Masonic Light

Anti-Masons claim that "The Christian swears that he is approaching the Lodge while he is in spiritual ignorance and moral darkness, when the Bible says that Christians are children of light and are indwelt by the Light of the world."

The Christian does not swear that he is approaching the Lodge while he is in spiritual ignorance and moral darkness. When a Christian enters the Lodge or joins Freemasonry he does not deny his faith in Jesus Christ, who is "the light of the world." This is evidence by the thousands of Christians, which includes ministers, elders, deacons, and Sunday school teachers, who have joined the Lodge. These Christian men have found the philosophy of Freemasonry to be compatible with Christianity.

As Rex Hutchens observed, "The Ritual of Freemasonry does not emphasize the spiritual meaning of the term 'light' since it dwells within the heart of every truly Christian Mason already and Masonry has no means to offer salvation to its members. . . . The darkness which Freemasonry seeks to expel is the darkness of ignorance; this is the darkness symbolized by the hoodwink or blindfold in Masonic Ritual." (Pillars of Wisdom, page 238)

Anti-Masons willfuly misunderstand the Masonic meaning of "Light." Anti-Masons insist that Masonic symbols can mean only what they say they mean. What anti-Masons fail to realize is that any symbol must be interpreted in its context, and in the light of the purpose for which it is used. The term "light" used in Masonic ritual can only be interpreted in the terms of its Masonic ritual. The fail to recognize the Masonic meaning of "light."

C. Bruce Hunter, Masonic Dictionary, defines "light" as "a symbol of understanding and knowledge." Page 56.

In the Pocket Masonic Dictionary, The Masonic Service Association, "light" is defined as a "symbol of knowledge." Page 19.

" . . . all Masons understand that light is nothing other than the symbol of truth and knowledge and the prevalence of the symbolism is an indication of the importance to be attached to truth and knowledge in any study of the greater teachings of the Fraternity." H. L. Haywood, The Great Teachings of Masonry, page 141.

"When we say we are seeking Masonic Light, we are actually saying we are seeking truth. Light, therefore, symbolizes truth. But light also symbolizes so many things no one can list them all. In the First Degree, Masonic Light does symbolize charity, lawfulness, patriotism, reverence, and unselfishness, among other things." Allen Roberts, The Craft and Its Symbols." Page 21.

El Camino Research Lodge, "Light in Masonry is a symbol of knowledge." (Trestleboard, August-September 2000)

George Oliver, "Light, Light is a symbol of knowledge." (A Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry)

Jim Tresner, "The primary symbol of Masonry is, of course, Light. The search for Light is a symbol of education, of knowledge, of enlightenment." (Albert Pike, The Man Beyond The Monument)

The Masonic search for "light" can best be summarized by 2 Peter 1:5-7.

2 Peter 1:5-7, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (KJV)

How does the Bible use the term "light?"

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, "While light is not itself divine, it is often used metaphorically for life (Psalm 56:13), salvation (Isa 9:2), the commandments (Prov 6:23), and the divine presence of God (Exod 10:23). In the first creative act, "God saw that the light was good" (Gen 1:3)."

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. "God Is Light. If light represents goodness in antithesis to the evil associated with darkness, it is a natural step for the biblical authors to understand God, the ultimate good, as light. Light symbolizes the holy God. Light signifies God's presence and favor (Psalm 27:1; Isa 9:2; 2 Cor 4:6) in contrast to God's judgment (Amos 5:18). Throughout the Old Testament light is regularly associated with God and his word, with salvation, with goodness, with truth, with life. The New Testament resonates with these themes, so that the holiness of God is presented in such a way that it is said that God "lives in unapproachable light" (1 Tim 6:16). God is light (1 John 1:5) and the Father of lights (James 1:17) who dispels darkness. The Johannine writings gather up the Old Testament understanding of light and show its summation in Jesus Christ (thirty-three of the seventy-two occurrences of phos [fw'"] in the New Testament are found in the Johannine literature). Light is the revelation of God's love in Jesus Christ and the penetration of that love into lives darkened by sin (1 John 1:5-7). Jesus declares that he is "the light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5). Jesus is the incarnate Word of God, who has come as the light that enlightens all people (John 1:4-14), so that those believing in him will no longer be in darkness (12:46).
Paul concurs as he harks back to the creation account: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness, ' make his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Cor 4:6). Through the Word of God light came into existence (Gen 1:1-3), and through the revelation of God in Jesus Christ the Word brought light to humanity.
The Light of Salvation and Life for Believers Those responding to the light are ushered into the sphere of life in which darkness is dispelled. Salvation brings light to those in darkness (Job 22:28; Psalm 27:1; Isa 9:2 ; Matt 4:15-16). Jesus Christ is life-giving light, in whom is life (John 1:4), and those who follow him "will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Believers are "sons of light" (John 12:36; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5). Light possesses powers essential to true life. Hence "to be in the light" means simply "to live"?both life eternal and life temporal. The one who has come into the light of Jesus Christ is brought into the ethical life characterized by light (cf. Luke 16:8; John 3:19-21; 12:36; 2 Cor 6:14; Col 1:12-14; 1 Thess 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9). The godly person enjoys the light of life in the present age (1 Jo 2:10). Paul intentionally contrasts the old life in darkness with new life in the light in Christ Jesus (Eph 4:17-24). Although Satan can disguise himself as "an angel of light, " Christians live in the true light of salvation, laying aside the deeds of darkness and putting on the protective "armor of light" (Rom 13:12). The revealed will of God provides light to the heart, soul, and mind of humanity, providing guidance in a dark world (Psalm 19:7-10; 119:105, 130). A stark contrast will characterize the old life and the new: "For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light?for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true" (Eph 5:8-9). The truly Christian life is a life of light. A Light to the World. God is light, who dispels the darkness of this world. Jesus came as the light of the world, breaking through the darkness of sin by his work on the cross. It follows that believers are a light to the world as well. Jesus describes his disciples as light and light-bearers ( Matt 5:14-16). Paul indicates to believers in Asia Minor and Macedonia that their lives are a shining light of witness to the world around them (Eph 5:8; Php 2:15). It is the task of all believers to pass on the divine light they have received. What they have received in the secret intimacy of the community of believers they are to proclaim fearlessly "in the light" of public (Matt 10:27; Luke 12:3). All those who have entered into the light now bear responsibility as missionaries of Christ, shining out as "lights in a dark world" with the light of God himself (Php 2:15). The Light Yet to Come. While both the Old Testament and New Testament describe the future of the ungodly in terms of eschatological darkness, symbolizing perdition, they equally describe the future glory for believers in terms of light. In the New Jerusalem there will be no more night (Rev 22:5), and the city will not need the sun, moon, or created light to shine on it, "for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light" (Rev 21:23-24). The prophetic word of God is what brings hope of the light yet to come, and Peter provides an appropriate admonition: "You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in you hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). At the future appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ all darkness will be dispelled, and believers will walk in purity, peace, and joy in the light of the living God."

Easton's Bible Dictionary
"Light: the offspring of the divine command (Genesis 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1 Kings 11:36; Isaiah 58:8; Esther 8:16; Psalms 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Psalms 119:105; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Colossians 1:12; Revelation 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1 Timothy 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Matthew 5:16; John 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" ( Malachi 4:2; Luke 2:32; John 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" ( James 1:17). It is used of angels (2 Corinthians 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14)."

Common usage of the term "come to light" is found in the Random House College Dictionary. "Come to light" is defined as, "to be discovered; be revealed."

In conclusion, anti-Masons ignore the common usage for the term "light." They ignore the Masonic usage for the term "light."   They also ignore the Biblical usage of the term "light."


August 15, 2007