I recently read a couple of articles on the York Rite and was soon lost in all the variations. To me, even as ignorant as I am, it seems obvious that generalizing about Freemasonry is a tricky path.
There is only one York Rite.
It is expressly Christian, albeit non-denominational.
If I may chime in here: Bottom line: Masonry is NOT nor does it pretend to be a religion. Pure and simple. There is no promised path to salvation, no desire to proselytize anyone. Masonry is simply a fraternal organization.
As to the RCC vs. Masonry: I suspect that has as much as anything to do with the fact that many Masons of that day were supporters of the Protestant Reformation.
“it seems obvious that generalizing about Freemasonry is a tricky path.”
That would be correct. It’s a world-wide fraternity, with inherantly local control.
For example, much is made on FreeRepublic of a theoretical Muslim Fraternity Lodge. This is theoretically possible.
But each lodge votes on who can be a member (even if transferred), and the possibility or desire of a muslim to attend lodge at a lodge filled with Baptists is slim, as is the chance said member would be accepted.
Similarly, I am a fundamentalist Christian, and I would never sit in a lodge in Saudi Arabia that held the Koran up as the “Great Light in Masonry.”
But would I help a muslim freemason as part of my fraternal duty? Sure. I took an oath to do so, and my observance of my oath, as Christian, may lead this theoretical muslim to Christ.