The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
proportion could be observed in America, where in some big cities the Jews
constituted the majority of certain lodges, whereas, for example, Palestine Lodge
in Detroit had not a single Jew among its more than 1,000 members. 1786
The situation of the Jews in America relative to Masonry in the times prior to
WW I is described in an article in the Masonic Review of 1870 headed "Jews and
Freemasonry." 1787 This article states that the Jews were allowed into and
initiated into American lodges (although the article does not say whether this
was true for all American States and all Masonic jurisdictions). On the one hand,
this article is very tolerant and liberal with regard to the Jewish question, but on
the other hand, it is the more intolerant and bigoted regarding the Prince Hall
question. Thus, it claims that the Grand Orient of France in its "special love for
the descendents of Africa" has ventured to violate the laws of Masonic comity by
recognizing "a spurious organization in Louisiana." This refers to the foundation
of Prince Hall Masonry for the colored people. The article reproaches the French
Masonic authorities to always seek a distant object for the exercise of their
benevolence, while they forget completely the objects at home, and exclude the
Jews, a people whose history is sacred. The text further argues that if the Jews
were Hindus or Africans, three or four thousand miles from home, the Grand
Orient would promptly interfere in their behalf. Then, the texts enlists all the
historic and religious scenes which Freemasonry has in common with Judaism,
such as the characters of Moses, marching through the desert in search of the
promised land, David in exile and on the throne of Israel, King Solomon building
the temple, etc.:
These, the principal scenes in the Masonic allegory, are also epochs in
the history of the Jews, and they establish at once a lasting source of
interest and a community of feeling between the descendants of
Abraham and the members of the Craft. That such is the case in England
is apparent to the most superficial observer, because many excellent
professors of the faith which the inspired Isaiah proclaimed in words of
fire, are [...] valuable workmen in the Masonic vineyard [...]. 1788
An argument contrary to this statement is the fact that Masonry is founded on
the Old Testament, not on Judaism, but Christianity only exists since the life of
Christ, and thus, logically, the people in the Old Testament were Jews.
Therefore, the symbols drawn from this source are "Jewish" in a sense, but they
have nothing to do with the modern Jewish religion. Masonry is also far from
being connected with Zionism, the movement to lead back all Jews into the land
of Israel with its center being Zion.
The article from the above-quoted issue of the Masonic Review continues that
unfortunately, some European countries exclude the Jews from a mistaken
impression that only Christians are admissible, and that the great and progressive
1786 IFL, p. 796-797.
1787 Moore, Masonic Review, vol. XXXVII, 1870, p. 249-251.
1788 Ibid, p. 251.