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

each other from difficulty whether right or wrong. c. To unduly favor Masonry in
political actions and in business transactions. d. Its members are sworn to
retaliate, and persecute unto death, the violators of Masonic obligation. e.
Freemasonry knows no mercy, but swears its candidates to avenge violations of
Masonic obligation even unto death. f. Its oaths are profane, the taking of the
name of God in vain. g. The penalties of these oaths are barbarous and even
savage. h. Its teachings are false and profane. i. Its design is partial and selfish. j.
Its ceremonies are a mixture of puerility and profanity. k. Its religion is Deistic. l.
It is a false religion, and professes to save men upon other conditions than those
revealed in the Gospel of Christ. m. It is an enormous falsehood. n. It is a swindle,
and obtains money from its membership under false pretenses. o. It refuses all
examination, and veils itself under a mantle of oath-bound secrecy. p. It is a
virtual conspiracy against both Church and State. No one, therefore, has ever
undertaken, and for the plainest reasons none will undertake, to defend
Freemasonry as it is revealed in these books. Their arguments are threats,
calumny, persecution, assassination. Freemasons do not pretend that
Freemasonry, as revealed in these books, is compatible with Christianity. I have
not yet known the first Freemason who would affirm that an intelligent adherence
to Freemasonry, as revealed in these books, is consistent with a profession of the
Christian religion. But we know, if we can know anything from testimony, that
these books do truly reveal Freemasonry. We have, then, the implied testimony of
Freemasons themselves, that the Christian Church ought to have no fellowship
with Freemasonry as thus revealed, and that those who adhere intelligently and
determinately to such an institution have no right to be in the Christian Church. In
our judgment we are forced to the same conclusion, we can not escape from it, we
wish it were otherwise, we therefore sorrowfully, but solemnly, pronounce this
judgment.
6th. Every local branch of the Church of Christ is bound to examine this subject,
and pronounce upon this institution, according to the best light they can get. God
does not allow individuals, or churches, to withhold action, and the expression of
their opinion, until other churches are as enlightened as themselves. We are bound
to act up to our own light, and to go as far in advance of others as we have better
means of information than they. We have no right to say to God that we will act
according to our own convictions, when others become so enlightened that our
action will be popular and meet their approval.
Again: Those individuals and churches, who have had the best means of
information, owe it to other branches of the church, and to the whole world, to
take action and to pronounce upon the unchristian character of Freemasonry, as
the most influential means within their reach of arousing the whole church and the
world to an examination of the character and claims of Freemasonry. If churches
who are known to have examined the subject withhold their testimony; if they
continue to receive persistent and intelligent Freemasons; if they leave the public
to infer that they see nothing in Freemasonry inconsistent with a creditable
profession of the Christian religion, it will be justly inferred by other branches of
the church, and by the world, that there is nothing in it so bad, so dangerous and
unchristian as to call for their examination, action, or testimony. Before the