Introduction

Henry Clausen, "Let there be no mistake. There are today vindictive and relentless foes of Freemasonry. They are motivated by ignorance, bigotry and intolerance, mental and spiritual slavery. Hence, they collide with Masonic concepts of constitutional freedoms, enlightened living and inherent rights of the people." (Clausen's Commentaries on Morals and Dogma, page 60)

Over the years of reading anti-Masonic material and discussing Freemasonry with anti-Masons, I have reached the following conclusions:
1. The arguments used by anti-Masons against Freemasonry are usually shallow. They lack real depth. Normally an anti-Mason has only a few cliches and a few quotes from Masonic writers. Rarely will an anti-Mason engage in an in-depth discussion about their views and objections to Freemasonry.

2. Ron Rhodes made the statement that Freemasons do not like to be criticized by "conservative" Christians. This blanket statement is not true. I have found Masons willing to discuss the issues with anti-Masons. It is the anti-Mason who usually abandons the discussion when they run out of cliches and cannot give a defense for what they believe.

3. The anti-Mason will "cherry pick" statements made by Masons. They will use only the statements that tend to reinforce their opinions. If, a certain Masonic writer contradicts their views, they ignore what he says.

4. The anti-Mason will often times take what a Masonic author says out of context or misquote the author. They will then mislead others as to what the Masonic author actually said.

Many anti-Masons believe almost anything, especially the most sensational stories, that shows Freemasonry in an unfavorable light. They repeat stories they hear without checking facts, and ignore any evidence contrary to their beliefs.

Anti-Masons have created fraudulent documents and stories to prove their points about Freemasonry. Two such fraudulent stories are:
(1) Leo Taxil's alleged "Lucifer is God" speech given by Abert Pike in 1889; and
(2) the Ed Decker, William Schnoebelen, Chick Publishing's "bloody red fez story."

Anti-Masons often are guilty of faulty research. The use of logical fallacies to prove false premises is common. One is led to conclude that even though most anti-Masons claim to do original research, many quotes and ideas are borrowed from earlier critics. An untruth repeated until it becomes common knowledge does not cause it to become true.

Anti-Masons will often cite non-Masonic rituals as if they are Masonic rituals. An example of this is John Ankerberg and John Weldon's use of Jonathan Blanchard's Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated. Even though Blanchard was not a 33d degree Mason or a Sovereign Commander, they state that he was. (The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, page 131) An examination of their endnotes reveal that Ankerberg and Weldon refer to Blanchard over fifty times in thier book "The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge." They used Blanchard's Scotch Rite Freemasonry Illustrated for their information on Scottish Rite Rituals. What they failed to realize or what they failed to tell their readers is: Blanchard's book was an exposure of Cerneauism, an illegitimate pseudo-Masonic organization of the 1800's.

After reading the professional anti-Masons, it is clear they resort to far fetched interpretations, misrepresentations, and the use of secondary sources in order to support their views. As I learned, checking the anti-Masons endnotes and footnotes is vital, given how unsupported many of their key arguments turn out to be.


October 11, 2007

I am a graduate of St. Louis Christian College, St. Louis, Missouri, class of 1976. (St. Louis Christian College is a Bible College.)

I have a B.S. in Quality Assurance Engineering.

For the past twenty years, I have worked as a Quality Assurance Supervisor, Technician, and Manager. Currently, I am the Shift Supervisor, at Crisp Container, Marion, Illinois.

I am a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a York Rite Mason.

I am a member in good standing with the following Masonic bodies:
Hurst Lodge 1004 AF&AM, Hurst, Illinois
Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Southern Illinois
Murphysboro Chapter No. 164, R.A.M., Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro Council of Cryptic Masons No. 49, Murphysboro, Illinois
Beauseant Commandery No. 86, Murphysboro, Illinois
Patton Commandery No. 69 Knights Templar, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
AAONMS, Ainad Temple, East St. Louis, Illinois
Scottish Rite Research Society
Illinois Lodge of Research
Southern California Research Lodge
Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Robert E. Lee Order No. 46, Brookport, Illinois
Hillbilly Clan #39


John Rutherford