemasonry. Here are just a few of them, taken direclty from the Catholic Encylopedia, the long-standing, premier scholarly text of reference for the Roman Catholic Church:

Issue	Passage from Catholic Encyclopedia
The Corruption and Nepotism of Freemasonry	It is a fact attested by experienced men of all countries that, wherever Masonry is influential, non-Masons have to suffer in their interests from the systematical preferment which Masons give each other in appointment to offices and employment...which is detrimental alike to civic equality and to public interests. In Masonic books and magazines unlawful and treacherous acts, performed in rendering this mutual assistance, are recommended and praised as a glory of Freemasonry.
Freemasonry Caused the French Revolution	Freemasonry in the eighteenth century, as a powerful ally of infidelity, prepared the French Revolution. The alliance of Freemasonry with philosophy was publicly sealed by the solemn initiation of Voltaire, the chief of these philosophers...Prior to the Revolution various conspiratory societies arose in connection with Freemasonry from which they borrowed its forms and methods; Illuminati, clubs of Jacobins, etc. A relatively large number of the leading revolutionists were members of Masonic lodges, trained by lodge life for their political career. Even the program of the Revolution expressed in the "rights of man" was...drawn from Masonic principles, and its device: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" is the very device of Freemasonry
Freemasonry's Plan for Christianity	To destroy radically by open persecution of the Church or by a hypocritical fraudulent system of separation between State and Church, all social influence of the Church and of religion, insidiously called "clericalism", and, as far as possible, to destroy the Church and all true, (i.e., superhuman) religion.
Freemasonry's Plan for Children	To laicize, or secularize...all public and private life and, above all, popular instruction and education....(including) anti-Catholic and even anti-Christian, atheistic, positivistic, or agnostic sectarianism in the garb of unsectarianism. Freedom of thought and conscience of the children has to be developed systematically in the child at school and protected, as far as possible, against all disturbing influences, not only of the Church and priests, but also of the children's own parents, if necessary, even by means of moral and physical compulsion.
Freemasonry's Anti-Christian Statements	In similar discussions, containing in almost every word a hidden or open attack on Christianity, the truly Masonic magazines and books of all countries abound. Past Grand Deacon J.C. Parkinson, an illustrious English Mason, frankly avows: "The two systems of Romanism and Freemasonry are not only incompatible, but they are radically opposed to each other" and American Masons say: "We won't make a man a Freemason, until we know that he isn't a Catholic."
Freemasonry's Inherent Danger to Society	(Even if) some Masonic associations pursued for themselves no purposes contrary to religion and to public order, they would be nevertheless contrary to public order, because by their very existence as secret societies based on the Masonic principles, they encourage and promote the foundation of other really dangerous secret societies and render difficult, if not impossible, efficacious action of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities against them.
Freemasonry's Danger to Christianity	Pope Pius IX characterizes Freemasonry as an insidious, fraudulent and perverse organization injurious both to religion and to society; and condemns anew "this Masonic and other similar societies, which differing only in appearance coalesce constantly and openly or secretly plot against the Church or lawful authority"...The ultimate purpose of Freemasonry is 'the overthrow of the whole religious, political, and social order based on Christian institutions and the establishment of a new state of things according to their own ideas and based in its principles and laws on pure Naturalism.'
Freemasonry's False Claims of Persecution	(Roman Catholic) Papal edicts and censures against Freemasonry have often been the occasion of erroneous and unjust charges. The excommunication was interpreted as an "imprecation" that cursed all Freemasons and doomed them to perdition...The pope and the bishops, therefore, as faithful pastors of Christ's flock, cannot but condemn Freemasonry.

The fact of the matter is that Roman Catholicism remains the leading organization of Christianity with, by far, the most adherents world-wide. Not to be outdone, 21st century Judeo-Christian America appears to be waking from their metaphysical slumber and realizing their Freemasonic/Christian neighbors may be at least slightly misinformed about their membership in the Craft. Indeed, a growing number of Protestant Christian Churches have expressed their opposition to Freemasonry, a blatantly Pagan organization that may well continue to grow more and more hostile to Christianity as the years and decades go by. Here is a list of Protestant Churches that have spoken out publicly against Freemasonry within the past 50 years.

Salvation Army International
Greek Orthodox
Lutheran Church
Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church
Mennonite Church
Nazarene Church
Church of Christ
Pentecostal Church
Brethren Assemblies Church
Church of England
Free Church of Scotland
British Methodist Church
Baptist Church of Scotland
Baptist Church of New Zealand
Baptist Church of Ireland

Does the Judeo-Christian tradition stand in any danger of defeat by Freemasonry? Not at all, but the soul of every man (and woman) is still equally important and the continued allure and temptation of joining Freemasonry poses a danger to the ancient Judeo-Christian system of spiritual redemption after death. God-fearing believers need to remember that this system was founded upon the principles that everyone deserves to be saved and, after proper penance, to eventually be allowed into Paradise to meet face-to-face, with the one, true God, the LORD God of Israel.

The Church	The Official Christian Doctrine
Presbyterian Church of America, 1988	No one shall be received into membership into a (Presbyterian) church who is a member of a Masonic organization....in light of the clear statement of incompatibility of Freemasonry with Biblical Christianity.
Orthodox Presbyterian Church	The evidence presented concerning the religion of Masonry permits but one conclusion... that Masonry is a religious institution and as such is definitely anti-Christian... membership in the Masonic fraternity is inconsistent with Christianity.
Christian Reformed Church of America, 1974	Membership in the lodge and in the church of Jesus Christ involves a double commitment which our Lord himself does not tolerate. Those in the church who affiliate with the Lodge must be shown the error of their way, and if they refuse to repent must be placed under the censure of the Church.
Church of Scotland, 1965	In our view total obedience to Christ precludes joining...the Masonic movement which seems to demand a wholehearted allegiance to itself, and at the same time refuses to divulge all that is involved in that allegiance... The initiate is required to commit himself to Masonry in a way that a Christian only should commit himself to Christ.
Free Church of Scotland	In the minds of the committee, according to their interpretations of the IScriptures, membership of Freemasonry... is inconsistent with a profession of the Christian faith.
Baptist Church of Scotland (Great Britain and Ireland), 1987	The clear conclusion we have reached from our inquiry is that there is an inherent incompatibility between Freemasonry and the Christian faith.
Anglican Church of England, 1987	There are a number of very fundamental reasons to question the compatibility of Freemasonry with Christianity.
Russian Orthodox Church	The Church does not worship the god that is worshipped in Masonic temples... Masonry is a spiritual disease and is a rival of the Church...It declares that it is not a religion and yet claims to be religious... Since Masonry rejects the divinity of Jesus Christ and places Him on an equal level with founders of other religions, every Christian should stop and realise the implications of Masonry to his Christian faith.
Methodist Church of England, 1985	There is a great danger that the Christian who becomes a Freemason will find himself compromising his Christian beliefs or his allegiance to Christ, perhaps without realising what he is doing.
Lutheran Church, 1958	Masonry is guilty of idolatry. Its worship and prayers are idol worship. The Masons may not with their hands...but they created one with their own mind and reason out of purely human thoughts and ideas. The latter is an idol no less than the former.
Roman Catholic Church, 1985	The principles and basic rituals of Masonry embody a naturalistic religion, active participation in which is incompatible with Christian faith and practice. Those who knowingly embrace such principles are committing serious sin... In depth research on the ritual and on the Masonic mentality makes it clear that it is impossible to belong to the Catholic Church and to Freemasonry at the same time.

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian tradition