Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1928 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 91
doubt many are attracted by its claims to brotherhood and
display of wealth and power seen in gorgeous costumes, glittering
parades of strong attractive men, magnificent buildings,
and, not the least, by the evident success its members have in
securing positions of profit and of power in business, in state,
and even in church. Ministers join, in some instances, to get
near to men and to be able to lead them. One denomination
which permits its members, but prohibits its ministers from
joining this order, is seeking to have this ban removed for the
reason named. The claim which Freemasonry makes that it is
the one Universal Brotherhood, whose Mission is to form mankind
into a great redemptive brotherhood, should not deceive
the Christian. Dr. Robert Ellis Thompson has clearly stated
the truth on this subject when he says: "Christian sociology
recognizes the existence of an institute of humanity, which,
however short of its ideal, aims at nothing less than the unification
of all mankind in a society which shall transcend all
limitations of race and of nationality. This is the Church."
Jesus Christ declares himself to be the head of the new humanity,
"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto
myself."
The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man is a
favorite expression with people who claim salvation without
Jesus Christ. The fatherhood of God is made known in the
Old Testament as well as in the New Testament but there is
no authority for the statement that all men whom God has
created are his sons. Jesus told certain Jews that they were of
their father the devil. As to the teaching of the Old Testament
Keil and Delitzsch, in commenting on Exodus 4:22, 23, "Israel is
my son, my first born," make this significant statement: "The
relation of God as Creator, to man His creature, is never
referred to in the Old Testament as that of a father to a son;
The fatherhood of God relates to the election of Israel as
Jehovah's people of possession. But the election upon which
the sonship of Israel was founded, is not presented in the aspect
of a "begetting through the Spirit"; it is spoken of rather as
acquiring or buying." Only those whom Christ has purchased
by his blood are sons of God. But Masonry is blasphemous
enough to meet this condition. Its defenders claim for it the
title of a great and redemptive brotherhood.
But what of this brotherhood ? In a book recently published
by Rev. C. Penny Hunt, B. A. of Nottingham, England, entitled
"The Menace of Freemasonry to the Christian Faith,"
the author says:—"The men who set up the Reign of Terror at
the French Revolution, when in the name of Brotherhood men
sent each other to the guillotine, were Freemasons. _all. And,
more serious for us, the Serajevo murders that led to the Great
War were organized by Freemasons. That the murders were
to ous join French London. be than The because attempted cabinet religious its boast And of who its was I of claims was brotherhood.
known not of that to Masonry, beforehand a in a 1914 religion If the however, or no among approved non-Christian man he could are French soon by more enter Masons." satisfied masons did peril­
the not