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It's been nearly a quarter of a century since Freemasons in Utah rescinded a 60-year ban that prohibited Latter-day Saints from joining their fraternity.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That provision of the code remained in force until 1984, when it was rescinded.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."
> Liberals do a lot of good deeds in the world. Many of them are sincere in their delusions. Doesn’t mean you should encourage their growth or existence.
What a silly thing to say. But this might really make your brain explode: I would prefer to encourage and grow Liberals doing good than Conservatives doing evil.
Not Catholicism nor other mainstream Protestant. I believe the Baptist did kinda, and then went back, although in general Baptist are reknown for being a loose confederacy of independent churches.
I do know for certain that Catholics are not to be freemasons; that was actually the only thing that came up when I asked upon converting.
Do you see how this is self-contradictory? A requirement to believe in God is a religious requirement. That "which one" doesn't matter means an equivalency on Truth - hindu god, pagan gods, trinity... all the same value. This is a religious or doctrinal position.
You have a religious requirement and a doctrine of equivalency of religious truth (though Mason religious truth trumps).
If you had no requirement and no doctrine thereafter, it would not be religious, but a fraternal or philosophical organization.
This doctrine would fit Unitarianism, but is contradictory to Christianity. This is one of the reasons Masonry is considered conflicting with Christian beliefs.
I know several Cubans who are Masons. I am sure they are also Catholics. I don't think the prohibition is strictly enforced.
Interesting, I remember my grandfather wearing a Mason ring and my grandmother being a member of the Eastern star........both of which I know nothing about anyway. Just thought I would mention it....
Better burn your currency because it contains Masonic symbols. Better yet, just hand your currency over to me.
No Freemasonry, no United States. Not only were most of the Founding Fathers Freemasons, but many of the masonic practices were incorporated into our democratic structure. History Channel had an interesting program on this. Bascially, Masonry offered Colonials an alternative organization to the Crown.
I am a member of the same religion. :-)
> My godparents were members of the order of the Eastern Star, another fraternal organization.
Actually, the Order of the Eastern Star is a sorority: men do not belong to the Order of the Eastern Star. While its membership usually comprises the female members of a Mason’s family, it is not Freemasonry.
> Not Catholicism nor other mainstream Protestant.
Tosh. One of my brethren is an Anglican bell-ringer: Protestantism gets no more mainstream than the Anglicans.
> I do know for certain that Catholics are not to be freemasons; that was actually the only thing that came up when I asked upon converting.
If that is so, then it is a rule that is not taken too seriously by our Catholic brethren: there are many Catholic Freemasons — I know of several — and there always has been. Who do you think built the jolly Cathedrals anyway? gnomes, pixies and elves? No: Catholic Freemasons did. Indeed, Freemasonry’s membership has included Catholic clergymen: certainly many priests, certainly some cardinals, possibly even popes.
I don't enough reading about Free Masonry, including stuff by former Free Masons. Maybe your local Masonic organization looks at it like its a service/social club; but I can assure you that is not the case in many of them. Not even going to suggest most; just many.
> I don’t enough reading about Free Masonry,
Huh?
> including stuff by former Free Masons.
There are two ways of becoming a “former” Freemason: first, one can resign. Second, one can get ejected for misconduct. Neither source of “former” Freemasons would be reliable sources of information for any of the books you are likely to have read.
If they have gone to the bother of writing a book they are just as likely to be disaffected former members with an ax to grind and no particular reason to be fair or truthful.
For them to tell you any of our Secrets would make them self-confessed, wilfully perjured individuals, void of all moral worth, and totally unfit to be received into a society of men who prize honor and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune: in other words, not the sort of people likely to have much credibility.
> Maybe your local Masonic organization looks at it like its a service/social club;
My local “Masonic organization” is a Lodge, just like every other Regular Lodge that is in amity with United Grand Lodge of England. It is certainly not a service or social club. None of them are.
> but I can assure you that is not the case in many of them.
Your assurances based upon what? Hearsay at best.
> Not even going to suggest most; just many.
I bet you cannot even name one Regular Lodge where anything sinister goes on. If you can, I challenge you to do so here.
Meant to type “have read enough about...”. It’s early here on the west coast and I was up late last night.
Just a quote to ponder:
“Masonry, like all the religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled, to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from them and to draw them away from it. Truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it, or would pervert it” (Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma, pp. 104-105)
> That may be your experience with your grandparents. Not so with me.
The fact remains that you have no direct experience with Freemasonry: only vicariously thru your relatives. You are not even a Lewis. In fact, the only Freemason you are even remotely related to appears to have been your grandfather. Much as he probably loved you, I am certain that he would not have shared his Freemasonic Secrets with you.
> And no, I was never a Mason, which has nothing to do with the price of tea in China.
But it has everything to do with your credibility when commenting on matters Masonic. In your case, you were never a Mason, never privy to the Masonic Secrets, and thus never in a position to develop an informed opinion. Ergo, you do not have much valuable to add to any discussion about Freemasonry, other than your uninformed opinions.
> If your own recognized authorities are not bold face liars,
...proving the above point: you just don’t get it. There are no recognized “Masonic Authorities.” Not even UGLE has a “recognized Masonic Authority”: nobody speaks on behalf of all Freemasonry.
” then Masonry is downright Satanic in origin. Period.”
There is no general agreement amongst Freemasons as to what our Origins are, as our origins are undoubtedly antient and certainly lost in the mists of time. If we do not know our own origins, how can you, an uninformed non-Mason?
> You don’t have to stand in a pile of cow dung to know that it stinks.
From what you’ve written so far, you would be unable to identify cow dung even if you were standing in it.
> Swearing the oath was anti-Christian. It probably didn’t occur to you, but it was.
And so every President of the United States, every Immigrant to the United States, and every Boy Scout — or indeed anybody who has ever sworn an Oath of Allegiance is also Anti-Christian? And everybody who has ever been required to testify in a Court of Law, too? And everybody who has ever taken a Statutory Declaration or needed the services of a Notary, them too? What Bollix you write! You can’t be serious!
> Beyond that, it does not surprise me that you haven’t been exposed to the worst of the worst yet.
Like UglyBiker, I am constantly amazed how somebody can be a part of an organization for a number of years, rising thru the ranks, experiencing the Secrets first-hand, and still find that “the worst of the worst” still eludes him, when an uninformed outsider like yourself can earnestly assure us that it is yet to come.
> Rather than castigating anyone saying something ill of the group, why don’t you go to your Masonic library and find out if it is true.
Because it isn’t true. Why waste my time? It is more fun and more productive castigating you instead.
> You do not undertstand cult dynamics. That is not to say that Master Masons are holding guns to the head of those who stay. But, after a while, it becomes psychologically difficult to leave the group - and most will not want to.
“Cult Dynamics!” HA! What Bollix you write! Utter cods-wallop! What do you think goes on during Lodge? Do you seriously believe we stand around brain-washing each other? CRIKEY that is Hell-Funny! ‘Strewth! Hilarious!
> Pike. He says
See Posts #71 and #73. Who is Pike, aside from a Brother from the 19th Century who went potty in his dotage and wrote books that, tho’ entertaining and instructive to some Freemasons, certainly bear no official weight nor stamp of authority.
> You are a master and making unsubstantiated assertions.
Rather, it is you who are making unsubstantiated assertions: or in Christian-speak, “bearing false witness against your neighbors.” For shame!
> We can provide links,
Any fool can publish any rubbish they like on the Internet, and many do. And any fool can provide link to that rubbish. As you assert that you can.
> thus far, you have just hurled insults
I’ve done nothing of the sort. I have however demonstrated that you lack Credibility when it comes to discussing matters Masonic. If that insults you then you have a very thin skin.
> and told us we don’t know what we are talking about.
Because you don’t. To paraphrase your own words, you do not need to dress in a clown suit to be recognized as a buffoon. And you do not need to be a pig to be pig-ignorant. There. Does that insult you? How does it feel? And before you start whinging about being insulted, may I point out that you have only been paid back in your own coin.
> If this were a library, we could pull in books that would show you the quotes from your recognized authorities.
See above: there are no recognized Masonic Authorities.
> There are ample sources for you to investigate your own lodge.
Like, for instance, Membership and personal experience — neither of which you have. I can therefore speak with Credibility. You cannot.
> Have you done any such research?
See previous post: the answer is “Yes”.
(sigh) See posts #71 and #73.
(sigh) See posts #71 and #73.
Albert Pike is as much a “recognized Masonic Authority” as Joseph Smith is a “recognized Christian Authority”.
Yes, Albert Pike was a Freemason. Yes, Joseph Smith was a Christian. No, neither spoke with unilateral authority over all others.
So what was the Mason’s beef with Mormons? I guess I don’t get it.
Freegards
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