Freemasonry: The Trojan Horse In the Church
The Testimony of Pierce Dodson

There is a statement that Pierce Dodson makes that I agree with completely. Pierce Dodson said, "I was to step into what I have described as the twilight zone. I haven't really come out yet." After reading Pierce Dodson's "testimony" and his view about Freemasonry, I must agree with him, he is still in the "twilight zone" and hasn't "really come out."

This "testimony" reveals the true nature of Pierce Dodson and the mindset of most professional anti-Masons. Consider the following statement by Pierce Dodson. "I took a prominent county seat church in a small town, and things started off very well. However, I do remember that before accepting the church there was an occasion as my wife and I drove into town that I made some comment that I hoped that the church was not full of Masons."

After reading this "testimony", it reinforces my belief that the professional anti-Masons are Satan's Trojan Horses masquerading as "ministries."

Notice:
1.   Things "started off very well." [Even with Masons in the congregation.] If, it started off well, what happened? I believe the answer is revealed in the next sentence. ". . . I do remember that before accepting the church . . . I made some comment that I hoped that the church was not full of Masons." Things went from "well" to his being fired because he was not concerned with preaching the Gospel of Christ, winning people to Christ, and ministering the church.
2.   It is my personal opinion that Mr. Dodson did not accept the ministry of this church to preach the Gospel but to convert people to his twisted view of Freemasonry. ". . . I do remember that before accepting the church . . . I made some comment that I hoped that the church was not full of Masons." If, Mr. Dodson was so concerned about Masons being in the church, why didn't he ask if there were Masons in the congregation before he accepted the position? Mr. Dodson accepted the ministry of this church for one purpose only that was to further his agenda about Freemasonry.

A second statement needs to be brought in at this time to lend further  evidence that Mr. Dodson did not accept the pastorate at this church to  preach the Gospel but to cause trouble. After being fired, Mr. Dodson  stayed in the town where the church was located. He writes: "We didn't run away. We maintained a residence there for another year and a half."   What was Pierce Dodson doing during this year and a half? I believe the answer can be found in the next paragraph.

A third statement needs to be brought in at this time to lend further evidence that Mr. Dodson did not accept the pastorate at this church to preach the Gospel but to cause trouble. Mr. Dodson writes: "I might add that in time a new church was formed as some people just did not feel that they could stay in the church which had allowed me to leave." I believe that Pierce Dodson stayed to split the church he was asked to serve.

3.   Want proof that Mr. Dodson was looking for trouble with Freemasons? Consider the following statement. "Some weeks after starting at the church [remember things "started off very well." Even with a number of the deacons being Masons.], I was in my office; and I had just about finished putting my rather large library on the shelves when I began a conversation with two ladies about the subject of Freemasonry." Noticed who started the conversation about Freemasonry, "I began a conversation with two ladies about the subject of Freemasonry." Later in the "testimony" Mr. Dodson becomes indignant because one of the ladies told her husband about this conversation. Why was it supposed to be a secret? Why didn't Pierce Dodson want the husband to know about the conversation? I can only think of two reasons. 1. He wanted the "cat out of the bag" so he could pick a fight with the deacons who were Freemasons; or 2. He wanted to start trouble in this couple's life, because the husband was a Freemason. Want more proof that Mr. Dodson was looking for trouble? "Near the end I was asked if I could work with them (the Masons), and I responded that I could probably give an answer, but I would prefer to wait and answer at a later time." Pierce Dodson. Why did Mr. Dodson have to wait? 

Pierce Dodson glories in his being a troublemaker at this church. He even goes so far as to compare himself with Elijah, Paul, and even our Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to what he wrote, "One of them pointed a finger at me and called me a trouble maker. I'm sure that many times the Lord Jesus was viewed as a trouble maker, and Elijah was called the same thing by Ahab. And look at Paul . . ." Oh, Pierce doesn't think too highly of himself, does he? [This is the real mindset of Pierce Dodson: split churches apart, and split apart families. How Christian of him. The Devil must really love Pierce Dodson.]

Objections raised about Freemasonry by Mr. Dodson:
1.   Theology of Freemasonry
"I was to step into what I have described as the twilight zone. I haven't really come out yet." Pierce Dodson.

Resolution on FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION
Unanimously adopted by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at its Quarterly Communication held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 2, 1998 The Supreme Being. Masons believe that there is one God and that people employ many different ways to seek, and to express what they know, of God. Masonry primarily uses the appellation, "Grand Architect of the Universe," and other non-sectarian titles, to address Deity. In this way, persons of different faiths may join together in prayer, concentrating on God, rather than differences among themselves. Masonry believes in religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and God is personal, private, and sacred.

Freemasonry and Religion
Statement of the Board of General Purposes Grand Lodge of England
The Supreme Being: The names used for the Supreme Being enable men of different faiths to join in prayer (to God as they see Him) without the terms of the prayer causing dissension among them. There is no Masonic God; a Freemason remains committed to the God of the religion he professes.

Freemasons meet in common respect for the Supreme Being, but He remains Supreme in their individual religions, and it is no part of Freemasonry to attempt to join religions together. There is no composite Masonic God.

GRAND LODGE A.F. & A.M. of NORTH CAROLINA
To become and remain a Freemason a man must believe in a Supreme Being. His method of worshipping his Deity is none of Masonry's business.

Is Freemasonry a Religion? By: John J. Robinson
Bro. John J. Robinson's last book was A Pilgrim's Path. In this book Bro. Robinson responds to numerous religious criticisms of Freemasonry as well as writing about the "Evangelist Mentality." We are printing several STB's as a series to help our readers have a response to some of the misleading, inaccurate, and oftentimes untrue statements made by the religious extremists against Freemasonry! (The title Is Freemasonry A Religion? is from a chapter title in the book.) A Pilgrim's Path, by John J. Robinson, was published in 1993 by M. Evans & Co., Inc. in New York City. The book is available in many bookstores or can be ordered through your local bookstore using ISBN 0-87131-732-X Nevertheless, it is frequently charged that the Masonic lodge has its own God, whose name is "The Great Architect of the Universe." That Masonic term is not a name; it is a designation or reference, as are all terms beginning with the word "The": The Almighty, The Creator, The Most High. If it starts with "The," it is not a name. So why do the Masons use that designation?

Masonry, as its name implies, centers symbolically around the ancient builders of temples and cathedrals. It is natural for groups to fashion a designation for God that relates to their interests. In the military, I attended an outdoor church service conducted by a visiting chaplain, an ordained minister. He referred to God as "Our Supreme Commander-in-Chief in heaven." The Masons often do refer to God as The Great Architect of the Universe, but what's wrong with that? The architect is one who plans and brings a structure into being. Historians refer to the Founding Fathers as the "architects of the Constitution." As a designation for God, The Great Architect of the Universe makes sense, and it means precisely the same thing as the universally popular "The Creator." The slight difference is that the Masonic designation implies that God created the world according to a plan, although there is no Masonic description of what that plan may be. Is Freemasonry a religion?

There is no such thing as a Masonic "god" as clearly demonstrated by the above quotations. The only theological test that is applied to a candidate and all Masons is his belief in the Supreme Being.

2.   The esoteric meaning of the square and compass Comments from someone who is in the twilight zone: "If women only knew the real esoteric meaning behind the Masonic symbol of the square and compass, they probably could do more to lead men out of the lodge than preachers ever could." Pierce Dodson.

The Masonic Meaning of the square and compass The Square is a symbol of morality, truthfulness and honesty. To "act on the square" is to act honestly. The Compass signifies is a symbol of restraint, skill and knowledge. We might also properly regard the Compass as excluding beyond its circle that which is harmful or unworthy.

"Square. Symbol of the Master: of rectitude of life and conduct; of morality, truthfulness, honesty." Pocket Encyclopedia of Masonic Symbols, The Masonic Service Association.

"Compasses. In mdern Masonic rituals, the compasses are 'dedicated to the Craft' and are emblematic of restraint of passions." Pocket Encyclopedia of Masonic Symbols. The Masonic Service Assocation.

If, Mr. Dodson finds more meaning than this in the symbol of the square and compasses, maybe this shows where his heart and desires are. If, there is anything lurid or lascivious about these symbols, it can only be found in the heart and desires of Mr. Dodson; not in the Masonic interpretation of them.
If women only knew the real esoteric meaning behind the Masonic symbol of the square and compass, they probably could do more to lead men to of the lodge.

If people only knew the real esoteric meaning behind the Masonic symbol of the square and compass, they would know what charlatans Mr. Dodson and other profesional anti-Masons really are.

3. Secret Meetings
The hypocrisy of Pierce Dodson comes to light with his snide comment about Masons meeting in secret.

". . . secret meetings are not exactly out of the ordinary for Masons." Pierce Dodson

Pierce Dodson, "I do remember that before accepting the church there was an occasion as my wife and I drove into town that I made some comment that I hoped that the church was not full of Masons. "

Pierce Dodson, "Over the ensuing days realizing that I might have a humongous problem on my hands, I decided that as a new pastor without a solid base of support, I had better take some steps to educate some people so if the issue became a public one I would have some support. I began to distribute some literature clandestinely, but I wasn't as discreet as I should have been as to whom I gave the literature. "

Masonic Secrets
The following was at the Grand Lodge of North Carolina's web site.

The Secrets of Freemasonry
In the discussion of Masonry's secrets it is probably well, as was the case in the preceding chapter, to point out there are many mistaken assumptions arising from a lack of knowledge - a failure to inform oneself. The fraternity is often called a secret society. This, of course, implies that Masons conceal the fact of their membership, that they meet in secret, that their purposes are secret. Nothing could be more remote from the truth. Masonry is definitely not a secret society. Its members make no attempt to conceal their Masonic affiliation, often proudly wearing rings or other jewelry marking them as Masons. Meeting places are prominently located and clearly marked. Dates and times of meetings are often advertised in newspapers or posted on bulletin boards. The history, the teachings, and many records of the order are available in any good public library. The rules and regulations of Masonry are in print and no effort is made to lock them away from interested persons. Minutes are made of its meetings and are often studied by those who are not members. These practices are clearly not those of a secret society. Someone many years ago made the following statement: "Masonry is not a secret society, it is a society with secrets."

Freemasonry does have some secrets it attempts to preserve.

It has secret modes of recognition, which enable its members to quickly recognize each other as Masons upon their first meeting. The value of these secrets to members away from home is fairly obvious and it does not seem unnatural that the fraternity should wish to preserve them. And Masonry has its secret ritual, its mode of instructing new members in the three symbolic degrees. This ritual originated, in large part, with the old cathedral builders earlier mentioned and has been handed down over the centuries. Most of the secret rituals are based upon writings in the Holy Bible and the writings of other great philosophers, so they are secret only in their unique adaptation and presentation. This ritualistic mode of instruction has proven remarkably effective over the centuries and its use, being peculiar to Freemasonry, has kept the fraternity apart from those that would imitate it The lessons taught in the Masonic ritual are in no way secret, they may be obtained from many and various Masonic writings, available to all. These secrets, the modes of recognition and the modes of instruction, are the only secrets Masonry has. The man who might be thinking of making application for Masonic membership solely out of curiosity concerning the secrets of Masonry will be well advised to let his curiosity lead him down other and less demanding paths.

4.   The Philosophy of Freemasonry.
"I was to step into what I have described as the twilight zone. I haven't really come out yet." Pierce Dodson.

The following quotations are taken from: Masonic Philosophy, by Joseph Fort Newton. The Short Talk Bulletin, vol. 75, no. 3, March 1997, The Masonic Service Association.

"Thus, by the logic of its philosophy, not less than the inspiration of its faith, Masonry has been impelled to make its historic demand for liberty of conscience, for the freedom of the intellect, and for the right of all men to stand erect, unfettered, and unafraid, equal before God and the law, each respecting the rights of his fellows."

"Nor will Masonry ever swerve one jot or tittle from its ancient and eloquent demand till all men, everywhere, are free in body, mind, and soul."

"Down through the centuries--often in times when the highest crime was not murder, but thinking, and the human conscience was a captive dragged at the wheel of the ecclesiastical chariot--always and everywhere Masonry has stood for the right of the soul to know the truth, and to look up unhindered from the lap of earth into the face of God. Not freedom from faith, but freedom of faith, has been its watchword, on the ground that as despotism is the mother of anarchy, so bigoted dogmatism is the prolific source of scepticism."

"Not only does Masonry plead for that liberty of faith which permits a man to hold what seems to him true, but also, and with equal emphasis, for the liberty which faith gives to the soul, emancipating it from the despotism of doubt and the fetters of fear."

"The real question, after all, is not as to the quantity of life, but its quality--its depth, its purity, its fortitude, its fineness of spirit and gesture of soul. Hence the insistent emphasis of Masonry upon the building of character and the practice of righteousness; upon that moral culture without which man is rudimentary, and that spiritual vision without which intellect is the slave of greed or passion. What makes a man great and free of soul, here or anywhither, is loyalty to the laws of right, of truth, of purity, of love, and the lofty will of God."

"How to live is the one matter; and the oldest man in his ripe age has yet to seek a wiser way than to build, year by year, upon a foundation of faith in God, using the Square of justice, the Plumb-line of rectitude, the Compass to restrain the passions, and the Rule by which to divide our time into labor, rest, and service to our fellows. Let us begin now and seek wisdom in the beauty of virtue and live in the light of it, rejoicing; so in this world shall we have a foregleam of the world to come--bringing down to the Gate in the Mist something that ought not to die, assured that, though hearts are dust, as God lives what is excellent is enduring!"

Joseph Fort Newton (1880-1950)
Clergyman and Masonic author. b. July 21 1880 in Decatur, Texas. Graduate of Coe Coll. (Ia.) in 1912; Tufts Coll. in 1918; and Temple U. in 1929. Ordained to Baptist ministry in 1893. Pastor in Paris, Texas, and St Louis, Mo. Founder and pastor of People's Church, Dixon, ILL., 1901-08; pastor of Liberal Christian Church, Cedar Rapids lowa, 1908-16; The City Temple, London England, 1916-19; Church of the Divine Paternity, N.Y.C., 1919-25; Memoria Church of St. Paul, Philadelphia, 1925-30 St. James Church, Philadelphia, 1930-35; St. Luke and Epiphany, Philadelphia from 1938

Mr. Dodson finds this philosophy objectionable:
a. liberty of conscience, for the freedom of the intellect, and for the right of all men to stand erect, unfettered, and unafraid, equal before God and the law, each respecting the rights of his fellows

b. all men, everywhere, are free in body, mind, and soul.

c. freedom of faith

d. the building of character and the practice of righteousness

e. loyalty to the laws of right, of truth, of purity, of love, and the lofty will of God

f. the building of life upon a foundation of faith in God, using the Square of justice, the Plumb-line of rectitude, the Compass to restrain the passions, and the Rule by which to divide our time into labor, rest, and service to our fellows.

Since, Mr. Dodson claims to be a Southern Baptist, what can he find objectionable about the philosophy of Freemasonry?

5.   "The History of Freemasonry has had its share of violence." Pierce Dodson

Mr. Dodson makes this comment without any proof. In another tract that can be found on-line, the only act of violence that Mr. Dodson mentions is the disappearance of Morgan. In over 280 years of Masonic history in the United States, the only act of violence that Pierce Dodson can claim is the disappearance of William Morgan.

"I was to step into what I have described as the twilight zone. I haven't really come out yet." Pierce Dodson.

6.   The real god of Freemasonry
There is no "real god of Freemasonry." But, Pierce Dodson insists that Masonry has it's own god. Remember what Pierce Dodson said? "I was to step into what I have described as the twilight zone. I haven't really come out yet." Should we believe his opinion?

Conclusion
Just because so-called "Ministers" say that Masonry is not compatible with Christianity does not make it so. Freemasonry is compatible with Christianity. The proof of this can be found in the thousands of men who are Ministers, Elders, Deacons, Sunday School Teachers, and members who are Christians and Masons. I have found within Masonry many men who are intelligent Christians and intelligent Masons at the same time. The ones who I have found not to be intelligent Christians are the professional anti-Masons. The professional anti-Masons may very well be Satan's masterpiece in sabotage, subversion, and deception. I must not fail to point out that anti-Masons serve a subversive function in our churches. Mr. Dodson is a good example of this.

After reading this "testimony", it reinforces my belief that the professional anti-Masons are Satan's Trojan Horses masquerading as "ministries."


August 5, 2007