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

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
Antisemitismus ist im Gros der Gesellschaft nicht mehr wahrnehmbar.
Allerdings gibt es auch nicht mehr viele Juden. 1791
Today, there are two lines of thought, i.e. two different streams of
Freemasonry in Germany, the "humanitarian" and the "Christian" one. The first
accepts Jews, but the latter only initiates them if they can confess a belief in
Jesus Christ. However, this is to be explained with religious and not with racist
or anti-Semitic reasons. As a rule of thumb for measuring the number of Jews in
Freemasonry, Kischke estimates that the percentage of Jews in the membership
of Freemasonry is about proportional to their percentage in the population. 1792
However, he admits that there are exceptions, as well as temporary and regional
variations.
Returning to the drama by Carl Claudy, with the many brethren of European
descent living in America it can be supposed that not all American lodges at the
time of WW II accepted Jews. As Claudy's drama illustrates, even the brethren of
"true American blood" have some prejudice. The Chaplain of Doric Lodge refers
directly to the persecution of the Jews - with an implicit side-swipe at Nazi
Germany - by stating that "[i]n this sad day when Jews are harried, tortured, shot,
expelled from their homes and countries, outcasts in many supposedly civilized
lands, we should lean over backward to be charitable, and kind, and
understanding!" 1793 Thus, published in 1942, Claudy's play "A Gift in Secret"
fell into the time of strong opposition and varied viewpoints with regard to the
Jewish question, and describes the actual problem and questionableness of
Masonry.
9.2 Anti-Masonry
Sadly, one of the key strategies a cult uses is to play upon the common
interpretation of words. Dealing with any cult involves getting through a
jungle of definitions. 1794
Anti-Masons do not understand - more correctly, do not want to understand -
the "universal language" of Freemasonry. What do they make of its technical
terminology? This section deals with the opponents of Freemasonry, their
reasoning, their measures against the fraternity, and the reactions of the latter.
There have always been conspiracy theories among the population with regard to
the fraternity. Such glimpses of paranoia can develop into an ideological and
political tool to define a concept of an enemy, who becomes the scapegoat for
1791 Kischke, p. 159.
1792 Cf. ibid, p. 160.
1793 Claudy, p. 164.
1794 Schnoebelen, p. 100.