The fundamental reason for
The current criticism of Freemasonry
Presented at the Vancouver Grand masonic Day, October 16, 1999
by Bro. Gary Leazer, Masonic Information Center, Silver Spring, Maryland
The hypothesis of this paper is that with the exception of the Roman Catholic Church, a particular kind of theology called dispensational fundamentalism is the driving force behind the current effort by a small number of very vocal people pushing their conservative churches and denominations to condemn the masonic fraternity as a false, or even Satanic, religion. Most of the current criticisms against Freemasonry are coming, not from members of the Southern Baptist Convention, but from members belonging to independent churches and other denominations.
I do not wish to attack anyone’s religious belief or faith, and let me hasten to say that many men who consider themselves conservatives and/or fundamentalists are active and dedicated freemason. I, myself, am a conservative in theology.
I believe I understand the mindset of those individuals who seek to condemn Freemasonry. I seek to explain and not attack.
One recent illustration can be offered. A church in State College, Pennsylvania, has told its members,
"It is hoped that those members and adherents… who are Freemasons will choose to disassociate themselves with Freemasonry and inform the Board of Elders and the Pastor of their decision. The Board of Elders along with the Pastor will meet with each member who desires to remain a Freemason and decide on the appropriate action in each case."
I and several others from the Masonic Information Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, flew to State College to speak to freemasons and critics representing clergy in several churches in the State College area in an attempt to resolve some of the questions being raised about our fraternity. We were extremely pleased with the response and the anti-masonic rhetoric has subsided, although it has not died out completely.
A number of reasons have been proposed for the current anti-masonic effort, but I would argue that they are outward signs or symptoms of a much deeper cause. Several reasons being offered, but which miss the real cause are:
Some freemasons have speculated that perhaps some masonic critics were turned down when they petitioned for lodge membership. While this may be true, I have found no evidence of that. I have found that some freemasons, such as Jim Shaw, joined the fraternity for the wrong reasons. He grew up in an abusive home. His father deserted the family when Jim was only a few months old. His mother remarried. His step-father beat him and his mother. Then, his step-father threw him out of the house at age 13. His parents gave him little religious training. Shaw looked to Masonry–he was encouraged to "try to be like your Uncle Irvin" who was a "good man and a Mason." He joined the fraternity and began an active member, eventually becoming a 32°( KCCH). When he became a Christian, Shaw said he found what he was looking for in his newfound faith in Christ. Because Freemasonry had not provided what he had hoped it would, he turned against it.