The Rhetoric and Death of U.S. Freemasonry In this essay I argue ...

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Death of Freemasonry 11 and this "society . . . imitates an aspect of the government of Republics. Its leaders are chosen, or dismissed, at its will." . . . Catholic opponents of the fraternity fixated on its custom of holding elections. 18 It is probable that from this hundred-years-old antipathy in Europe comes the oft-told observation that Catholics "hate" Masons and vice-versa. There is ample, extant writings by Masons to demonstrate a decidedly "anti-Catholic" attitude in the United States up until at least the 1930s. 19 It is also true that Masonry adheres to a characteristically Protestant understanding of biblical exegesis and the ability humans to intuit the spiritual and divine without an intercessor, which obviously creates some tension with the Holy See. Nevertheless, contemporary Masonry is not hostile to Catholics, as a number are members of the fraternity in the United States. It is not clear among ecclesiastical scholars, however, whether the Vatican presently forbids membership. 20 It is frequently said by Masons that the strength of its brotherhood is partially derived from a self-imposed censorship: the two topics that are presumably banned from discussion in a Masonic lodge are those also banned from many family dinner tables: politics and religion. The supposed ban on these topics in the lodge, however, only reflects a very narrow construal of the terms: one is not to discuss party politics in a lodge, nor is he to discuss the merits or problems with specific, organized religion, and this is because brethren from across the political and religious spectrum are welcomed. Politics more broadly conceived as the relationship of individuals to the state and state power, and religion more broadly conceived as any discourse about deity, however, implicates Masonry as one of the most famous theo-political organizations in the country. Politically and religiously, one of the rationales for secrecy was ensure the a lodge was a forum where one speak freely about matters of
Death of Freemasonry 12 philosophy, science, politics, and religion, without fear of persecution from the church or the state; the Masonic lodge was, in other words, a product of civil society and the Enlightenment. 21 Moreover, the close, trusting bonds between men promoted by Masonry "played an important role in building the camaraderie necessary for the survival of the [early American] army--and thus the American Republic," argues Steven C. Bullock. 22 Masonic fraternities are linked to American revolutionary activities (e.g., the Boston Tea Party), 23 and lodges were places where the merits and virtues of constitutional societies were discussed and debated. 24 Unlike the protections on free speech that we have today, as late as the early twentieth century the clandestine character of the Masonry helped to protect and promote the political and religious ideas of revolutionaries in Europe and in the United States that had yet to find widespread support. 25 As republicanism was eventually--and violently--instituted in the United States, the stress on the clandestine nature of the fraternity's governance and teachings has gradually weakened. The characteristically tight-lipped grandfather or uncle who refused to say anything about Masonry to family members and friends is partly a consequence of revolutionary ferment, then, but is also simply a misunderstanding about what Masons are allowed to say about themselves to non-Masons, which has changed over time. 26 In fact, most of the so-called secrets of the Craft are well known and widely published, such as its ceremonies and the over-loaded significations of many of its symbols. The actual secrets of the Craft concern certain parts and aspects of the ceremonies, and a number of secret "words" (such as the "Master Mason's word"), passwords, and handshakes. 27 These secrets, however, are also not difficult to find in a number of books and by a simple Google search of the Internet. Today, there
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Page 5 and 6: Death of Freemasonry 4 Freemasonry
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Page 9 and 10: Death of Freemasonry 8 administrati
Page 11: Death of Freemasonry 10 the Grand L
Page 15 and 16: Death of Freemasonry 14 Aside from
Page 17 and 18: Death of Freemasonry 16 generally,
Page 19 and 20: Death of Freemasonry 18 Fig. 3. A M
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Page 23 and 24: Death of Freemasonry 22 Curiosity w
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Page 31 and 32: Death of Freemasonry 30 cultures an
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Page 39 and 40: Death of Freemasonry 38 http://www.
Page 41 and 42: Death of Freemasonry 40 Transformat
Page 43 and 44: Death of Freemasonry 42 34 See Gunn
Page 45 and 46: Death of Freemasonry 44 57 Griffin,

The Rhetoric and Death of U.S. Freemasonry In this essay I argue ...

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