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

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
point of view of the Masons, since Pike - like Mackey - used to get tangled in
occultism. Albert Pike and his way of composing Masonic rituals is
characterized in CME as follows: "Both the Rituals and the Lectures are
composed of the digested and rearranged materials in many books on the
Ancient Mysteries Cabalism, Magic, Egyptology, Hieroglyphics, Alchemy,
Hermeticism, Alexandrian Philosophy, Neo-Platonism, Gnosticism,
Zoroastrianism, Brahmanism, and other and various doctrines strange to the
modern reader [...]." 1970 It becomes obvious that Pike is not a reliable source to
quote for Masonic use, but that he is a great prey for anti-Masons looking for un-
Christian quotes. Unluckily, Pike really made vague and therefore dangerous
comments on the ambiguous character of Freemasonry: "He regarded Craft
Masonry [...] to be puerile, though he said it had a deeper meaning which was
hidden from its superficial adepts, who were taught to be satisfied with trite
explanations. He even asserted that Craft Masonry had been devised so as not
only to hide its true meaning but to cause its members to think that they
understood it." 1971
Further, Ed claims that an emblem worn by many high degree Masons, a
multiple cross, is the sign of Baphomet, which is entirely made up. As Coil
states, "[i]n fact, crosses occupy so small a place in Freemasonry that no
extended discussion of them would be appropriate [...]." 1972 In Craft Masonry, no
form of cross occupies a place. Some crosses occur in the higher degrees on
insignia, their principal use being in heraldry: "Several forms of crosses appear
or are referred to in the various degrees of the Scottish Rite, but they seldom, if
ever, are accompanied by any doctrinal or symbolic teaching or effect." 1973
Sometimes, crosses are placed at the ends of the several arms of one cross, so
that they form multiple crosses or crosslets. For an illustration, see Section 8.1.5
on the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine. Then, Ed
states that the All-Seeing Eye, a Masonic symbol (cf. Section 4.6.7) is in reality
the symbol of Osiris. This is a fact, but it does not mean that Masons worship
Osiris. They have simply adopted an archaic symbol which they thought
appropriate for their teachings. Furthermore, Ed comes up with the statement that
"the obelisk" is a phallic symbol which God hates. Here, he certainly refers to the
Masonic obelisk of the Washington monument. Many profane monuments and
tombstones have the shape of an obelisk as well, and they are also not connected
with sexism. For sexist interpretations of Freemasonry by anti-Masons see
Chapter 12. The obelisk does not figure among Masonic symbols (cf. Chapter 4.)
at all.
To return to the story, Ed maintains that the son of the Scotts is under
demonic attack due to his parents' Masonic connection. Ed tells them that the Fez
worn by the Shriner's is a bloody remnant of Muslim butchery, and even if he
1970 CME, p. 475.
1971 Ibid.
1972 Ibid, p. 157.
1973 Ibid.