Freemasonry | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 7, 1872

Freemasonry.

A SISTER, lately from the Methodists, hands us the following letter to her pastor on the occasion of her withdrawing from the church, giving some of her reasons why she could not belong to a church whose spiritual guide would consent to indulge in the evils and fooleries of Freemasonry. We do not know that any of our brethren are in danger of being enticed into that particular form of Satan’s secret working; but the principles will apply to all orders who show by their shut doors and sealed lips, that they love darkness rather than light:

DEAR SIR:—Do you candidly and solemnly think that a man can conscientiously belong to that class, styled “Free and Accepted Masons” and enjoy pure and undefiled religion? If you believe the teachings of the Bible, I cannot see what more you need. Are we not commanded, to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things are to be added unto us?

I understand that you made the remark that if you should be taken away, your wife and children would be better cared for by the Masonic fraternity than in any other way. I would inquire, Can you reasonably expect more from your brother Masons than from your Saviour?

Again, is there greater power invested in their hands than in the God who rules the universe and has an oversight of all the creatures of his care, and especially all who love and serve him? Is not all power in his hands? and will he withhold any good thing from those that trust him? I must acknowledge that I did not know that there was any danger of casting too much on the Lord, as has been insinuated; for I thought the Scriptures plainly taught us to cast all, not a part, on the Lord, who careth for us; and if the Lord is for us, the world cannot prevail against us.

The inquiry here arises in my mind, If you believe this, then why do you fly to the Masonic order for protection and aid? Dear brother, you must excuse me if I speak plainly, for I think the subject demands it. My earnest belief is this, that the Masonic institution is based wholly on selfishness, which encourages a disposition to reach forth and grasp after those things which you fear your Heavenly Father would fail to grant you.

To illustrate: A certain divine of my acquaintance claims that the ground on which he joined them was to secure a certain sum of money which he feared he otherwise might lose. Had he had unshaken confidence in the doctrine which he preached to others, that the Lord will not withhold any good thing from those that love him, he would have had nothing to fear, nor any disposition to join a class of individuals who are maintaining an institution which is in opposition to the will of God; for such circumstances prove that such is its character.

You claim it to be a good, moral institution. I take the liberty, to differ with you here. Are we not taught to judge a tree by its fruits? And certainly if we have a right so to judge, we most assuredly must condemn it; for as far as I am acquainted with its members, with a very few exceptions, they are the most unprincipled and unchristian persons I ever had the misfortune to become acquainted with. You may perhaps think I am making some pretty strong assertions. I admit it; but I am candid, in what I assert; for I feel confident, that I am able to sustain my position. You would hardly be willing to believe, perhaps, that a brother Mason could be in possession of so little humanity as to say that if his father, being a member, should divulge any of the secrets of said lodge, he would consider it no more crime to shoot him down dead than he would a dog. That expression was made to me in my own house by a highly educated man.

This being the case, it also appears to be a very dangerous society especially to all lovers of justice and equality. Where is the husband who loves his wife as he should, who would be guilty, against her wishes, of joining a society where his honor would not allow him to impart unto her the knowledge of its proceedings. I think it would be a total impossibility to find such an one. Consider, if you please, the extent of serious trouble which exists to-day between man and wife on account of this evil. It has been the cause of nearly parting from his wife one of the most notable members of this lodge, although, I believe, he has at last succeeded in hiring her to submit.

Now, as to its unreasonableness, do you consider that it is right for a man to pay the requisite amount in order to become a member, when he does not consider himself able to provide the necessary food and clothing which his family demand? I now have my mind on a number of families of this description. Imagine, if you can, the feelings of these unhappy wives. As is the case with one, so with all of like intellect.

I once listened to Mr. F.’s exhortations of Freemasonry in the presence of his wife. When he closed his speech, I made the remark, that if it was as good as he represented it to be, it was a great query in my mind, why we never found an intelligent woman whose husband belonged to them and was in sympathy with it. Mrs. F. replied that I never would have the pleasure of seeing an instance of that kind. We know there are those who can be hired, and those who live in actual fear of their husbands, who dare not oppose them, knowing such a course would produce continual war. Now, dear brother, it does really appear to me that if there was any real, genuine, good to be obtained, such as is produced by following the precepts of the divine Master, there would not be so much discord connected with it.

Again, it does not seem to be calculated in the least to assist the poor. I thought the word of God taught us to help such; to do unto others as we would that others should do unto us. I heard a lawyer once speak in particular on this point. He said that they were under no obligations to assist any outside of their circle. Pure religion teaches no such partialities, but to do all in our power to assist the poor generally, whether in the lodge or in our church. We should have no respect of persons as the Lord has not.

An instance now occurs to my mind of one of our citizens who once had a comfortable property, and had the misfortune to lose it. He thought it would be for his interest to join the Masons; consequently he sent in his name; but what was the result? A rejection, of course; not because he could not pay his initiation fee, but because it was not reasonable to expect that he could be any particular help to the lodge. As with the Roman Catholics, so with secret societies, it requires money to become a member, or to procure the pardon of sins. Christ did not teach any such doctrine. Salvation was to be free, without money and without price.

I believe you claim as a support of your theory, that “John the Divine, and John the Revelator,” were Freemasons. I am a little inclined to doubt this; but be that as it may, unless you can prove to me that our Saviour was also, all the evidence that you can bring that the Johns were, will be no satisfactory proof to me of its purity. I think we are not required to follow any one, as good as they may have been, any farther than they followed Christ.

Dear brother, I do not flatter myself in the least that I shall convert you to my views in this matter. But I believe it to be a growing evil, and that it is my duty to discharge my obligation to the best of my ability, poor as it may be, realizing that the Lord requires me to improve upon my one talent in the same ratio as those who have ten. How many men of your acquaintance do you think would cheerfully consent to their wife’s taking all the resources of the house which provide the food and clothing, and that oftentimes a small amount to what their husbands make use of, say even for one year, and repair to some private room, and there transact business, that they dare not for their lives let their innocent husbands know anything about; and what would be still worse, foolishly spending their means to gratify selfish desires, when husband and children at home were in actual need of them, and when there was no visible manifestation of the utility or good of such a course? In my estimation they are very few. Produce an instance of this kind and you will find a man of no intellect, a perfect dupe. A prominent member of our church, remarked, that if the ladies had a society of this kind, the men would fathom it or perish in the attempt. Don’t you think that Rev. Mr. H. would be one of the first men in the ranks to carry out this end? I would like to have you carefully read this, and reflect, and if you see fit, answer it.

In the light in which I view this subject, I cannot conscientiously belong to a society whose leading member approves of, and vindicates, Freemasonry; consequently I feel it to be my duty to withdraw from the church. My sister and myself would be much obliged to you for a church letter. Please write them at your earliest convenience, and oblige.