Freemasonry and Jesus Christ

Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon wrote, "masonry turns away from Christ . . . Masonry deliberately deletes the name of Christ from its prayers . . . Masonry requires a Christian to disobey Christ by officially prohibiting all discussions of Christ from Lodge activities . . . Mansonry denies the deity of Christ; and Masonry purposely downplays the unique role of Christ as Savior . . . (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 126)


Does Freemasonry deliberately delete the name of Christ from its prayers?
Anti-Mason Robert Morey, ". . . Christians are the only ones who are forbidden to pray in the name of their deity . . ." (The Truth About Masons, page 114)

Anti-Mason J. W. Acker wrote, "No prayers are ever spoken in Jesus' name in the Blue Lodge (first three degrees), which is the very foundation of Masonry." (Strange Altars, page 34)

Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon, ". . . Masonry . . . prohibits the giving of prayers in the name of Christ in the Lodge." (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 127)

Anti-Mason Donald Prout wrote, "It is a well-known fact that our Lord's Name is deliberately omitted from any prayers -- lest a brother mason be offended!" (Freemasonry: Friend or Foe, page 23)

Anit-Mason L. James Rongstad wrote, ". . . lodge prayers intentionally shun the name of Jesus." (How to Respond to the Lodge, page 39)

Anti-Masons Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, "In a 'well-ordered Lodge' the name of Jesus is not allowed to be spoken. Praying in His name is a serious offense and can even bring about the closing of a lodge." (The Deadly Deception, page 29)

Anti-Mason Charles Madden, ". . . the name of Jesus is never invoked in prayer in Masonic rituals - indeed it is forbidden to do so . . ." (Freemasonry: Mankind's Hidden Enemy, page 8)

Anti-Masons Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, "In a well-ordered Lodge, Jesus is never mentioned except in vague, philosoophical terms. Prayers are never prayed in His name . . ." (The Deadly Deception, page76)

Masonic Response
S. Brent Morris wrote, "The name of Jesus is not forbidden in Lodge payers. His name is used widely in Lodges around the world." (Is It True WhatThey Say About Freemasonry?, page 98)

The Masonic Code of the Grand Lodge of Alabama states, "A Mason offering prayer in the Lodge may pray to his God -- observing his own conception of Deity. It is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic law and tenets for a Mason who believes in Christ or Jesus to offer prayer in the Lodge in His Name."

Christopher Haffner, ". . . if the omission of Jesus' name from a prayer is wrong, that the Lord's prayer -- 'Our Father' -- should not be used in Christian worship! This could extend to the excision from the lectionary reading from the Third Letter of John (which does not mention Christ) and, even if the whole of the Old Testament is not excluded, then at least the Protestant version of the Book of Esther (which does not mention God).
The truth is that it is impossible for our Lord to be shut out of a lodge meeting. The last words of Matthew's Gospel are, 'And be assured, I am with you always, to the end of time.' The Christian Freemason believes those words of Jesus, just as much as any other Christian." (Workman Unashamed, page 55)


Is the name of Jesus omitted from Lodge?
Anti-Masons often claim that the name of Jesus Christ is never spoken in official Masonic rituals and ceremonies. This is not true. The Murrow Masonic Monitor used by Oklahoma includes the Doxology, with the phrase "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," in the Fellow Craft degree. (The Murrow Masonic Monitor, page 69) Also in the Murrow Masonic Monitor, from the laying a conerstone ceremony, is,"According to the grace of God which is given unto me as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (The Murrow Masonic Monitor, page 69)

Masonic Response
From the 18th degree of the Scottish Rite, "That wherein they [older forms of religion] were deficient [Masonry] found in the New Law of Love, preached by Jesus of Nazareth, and which He sealed with His blood. . . . We regard Him as our Master, and use such terms only as none can dissent from." (Ritual of the 15th to the 18th of the Scottish Rite, 1957, page 251)

From the 26th degree of the Scottish Rite, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through Him; in Him Life was, and the Life was the Light of mankind. The true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. And the Word became incarnate, and dwelt in man and they beheld His glory, a glory as of the Only-born of the Father." Thus said the Ancient Christian Masons; and they said also, "There are Three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these Three are One . . .
When the morning was come, all the Chie Priests and Elders took council against Jesus, to put Him to death. And when Pilate would have appealed to the people to release Him, the priests incited the people, so that they shouted, 'Crucify Him, Crucify Him'." (Ritual of the 19d to the 30d of the Scottish Rite, page 82)

In the ritual of the Red Cross of Constantine, a degree in the York Rite, we find Mark 16:1-6 quoted verbatim. (Ceremonies of Subordinate Conclaves: Red Cross of Constantine, 1987, page 53)

W. R. White, a past president of Baylor University, wrote, "The Cross of Calvary is the symbol of our order [the Red Cross of Constantine]. One part of it is vertical; the other part is horizontal. It signifies our instrument of victory.
We look up to the God revealed in Christ. . . . Our solid ground of hope is in Him. Here is the source of our faith and power.
The other part of the Cross extends horizontally. This is the outward or manward look. We are to see man as Christ saw him from the Cross -- perverse and helpless without God. Yet, he saw man redeemable through sacrificial love. For the joy of that potential, He endured the Cross, despising the shame." ("Our Fraternity and Our World," The Texas Freemason, August 1970, page 3)


Does Freemasonry teach that Jesus was only a man?
In an article entitled "What Does the Masonic Lodge Teach Its Members About Jesus," Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon wrote, "Masonic scholar Albert Pike asserts that Jesus was 'a great teacher of morality' -- but no more. So Masonry teaches that Jesus was only a man."

Masonic Response
Gary Leazer makes the following observations about Albert Pike and "Morals and Dogma." "Pike refers to Christ as 'Jesus of Nazareth' at least eight times in 'Morals and Dogma'. Yet, he refers to Him as simply 'Christ' or as 'Jesus Christ' at least sixty-seven times. Pike also refers to Christ as 'Him who died upon the cross,' as the 'Good Shepherd,' as the 'Son of God,' as the 'Son of man,' as 'the Word Incarnate,' as ''Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior,' as the 'WORD of God,' and as 'the Only-Begotten.' . . . Pike referred to 'The Christ of the Apocalypse, First-born of Creation and of the Resurrection' on page 273 in 'Morals and Dogma'." (Fundamentalism & Freemasonry, page 121)

Rex Hutchens and Donald Monson, "Curiously, the anti-Masonic press and ministers who cite from Morals and Dogma never reveal Pike's pro-Christian sentiments though they are scattered throughout the book. . . . Pike eloquently presents his perception of the proper attitude toward Jesus that all Masons should have (pp. 718-721)." (The Bible in Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma, page 6)

William Hartman wrote, ". . . we come to understand that Jesus is the creative and sustaining Word of God. 'All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that has been made.' 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us'." (Knight Templar, No. 12, December 2006, page 7)


Does Freemasonry exclude Biblical teachings about Jesus?
In an article entitled "What Does the Masonic Lodge Teach Its Members About Jesus," John Ankerberg and John Weldon wrote, "Masonry excludes all particular biblical teachings about Christ, such as His Incarnation, redemptive mission, death and resurrection. In fact, there is no biblical truth about Jesus Christ affirmed anywhere in Masonry. Mason Edmond Ronayne confesses: Freemasonry 'carefully excludes' the Lord Jesus Christ from the Lodge and chapter, repudiates his mediatorship, rejects his atonement, denies and disowns his gospel, frowns upon his religion and his church, ignores the Holy Spirit, and sets up for itself a spiritual empire, a religious theocracy, at the head of which it places the G.A.O.T.U. -- the god of nature -- and from which the only living and true God is expelled by resolution . . ."

Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Masonry completely excludes all particular biblical teachings about Christ such as His incarnation, redemptive mission, death, and resurrection. In fact, no biblical truth about Jesus is affirmed by Masonry." (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 133)

Anti-Mason John Hope, "Freemasonry refuses to acknowledge the unique Godhead of Jesus Christ, that he died for sins, and rose from the dead." (Freemasonry: As Influenced By The Bible, page 4)

Masonic Response
Thomas Keithly, "The Ascension tends to be neglected among the great mysteries of the life of Jesus Christ. We commemorate the birth of Jesus in the great joy of Christmastide. We appreciate the magnitude of his death on the cross on Good Friday. We celebrate the glory of the triumphant fulfillment of that sacrifice in the Resurrection on Easter. But the Ascension? Coming forty days after Easter, it is tucked away on a seemingly ordinary Thursday, mostly unnoticed. Thank God that we, as Knight Templar, are led to commemorate this great event in the life of our Lord -- either on Ascension Day or the Sunday following.
We understand the place of the Ascension only if we see it in relationship to the other events in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born as one of us so that he could enter into the human situation as our Savior. He came to rescue us from our ultimate enemies: Sin and Death. By his sacrifical death Jesus won the victory over sin and death, and that victory was manifested in the empty tomb and his Resurrection appearances. He had made the passage through the dark valley of the shadow of death and emerged triumphant in the light of the Resurrection." (Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 5, May 2004, page 13)

Thomas Keithly, "We have been called into a great hope in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him our frail human nature has been raised to glory, and one day his glorious heritage will be ours. We do not have to fear the physical againg process that will inevitably lead to death. We need to fear only the disruptive power of sin, which alone can destroy us. Jesus has given us the victory over sin." (Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 5, May 2004, page 14)

William Jackson Jones wrote, "Christmas time is such a great and joyous season! We clebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, who believe to be the Messiah, the Son of God. We celebrate in our churches. We celebrate in our homes. We celebrate in our Commanderies. Most of all, we celebrate in our hearts that day 2002 years ago when God sent His Son to give us guidance, to teach us, and to suffer for us." (Knights Templar, December 2002, page 2)

Albert Pike, ". . . the star which appeared to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's nativity." (Morals and Dogma, page 14)

Robert Macoy, "Although it is appointed unto all men once to die, yet the Scriptures inform us, that the Savior of the world arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, there forever he is seated on the throne of majesty in high; and they also assure us, that all who have received Him for their righteousness, and put their trust in Him, shall rise to life everlasting. In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn, toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, to see the sepuchre. And behold there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay: and go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo! I have told you." And they departed quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. And he led them out, as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." (Masonic Manual, pages 262-263)

Robert Macoy, "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore, said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the prints of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you, etc. - ST JOHN xx. 24-28." (Masonic Manual, page 264)


Freemasonry Does Not Teach That Jesus Is The Savor Of Mankind
Anti-Mason J. W. Acker wrote, "Nowhere is there any indication that Masonry treats Jesus as the Savior of mankind, whose substitutionary atonement on Calvary wrought forgiveness for all men of all times." (Strange Altars, page 35)

Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon, "Masonry denies the biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is the world's only Savior . . ." (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 133)

Masonic Response
Thomas Keithly, "It is in those encounters -- on the road to Emmaus, in the upper room in Galilee -- and continuing down through history to our own time and place, that lives are wonderfully transformed, that sinners are forgiven, the broken are healed, the fallen are redeemed." (Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 4, April 2004, page 6)

Thomas Keithly, "We are transformed by our own encounters with the risen Lord. Recognizing Him is the 'breaking of bread' arouses in us the impulse to share with others the truth of His Resurrection. Hearing His voice, as the Word is proclaimed, dispels all doubt about the goodness and mercy of God. Being baptized into His death brings us promise of our resurrection into His risen life. Encountering Him in the Living Community brings membership in His Body, the Church." (Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 4, April 2004, page 6)

Thomas Keithly, "Those who meet the Risen Lord and become part of his Living Body are inheritors of eternal life. Let the traditional Easter cry go out: 'Alleluia! Christ is risen!' And let the reply be: 'The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia'." (Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 4, April 2004, page 6)

John Riedas, "As Knights Templar we cannot loose sight of the true meaning of this important Holiday Season. The celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, God's gift to the world, who gave his all that we might live." (Illinois Supplement, Knight Templar, vol. L, no. 12, December 2004)

Gary Leazer wrote ". . . it is a falsehood to say Masons never refer to Christ's incarnation, redemptive mission, death, and resurrection." (Fundamentalism & Freemasonry, page 84)

In "Morals and Dogma", Albert Pike wrote, "To the Christian Mason they [Iota, Eta, and Sigma] are the first three letters of the name of the Son of God, Who died upon the cross to redeem mankind." On page 307 of "Morals and Dogma", Pike wrote, "The agonies of the garden of Gethsemane and those of the Cross on Calvary preceded the Resurrection and were the means of Redemption."

Robert Cave wrote, "This is what Easter is all about. Evil had caged humanity, but Christ sacrificed himself to set us free. And because of what Christ has done in his life, death, and resurrection; we are free for a new and glorious life now and into eternity, and we see this played out in the lives of the first Christians." (Grand Prelate's Easter Message - 2007, Knight Templar, vol. LIII, No. 4, April 2007, pages 5-6)

Robert Cave wrote, "In an instant, with Jesus' Resurrection, we see the victory of heaven over hell, love over hate, hope over despair, forgiveness over sin, and life over death. The women were the first to experience Easter joy, and now we with them share the joy of the Easter promise, which is ultimate victory over all that negates life." (Grand Prelate's Easter Message - 2007, Knight Templar, vol. LIII, No. 4, April 2007, page 6)

Ankerberg and Weldon's statement that there is no Biblical truth about Jesus Christ affirmed anywhere in Masonry is wrong.


Freemasonry denies the deity of Jesus.
Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon, "There is absoluetly no doubt that Masonry denies the deity of Jesus Christ." (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 133)

Masonic Response
Robert Macoy, "The following ode may be appropriately introduced during the ceremonies:
The rising GOD forsakes the tomb!
Up to his Father's court he flies;
Cherubic legions guard him home,
And shout him welcome to the skies.
Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell How high our great deliv'rer reigns,
Sing how he spoil'd the hosts of hell,
And led the monster, death, in chains.
Say live forever, wondrous king,
Born to redeem, and strong to save,
Then ask the tyrant, "where's thy sting? And where's thy vict'ry, boasting grave?"" (Masonic Manual, page 268)


It is not true that Freemasonry ignores or denies Jesus Christ. That Freemasonry does not refer to Jesus Christ as much as anti-Masons would like can, in part, he attributed to the fact that Freemasonry sees itself as symbolically building Solomon's Temple,constructed 10 centuries before Christ, within each member.


Freemasonry Prohibits The Christian Mason From Witnessing About Jesus
Anti-Masons John Ankerberg and John Weldon write, ". . . Masonry absolutely prohibits all attempts by Christians to share Jesus Christ with other Masons." (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 130)

Masonic Response
It is not true that Masons may never talk or testify about Jesus to their fellow Masons.

Rex Hutchens, "Since Freemasonry brings together men of every country, sect, and opinion and causes tue friendship to exist among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance, the worsts to be said of it is that it is fertile ground for witnessing. Although no religious discussions are allowed within the Lodge, certainly the riendships acquired there are potentially fruitful opportunities for a Christian Mason to let his light so shine before men that he may glorify his Father Who is in Heaven (Matt. 5:16)." (Pillars of Wisdom, page 247)


Robert Macoy, "AN EXHORTATION AT CLOSING.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of GOD that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of GOD, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. - EPHES. vi. 10-17" (Masonic Manual)


Henry Clausen, "This Degree [Twenty-sixth Degree] treats of God's Tripled Covenant of mercy -- with Abraham by circumcision, with the Israelites in the wilderness by the intervention of Moses, and with all mankind by the death and suffering of Christ." (Clausen's Commentaries on Morals and Dogma, page 160)


William Hartman, Christmas Message - 2007, "Our hope -- the hope of the world -- is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus fulfills our most ambitious hopes. He is the hope of all the ages, of all our dreams, of all our yearnings. He, and He alone, can set us free from the prisons we are in. He has broken the chains that bind us to the things of this world. He has ransomed our hearts from the prison house of sin, in which we have been held captive for too long.
God in Jesus Christ has visited and redeemed his people: He has set us free by visiting our earth and fulfilling our deepest hopes. Our hope is in Jesus: the One who is coming into the world, the One who has come into the world, the One who comes to set us free." (Knight Templar, vol. LIII, no. 12, December 2007, page 8)

William Hartman and Robert Cave, "There is always a change of direction in life for all who encounter Christ or accept Him in faith. The goal of the Church down through the ages has been to point people toward Jesus Christ so that they may have that life changing experience. Following the lead of the Church it has been the hallmark of Templary to remind the candidates to wear its badge as a constant memorial to stimulate them to imitate the virtues of the Immaculate Jesus, who did so that they may live. In other words the goal of Templary has been to lead the perspective Knights to Christ so that they may thereafter walk in a new way." (Knight Templar, vol. LIII, no. 12, December 2007, page 10)

William Koon, "As Knights Templar we celebrate the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ. For Christians in general and Knights Templar in particular, the Christmas Season marks the beginning of the Greatest Story ever told. . . . faith in our Savior will lead us to peace and happiness." (Knight Templar, vol. LIII, no. 12, December 2007, page 11)


December 28, 2007