CHRISTIANITY VERSUS THE LODGE.
By A. J. Osborne
WHY does a man join the lodge?—Because he expects personal benefit from so doing. It is not because he has such great interest in his fellow-man, and is seeking this opportunity of helping him; but each is seeking this means of getting advantage from others for himself. Hence, the prime motive in joining a secret order is a selfish one; and is well expressed in the following Scripture: “And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same; and if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” Luke 6:33, 34. But the principle governing the Christian is: “Do good unto all men.” “Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again.” And this is the principle enunciated by, and which governs, the Grand Master of the universe. For we read, “And ye shall be the children of the highest; for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” The Christian principle followed, would give help to all who need it, and would develop universal love and sociability, while the lodge principle gives class help, and tends to exclusiveness, which is always true of selfishness. But selfishness did not control the Great Master, neither should His disciples be so controlled. Selfishness is the root whence springs every evil; and in an organization where selfishness is the ruling principle, it follows that those composing it would be committed to things foreign to the principles in the life and teaching of Christ. Hence, should not the disciples of the Great Master consider well His word: “No man can serve two masters.” “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”? The child that is loyal to the parent need not fear but that he will receive a father’s care. “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [trials]; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” From these texts we see that the Master Workman uses affliction to develop in us those graces, and the perfection of character we desire, and for which we pray. But in the lodge man may forestall the Lord in the use of the very agencies by which alone He could fit him for the enjoyment of the eternal riches. For whereas the Scripture saith, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you;” and, “Trust in the Lord and do good, and thou shalt dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed,” the lodge principle says, “If you will trust in the lodge, and pay your dues, you shall not be unfed.” Reader, what can be the significance of the multiplicity of orders with principles at variance with the Christian’s faith in the Lord who said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”? “When the Son of Man cometh shall He find faith on the earth?”