THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

Now this is directly opposite to both the law and the Gospel. But this is the
benevolence and morality of Freemasonry, undeniably.
The law and the Gospel require our discriminations in our treatment of men to be
conditional upon their holiness and likeness to God and their faith in Jesus Christ.
But the oaths of Freemasons require their discriminations to be founded upon the
mere relation of a brother Mason, whatever his Christian or moral character may
be.
It is not pretended that a man may not be a good and worthy Mason who is not a
Christian. It is admitted and claimed by Freemasonry that a man's religion, or
religious character, has nothing to do with his being a Mason. If he admits the
being of a God this is enough.
Now this, I say again, is not only not in accordance with Christian morality, and
with the law and Gospel of God; but it is directly opposed to both law and Gospel.
But, again, the utter want of true benevolence in the Masonic institution will
further appear if we consider the exclusiveness of the institution. A minister in
Cleveland, recently defending the institution of Masonry, declared that the glory
of Masonry consists in its exclusiveness. But is this in accordance with the
benevolence required in the Gospel?
Masonry, observe, professes to be a benevolent institution. But, first, it excludes
all women from a participation in its rights, ceremonies, privileges, and blessings,
whatever they may be. Secondly, it excludes all old men in their dotage. Thirdly,
it excludes all young men in their nonage; that is, under twenty-one years of age.
Several other classes are excluded; but these that I have named comprise a vast
majority, probably not less than two-thirds of all mankind. Again, they admit no
deformed person, and none but those who are physically perfect. In short, they
admit none who are likely to become chargeable to the institution.
Some time since the Grand Lodge of the State of New York adopted a series of
articles defining certain landmarks and principles of Freemasonry. These articles
have been accepted and eulogized by the Masonic press. The first is as follows. I
quote it from the American Freemason, edited by "Robert Morris, Knight
Templar, and author of various Masonic works," with his preface and strictures.
These articles Mr. Morris regards as high Masonic authority. The number from
which I quote is dated at Louisville, Kentucky, 8th of April, 5854, Masonic date,
in other words, in 1854, fourteen years ago.
"Our New York brethren are eminent for the matchless ability with which their
Grand Lodge documents are prepared. In this department they have set the
example for others, and there are yet a few that would do well to look to the East
for more light. We copy their 'Thirty-four Articles' with some condensation and a
few comments of our own, and present them to our readers as a well-digested
system of Masonic law and practice.
"'Article I. It is not proper to initiate into our lodges persons of the negro race; and
their exclusion is in accordance with Masonic law, and the ancient charges and
regulations. Because of their depressed social condition; their general want of