Anti-Masonry
The arguments against freemasonry thus far reviewed:
Opinions about Freemasonry around the world may differ from place to place, but Freemasons always stress non dogmatism and tolerance (albeit often within certain defined limits). This openness has led to friction between Freemasonry and organizations which hold a negative view on ecumenism, or are themselves intolerant towards other forms of belief and worship. Masons have been opposed throughout history by various biased religious groups, such as extreme Protestants and radical Muslims.
The most vigorous opposition to the fraternity, however, has come from the Catholic Church, but this body was also responsible for the Spanish inquisition and the attempt to crush Paganism. Catholicism is by nature extremely conservative and opposed to any movement it deems a threat to its attempt to monopolize state religion. Masonry by its nature is one such threat.
The first papal condemnation of Freemasonry came in 1738 from Pope Clement XII in his papal bull "Eminenti Apostolatus Specula", repeated by several later popes, notably Pope Leo XIII in the "encyclical Humanum Genus" (1884).
Religious Tolerance:
The 1917 Code of Canon Law explicitly declares that joining Freemasonry entailed automatic excommunication; the revised Code issued in 1983 does not explicitly name Masonic orders among the secret societies condemned in canon 1374.
However, in a letter to the United States Bishops from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the interpretation was made clear - the prohibition against Catholics joining Masonic orders remains. Masons on the other hand do not exclude any view of a religious hierarchy so long as it is headed by a supreme being.
One reason the Free Methodist Church was founded in the 1860s was that its founders believed the Methodist Church was being influenced by Freemasons and members of secret societies. The Free Methodist Church continues to prohibit its members from also joining societies such as the Freemasons. Recently the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest association of Baptists in the United States, also stated that participation in Freemasonry is inconsistent with its beliefs.
This premise of the criticism levied by such reactionary institutions has been dated since modern nation states like the USA and Europe in general are founded on religious tolerance, and many adherents of the religions that formally opposed masons now believe in the main masonic principles.
The main theme of anti-masonic criticism involves the idea that masons involve their organization in covert political activities. This assumption has been influenced by the assertion of masons that many political figures in the past 300 years have been masons. Opinions vary between opposing theories concerning this paradox.
Some say the masons constantly plot to increase their power and wealth, this as an aspect of human nature can be largely discarded as paranoid delusion, others say the Masonic Brotherhood is engaged in a plot to produce a new world order, again this assertion can be leveled against countless other organizations, religious and sectarian. Neither argument can be taken seriously as a criticism of masonry in an isolated context.
The basic complaint that the masons have secretly plotted to create society based on their ideals of liberty, equality, fraternity, and religious tolerance, are not denied by masons. In an enlightened age many have now accepted the core masonic values as stated, and persistent enemies of the society have been forced to come up with more sinister motives as to what Freemasons allegedly conspire to achive.
Another criticism that may or not have to do with the specific nature of Freemasonry, but may be applied generally to any type of organization or secret society, is the practice of cronyism, or giving favors to fellow members.
Although an institution with religious overtones can be criticized for the moral faults of some of its members, Freemasonry is liable to criticism especially because amongst it aims is the drive to improve its members morality, above and beyond whatever religion the individual member might profess his preference for.
A general fault ascribed to the Masons is that he will be charitable mainly to other Masons, an assumption which is made worse by the class and racial inequalities sometimes leveled against in Masonic lodges. The phrase 'charity begins at home' goes some way to justify this natural proclivity.
Complaints against the the preoccupation said to exist with ritual minutiae and personal status within the hierarchy of the organization only shadow any such behavior, and are of no real business to non members. The argument that the Freemasons are primarily a social club is like wise ridiculous.
In a sectarian age many hold that Freemasonry is a new religion. Its religious principals are for anyone in need of a faith commendable, and should be understood to embrace the principals without attempting to impose any outdated and mythical dogma.
Such ritual observances as practiced by masons in private meetings should be seen in the same context as rituals maintained in the military services, in government and civil authorities.
It has been argued that any organized system of morality (which the masons claim to be) is a religion, the Green Party might thus qualify as such.
While the practice of any given magical or mystical system is not particularly associated with Freemasonry (mainstream Masonry has always tended more to rationalism than to mysticism), there are some groups of Masons, such as Masonic Rosicrucian's, that may interpret Masonic ritual magically (or "hermetically"), which is their right as Masons, given the fraternity's non dogmatic stance.
The very existence of hermetic interpretations within Masonry has lead some reactionary Christians to label Freemasonry as "Satanic". This charge is commonly made about any hermetic society with practices beyond the understanding of uninformed critics.
The traditional Masonic obligations, said to be undertaken by a candidate during the initiation ritual, are sometimes called "blood oaths", particularly by those critical of the fraternity. The candidate wishes severe physical punishment upon himself should he ever reveal the secrets of Freemasonry to a non-Mason. While many non-Masons are horrified by this, Masons defend the traditional obligations as no more literal than the commonplace childhood "blood oaths", like "cross my heart and hope to die" - a very psychologically powerful way to express a serious bond or promise.
In addition, some Masons argue that the bloody punishments mentioned in the obligations are, historically, references to the punishments that the state used to inflict on defenders of civil liberties and religious freedoms, such as Freemasons. But in spite of repeated attempts to defend them, by the early 1980s, the "blood oaths" had become quite problematic from a public relations standpoint, and most Masonic jurisdictions replaced them with more politically correct "bloodless oaths".
It is commonly held that individuals become Freemasons through invitation, patrimony, or other non-democratic means, officially an individual must ask freely and without persuasion to become a Freemason in order to join the fraternity.
This arrangement is said to conflict with the Freemasons mission to "make good men better", on the basis that a hidden society can not promote itself publicly. If the society is secret, it is argued, how is the non member able to make the initial approach?
In practice, Freemasons have been known to not question the motives of anyone seeking to enter, but clearly members are going to prefer invitation to those individuals who can offer something of value to the group, and will thus indicate to potential members some clue, it is then incumbent upon the seeker to make the request.
The view that, in order to join the Society, one must "... be the son of a ... [Freemason]", is logical, such a method goes some way to explain how often membership is extended to newcomers. This method shadows the traditions of Peerage.
Many of these myths have taken hold in the imagination of 'conspiracy buffs' partly because Freemasons, like government intelligence agencies and big business understand the value of misinformation, let the uninitiated argue amongst themselves, so that the truth remains private. Masons have only attempted in recent years to make their organization seem more open to public view, but remain non committal beyond their own objectives of diverting government scrutiny and validating good public relations.
(see [1] (http://www.masonicinfo.com/ masonic info.com)).
It has been said that ÃÂthe Freemason builds his life around the moral principals that lie at the heart of the Craft, and becomes in his every word and deed the epitome of brotherly love, relief and truth ~ he will thus respect the rights of others to hold beliefs and attitudes that differ radically from his own, for he knows that tolerance is an essential part of brotherly love.ÃÂÃÂ
(Freemasonry, A Celebration of the CraftÃÂ~ 1993. Edited by Hamill & Gilbert for Terry Allan).
The need for vigilance in the defense of human liberty is as great in society as it is said to be within the craft, yet by means of an increased compatibility with the common aims of human achievement the freemasons have indisputably laid the foundations for very many of the cultural norms prevalent in the western World.
"To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and to restore their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view."
A masons duty is also in his loyalty, as a peaceful subject, to the civil authority found wherever he resides or works, and it is on these grounds, restrained from pursuing any means of disrupting the established rule of law, that Freemasonry is itself a reformist institution, its members abstaining from any thought of association with rebellion, the cause of the common man, when oppressed.
ÃÂMasonic RitualÃÂ is reported as an aspect of the craft that reinforces its Spiritual dimension and is Biblical in origin, (but derives from sources of a pre Christian age, whence evolved Cabalistic thought).
A legend considered of great import to the Masonic Rite is that of the story of the building and reconstruction of King SolomonÃÂs Temple, ~ as an allegory of the creation of a new, just and more tolerant society.Political conspiracy theories involving the Masons:
Criticisms of Masonic 'Cronyism':
Criticisms based on the moral faults of known Masons:
Criticism that Freemasonry is a new religion:
Criticism that Freemasonry worships Satan:
Criticism of masonic blood oaths:
It should be noted that there are only 3 penalties that Masonry can impose on a member -- censure, suspension of membership and expulsion.Criticisms of the process of becoming a Freemason:
In defense of liberty:
The duty of masons to ÃÂgive to the cause of CharityÃÂ was stressed by William Preston, in his ÃÂIllustrations of MasonryÃÂ of 1772, when he wrote: ÃÂTo relive the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Freemasons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection.