Freemasonry and Christianity

This 1987 report was initiated by a then general public concern that Freemasonry in England was anti-Christian and worse, after a CofE Synod motion the appointed working group who produced this report which has long been available in book shops, churches etc.. The report for the most part is fair and presents evidence in a balanced way. It includes extracts of submissions by existing and past Christian Masons who found aspects of Freemasonry impossible to live with, but no extracts from the many submissions of those who were content.

The Synod voted and carried the conclusions from the report which accused Freemasonry of being blasphemous and heretical centred upon Masonry’s use of a composite word which is the name used for deity in Masonic rituals *. The committee’s report concluded that the Masonic rituals "were "blasphemous" because God’s name must not be taken in vain…" (The offending word quoted is from one version of the ritual of the 'Holy Royal Arch'. This ritual is never heard by the average Freemason who restricts his membership to the main three degrees of 'Craft Masonry' despite internal encouragement to do otherwise). At the Synod Bishop Stanley Booth-Clibborn stated, "The important point ought to be that there should be no undue pressure on Christians who are Freemasons, and no witch hunt." A proviso consistently ignored by many Anglicans.

From my point of view, as a lifetime Christian and a Freemason of over 50 years, there was, at the outset an obvious difficulty in analysing every part of the Craft and the Royal Arch rites on a purely theological basis. The lay non-ecclesiastical origins and subsequent changes of the rites have never claimed nor have been intended to be theological doctrines or practices. Mammoth misconceptions have arisen because the rites incorporate prayers, Bible stories and the like - the norm when the rest of England was in political and civil warring turmoil. It is true that the two rites have inconsistencies, paradoxes and somewhat inappropriate text by current standards, the original intent of the rites has been submerged in the desire for inappropriate theological purity within what is now a basically secular multi-faith environment. Because of the historic complexities of the rites there is no practical solution, and there never will be, not even if they reverted back to purely (unwritten) Christian origins. Freemasonry must be accepted for what it is, not for some ecclesiastical hybrid. Whatever non-masons may think, Freemasonry is not a religion nor is it a substitute, neither can be accused of a type of occult or witchcraft. Most of all there never has been any intent to be blasphemous or heretical, the evidence for this is so out of context with the way Freemasons live their lives, most Masons just laugh at the accusations. I am quite convinced that the charged offences occurred out of ignorance and again the original intent has been misread and in general, dismissed. All Freemasons ceremonies are carried out in a Godly manner as conceived by none churchmen in the 17^th century, in line with contemporary practices many of which still persist. A great many of today's institutions could well benefit from the precepts within these ancient customs.

Christian Freemasons have to reconcile in their own minds and devotions the various parts of the rites which may appear to be at conflict.