Posted on 04/03/2008 8:28:09 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
It's been nearly a quarter of a century since Freemasons in Utah rescinded a 60-year ban that prohibited Latter-day Saints from joining their fraternity. And while many remember the religious division that had characterized Freemasonry in the Beehive State from pioneer times, Glen Cook believes he is evidence that things are changing among his Masonic brethren. Cook, a Salt Lake criminal defense attorney and Brigham Young University law school graduate, is believed to be the first member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be elected grand master in Utah in nearly a century, overseeing the activities of several lodges around the state and looking to make the group more open to public understanding.
During a recent tour of the Masonic Temple in downtown Salt Lake City following his installation in February, Cook said there are definite misconceptions about Freemasonry in Utah, particularly among Latter-day Saints, "but there's also some reality there as well."
Church founder Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were members of the Masonic lodge in Nauvoo, Ill., in the early 1840s, and historians have written in detail about the role of fellow Masons in the murder of the two men in June 1844. Smith's successor, President Brigham Young, and the three succeeding presidents of the church all were made Masons in the Nauvoo Lodge, as were many who presided in church hierarchy during and following Joseph Smith's death.
After leaving the Midwest for what was then the Utah Territory, most Latter-day Saints eventually ceased active involvement with Freemasonry, despite the fact that lodges were chartered here beginning in 1859. Cook said he thinks pioneer Latter-day Saints simply were too busy trying to build a city in the desert and serving their church to participate. Some historians have speculated about whether Freemasonry was discouraged by LDS leaders.
Whether or not that was the case, religious tension within the organization escalated to the point that, in 1925, "the Utah Grand Lodge Code precluded any Mormon ... totally from any relationship whatsoever" with Masonry in Utah, according to author Mervin Hogan's 1978 book, "The Origin and Growth of Utah Masonry and Its Conflict With Mormonism."
That provision of the code remained in force until 1984, when it was rescinded.
Freemasonry is not a religious practice, but confusion about what it is stems in part from the fact that the fraternity is believed by many historians to have originated in the ancient world because its symbols and rituals bear some similarity to sacred ceremonies that existed among the Egyptians, Coptic Christians, Israelites and even the Catholic and Protestant liturgies — all thought to have some common biblical source.
Many believe it originated with the stone masons who worked on Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, though no definitive evidence of that legend is known to exist. Others speculate that its tenets were had by Enoch, and possibly by Adam. Scholars have documented evidence that institutional Masonry dates back only to the Middle Ages, when great European cathedrals were being built by guilds of stone masons who practiced "the craft."
Cook said the fact that membership requires belief in a supreme being and a willingness to make obligations to fellow Masons through Masonic rituals and symbols that bear some limited similarity to LDS temple ceremonies also foster a misunderstanding of what the fraternity is, and is not.
"There is no question that elements of the (LDS temple) endowment and Masonic ritual are similar," Cook said. "The question for faithful Latter-day Saints is whether that makes a difference. I tend to be a rather concrete thinker."
For those who accept Joseph Smith as a prophet and believe he actually saw God and Jesus Christ in vision as a precursor to restoration of Christ's ancient church, "then the rest, I would suggest, should be a corollary" of that belief.
"I think sometimes we spend too much time worrying about issues that don't really matter to our salvation."
Nothing in LDS faith or practice precludes Latter-day Saints from becoming Masons, he said, though family and church obligations may limit the amount of time Mormon men can spend in other pursuits like Masonry.
"Freemasonry should be an adjunct to your faith and not a barrier to its exercise," Cook said. "I tell people that the only secrets we have are modes of recognition and the passwords. For those, you have to look on the Internet."
The "Encyclopedia of Mormonism" addresses questions about the faith's view of the fraternity, noting "the philosophy and major tenets of Freemasonry are not fundamentally incompatible with the teaching, theology and doctrines of the Latter-day Saints. Both emphasize morality, sacrifice, consecration and service, and both condemn selfishness, sin and greed. Furthermore, the aim of Masonic ritual is to instruct — to make truth available so that man can follow it."
The ritual resemblances between the two "are limited to a small proportion of actions and words," according to the encyclopedia, and "where the two rituals share symbolism, the fabric of meanings is different."
Cook said he sees signs within the Utah fraternity that a new openness is developing toward the community at large, and toward Latter-day Saints in particular, evidenced not only by his recent installation in ceremonies that were open to the public, but also in a willingness to acknowledge the faith in ways it hasn't previously been recognized.
On Feb. 2, during meetings before his formal installation took place, Cook said "a seasoned brother came to me and said, 'We should have a moment of silence for (deceased LDS Church) President (Gordon B.) Hinckley,"' as his funeral was taking place. "At 11 a.m., the grand master called the Grand Lodge of Utah to silence for that."
Later in the day, as members were having lunch together in the Masonic Temple downtown, someone mentioned that President Hinckley's funeral cortege would be passing their building shortly. "A group of Masons gathered on the front steps for that, not limited by religion, and stood with their hands over their hearts as the cortege passed," Cook said.
"I think those three things really signaled to me the change that has come about. ... I think LDS culture has changed, and that today, civic activities are not inappropriate."
As for what he plans to emphasize during his term as the 137th grand master of Utah, Cook said he will focus on the fraternal tenets of brotherly love, belief and truth.
"I find Freemasonry to be something at which to marvel, to be something which I view in awe," Cook wrote in a recent message published in a fraternal newsletter. "In a world in which men war and shed the blood of the innocent based on race, ethnicity and tribe, we have united ... without regard to the color of a man's skin, caring only about the tenor of his heart."
In short, Masons "are men who try to lead moral and upright lives. They contribute significantly not only on a private basis, but in a public way" as well, he said, noting they fund Shriner's Hospital for Children, help with arthritis research and other community causes.
"It's the place where I've found friends, men who have cared for me and my family and hold the moral values that I hold."
If that is so, then it is a rule that is not taken too seriously by our Catholic brethren: there are many Catholic Freemasons
They know better. Some Catholics don't take the Church seriously on other matters either, that doesn't make them right or good Catholics.
Freemasonry’s membership has included Catholic clergymen: certainly many priests, certainly some cardinals..
I'm not sure how you would know. They couldn't do so publicly. Do you know of any personally, by name?
I don't think the prohibition is strictly enforced.
It is certainly clearly stated and in my experience strictly enforced.
This is from then Cardinal Ratzinger speaking officially for the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:
..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 Feb. 17,1981.
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, Nov. 26, 1983
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Prefect
I'm sure there are those who do not take the Church seriously here, but it is clear that the Church has been and continues to be serious about the issue.
As you likely know, Anglican's are quite loose on theology and doctrinal requirements among their member churches, which is causing them quite a bit of controversy of late.
However, in 1987 The Church of England published "Freemasonry and Christianity: Are They Compatible?" The General Synod, who determines policy for Anglicans, approved the report from the working group which included mason and non-mason Anglicans.
Below is an excerpt of a news article about this study. Some will appreciate how typically Anglican the study's findings are.
The 56-page report, “Freemasonry and Christianity: Are They Compatible?” was issued in June of 1987 by a seven member church committee — includ ing two Masons — after a 16-month inquiry. The synod revealed that its five non-Mason committee members found a “number of very fundamental reasons to question the compatibility of Freemasons with Christianity.” The report stated, “From the evidence we have received, it is clear that some Christians have found the impact of Masonic rituals disturbing and a few perceive them as positively evil.” The chairman of the committee, sociologist Margaret Hewitt, said that Freemasonry has been a matter of concern to Christians both in this country and elsewhere for many years.”The religious aspects of Freemasonry, such as the use of ritual prayers, chaplains, and an unorthodox doctrine of works righteousness apart from God’s grace, were cited by the Anglican Synod as matters of concern. The Synod’s primary theological objection centered upon Masonry’s use of the word “Jahbulon,” which is the name used for deity in Masonic rituals, and is an amalgamation of Semitic, Hebrew, and Egyptian titles for God. The committee’s report concluded that the Masonic rituals were “blasphemous” because God’s name “must not be taken in vain, nor can it be replaced by an amalgam of the names of pagan deities.”
The report went on to say that many Christians have withdrawn from Masonic lodges “precisely because they perceive their membership of it as being in conflict with their Christian witness and belief.”
Though the report accused Freemasonry of being blasphemous and heretical, it did not recommend that the church require members to jettison their association with Masonic lodges, but rather reiterated the fact that Christians who remain involved in Masonry face “clear difficulties.” Several speakers were quick to point out that Masons should not be objects of persecution. Bishop Stanley Booth-Clibborn explained, “The important point ought to be that there should be no undue pressure on Christians who are Freemasons, and no witch hunt.” Archbishop of York John Habgood, the second highest Anglican official, described Freemasonry as being a “fairly harmless eccentricity.” Thus the Anglican position against Freemasonry was not as strong as that recently taken by the Methodist Church in England, which recommended that their members avoid Masonic lodges.
It is uncertain as to what effect this church decision will have on Freemasonry, but Michael Higham, the grand secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, stated that they do plan further discussions with the church. But if changes in Masonic rituals are made, Higham said “we will do it at our own pace.”
All my male ancestors prior to around 1925 were Masons. Some of them Cherokee Indians (Tahlequah, the capital of Indian Territory, Free Mason Cherokee Lodge Number Twenty-one circa 1860) The ones that fought for the south were Masons and so were the ones that fought for the north in the Civil War. Also there were all black Mason lodges in that area of the South. They were from all sorts of religions, and NONE of them would have given up their church to be a mason and they would have ALL disagreed that freemasonry is a ‘religious organization’. In truth it was probably as varied as the republican party is today.
Exactly. See post # 106. I don’t get it. The republicans and democrats are both doing their bestt to destroy us and some people can only worry about the Masons and Mormons???
I’ll be dog gone .. What a fascinating family history you have . So being a Mason is an addition to one’s religion , if I’m processing things accurately .
So other than the uninformed opinions it’s actually a group of like minded people who are grounded and centered in there life sharing a common bond and interest .
For years I’ve read these threads and I still dont get the bitterness but thank you for sharing your family history !
Now if he became a Scientologist, he’d hit the Trifecta.
“B” some folks don’t have anything better to do than attack something they know nothing about.
Masonry is no more a religion than The Declaration Of Independence is a religious document.
Who or what is Jahbulon?
> I’m not sure how you would know.
For some of them it is a matter of historical record. For this, I suggest Google is your friend.
And interestingly, some of the more senior Catholics (eg Cardinals) chose to join “Irregular Freemasonry”, which does tend to have some, well, bizarre ideas. Of these, some were members of the infamous “P2” Lodge, which thoroughly corrupted Italy and much of South America during the 1960s and 1970’s.
That said, there are many, many Catholics who belong to Regular Freemasonry as well.
Irregular Freemasonry is not “in amity” with Regular Freemasonry — that is to say, we do not recognize each other.
Much of the steam and fulmination that Catholics and other Christians generate over Freemasonry is in reaction to Irregular Freemasonry.
Regular Freemasonry is what I belong to, and what most if not all of the FReepers who are Freemasons belong to.
> They couldn’t do so publicly. Do you know of any personally, by name?
Yes.
What is the name of the freemason priest you refer to?
> As to the others, the acts themselves are indeed against Scripture.
And so Ruth, who was Jesus’ great-great-great... grandmother was acting against scripture (see Ruth 1: 17)?
And King Solomon? (see 1 Kings 2:17)?
And David? (see 1 Samuel 25:22)?
> I didn’t write the book.
Perhaps you have not read and understood the book thoroughly enough.
As with many Christians you have chosen to latch tight to one verse without taking into account overall context.
> Being forced to swear a vow of silence to an organization before you even know what that organization teaches is anti-Christian.
Don’t be silly! Nobody holds a gun to anybody’s head to swear to keep the organization’s secrets — everyone is perfectly entitled to say “no, I won’t promise to keep your secrets” and then leave without joining — nobody will mind.
We would be perfectly stupid to reveal our Secrets on any other basis than you must promise not to reveal them, before we will even tell them to you.
Ever signed a Confidentiality Agreement or a Nondisclosure Agreement? If you have ever been employed in a position of trust, you will have. They are there so that you do not reveal secrets. And none of those secrets are revealed until your name is there in ink on paper.
It is no different with Freemasonry.
> What is the name of the freemason priest you refer to?
There are several whose membership is a matter of record. Here’s one for you to chase: Fr. Francisco Calvo was a Jesuit Catholic priest who started Freemasonry in Costa Rica.
How about a Cardinal? Cardinal Jean-Marie Villot was a Freemason. He served as Vatican Secretary of State from 1969 to 1979, and as Chamberlain of the Roman church from 1970 thru 1979. I guess that would make him #2 to the Pope.
There are plenty of others: as I say, Google is your friend.
> So what was the Mason’s beef with Mormons? I guess I don’t get it.
To the best I can tell, outside of Utah we have never had a beef with the LDS. I don’t understand the historical beef there either. As each State in the US has its own Freemasonic constitution I guess they were free to come up with their own rules, and I couldn’t possibly comment on their rationale for banning LDS way back then.
> Pike was not just a Freemason. He was the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite for 32 years.
Which means not a darn thing. There are only three degrees in Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. That is as high as it gets — no higher.
You are obviously confused by the “32-Degree” thing — well, if you were a Freemason you would understand. But you aren’t, so you are confused. From there, your confusion has compounded with your ignorance to create insolence and rude behavior. Understandable but hardly excusable.
> You will not accept the word of a non-Freemason and now you will not accept the word of a Freemason of the highest order.
As I have written before, Alfred Pike was just another Freemason who had an opinion (which he is entitled to) and published it. He could not boss around other Freemasons like me, nor was his writings anything more significant than “interesting to some”.
They are of no interest to me, and do not reflect my views. Or the views of Freemasonry in general. They were — and I say it again — just his own opinion.
That said, were he alive I would definitely accept his word over yours, however: he was a Freemason, and you are merely a member of the profane. And an insolent one at that.
> Me thinks you wish to believe what you wish to believe in spite of any facts to the contrary. Dangerous practice, sir.
Methinks you continue to speak in ignorance of things you are ill-positioned to learn anything about, despite efforts to redirect your ignorance elsewhere. If you want to expound on Freemasonry then for pete’s sake join. If you do not wish to join, then for pete’s sake quit sermonizing to and about those of us who are quite happy with our membership. Obnoxious practise, sir.
Why is it that there is a certain brand of Christian — like yourself — that insists on sermonizing and talking down to others: be they Catholics or Latter Day Saints or Freemasons? What is the deal with people like you? Do you believe that Jesus gives you points in heaven for every time you insult people by accusing them of “cult” membership? Do you get bonus points for making fun of Holy Mary? Do you really think that you will convert people over to your narrow-minded ill-informed cult by insulting them?
I don’t think you will. Instead you will earn the contempt and opprobrium that obnoxious behavior richly earns and richly deserves. You may choose to view that as persecution, but it really isn’t: it is contempt.
Why don’t you work out your own Salvation with trembling and fear, and leave the rest of us to do the same?
Crikey, and I thought the Jehovah Witnesses could get on my nerves — but even they are polite enough to leave off the name-calling.
‘Strewth!
I had asked for priests you knew personally. I’ll ask again, do you?
Google lists all sorts of things, I don’t believe you believe that because Google finds it, it is true. For example:
Jean-Marie Villot was not a freemason. I wouldn’t give credence to such:
“Malachi Martin’s book Vatican: a novel, other writers and followers of Veronica Lueken maintain that Cardinal Villot was heavily involved in the alleged assassination of Pope John Paul I, if not the Pope’s actual killer.’
I find no credible source for this claim.
Likewise Google returns hundreds of hits from freemason sites claiming Father Francisco Calvo as a famous freemason in 1865. I went though a few hundred and found no other sources.
There have been scandals, in Italy for example, involving freemasonry and clerics, but this does not prove your point, but the contrary. There have been attempts to change the Church’s view, but again this only emphasises that the Church has a very definite view.
Canon Law and Cardinal Ratzinger’s confirmation and emphasis, approved by Pope Paull II in 1983, makes it clear how the Church views it:
“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.”
Membership remains forbidden, those who do are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
It can’t be any clearer than this.
thanks for your reply.
The reasons for the Church’s view that Freemasonry is incompatible with the Catholic Faith begin with indifferentism and continues on extensively. For your and other’s benefit if you wish to learn more, here’s a link where further down you can read Cardinal Bernard Law’s letter to US Bishops dated April 19,1996.
The preface reads, in part:
“The enclosed report shows that the principles of Masonry are incompatible with Christian faith and practice whether or not a specific Masonic organization happens to be engaging in activity against the church. For this purpose, we include three studies that explain the issue of incompatibility— the study of Masonic principles and rituals done by the West German Conference of Bishops in 1980, a study of American Masonry by Professor William Whalen of Purdue University written for the committee, and a recent article that appeared in the March 11, 1985, L’Osservatore Romano, “Irreconcilability Between Catholic Faith and Freemasonry.””
It goes into great detail and includes history as well as recent controversy, Masonic Stands, Ritual and Principles. Their conclusions are also at the link, here:
http://showcase.netins.net/web/clearlight/mason.html#004
> I had asked for priests you knew personally. I’ll ask again, do you?
Yes, I do. And no, I am not going to name them because, like all people, they are entitled to their privacy. If they wanted to make their Freemasonry public, they would.
> Jean-Marie Villot was not a freemason.
Says you. He became a Freemason in Switzerland in 1966.
> Membership remains forbidden, those who do are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.
Yet they do.
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