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It's been nearly a quarter of a century since Freemasons in Utah rescinded a 60-year ban that prohibited Latter-day Saints from joining their fraternity.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That provision of the code remained in force until 1984, when it was rescinded.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."
Yes, Canon law trumps Freemason oath for a priest. To begin with, a priest who joins has violated his vows. Ask any priest. Vows, including obedience, are integral to becoming and remaining a priest. [Canon law vs. Federal Law is a facetious question.]
I do understand it has no relevance to you; you’re neither Catholic nor a priest. However to Catholics being in grave sin and denied Holy Eucharist is a huge deal. This is what our discussion is about; I realize it’s not about you personally.
As it applies to the discussion, I would think it’d be consistent for masons to strongly discourage their brothers from violating the tenets and vows of their church. In this case fully informing them of what joining means in regards to the Sacraments at the least.
thanks for your reply..
> DieHard, you have to admit this does sound religious:
Yup, I do admit it sounds religious.
> Dark to Light, Worshipful Master, Temple, Altar.. If Masonry is misunderstood to be a religion, you surely can see how.
It may surprise you to know that Freemasonry was once — long, long ago, a very CATHOLIC oriented organization. It wasn’t until fairly recently (seventeenth-to-eighteenth century) that most of the religious aspects of The Craft were removed, to permit as wide a participation as possible.
The only remaining religious requirement is a belief in a superior Being — God, if you will. This is because a belief in Higher Power is essential to our grounding in the Freemasonic system of morality. So there are no Atheist Freemasons by definition.
Aside from that, Religion is never discussed in Lodge — it, along with Politics, is a topic that is off-limits.
I don’t know if that helps explain... hope so.
You seem to be saying Catholics aren’t thinking people, or that thinking Catholics don’t care what Church law is.
When the Church officially says, if you do X, you are in grave sin and may not receive the Holy Eucharists, it has great bearing on Catholics.
I realize you don’t think this should be so and that’s your right and opinion, but as long as it so, it’s something that can be ignored or minimized as “one old guys idea”
It’s more than one guy developing Canon Law by the way, and it has been studied; I linked to a few further back.
thanks for your reply.
It does help. And I’m far from a conspiracy nut.
I have read quite a bit on it a lot from freemason sites, honestly. I’ve read a lot from anti- sites that even I see are pretty off-base.
What I’ve read is often confusing in that there are so many differences within Rites and much autonomy, no - that I can tell - official works or speakers for this issue..
So I can easily see some lodges being as religious as Red Green’s Possum Lodge.
However, I also see the Church’s point - I believe the Catholic studies are much more thought out than the other Church’s statements I’ve read.
My deceased father was a mason, and it was obvious to me that it was his “religion”. Not that that’s a proof or recommendation. But I did experience how it could be.
As you noted, there are still a fair amount of religious accouterments and rituals, a path of growth, etc. Now, I can understand you not thinking twice about these. I hope you can understand the Catholic Church, with is based on a Sacramental life and ritual, would view these in a much different light.
Perhaps if some dialogue were opened, things could be different.
The other aspect of Catholicism, one which Protestants harass us about no end, is the way we view Church Authority and teaching. So the bottom line for Catholics, practicing Catholics that are sincere in their faith, is that if the Church denies you valid communion for something, that something you must avoid.
I hope this helps explain my points too.
thanks for your reply.
> To clarify: Are you saying that no one speaks for Freemasonry on this issue?
For the avoidance of doubt: there is nobody who “speaks” for all Freemasonry, on this or any other issue. There is no equivalent of the Pope or Chief Executive or President within Freemasonry. Not even at UGLE (United Grand Lodge of England). Our highly-decentralized democratic structure entirely precludes such an arrangement.
That is one of the excellent reasons why Freemasonry has endured throughout the ages. It is a vast network of individual complementary democratic structures, rather than a hierarchy.
That is not to say that some roles don’t carry more responsibility than others: they do from an administrative viewpoint. But the highest degree is the Third Degree — that of the Master Mason. It gets no higher than that.
So no, Albert Pike did not speak as an Authority that must be obeyed or heeded. Our decentralized structure precludes such an arrangement. He was just another Mason with his own viewpoints and opinions, which were “interesting to some”. Any Master Mason could write with equal authority.
Does that help?
> Yes, Canon law trumps Freemason oath for a priest.
Or — to flip the situation on its head — perhaps Freemasonic Oaths trump Canon Law for these particular Catholic Freemasons, which includes priests...? Perhaps for them it is a question of which has priority?
Dunno. I can’t possibly comment on that. Freemasonry does not seek to undermine any religion, or any particular political structure, or indeed the family. Indeed it specifically seeks to supplement and support all of these, and for most Masons it does.
I do not know why there are Catholics who are also Freemasons: that is their business not mine.
> [Canon law vs. Federal Law is a facetious question.]
True, it was a naughty question. But I guess it is also an interesting one: to a Catholic, which trumps which? Do Catholics obey Canon Law or Federal Law, if the two come into conflict?
Thanks for your reply:
“there is nobody who “speaks” for all Freemasonry, on this or any other issue.”
That helps clarify, I appreciate it.
But can you see how it blows away discussion of Freemasonry on this topic.
If you or anyone says, “It’s not a religion,” you don’t speak for Freemasonry, they don’t speak for Freemasonry - we have an answer about Freemasonry that doesn’t speak for Freemasonry. A quandary here..
Along with not being able to discuss the oaths and rituals, then.. I don’t know how the two sides discuss, resolve misconceptions, etc..
thanks for your reply.
A priests whose vows do not have highest priority is no longer a priest in reality. Vows are to God and are perpetual. In Catholicism this is one of the Sacraments - Holy Orders.
In fact this cannot be revoked even by the Church, no more than Baptism can be revoked. A priest can be sanctioned to no longer administer valid sacraments, but he is still and always a priest.
So you may see how the question of another Oath taking priority would be nonsensical to a priest, unless he were corrupt.
Do Catholics obey Canon Law or Federal Law, if the two come into conflict?
Canon law governs relationships with the Church, the Sacraments, Clerics, Religious Orders, etc. So the conflict is rare. As it deals with morality and law, they cover basic strict Catholic teaching. This includes the sanctity of life.
Recent examples of this conflict are politicians promoting abortion and laws attempting to make Catholic hospitals perform various abortion services.
In those cases, Catholics should give priority to the Church's teachings. I think you can see by this explanation this is the higher code, if you will.
thanks for the question..
> Canon law governs relationships with the Church, the Sacraments, Clerics, Religious Orders, etc. So the conflict is rare. As it deals with morality and law, they cover basic strict Catholic teaching. This includes the sanctity of life.
>
> Recent examples of this conflict are politicians promoting abortion and laws attempting to make Catholic hospitals perform various abortion services.
>
> In those cases, Catholics should give priority to the Church’s teachings. I think you can see by this explanation this is the higher code, if you will.
In many, many ways, right glad I am to hear it. It may surprise you to know that I was hoping that was the answer. From my personal viewpoint, it is the only correct one for a Catholic. And analogously, for a Christian, church must always trump state.
Thanks for the answer.
> But can you see how it blows away discussion of Freemasonry on this topic.
I can — it is very hard for people to discuss what may be a perceived World Conspiracy or a perceived Order for Evil when it is, in actuality, a very de-centralized, highly-democratic, quite-autonomous collection of individuals, loosely organized in accordance with generally-accepted broad principles.
It could be said with historical accuracy and considerable justification that The United States of America was the ultimate manifestation of the Freemason’s work. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were crafted by Freemasons along Freemasonic Principles and espousing Freemasonic Values: indeed, all of the things that drive highly-centralized despotic governments crazy.
> If you or anyone says, “It’s not a religion,” you don’t speak for Freemasonry, they don’t speak for Freemasonry - we have an answer about Freemasonry that doesn’t speak for Freemasonry. A quandary here..
...except that one thing that all Freemasons will agree to is that Freemasonry is neither a religion nor is it a political movement. Hence the reason why religion and politics are never discussed in Lodge. That is why Jew can meet with Catholic with Protestant with Sikh with Muslim with Hindoo with Rastafarian with Conservative with Liberal with (I guess) Communist with (I guess) Anarchist within Lodge.
It is true that for some Freemasons, Freemasonry fills the gap that would otherwise be filled by an organized religion. For others (like me) it is a very useful spiritual supplement to my Christian Faith. For others, it is little more than a Self Improvement system like an ancient form of Tony Robbins. And for some it is merely a quaint antiquarian pursuit. And for others it is mostly a social pursuit.
Freemasonry is many things to many men. The common themes are:
1) men
2) good upright law-abiding Character
3) belief in God
4) system of Morality, using the ancient stone mason’s craft as an allegory to building personal Character and moral behavior
5) 21 years or older, or 18 if you are a “Lewis” (Freemason’s son)
6) use of verbal history, ritual, secrets, and tradition to communicate the system of morality
7) closed to members-only
> Along with not being able to discuss the oaths and rituals, then.. I don’t know how the two sides discuss, resolve misconceptions, etc..
A good start is for the “cult” and “conspiracy” thing to “go away” from the discussion.
Freemasons keep Secrets because being trustworthy and keeping promises are pivotal requirements to building a Moral and upright character. As is a belief in God.
If our Oaths and Secrets are communicated to and discussed openly with other non-Masons then they are no longer “Secrets” to be “kept”, and that rather undermines the whole point. There is no real way around that.
It really is not too much different in this respect to Catholicism:
For example, the methodology that the Cardinals use to select your next Pope is secret, as are the ballots, as is any discussion during the Conclave. Only Cardinals are allowed inside the room, and only Cardinals are privy to what goes on in there.
We can speculate, and we can arrive at all kinds of wild conclusions — all for nought. The methodology for selecting the next Pope is secret. We know that ballots are taken, and that is about it. The next thing anyone knows is either grey or white smoke. How do we know they picked the right guy?
Or the methodology for selecting the next Saint. From an outside observer’s viewpoint the process appears somewhat arbitrary if not altogether dodgy. No doubt there is some rigor in it all, but it is not evident to outsiders. How do we know that Soul is really in Heaven, and not still in Purgatory, or (worse yet) somewhere much hotter?
Or the methodology that goes behind Papal Bulls: we all know that the Pope is a mere mortal — a very special mortal — but mortal all the same. He is born, and eventually he dies. So how is it that he can pronounce the Word of God, and that becomes Holy Writ, and thus a Sin to violate?
Or the Sacrements and Trans-substantiation and the Holy Trinity... how do they work? Baffling to outsiders.
Not everything can be discussed or readily understood by those who are not Catholics. And, as I have seen on other threads, when attempts to do so are made, inevitably someone leaps in and starts bashing Catholic doctrines as being “false” merely because they are difficult to discuss with non-Catholics. Not overly helpful to the process of understanding.
So it is an interesting point you raise, and thanks for raising it.
*DieHard*
I won’t correct your misconceptions about Catholicism, except to say, “Point taken.”
>all Freemasons will agree to is that Freemasonry is neither a religion
I know that’s sincerely believed, and actively attempted, but it may still be a religion to others, put tritely - just because someone says they don’t have a religion, it doesn’t mean they’re right. It gets into the definition of religion.
I prefer the good and general definition of William James “study and teaching about who man is and his relationship to the cosmos.”
I’m leaning toward Freemasonry not fitting that definition, but coming very close. You will readily note, I’m not one and so.. But this is the attempt of an honest outsider.
From all I find available on the degrees and rituals, etc. I would say it is a secularized gnosticism. I mean this in the general meaning of the term, not the specific gnosticism of the 2nd Century (gnosticism predates Christianity and is still quite prevalent today).
I think it was fairly full-blown gnosticism in the past, but has shed this as you noted before. It still has the outward appearance, almost in full regalia - and a tinge of the inner form of gnosticism.
[I’m not one who uses gnosticism as an automatically perjorative. There are good and true aspects of it, those which the Church acknowledges and incorporates of course.]
In part gnosticism teaches that the adherent through practicing the virtues (with new knowledge revealed as the candidate progresses to be able to receive it), starts in darkness and gains en-light-enment.
I think maybe you can see this description echoed in the levels and rituals of Masonry. I believe it shares some historical roots with similar societies.
I emphasize at this point a SECULARIZED gnosticism.
But this is a difficult thing to separate. I don’t know what Masonry could do to placate its critics, without completing the secularization. And atheism is antithetical to it’s belief that this precludes full moral development (on which I agree.)
And when it removes it’s base in Christianity as a requirement, it becomes universalism, indifferentism, antithetical to Christian theology.
A mess this is.
Right now, here’s what I think. If one is a Catholic, he should choose one or the other. (I fervently hope he chooses the Church, for personal reasons I don’t have to expound) I think Freemason should actually support this choice, because it supports not going contrary to your church.
If one belongs to a Church that allows for it or has no position, then all’s ok. Of course I pray all know Christ.
If one has no church and cannot abide a Church or any doctrine, then I think, personally, Freemasonry will help make him a better man, for himself and for others.
Like I said, this is a real quandary for me, I’m spouting nothing but my own feeble attempts at three a.m. to arrive at some conclusion.
I appreciate your patience and courtesy, and reply.
Before I leave I forgot to add:
>A good start is for the “cult” and “conspiracy” thing to “go away” from the discussion.
Total agreement here. This completely taints discussion among honorable people. We can debate and disagree passionately, but this is unproductive and inflammatory. [Catholics have also had this thrown at us.]
> Total agreement here. This completely taints discussion among honorable people. We can debate and disagree passionately, but this is unproductive and inflammatory. [Catholics have also had this thrown at us.]
Cheers for that!
> I know that’s sincerely believed, and actively attempted, but it may still be a religion to others, put tritely - just because someone says they don’t have a religion, it doesn’t mean they’re right. It gets into the definition of religion.
Perhaps for some Freemasons it can become a “religion” in the same way that Alcoholics Anonymous can become a de-facto “religion” for a recovering alcoholic. Neither are intended for that purpose, and any use in that manner is entirely accidental.
> I prefer the good and general definition of William James “study and teaching about who man is and his relationship to the cosmos.”
>
> I’m leaning toward Freemasonry not fitting that definition, but coming very close. You will readily note, I’m not one and so.. But this is the attempt of an honest outsider.
And it is probably a reasonably fair and accurate assessment, and I certainly appreciate the honest attempt. What is missing from the William James definition would be “and his relationships with himself, his fellow man, and with God.”
Freemasonry is more than a clinical assessment of who we are and why we are: it also encompasses and incorporates the truly ennobling aspirations of the human spirit, such as Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth — all of which are also, coincidentally, part-and-parcel of most decent world religions (including and perhaps especially Catholicism, and certainly excluding Militant Islam).
The Lodge I belong to is dedicated to celebrating the Liberal Arts, particularly Music. We have an especially close affinity with the music of Mozart, who was a famous Freemason, and hardly a Refectory goes by without one of our sponsored music students performing live Mozart music for us.
(Mozart was also a Catholic, and is a favorite of Pope Benedict XVI).
It is difficult to envisage anything sinister that could possibly be associated with the music of Mozart: it is music that also ennobles the soul. It is no wonder that the Pope enjoys it.
> From all I find available on the degrees and rituals, etc. I would say it is a secularized gnosticism. I mean this in the general meaning of the term, not the specific gnosticism of the 2nd Century (gnosticism predates Christianity and is still quite prevalent today).
Fair enough, I can see how that would come about. But it really isn’t like that: you don’t go thru your Masonic life being drip-fed new revelations as you work your way up the hierarchy — although, in truth, each of the degrees focuses on progressive bits of knowledge until you get to the Third Degree. It is very much more like a voyage, the significance of which dawns on you progressively over time as all of the pieces fall into place.
For many who choose to, this voyage can take a lifetime. For others, they may choose to take side-trips through the various side degrees, each of which emphasize different aspects that build upon the Three Degrees.
It would not be inaccurate to describe it as Self-Improvement: like Tony Robbins but with much more decorum. There is something distinctly beautiful and old-fashioned about the Rituals, and naturally the various Lodges will do their Rituals with greater-or-lesser amounts of polish and skill. In our Lodge, we practise and rehearse our Rituals until the words and music flow off-by-heart, in word-perfect Old English, and every move is nearly choreographed well in advance of the meeting. And when the Lodge Meeting actually takes place, it is a thing of majestic beauty. Quite moving, actually.
This aspect of Freemasonry should come as no surprise: the Masons took a bunch of rocks and shaped and carved them into beautifully-architected Cathedrals (most of them Catholic) all around Europe. There was a high degree of skill required to do so, and each aspect of the building would have been practised and rehearsed until perfect.
Imagine, for example, if the Sistine Chapel hadn’t been built properly by skillful Masons: it is no joke hoisting several thousands of tons of rocks many stories into the air, relying primarily on gravity and friction to keep everything in place — while at the same time making each and every rock perfectly shaped and highly decorative, a thing of beauty. Get one rock wrong and the whole thing could come crashing down around your ears, crushing the assembled congregation and all clergy present...
...to say nothing of the cost and waste of time involved in starting all over again.
As with the building of a Cathedral, so with the building of a man’s Character. It requires skill, and skill takes time and practise to acquire. And you don’t want just any old joker to do it — neither building Cathedrals nor building men’s Characters. Hence the reason why membership isn’t open to every Tom Dick and Harry who wants to wander in off of the street, to come and go as he pleases. And hence the reason why the techniques are closely guarded and passed on only to those who know what they are doing and are willing to put in the time and effort to do it right.
Had the Masons let out their Cathedral-building secrets to every sod who asked, you would have every sod and his mate building shonky Cathedrals and having them crash down and killing everyone — this would not be good for business or for the industry’s reputation. Hence the need to be able to tell whether a) the man in front of you is in fact a qualified fellow Mason and b) exactly how much skill he legitimately has, at a glance.
Hence the handshakes, hence the pass phrases, hence the rituals, hence the secrecy, and hence the oaths not to reveal any of the above to non-Masons. Nothing sinister there: it was merely a way of verifying Qualifications of itinerant workers at a time when there were no other ways of doing so without actually risking the building, and of quality control.
As with itinerant workers, so with itinerant Freemasons. I can present at any Regular Lodge around the world and all present can be assured of my Regularity as a Third Degree or Master Mason, more or less at a glance. All can be comfortable that I actually do belong there, in that meeting. Similarly, an impostor — even if he knew the Secrets by reading them on the Internet, and even if he knew exactly what to do or say — would stand out like Dog’s Bollix and be known in an instant as somebody to be shown the door.
It really is no more mysterious or sinister than that.
As to the Indifferentism, I guess it espouses Indifferentism to the same degree as, say, the US Military espouses Indifferentism or the local Businessman’s Club espouses Indifferentism or your kid’s soccer team espouses Indifferentism. To the best I can tell it is precisely like that.
Now, as to why Freemasonry is only open to men, not to women: all I can say is that it has always been like that and, as a highly Conservative and antient organization, it is highly unlikely to change — it would require full agreement from every member of every Lodge worldwide: many hundreds of thousands of them — and that, in practical terms, will never happen anytime soon. Much like the Roman Catholic priesthood, it is just one of those things that only men do and have done for many centuries if not millennia.
Hope that helps
Cheers
*DieHard*
There is no affiliate body to the body of Christ.
And yes, there is a great delusion coming. Don’t you read your Bible? It is not a human conspiracy.
I am sorry, but Cannon Law has no basis in anything, except someone said it is so.If it isn’t in the Bible, then it has no place in Religious Circles.
I don’t really know.
It would not be right to hold a current mormon responsible for the oath-breaking of their founders.
That said, I might consider a mormon as a member of a “clandestine lodge” and thus not eligible to be a mason. I would have to think about it, though and get more information.
That said, I’ve never been confronted with the problem.
All our members are Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Jewish, or Baptist. (We also pray in Jesus’s name when the Jewish guy isn’t there, the horror!)
“There is no affiliate body to the body of Christ.”
Not to butt in, but I don’t think he’s talking about an “affilliate to the body of Christ.”
There are Blue Lodges, and then there are groups (”bodies” in the organizational sense) that are “affilliated” with with the Blue Lodges.
For example, I am in the York Rite, which is a descendant of the Knights Templar (an armed, military organization from the Crusades defending against the Mohamedons), and requires one to publically affirm your belief that Jesus was (and is) the Christ, take an oath to defend all Christiandom, and to protect widows, orphans, the poor, and pilgrims (as in people going to Israel on pilgramage).
The York Rite is an “affilliated” body with the masons -— an armed, military, branch, popular in the US Army.
This may apply for sola scriptura Protestants, but not for Catholics. This was my point.
thanks for your reply.
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