The Masonic Lodge: What Goes On Behind Closed Doors? – Program 5

By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Jack Harris; ©1986

Are Masons taught through their funeral ceremony that they can get into heaven on the basis of their conduct and good works?

The Masonic Funeral

Introduction

Tonight, John Ankerberg presents, What Goes on Behind the Closed Doors of the Masonic Lodge? In our prior program, a 32^nd Degree Mason met with a Christian scholar to find out whether or not Christianity and the Masonic Lodge were compatible. In that program, our Masonic guest said the Ritual was the authoritative source for all Masons. But what is the Ritual for the first three degrees of Masonry? What does it teach? Tonight, you will find out. Mr. Jack Harris, a former Worshipful Master from the state of Maryland, will reenact small parts of the ritual from the first three degrees and explain what he taught in the Lodge.

In Program 1, you will be introduced to the primary symbols in all Masonic Lodges and watch how a Candidate is received upon his being initiated into the Entered Apprentice Degree of Masonry.

In Program 2, the former Worshipful Master will explain to us the meaning of the Three Great Lights and Three Lesser Lights of Masonry.

In Program 3, what is the significance of the working tools of Masonry? What is the meaning of the white apron, and the Rough Ashlar, and the Perfect Ashlar?

In Program 4, how binding is the obligation taken by any Candidate initiated into the first three degrees of Masonry?

In Program 5, you will see the actual ceremony used at a Masonic funeral.

In Program 6, both sides will comment whether Masonry is a religion, whether or not it promises eternal life in the Celestial Lodge Above, what a Mason must do in this life, and whether Masonry holds the Bible’s teachings to be authoritative.

In preparation for this program, letters were sent to the Grand Lodges in all 50 states, asking them which Masonic authors and books they would recommend as the most authoritative commentaries concerning the teachings of Masonry. We will report to you what they said. Then we will compare the commentary of their recommended authors with some of the teachings of biblical Christianity to answer the question, Is Christianity compatible with the teachings of the Masonic Lodge? Please stay tuned.

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Program 5

Ankerberg: Good evening. Tonight, we want to talk about, what does Freemasonry teach through their Ritual at a Masonic funeral ceremony? Are those teachings in accord with the Bible? To begin with tonight, I’d like you to look at two statements that are taken from the Ritual from the Masonic funeral ceremony in Maryland. First, “Masonry seeks constantly to build the temple of the soul, and thus to fit us for that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Second, “When our brother labored with us in Masonic attire, he wore a white apron, which he was taught was an emblem of innocence and a badge of a Mason. By it, he was constantly reminded of that purity of life and that rectitude of conduct so necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge Above.”

That’s how the Masonic Lodge says their members can know they will get to the Celestial Lodge Above. Let’s compare that with the Bible. What does the Bible say about how a person can get to heaven? First of all, in John 14:6 we read, “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” And, finally, in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

So tonight, that’s the topic we want to investigate. And as our custom is, we let others speak for themselves. So to begin, I’d like for you to hear a 32^nd Degree Mason talk about what he believes the Masonic funeral ceremony is teaching. Please listen.

(Excerpt from former series)

Martin: When you have the funeral service and you commit people as a Mason, as a brother, you commit that individual to the great Lodge in the sky, and the spirit….

Mankin: Symbolic. Dr. Martin, that is symbolic.

Ankerberg: What is it symbolic of?

Mankin: It is symbolic of the belief of resurrection. That’s one of the landmarks.

Ankerberg: Isn’t that a belief, a religious belief?

Mankin: It is a symbolic belief. It is an allegorical belief.

Martin: Now wait a minute. I’m confused here. Is resurrection an actuality or is resurrection a symbol?

Mankin: Resurrection is an actuality…

Martin: Right.

Mankin: …but as it is portrayed in a Masonic funeral service, it is symbolic. It’s not….

Martin: So they don’t believe in resurrection.

Mankin: Now… don’t change my words. I didn’t say that.

Martin: Well, I’m just saying if…I asked you, first of all, if it was reality or symbol. You told me it….

Mankin: Resurrection exists.

Martin: Okay. Now, you said to me, “Yes, for me it’s a reality.” Now, “How about for the Masons, for the Lodge and for the funeral service and so forth?” And you said, “Well, it’s symbolic.”

Mankin: It is symbolic as it deals with that particular aspect of the Ritual.

Martin: Then if it’s symbolic, it isn’t reality. It portrays a concept.

Mankin: It is not man’s right to grant resurrection, and what you’re seeing is a symbolic…

Ankerberg: Is it holding out a hope of resurrection?

Mankin: I would think so.

Ankerberg: Is it a false hope?

Mankin: No. In terms of symbolism, no.

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Ankerberg: In this program, I wanted to follow up on what Mr. Bill Mankin was saying. Is it true? And so I’ve asked a former Worshipful Master of the Lodge in Maryland to come and reenact the actual funeral ceremony that he performed hundreds of times. I want you to listen and see and hear what Masonry actually is teaching through their ritual funeral ceremony.

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Harris: We will now at this time cover the Masonic memorial service that is given to the deceased Mason at the request of the family. Usually this is given at the church or at the funeral home. The members present here in front of us are the family and friends. We will now give you the exact ritual as it’s given in the state of Maryland, and in other states throughout the United States, the principle and the doctrines are exactly the same. The wording only varies slightly.

Worshipful Master: Friends and brethren, we who are Masons have assembled on this occasion to express our respect and esteem for our brother, who has passed beyond our mortal sight, and to share with those near and dear to him our belief in the immortality of the soul. In this time of sorrow, when we all need comfort and consolation, let us turn reverently to God, who in the midst of the trials and tribulations that are a part of life, can alone endue us with that quietness of spirit and that peace of mind and heart, which the world can neither give nor take away. Let us pray.

Senior Deacon: Oh God, our Father in heaven, thou art the Giver of life, and light and love, our help and solace in times of trial and sorrow. Thou hast assured us that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with us. Thy rod and thy staff comfort us. Thou art light and our salvation, our refuge and our strength in every time of trouble. We thank Thee for the life of our brother. We thank Thee that he was one of our fellowship, and that we were privileged to labor with him in the mystic tie of Brotherhood. We are grateful to thee for the precious memories of him which we shall always carry in our hearts. We thank thee for all that he has meant to those who were near and dear to him through the ties of family and friendship. Most of all, we are grateful to thee for teaching us that while the body is mortal, the soul is immortal. Though the outward form we knew and loved be removed from our sight, we have the assurance that thou hast taken to thyself his soul, which is the enduring essence of life. This conviction thou hast implanted in us through thy Holy Word, which is the great light of Masonry. We earnestly beseech Thee that this short time which we spend together may renew and strengthen our conviction and our hope. Let thy peace abide with us now, and lead us ever in the paths of righteousness. In thy name we make our prayer. Amen.

Worshipful Master: From time immemorial, it has been the custom of Masons to assemble with the family and friends of a departed brother, to honor his memory and to voice their sympathy to those whom he loved and who loved him. The message we bring is one of the triumph of life over death, the conquest of hope over despair. Masonry has come down from the far past. It uses the tools of the builders’ trade as emblems and symbols to teach Masons how to build character and moral stature. It teaches service to God, to a brother, and to all mankind. It seeks constantly to build the temple of the soul and thus to fit us for that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Masonry is a fellowship that unites Masons in friendship and goodwill. It teaches the spiritual values of life that lie beyond the physical senses. Masonry confronts the fact of death with the greater fact of faith in the immortality of the soul. Masons believe sincerely that when life on earth comes to a close, the soul is translated from the imperfections of this mortal fear, to that all-perfect, glorious and Celestial Lodge Above, where God, the Grand Architect of the Universe, presides. With these truths and convictions, our brother was well acquainted. Though perfection of character is not of this world, yet we are persuaded that our brother sought to live by these truths and principles of Masonry. That they sustained and supported him, and that by them his life was made richer, fuller and more meaningful. When our brother labored with us in Masonic attire, he wore a white apron, which he was taught is an emblem of innocence and a badge of a Mason. By it, he was constantly reminded of that purity of life and that rectitude of conduct so necessary to his gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge Above. He will now wear that apron forever as the emblem of the virtues it represents. The evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By it, we are reminded of the immortal soul of man, which survives the grave and which will never, never die. In accordance with our custom, I now place this evergreen over the heart of our brother. And now to you, who shared with our brother the intimate ties of family and friendship, we tender our affectionate sympathy. Our hearts respond to your hearts in your grief. We trust that these affirmations of faith in which our brother shared may speak to you and inspire you to live with hope and courage. We ask you always to remember that the God and Father of us all is a loving God, a merciful God, a compassionate God, whose ears are ever open to the cry of the afflicted. Let us pray.

Senior Deacon: Eternal and everlasting God, we look to Thee in faith and confidence, knowing that thy love has power to bring comfort and consolation even in this time of bereavement to those near and dear to our brother. Fill their hearts more and more with blessed assurance of immortality and of thy abiding love. Bless them and keep them, Oh Lord. Make thy face to shine upon them and be gracious unto them. Lift up thy countenance upon them and give them thy peace. Amen.

Ankerberg: Does Freemasonry teach anything about how a man may safely reach the celestial Lodge in the sky? Are the teachings of Freemasonry in agreement or disagreement with the Bible’s teaching on how a person can go to heaven. First, you will hear the commentary of a 32^nd Degree Mason during a previous program, and then the comments of former Worshipful Master, Mr. Jack Harris, who performed the Masonic funeral ceremony.

(Excerpt from former series)

Ankerberg: Would anybody standing around in a Masonic Lodge get the idea that as being part of the Lodge, having the Masonic funeral, because we did all of this, because we had all this, because we followed our very tenets and symbolism of the Lodge, that the symbolism that I put into it, namely resurrection and the Great Lodge in the sky, according to your Christian teachings, that’s not how you get to heaven?

Mankin: That is in fact. That’s why I’m saying that this is in fact a symbolic act, because there’s no man who is going to resurrect anybody.

Ankerberg: Alright, so what you’re saying is you have a symbolic act that you’re holding onto that has no content.

Mankin: It has content in its symbolism. It is a system of allegory veiled…

Ankerberg: But nobody knows what it is.

Mankin: …a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated in symbols. We’ve got to come back to that.

Ankerberg: So it means nothing, again. It’s just the fact you say it.

Mankin: It is a symbol. It is a symbol. That’s it.

Ankerberg: Does it stand for something?

Mankin: It’s symbolic in a ritualistic context.

Ankerberg: I think that’s what religion is.

Mankin: I would argue that.

Ankerberg: I know you do. But I’m still saying that I can’t get away from the fact that when you say, “We are holding to this concept,” you call it “symbolism,” and it has the word “resurrection” attached to it, and yet you won’t put any content other than the fact of resurrection. Resurrection, by definition, means certain things. It’s a religious view. And you’re saying, but you won’t tell people how to get there, and yet your Christian view, which does have content, says specifically that you don’t get there just by hoping you’ll get there. You don’t get there just by holding it out to people. You need to tell them something: that you have to go to a Savior, namely, Jesus Christ. That’s the problem.

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Harris: What you have heard is the authentic Masonic memorial service given throughout the United States. This man, I personally knew, as a Mason. He never once proclaimed to me that he knew Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Is it conceivable then, that he believed the teachings of Freemasonry in what they taught him on how to gain eternal life?

Let me recap some of the things we have taught in our previous broadcasts dealing with the teachings of Freemasonry and how you may gain eternal life. In the first degree, as Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge, I taught this man that the name of God could be any god of any religion. It wasn’t exclusively as the Bible lines it out, the name of Jesus Christ in whom all Deity dwells, the Person of Jesus Christ. Masonry says, “The god of all religions are acceptable.” So when he took his obligations in the first degree, he put his hand on the Bible, but he bound himself to those who also put their hand on the Koran, or the Veda, or just the Old Testament. We believe God’s Word forbids this for a Christian; yet, this man conceivably believed this.

Also, in the first degree he wore a white apron. If you notice, he has that apron with him now in the casket. I have this apron on. What does the apron signify? This apron is a badge of a Mason. I taught that by the purity of his life and conduct, of which this apron represents, he will – not he may or he could, he will – gain admission into the Celestial Lodge Above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

But the Word of God tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9, it’s “For by grace we are saved through faith, not of works lest any man should boast.” There’s no way, according to the Word of God, that by our purity of life and conduct that we can gain admission into the Celestial Lodge Above. It is by the grace of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. So I taught this man, through the Masonic Ritual, a lie, according to the Word of God. He conceivably may have believed it.

Also, I taught this man, in the third degree of Freemasonry, the legend of Hiram Abiff, dealing with how to gain eternal life, recapping the first three degrees of Freemasonry. In that legend I taught this man that as he takes the tools of the builder’s trade, and he applies the moral truths that Masonry teaches him through these tools, which is, learning to go to heaven by his own endeavors, the blessings of God, and a virtuous education, he will build the spiritual temple of his body, make it pleasing to God, so that when he is raised up, he will be accepted into the Lodge above.

But the Word of God does not give me that prerogative. The Word of God lets me know it is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice at Calvary, that this man can possibly gain heaven. Yet he may have believed these things in Freemasonry, and I may have sent him to hell through what I taught him.

The Word of God teaches me that what I learn from God’s Word is not supposed to be kept secret, as Freemasonry taught me, and I taught him. I taught him that everything that he learns in Freemasonry, “Keep it secret from those who are not Masons,” because it’s specially designed for those who are “found worthy,” according to Freemasonry. But God says no one is worthy. No one. Everyone is a sinner. [Rom. 3:10, 23] Freemasonry says, “According to our teachings, this man is found worthy through creed, initiation, and ritual.”

What does God’s Word say about how we are to be saved? And also as I read to you the plan of salvation, according to God’s Word, not my opinion, I’d like to say that Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, we are to proclaim all of this Word to the world, even the deepest mysteries. Freemasonry says, no, we are to keep the teachings, such as how to gain eternal life, how to lead a good life, secret, and only give it to those found “worthy.” Let me read what God’s Word says regarding the plan of salvation as He has laid it down in Scripture. In Romans 3:10, God’s Word says, “As it is written, there is none righteous, not even one.” According to Freemasonry, you were found worthy through their Ritual, their creed, your virtuous education.

Another point, this is brought out in Freemasonry, is with the Rough Ashlar and the Perfect Ashlar, which I taught this man in the first degree. An “Ashlar” is a stone that is taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state. Freemasonry uses that Ashlar in its rude and natural state to say to you as a Mason and as a Candidate that your nature, about you, your whole life is rude and crude, as this Ashlar is. And then they say, “Here’s a Perfect Ashlar, smooth and shiny. We’re going to take you, and your moral conduct, and your rectitude of life, and we’re going to smooth and polish it.” In other words, “We’re going to sanctify you.” How? By a virtuous education, your own endeavors, and the blessings of God.

God’s Word is totally in disagreement with this. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord.” [Rom. 6:23] A free gift. He doesn’t have to work for it. He doesn’t have to have a virtuous education. He doesn’t have to labor. He doesn’t have to take an oath. It’s a free gift from God.

In Romans 10:9-10, the Word of God says that, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, ye shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” So, according to the Word of God, to gain eternal life, you must ask, as a simple child, “Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner. I want you to come into my life and save me. I believe that your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died in my place on Calvary’s cross for me so that I may have eternal life. Come into my life now and be my Savior and my Lord.”

Now, there are those of you watching who are Masons, and also you have put profession in the Person of Jesus Christ for your salvation. So you’re a Mason, and you’re a born again Christian. And you’ve seen what we have shown you here tonight at the funeral. You have seen all the previous broadcasts. I ask you, Is it possible, from the core of your heart, can you possibly embrace these teachings, knowing that they can lead this man to hell and not to heaven? Can you do this and be obedient to the Word of God where it tells us, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness”? [Eph. 5:11] All of the teachings of Freemasonry add up to “salvation by works,” and as believers, we are commanded to have no fellowship with this darkness. Can you truthfully in your heart embrace these teachings and still say, “I’m being obedient to the Word of God and to the Lord Jesus Christ”? I leave this decision up to you to make.

Ankerberg: Henry Wilson Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia was recommended by almost half the Grand Lodges in America as being, for them, the most authoritative book in print concerning Masonry. This is what Coil wrote in his encyclopedia concerning the Masonic funeral ceremony:

Freemasonry has a religious service to commit the body of a deceased brother to the dust whence it came and to speed the liberated spirit back to the great Source of Light. Many Freemasons make this flight with no other guarantee of a safe landing than their belief in the religion of Freemasonry. If that is a false hope, the fraternity should abandon funeral services and devote its attention to activities where it is sure of its ground and its authority.

Read Part 6