Freemasonry Versus Christianity.

FREEMASONRY versus CHRISTIANITY .

W HAT promises to be an interesting series of papers was commenced in the " Baptist , " of 22 nd inst ., under the above heading , the writer being Mr . William Foster , F . S . S . A ., author of " The Subject Testament , " & c . As Mr . Foster says , his object is to show that

Freemasonry is opposed to Christianity , but we think he will have to adopt a different tone of argument in his subsequent articles , to what he has done in this first ,

if he even hopes to succeed in his mission , for to our way of thinking he has thus far made out a fairly good case in favour of our Craft , Brotherhood , or Society , whichever he desires to term it . Our readers will

probably , like ourselves , look forward with pleasurable anticipation for further instalments of Mr . Foster ' s writings , which , at a later date , we may find the possibility of commenting on in detail . It is not often we have the opportunity of reading

the views of protestant writers who desire to prove that Freemasonry is opposed to Christianity or their particular form of religion , although by this time we have come to regard attacks from the Roman Catholic church as of regular recurrence ; and on that account

we are anxious to see what stronger arguments this writer can adduce in support of his stand of antagonism against Freemasonry , which , despite the persistent onslaughts of religious enthusiasts from time -to time-,

yet manages to pursue the even tenor of its way , amid the countenance and sympathy of many who are regarded as the shining lights of our . empire in every branch and section of the community .

We quote thus freely from our contemporary : 1 . THE RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY AS OPPOSED TO THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION . The title of this paper is sufficient to indicate its object , which is to show that Freemasonry is opposed to Christianity . That it is opposed to Christianity as taught throughout the Roman Catholic community is sufficiently indicated by the

Bulls issued against it . The object of the writer is , however , more particularly intended to show that the teachings of Freemasonry are opposed to Protestant or Evangelical Christianity . We do not say that it is opposed to all religion , as it acknowledges the existence of and encourages the adoration of a Supreme Being , but we do say that

FREEMASONRY IS A RELIGION WITHOUT CHRIST . It is popularly traced back to the time of Solomon , and is further stated to have been known to Hiram , King of Tyre , and his principal workmen ; but there is much to point to its

being an introduction from ancient Egypt ; thus the foundation of Freemasonry was long before the time of Jesus Christ , and belief in Christ as the Redeemer of the world has never been introduced into its formularies as an Article of Faith .

As illustrating the determined effort which Freemasonry makes to omit all reference to Jesus Christ we give the following quotation : — "The inscription at the head of the Tracing Board , Lapis reprobatus caput anguli , in the original Hebrew , is

found in Psalm cxviii . 22 . ... ' The stone which the builders disallowed , the same is made the head of the corner ' ( 1 Peter ii . 7 ) ; keeps forcibly before us the leading truth inculcated in this beautiful Degree—the fallibility of human

judgment , and the comforting assurance derived from a belief in the existence of a Heavenly Judge , to whose impartial , and we trust merciful , tribunal our work will hereafter have to be submitted . "

How different is all this from the teaching of the Apostle Peter in regard thereto , who applies the passage ( 1 Peter ii . 7 ) directly to Jesus Christ ( as also in Acts iv . 10 and n ) .

We may acknowledge , however , that Charity , Love , Justice , & c , are inculcated in the teachings of Freemasonry ; but any moral system would be void of power that did not include these .

It is especially worthy of note that Freemasonry recognises as its head the W . M . and his Wardens , to whom perfect submission is required : thus we read : "Your

Freemasonry Versus Christianity.

obedience must be proved . . . ; by a perfect submission to the will of the W . M ., and his Wardens , while acting in the discharge of their respective offices . " We submit that

this is precisely similar to the submission of will required by the Pope ; and there is no room here for freedom of conscience or implicit obedience to the Will of Christ . Let us now proceed to consider more particularly that

FREEMASONRY is OPPOSED TO PROTESTANTISM . Although Freemasonry sometimes expresses itself as opposed to Popery , there are plenty of proofs to show that it is itself opposed to Protestantism , ( a ) It teaches salvation by good works instead of by faith in Christ . Thus we read :

" The covering of a Masonic Lodge is a celestial canopy of divers colours , even the heavens ; the way by which we , as Masons , hope to arrive at it is by the assistance of a ladder , in Scripture called Jacob ' s ladder . This ladder has many staves or rounds , which point out as many moral virtues , but

three principal ones , namely , Faith , Hope , and Charity ; Faith in the Great Architect of the Universe ; Hope in Salvation ; and to be in Charity with all men . This ladder reaches to heaven , and rests on the Volume of the Sacred Law . "

Again , we read : '' Thus , by square conduct , level steps , and upright intentions , we hope to ascend to those immortal mansions whence all good emanates . " This teaching is diametrically opposed to that contained in the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (* see especially

chapter 3 ) , and to many other portions of the New Testament Scriptures , which show that salvation is to be obtained through Faith in Jesus Christ , and not by the Works of the Law ( see John 3 , 16 , and 36 , Romans 1 , 16 , and 17 , ch . 3 , 24-28 , Peter 2 , 24 ) . ( b ) Again , Freemasonry is opposed to

Protestantism on account of its whole tendency being toward ritualism , and that not a ritualism divorced from religion , but closely associated with it ; for every degree of Freemasonry is connected with ritualism , but more particularly the highest order , the " Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch , " as the following quotation will show : —

"The Officers of a Chapter wear crimson collars , to which are suspended jewels emblematic of their respective offices . The three Principals bear sceptres , emblematic of the regal , prophetical , and sacerdotal offices . The Kingly robe is red ; the Prophetic , puple ; and the Priestly , blue ;

the other Officers wear white robes . The principal Officers , when robed , take their sceptres , and their stations in the Arch " and the whole of the ceremonies of the Holy Royal Arch is carried out in keeping with this .

And there are Protestants—we fear an increasing number —who take part therein . Yet , surely , this cannot be a training ground for Protestant purity and simplicity , but for ritualism and formality .

We may as well say here , as leave it until later , that we consider it a pure myth that either St . John the Baptist or St . John the Evangelist were ever connected with Freemasonry , although it is claimed very emphatically that they were , and they are said to constitute

"THE TWO GRAND PARALLELS IN MASONRY . " We base this upon the consideration that as regards the former his childhood and youth , "till the day of his showing unto Israel , " were spent in the Deserts ( Luke 1 . 80 ) , and from that time he was " The voice of one crying in the wilderness ,

Prepare ye the way of the Lord , make His paths straight " ( Luke 3 , 4 ) . Surely there is no room here , or in his teachings , for the formalities and ceremonies or the spirit of Freemasonry . As regards the latter , we give one reason only for believing that he was not a Freemason . St . John states

what his fellowship was in his 1 st Epistle and 1 st chapter : "truly , our fellowship is with the Father , and with His Son , J esus Christ" ( verse 3 ) , and again , " If we walk in the light

as he is in the light , we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of J esus Christ , His Son , cleanseth us from all sin" ( verse 7 ) . This is certainly not the fellowship of Freemasonry .

II . MASONIC SECRECY AS OPPOSED TO CHRISTIAN PROCLAMATION . The great attraction ( to some minds ) of Freemasonry is that it professes to hold secrets which are revealed only to the initiated . In our opinion , however , " the secret" is in a great measure an open one .

Freemasonry is called many things , as "A Craft , " "A Progressive Science , " "A Brotherhood , " & c . It inculcates