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

you are to study the moral law as contained in the sacred code, the Bible; and in
countries where that book is not known, whatever is understood to contain the
will or law of God." O, then, in every country Masons are to embrace the
prevalent religion, whatever it may be, and accept whatever is claimed in any
country where they may reside, to be the law and will of God. But is this
Christianity, or consistent with it? It is well known and admitted that Masonry
claims to have descended from the earliest ages, and that the institution has
existed in all countries and under all religions; and that the ancient philosophers
of Greece and Rome, the astrologers and soothsayers, and the great men of all
heathen nations have belonged to that fraternity.
It is also well known that at this time there are multitudes of Jews,
Mohammedans, and skeptics of every grade belonging to the institution. I do not
know that this is denied by any intelligent Mason. Now, if this is so, how can
Freemasonry be the true religion, or at all consistent with it? Multitudes of
Universalists and Unitarians, and of errorists of every grade, are Freemasons; and
yet Freemasonry itself claims to save its disciples, to conduct them to heaven!
The third question proposed for discussion in my last number is: Are the claims of
Masonry to be a true and saving institution valid? To this I answer, No. This will
appear if we consider, first, that the morality which it inculcates is not the
morality of the law and Gospel of God. The law and the Gospel, as I have shown
in a former number, lay down the same rule of life. And Christ, in commenting
upon the true meaning and spirit of the law, says: "If ye love them that love you,
what thank have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?" He requires us to love
our enemies, and to pray for them, as truly as for our friends. In short, he requires
universal benevolence; whereas Freemasonry requires no such thing. Its oaths,
which are its law, simply require its members to be just to each other. I say just,
for their boasted benevolence is simply the payment of a debt.
They do, indeed, promise to assist each other in distress, and to help each other's
families, provided they fall into poverty. But on what condition do they promise
this? Why, that a certain amount is to be paid into their treasury as a fund for this
purpose. But this, surely, is not benevolence, but the simple payment of a debt, on
the principle of mutual insurance.
This I have abundantly shown in a former number. Again, the motives presented
in Freemasonry to secure the course of action to which they are pledged are by no
means consistent with the law or the Gospel of God. In religion, and in true
morality, everything depends on the motive or reason for the performance of an
action. God accepts nothing that does not proceed from supreme love to Him and
equal love to our fellow-men. Not merely to our brother Masons; but to our
neighbor--that is, to all mankind. Whatever does not proceed from love and faith
is sin, according to the teachings of the Bible. And by love, I say again, is meant
the supreme love of God and the equal love of our neighbor.
But Masonry teaches no such morality as this. The motive urged by Masons is, to
honor Masonry, to honor the institution, to honor each other. While they are
pledged to assist each other in distress; to keep each other's secrets, even if they
be crimes; and to aid each other, whether right or wrong, so far as to extricate