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

Some Masonic leaders deny that Masonry is a religion. Others admit that it does function as a religion. Looking at the evidence, does the Masonic Lodge fit the definition of a religion?

Is Masonry a Religion?

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 6

Ankerberg: Good evening. There are approximately four million Masons in the United States. Many Masons are Christians and many are from other religious faiths. The question tonight, are you willingly or unwillingly participating in another religion, the religion of Freemasonry? Now, most people believe the religion they hold is true. They would not think of actively participating or embracing the beliefs of another religion. For example, Christians know Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6] Christians believe that. If Freemasonry is another religion, it would be competing against Jesus Christ and Christians would have to choose.

So I think tonight’s program should be of extreme importance to Christians in the Lodge as well as others of different beliefs. Is Freemasonry a religion? Now, obviously, most Masons say that what goes on in the Lodge is not a religion. I want you to hear both sides tonight, so let’s begin by listening to Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32^nd Degree Mason, who was a guest on a previous program, and a former Worshipful Master, Mr. Jack Harris. They will set the basis for our discussion.

(Excerpt from former series)

Ankerberg: The discussion comes around, let me see if I can frame it for you, and that is that it’s not a religion.

Mankin: More than that. It’s not a religion. It offers no system of salvation. And I’m going to have to read from this certain point because this is very, very important and something that you should realize, because we have none of the marks of a religion.

Ankerberg: Okay. Let her go.

Bill Mankin: We have no creed, no confession of faith in a doctrinal statement; we have no theology; we have no ritual of worship. We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols found in a church or a synagogue. Our symbols are related to the development of character of the relationship of man to men. They are working tools to be used in the building of life. These working tools have been used from time immemorial to build buildings. And all we are saying is that if you as an individual adopt the principles represented – and we’ll get into some of that symbolism later on – that you will be a better person: not that you’re going to go to heaven.

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Harris: In all the rituals that I taught for eleven years, Masonry did teach how to get to heaven. They taught it with the apron that I wear, by my purity of life and conduct. They taught it in the Hiram Abiff legend of the Third Degree. The immortality of the soul: through all their writings they are teaching the immortality of the soul to the Mason. The Word of God tells me, though, the only way to have immortal life is through the Person of Jesus Christ. Never at any Masonic ritual did they point that Jesus is this Way of Salvation.

Ankerberg: Now, if I heard Bill Mankin correctly, and if I’m accurately comprehending the comments I have received in the mail from Masons, I think that I can summarize their argument this way: Freemasonry is not a religion because of the following things. (1) It does not meet the definition of religion; (2) it offers no system or teaching of salvation; (3) it has no creed, no confession of faith, no theology and no ritual of worship, and (4) it has no symbols that are religious like the symbols that are found in a church.

Now, I think that in order to answer the question, “Is Freemasonry a religion?,” we need to start with the definition of religion. It’s interesting that Masonic author, Alphonse Cerza, in his book, Let There Be Light – A Study in Anti-Masonry, has said, “By any definition of religion accepted by our critics, we cannot qualify as a religion.”

Well, to see if that’s true or false, let’s begin with the definition of religion from a credible source. How about Webster’s Dictionary? See if you think Freemasonry is included or excluded by this definition. Webster defines religion as, (1) a belief in a divine or superhuman power to be obeyed or worshiped as the Creator and Ruler of the universe, (2) expression of this belief in conduct and ritual. Now, would any Mason deny that Freemasonry demands belief in a supreme being? Would any Mason deny their authoritative ritual describes how they are to express this belief in conduct and ceremony? In brief, can any Freemason say Masonry is not a religion according to this definition from Webster? I don’t think so.

But don’t take my word for it; rather, listen to respected Masonic authorities. Now, in order to know who are the accepted authorities, we wrote a letter to all the Grand Lodges in the United States, and this is what the Grand Lodges told us: Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia was recommended by almost half of the Grand Lodges in America as being, for them, the most authoritative book in print concerning Masonry. And one-third of the Grand Lodges recommended Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. So, let me quote to you what these two most highly recommended Masonic authorities say concerning the question, “Is Freemasonry a religion?”

First, Albert Mackey in his Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. He quotes Webster’s definition of religion, and then, after giving the definition, here is what Mackey states: “Now, it is plain that in either of the first three senses in which we take the word religion, Freemasonry may rightfully claim to be called a religious institution.” Interesting, isn’t it?

Let’s look now at what Henry Wilson Coil in his Masonic Encyclopedia says. Coil quotes Funk & Wagnalls’ definition of religion and then asserts that Freemasonry not only fits this definition, but fits also the definition of “church.” Here is Coil’s exact quote. “Masonry certainly requires a belief in the existence of, and man’s dependence upon, a supreme being to whom he is responsible. What can a church add to that, except to bring into one fellowship those who have like feelings?” Then Coil says, “That is exactly what the Lodge does.” In other words, Coil is saying that not only is Freemasonry a religion, but Freemasonry practices being a religion as much as a church.

So, is Freemasonry a religion? According to Webster’s Dictionary, according to Funk & Wagnalls, and according to the two top Masonic authorities recommended by the Grand Lodges in this country, Freemasonry is a religion.

Now, are there some men in the Lodge who have always thought Masonry is a religion? I’d like you to listen to the thoughts of a former Junior Warden and former Worshipful Master.

Pantzer: Was Masonry a religion? To me it was. I was a non-Christian when I first entered Masonry and for 12 years it was basically my only religion. I was attending a church, but I wasn’t hearing the Gospel there. I felt that the things that I was doing in Masonry were very helpful, not only to me, but to those men that I was teaching the same things.

Harris: As Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge, I taught the man that he had to believe in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body. We had a chaplain. We had a Bible on an altar. Everything that we taught about how to lead a good life, to me, I considered it a religion. But the Word of God tells me that this religion should be through the Person of Jesus Christ. Freemasonry never mentions Jesus Christ.

Ankerberg: The next reason that Masons give for Freemasonry not being a religion is because “it offers no system of salvation.” It has no teachings about how a man can go to heaven. But is that true? Well, you know, every Candidate is told again and again during the first three degrees that God will be gracious and reward those who build their character and do good deeds. Let me document for you where Masonry teaches this.

Every Masonic Manual explains the symbol of the “All-Seeing Eye,” one of the symbols for God, with these words: “The All-Seeing Eye, who pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, will reward us, according to our works, our merits.” What is the reward man will get because of his good works? Masonry teaches God will reward man with eternal life in the Celestial Lodge Above. This is documented in the Masonic Manual under the explanation concerning the lambskin, or white linen apron. There it says, “He who wears the lambskin as a badge of a Mason is thereby continually reminded of purity of life and conduct which is essentially necessary to his gaining admission into that Celestial Lodge Above.”

Now, let me ask you: Does this sound to you like Freemasonry is teaching a way of salvation? If you were to hear this in the Lodge, wouldn’t you think that Freemasonry is saying that you can go to the Celestial Lodge Above if you live a pure and honest life? And isn’t that religion? And if you’re a Christian, when the Lodge teaches a man that by his good life, and by his good deeds, God will admit him into heaven, isn’t that contrary to your Christian teachings?

Doesn’t the Bible clearly teach that salvation is not by man’s work, salvation is only by God’s gracious provision through Jesus Christ? Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it’s the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Well, I certainly think so. I’d like you to listen to the thoughts of the former Worshipful Master about what he thought he was teaching in the Lodge.

Harris: I found that the working tools of each degree of Freemasonry – here we’re speaking of the first, second and third – the purpose of the working tool is to teach moral truths for the purpose of building the spiritual temple of a Mason. Now, what’s the purpose of building a spiritual temple of a Mason with these working tools? The purpose is so that they can prepare this spiritual temple for that Celestial Lodge Above. They say in their Ritual that as we build this temple, we will make you a good person and pure, through the working tools now that they explain, and prepare your soul for heaven above. They say this in all of the rituals of the first three degrees.

Ankerberg: If after all of this you are still not persuaded that Masonry is presenting a way to heaven, listen to Masonic authority, Henry Wilson Coil, talk about the Masonic funeral ceremony. In his Encyclopedia he writes, “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.” Notice he says “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.”

From all of this, I can only conclude that Freemasonry is a religion, because it does offer instruction and promises of how a man may get to heaven. That’s just another way of saying that Freemasonry is presenting a plan of salvation.

But then there are some Masons that would say, “But Freemasonry cannot be a religion because it has no creed; it has no confession of faith; it has no theology, no ritual of worship.” Well, we want to take a look at those.

First, can any Mason say that he has no creed? Here’s what Henry Wilson Coil in his Masonic Encyclopedia has to say about that. He says, “Does Freemasonry have a creed, or tenet, or dogma to which all members must adhere? Does Freemasonry continually teach and insist upon a creed, tenet and dogma? Does it have meetings characterized by the practice of rites and ceremonies in, and by which, its creed, tenet and dogma are illustrated, by myth, symbols and allegories? If Freemasonry were not religion, what would have to be done to make it such? Nothing would be necessary, or at least nothing but to add more of the same.”

Then Coil says, “That brings us to the real crux of the matter. The difference between a Lodge and a church is one of degree and not of kind. Some think because it is not a strong or highly formalized or highly dogmatized religion, such as the Roman Catholic Church, it can be no religion at all. But a Church of Friends – Quaker – exhibits even less formality and ritual than does a Masonic Lodge.” And then look what Coil says in conclusion. He says, “The fact that Freemasonry is a mild religion does not mean that it is no religion.”

Can any Mason really say that he has no creed? In reality, no person can become a Mason without a confession of faith in a supreme being. He also must believe in the immortality of the soul, give honorable service to God by practicing the secret arts of Masonry, say prayers to deity, and take oaths of secrecy. I want you to listen to the former Junior Warden and the former Worshipful Master as they talk about this.

Pantzer: For me, that memorial funeral service is one of the most profound things in Masonry. Standing before the mourners, the family of the man whose body rests in that coffin, reading from a book that is used universally throughout Masonry for this service, talking specifically about how this man’s fellowship with me in my Lodge and what he learned in that Lodge and how the things that he learned in that Lodge were helping him, in fact, making it possible for him to get to heaven, that’s very, very profound. What we were trying to do through that service is to ease the pain in the hearts of the mourners, but more significantly, show them that they had nothing to worry about – their loved one was safe, at home in that Celestial Lodge Above because of the things that he had learned and done in Masonry.

Harris: I believed in my heart that what I was saying was true, because I believed the teachings of Freemasonry, before I was a Christian, were true, on how to make a man good and how to get to heaven. And when I talked to the deceased’s family, I also comforted them with the same words of belief that I had, that this was true. At the point at which I found, as far as myself was concerned, what actually cemented the fact that this was true, even before I was a Christian, was because standing beside me at some of the services, as well as standing beside me in the Lodge, as well as taking part in the ceremonies were Masons that were elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers, and pastors of my church that I even had gone to myself and was a member of before I was a Christian. So thereby my thinking that it was wrong was completely put at ease because those I really trusted in knowing the Word were standing right beside me.

Ankerberg: In light of what you’ve just heard, can any Mason truly say he has no confession of faith in a doctrinal statement? Well, let me ask you, do all religions believe in the doctrine of the immortality of the soul like Masons do? The answer is no. Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Armstrongites and Buddhists, to name just a few, do not. Do all believe in a supreme being? No. Hindus believe in millions of gods; so do Mormons. At death, do all believe they will reside in the Celestial Lodge in the sky for all eternity? No. Hindus and Buddhists believe in the extinction of the person. Mormons believe they can become gods themselves. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe only 144,000 will get to reside in heaven and all the rest who aren’t annihilated will stay on earth. Right here the Masonic Lodge has a very distinct doctrinal statement.

Then I want you to notice that Masonic teachings are accepted by Masons as authoritative dogma, that is, principles and instruction taught and held by their own body of believers. Their doctrine is not held by all others, and that’s exactly what “doctrine” is, a distinct set of beliefs. And Masonic doctrine is very distinct.

Then I want you to look at, “Can anyone say that Masonry has no theology?” Well, the definition of theology, theos “God,” plus legein “to speak” is “to speak of God.” Masonry speaks of God, demands belief in God, informs each Candidate that the true name of God has been lost, and then, in a later degree, reveals that lost name. In the seventh, or Royal Arch Degree – you can look it up in your manual – the lost name that is given is Ja-bul-on, the joining of Jehovah, Baal and Osiris. That is something that the God of the Bible strictly forbids. But let’s let Webster’s Dictionary define the word “theology.” He says, “It is the relationship between God and the universe; a specific form or system as expounded by a particular religion or denomination.” Let me ask you, does Masonry have its “specific form” which clearly spells out exactly how one is to perform their ceremonies? It certainly does. It’s called “the Ritual.”

Then, can any truthful Mason say that Masonry has no ritual of worship? Well, obviously, Masonry has 32 degrees of Ritual, but is the Ritual worship? Well, let’s take a look at Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of “worship.” He says, “Worship is a prayer or other rites showing reverence or devotion for a deity,” for God. Now, let me ask you, according to this definition, aren’t Masons worshipping in every Lodge meeting they hold?

Then we want to ask, can any Mason say that in the Lodge they have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols that are found in a church or synagogue? Listen.

(Excerpt from former series)

Mankin: The symbols are related to the character of man to men. They are not related to God. We have no symbols that are religious in the sense of symbols in a church.

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Harris: Well, as Worshipful Master, in conferring those degrees for many years, I didn’t look at it that way. I had a chaplain to my left and every Lodge had to be opened and closed with prayer. Every Lodge had to have a Bible upon the altar of some religion. Every Lodge made the Candidate obligate himself upon that Bible. Also, in a Lodge we have all various things and tools regarding religious worship. We have the plan of salvation through the working tools, the apron that I wear telling me that by my purity of life and conduct I will gain admission to the Celestial Lodge Above. Over the top of my head, the letter “G,” signifying deity. So, as I taught it as a Worshipful Master, I saw Freemasonry really as having many symbols that would call it to be a religion. In a church you have a Bible and maybe a cross. In a Masonic Lodge, you have a Bible, a letter “G” and many other symbols that point, to me, to religion.

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Ankerberg: For this program, we read and compared the authoritative monitorial manuals containing the ritual of the Lodges in the different states. We also wrote to each of the Grand Lodges in all 50 states, asking them which books and authors they thought most accurately conveyed the essential meanings of Masonry. Forty-two percent of the Lodges that responded recommended Henry Wilson Coil and one-third of the Lodges recommended Albert Mackey and Joseph Fort Newton. Authors recommended next in frequency were Claudy, Haywood, Cerza, Gould, Roberts and Pike, in that order. All of these were read.

Then, Mr. Bill Mankin, a 32^nd Degree Mason, was once again invited to come on our program, but he was denied permission by the Worshipful Master of his Lodge in Idaho. An invitation was also extended to Mr. Samuel Chandler, Grand Master of the Masons in Tennessee, but he said he would not be interested in making any response at all since, and I quote, “Freemasonry has survived all of its critics for years and will survive this attack also.” Our invitation to these men or other responsible spokesmen for Freemasonry remains open.

But we hope that no one will think that this program is an attack. We certainly believe that anyone who so desires can join Masonry. All we are interested in is comparing Freemasonry’s teaching with the plain truths of the Bible. Hopefully, Freemasonry will allow us to enter the discussion and disagree with them, since we have taken the trouble to document our position in their Ritual and the writings of the authorities they recommended.

In conclusion, tonight, Masonic authorities have shown us that Freemasonry must be considered to be a religion because the practices and precepts of Freemasonry fit any standard dictionary definition of “Religion.” We’ve also seen that Freemasonry does teach, through its emblems, its working tools and its Ritual, how a man may go to heaven. We have seen Masonry has a distinct creed, a confession of faith, a definite theology and a ritual of worship. Its symbols are exactly like those symbols found in any church. Henry Wilson Coil closes our program tonight with this appropriate statement: “Nothing herein is intended to be an argument that Freemasonry ought to be religion. Our purpose is simply to determine what it has become, and is.”