The Example of Our First President: George Washington

The Atlas Society ^ | 2/19/2007 | Edward Hudgins

[Redleg Duke]

If you want to discuss religion, do it outside the Lodge.

[Redleg Duke]

So I noticed. And an amazing shortage of the usual Mason-bashers!

But, I am sure they are waiting in the wings.

[Ed Hudgins]

Here are Cincinnatus, the Roman statesman who, after taking up the office of dictator, defeated the barbarians in several weeks and set aside power to return to his plough, and Washington, also with fasces, also setting aside power. The Washington statue is Houdon's from the Virginia state house.

[Ed Hudgins]

While we're at it, here's Washington laying the cornerstone to the Capitol building in his Masonic trappings.

[servantboy777]

As did Manly P. Hall...

"When a Mason learns the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his Craft. The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply energy." [The Lost Keys To Freemasonry, Manly P. Hall

[Redleg Duke]

Never heard of him. Sorry.

[Pharmboy]

If you would like to see a terrific painting of the cornerstone scene, when in DC take a trip over to Alexandria and visit the Masonic Temple. Much of the displays are devoted to The General.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

bump

[Tanniker Smith]

I just got back from a weekend in Philadelphia with the Boy Scouts. Some of them appreciated the historic sites. Some were walking through it waiting for the "good stuff". (Meaning other spots on the vacation.)

I wish we had had just a little more time (and a little more warmth) myself.

[servantboy777]

Hall is yet another 32 Degree Masonic writer.

There are lots of wonderful writings by these fellas.

[hinckley buzzard]

In 1777, when he marched his 12,000 ragtag volunteers to winter camp at Valley Forge,

Just for the record, it was December 1776 and he had maybe half that number in fighting condition.

[hinckley buzzard]

Washington was an Anglican/episcopalian, and vestryman of his church. He believed in God, and the famous picture of him at prayer on his knees in the snow was painted from memory of an eye witness. He was no universalist, and the "deist" fashion of the times was an intellectual conceit, not a separate religion or denomination within Christianity. Only Franklin and Jefferson could rightfully be called Deists among the wellknown Founders, and even Jefferson was clear to identify himself as a Christian.

[hinckley buzzard]

I take it back. I confabulated VF encampment with the camp from which Washington crossed the Delaware. sheesh. VF was 1977-78.

[healy61]

Yes, I have done some traveling.

[Redleg Duke]

If it was 1977-78, I was in Washington's Army! :-)

[servantboy777]

satan believes in God...but does that make him a Christian?

G.W. was a freemason. Freemasonry promotes a universalistic viewpoint of the deity that omits Jesus Christ.

Not certain how one can take secret oaths as a brother of the craft, pray to GAOTU, and then hold an allegiance to Jesus.

[Ed Hudgins]

As a secularist who doesn't have a dog in this particular inter-religious discussion, the situation seems like this to me:

Masons want members who believe there is a Supreme Being, whatever that is. But the Masons are not a religion as such and thus leave it to the individual to determine their beliefs beyond that.

The Masons focus on creating a certain kind of character in their members, performing acts of charity and the like. And they have a ton of symbols and ceremonies to reinforce their beliefs, some of which might be religious at a general level -- the Supreme Being stuff. But, again, they leave it to individuals outside of Masonic lodges to debate whether some version of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism or whatever is correct (I say none of the above, of course).

So you shouldn't criticize Masons for not holding to whatever your particular beliefs are about Jesus since the Masons are not and don't pretend to be a religion, though they see themselves as consistent with religion.

Would you Masons say this is a fair assessment?

[servantboy777]

I am not criticizing nor pushing my beliefs on anyone.

I am only stating the obvious through personal experience and research.

Freemasonry is no threat to me. The secrets of the craft do not intimidate nor "freak" me out.

I see it as deception at its finest. Those in the lower levels see it as an innocent fraternity, this is the biggest deception of all.

I pray for those in bondage to the craft.