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I was asked to join the masons. Many people tell me not to but no one has given me a reason why. Is their any masons on this forum or do you know anything about the masonic temple?

A Blessed day to all!

so you have joined the masonic order???

i am quite interested with the mysticism of the rituals... some say that it is not good for catholics to get involved with this order but an uncle of mine is a member and still practicing his catholic faith...

kindly state your comments about it, whether from the eastern or western christian stands.

eumir

Pope Leo the somethingth in the early parts of the 20th century wrote an encyclical against it.I have it somewhere.They way that I understood it would detract from the church and try to undermine the athority of the Holy See.

Odo:

It is totally forbidden for an Orthodox-Catholic believer to join the massonic lodges or any other secret society because their principles are directly opposed to christianity. The Church also recommends priests not to give the sacraments to the massons, and not to bury them because they are denying the basic principles of christianity, even if they do not know that they are doing wrong. Masonic principles are also full of the spirit of Protestantism, and this false religion has to be rejected. Freemasonry, since the begining has had the purpose to destroy the christian civilization, and replace it with an indifferentist One World religion, a religion were all, muslims, christians, buddhists, hindus, pagans, atheists can feel confortable: the worship of man.

Freemasonry has given birth to all the evil ideologies which has persecuted the Church: liberal capitalism, nazism and communism. For example, famous freemassons have been:

- Benito Juarez, the Mexican masonic liberal who destroyed the Christian kingdom of Mexico and gave liberal capitalism.

- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Josif Stallin, was an active member of a masonic lodge, a lodge with many international branches (Leon Trotsky, another mason belonged to another lodge.

- Goebels, a minister of Hitler, and many elements of the S. S. who were involved in the massive extermination of innocent jewish people, were all members of a masonic lodge.

The principles of freemasonry state that all religons are all the same. Their God is not the God of Christianity, but a universalist pantheist God called "great architect of universe".

According to some authors, the original founder of masonry was Herodes Agrippa, in alliance with the Romans, in order to cover up the truth of Chirst resurrection, to preserve the power of the Roman Empire, and the future existence of the religion of the Old Covenant.

The ocultist character of the alliance is proved by the importance that the hebrew Qabala had. The symbols of freemasonry are a desacration of the Christian faith. The instruments of contruction also mean the establishment of the New Temple of Jerusalem, the three knocks of the hammer, at the beggining of the masonic reunion represent the desecration of the Trinity. They have 33 degrees because of the age of Christ when he was crucified.

Their object is towards cosmopolitanism and internationalism, which would supplant the Christian duty of patriotism and loyalty to the nation, by internationalism, and One World Government. Masonry has always had the intention to infiltrate the Church and to bring the new liberal and secular religion into the Church. Unfortunately, it is very probable that they have been very succesful in doing so.

I recommend you the following bibliography:

- The Kingship of Christ and the Conversion of the Jewish Nation, Rev. Denis Fahey
- The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle, Marie Carre.
- Freemasonry and the Vatican, Visconte Leon de Poncins.

(and also the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion")

Given the hidden careers of certain 20th century hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, I wonder what the attitude of Constantinople is on this matter - and this is a serious question, not a jibe.

Mark, monk and sinner.

Odo:

Personally I would not join the Masons. Several RC bishops have forbidden their flock from joining, and with good reason. The problem is with their ritual and teachings. In the first 3 degrees (Blue Lodge) the rituals involve being blindfolded and part of the language states that the initiate was "in darkness" and now wishes to be illuminated by the light of Freemasonry.For any Christian to say this, I believe, is denying Christ. I also don't like the idea of blood oaths on the Bible with Masonic emblems on top of the Bible. And there are skits in the 3rd degree(?) about Hiram Abiff (the architect of Solomon's Temple) being killed and rising from the dead after 3 days (sound familiar?). In the later degrees there are teachings about other pagan religions (Egyptian, Mesopotamian), and references to the GAOTU (grand architect of the universe) being a mix of Osiris-Baal-Jehovah - very disturbing indeed. 32nd degree members who join the Sudan Temple (aka Shriners) take a blood oath on the Koran. And part of the 33rd degree ceremony is drinking wine from a human skull. One of Freemasonry's major authors, Albert Pike, was a Luciferian who advocated worshipping this fallen angel. Shall I go on? Overall it is a pantheistic hodgepodge of paganism and various occult practices - extremely gnostic also. I'm sure there are other men's organizations (I belong to an Eastern Catholic KofC council) centered in Christ that would be more edifying than the Masons (unless you're purely networking.....but is it worth the peril of our souls to gain some good business conections?). I had considered joining years ago, but after some research quickly changed my mind. Most men never go past the Blue Lodge, and hence are never exposed to the bulk of Masonic teachings.

Glory be to Jesus Christ! (the True Light)

Glenn

FAMOUS MASONS- U.S. PRESIDENTS

Buchanan, James - President of the U.S.

Ford, Gerald R. - President of the U.S.

Garfield, James A. - President of the U.S.

Harding, Warren G. - President of the U.S.

Jackson, Andrew - President of the U.S.

Johnson, Andrew - President of the U.S.

McKinley, William - President of the U.S.

Monroe, James - President of the U.S.

Polk, James Knox - President of the U.S.

Roosevelt, Franklin D. - President of the U.S.

Roosevelt, Theodore - President of the U.S.

Taft, William Howard - President of the U.S.

Truman, Harry S. - President of the U.S.

Washington, George - President of US, 1st

FAMOUS MASONS- SIGNERS OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SIGNERS OF CONSTITUTION OF THE U.S.

Franklin, Benjamin - 1 of 13 Masonic signers of Constitution of the U.S.

Hancock, John - 1of 9 Masonic signers of Declaration of Independence

______________________________

This list of masons does seem to contain a lot of rebels. I haven't joined and I'm not sure what to do. The mason who asked me to join keeps asking. Thx for your help.

Odo,

If you are a catholic, then you are forbidden to join the masons.

I suggest that you go to EWTN's web site, to the document library, and do a search on masons.

David

There are good masons, and there are bad masons, just as there are good and bad within any group of people. The Church has made a point of saying that even though the samaritan was good to his fellow man, he might not necessarily be saved. Good works don't necessarily reveal true faith. It depends on beliefs and the religion practiced. For practicing Catholics, east or west, and orthodox, the problem comes more from the Deist nature of masonic teaching. Freemasonry declares it is not a religion, but that it has members from most all faiths. Its prayers and rituals carefully avoid declarations of a specific faith, leading to a deist philosophy.

Unfortunately, masons are also often so misunderstood that they end up persecuted for their allegiance. Masons were some of those who ended up in concentration camps in WWII. The Nazis and others declared them to be a Jewish plot. Such accusations sometimes still come from the extreme right within christendom.

In America nowadays, it isn't unusual for the Knights of Columbus and the Masons to jointly sponsor a fund-raiser. Americans can do that, but christians have to be careful where their true allegiance is. However, it doesn't hurt to at least understand what you don't espouse.

I can recall some interesting musical masons apart from the political ones: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (a Roman Catholic); Jan Sibelius, Finnish composer noted especially for his tone poem Finlandia; John Philip Sousa, the American march king.

There are famous masons from all walks of life, most of whom have championed the democratic principles America lives by. Masonry sees itself as a way of life, not a religion. The church disagrees. Anyhow, the history of America would be greatly diminished without crediting their works.

Nowadays the Church does not permit its members to BE masons per canon law, I believe, because freemasonry does not express the True Faith as catholics east and west, and orthodox, know it to be.

Post removed for use of inappropriate language.

The poster is asked to abide by the rules of this forum and be charitable.

Dear Odo,

Before you rush off to your first Lodge Meeting , pick up a book about Masonic beliefs and practices at your local library and read it.

The Masons say they are not against any religion etc.

But what about the god they worship? Again, don't take my word for it, and let's not even refer to what the Church has said about it in the past.

In their books, you will find a reference to their god, the "Architect of the Universe," called "Jabulon."

Who is "Jabulon?"

Jabulon is a bringing together of what they say are three names of God in three different religious traditions.

"Jah" is the God of Israel - and in this they are right. They deny Christ is God and the Trinity.

But then they say that "Bul" in "Jabulon" is . . ."Baal."

They say this is the Assyrian name for the same "god."

Is it?

The true God of the Bible condemned the worship of Baal-Peor where human sacrifices were performed in that pagan deity's honour.

You can read up about who Baal or "Bul" really was and then see if what the Masons say is true or whether it really is "Bul"

Next, the term "On" at the end is "Om" of the name of God, they say, in India.

In fact, this is truly nonsensical - "Om" is simply a Hindu/Buddhist sound used in their religious prayers and singing (am I right, Qathuliqa Mor Ephrem?). It is in no way a personal name for a god of any kind.

This is what the Masons themselves call the god they worship.

Take a look at the "religious" images of their gods, the pentagram, as well.

Then you come back here and tell us what all this reminds you of and whether a Christian can be part of this.

Alex

Dear Andy,

Sorry, but you've crossed the line in speaking to Remie in that way.

I would ask the Administrator/Moderator to intervene here and make a judgement call.

Alex

No�you should be sorry my friend�everyone knows that the Protocols of Zion is a famous anti-semantic tract used to justify the destruction of the Jews�my mother is Roman Catholic as am I, but my father is Jewish and we lost Jewish family members in Poland due to the holocaust. I ask you frankly, �is there an anti-semantic undertone in the BC?�

Originally posted by Orthodox Catholic:
Dear Andy,

Sorry, but you've crossed the line in speaking to Remie in that way.

I would ask the Administrator/Moderator to intervene here and make a judgement call.

Alex[/QUOTE]

Dear Andy,

Please get a grip on!

My father, grandfather and other relatives saved Jews in the Second World War and my father is remember at Yad Veshem.

I personally developed a Holocaust memorial day act for Ontario which is now the only other jurisdiction outside Israel (and Germany) that honours Yom ha-Shoah.

The point is that that is not how we speak to one another on this Forum.

If you have information about a certain book or source of information that is Anti-Semitic - then say so without rancour or insult.

As for the Masons, that they are charitable is well-known.

But so are Muslims, Hindus and other faiths - that doesn't mean Christians should join them to become more charitable.

Alex