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Freemasonry has its own anti-scriptural beliefs Masonry’s Mark Master (4th) degree and the Royal Arch (5th) degree basically pick up where the 3rd Master Mason degree leaves off. Collectively these two higher Masonic grades are known as the Red Lodge. There is a slight difference in the working of the Masonic Royal Arch degree in England compared to that worked in Ireland and America, although the overall thrust is generally the same. In England, the companions make three distinct discoveries of three different keystones, which reveal three unique Jewish arches, although the last find is the important one which matches the story of the other Masonic jurisdictions. Notwithstanding, the central focus of all three jurisdictions is the important discovery of ‘the lost Word’ under a Jewish arch. The Irish and the American rituals locate all these different discoveries and their accompanying teaching into one overall discovery, whereas English Masonry spreads over three separate finds. The American version of the Masonic Royal Arch ritual explains, in the words of the searchers testimony: “After labouring several days we came to what was supposed to be impenetrable rock; but one of the companions striking on it with a crow, it returned a hollow sound: and on closer examination, we found it to be the keystone of an arch, which, with much difficulty, we succeeded in removing from its place; through the aperture of which we discovered an immense vault, curiously arched, and have brought the key stone up, that it may be examined by the Grand Counsel” (p. 125). The Chapter high priest then states, “Companion king this is a very valuable discovery indeed. It must be a key stone of a Mark Master Mason.” The chapter king says, “I think that is the stone wrought by our grand master Hiram Abiff” (p. 126). Here we should pause and ponder what is being said, because it will assist us in establishing the gist of this secret theology. Note that whatever this stone represents, Hiram Abiff is the one who has wrought it. Also, we must explain this allusion to the Mark Master (4th) degree. We should consider the different stages by which the Mason climbs the lower Masonic degrees, remembering that all the degrees are inextricably joined together, each adding more detail to the gradual revelation being unfolded: (1) Entered Apprentice degree In the Mark Master degree the candidate is told that "There was a stone discarded in the rubbish at the building of Solomon’s Temple." The Worshipful Master then says "I remember the plans included such a Stone, see here is a model before me - the work undertaken by our Grand Master Hiram Abiff" (Irish ritual p. 57). The new candidate imitating one of the craftsmen at the Temple then searches in a pile of rubbish on the Lodge floor and finds a stone. The Worshipful Master then joyfully declares, "The Stone has been discovered. It was found by the Craftsman who presented it at the gate." The Worshipful Master then examines the stone and declares "It is indeed the missing Stone. The Stone which the builders refused has become the headstone of the corner" (p. 59). Christians will immediately recognise that the last sentence of this fiction is a monstrous misapplication of a Scripture which refers to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Senior Warden then addresses the Sir Knight Commander as follows: “Sir Knight Commander, the stone we sought is found.” The Sir Knight Commander replies “Let it be placed in position.” The ritual manual records, “The Senior Warden then assists the candidate to place the keystone in its proper position at the top of the arch.” After the keystone is in position, the candidate kneels, while the Prelate asserts: “Did ye never read in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” The following ode is then sung: “This shall be the corner-stone The arrogance of this rite and the teaching involved in it are quite astounding. Freemasonry actually quote Psalm 118:22 and then link it to this physical stone that is found in the garbage of the Lodge room. This prophetic text in Holy Writ properly reads, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” This is one of the most powerful predictions of the Messiah Christ in the Old Testament. In Matthew 21:42-44 Christ explains the true meaning of this matter whilst speaking to the religious Jewish leaders of His day, demonstrating that He indeed is the Stone. Jesus admonished these religious hypocrites, asking, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? … And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” In their folly, Freemasonry would do well to contemplate the solemn warning of Christ who admonished: “on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” They should remember that by trivialising the truth of Christ and by misappropriating His Word they will one day be brought to account before His holy presence. Peter, also speaking to the religious Jews, explains in Acts 4:10-12: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” In the light of these scriptural readings it is clear that this secret teaching is a blatant perversion of the precious words of Christ and of Holy Writ. It is incredible that the headstone mentioned in Scripture (a symbolic reference to Christ) is blasphemously reduced by these rites to a literal physical corner-stone discovered in a pile of rubbish and then sacrilegiously paraded around the Chapter room by the members. This ceremony certainly makes a nonsense of holy matters. New Testament language (which pertains exclusively to Christ) is provided here to reinforce the notion that Christ – the Word/logos/the headstone – was lost. This is done in the most convoluted manner possible. Speaking of this, Masonic authority William Hutchinson says in his book Spirit of Masonry (first published in 1775): “In this situation it might well be said that the guide to Heaven was lost and the Master of the works of righteousness was smitten.” This teaching is as profane as it is perverse. It must surely be included with what Paul described as “profane and vain babblings” (2 Timothy 2:16). These underground fraternities propagate a gospel that is alien to the truth of God’s Word. They are constantly found corrupting the scriptural narrative by misusing, misapplying and misquoting Holy Scripture. They are continually adding to the infallible words of the Bible, thus creating a mystical counterfeit gospel. The Bible solemnly warns: “Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). As is its procedure, Masonry spiritualises that which is intended to be literal and literalises that which is meant to be spiritual. This is exactly what so-called Christian mysticism and Gnostic thinking is all about. It is a total distortion of truth. Its preoccupation is to undermine the impeccable Son of God and consequently draw men away from the only means of salvation. If this does not expose the devilish influence behind these secret societies, nothing will. In Gnosticism, there is nothing clear and comprehensible; it is simply a large, elaborate and continuous fable from which mystical and esoteric thoughts are gleaned. It is only as we piece the teaching together that we perceive the depth of the heresy embodied within these fraternities. Line upon line reveals an obscure theology that is in flagrant conflict with Scripture. As we have just studied in the lecture, the Lodge craftily makes Hiram the architect of the stone. We then learn that this stone is in fact the chief cornerstone mentioned in Holy Writ – which we know is Christ. In fact, the lecture mimics the words of Christ in Matthew 21:42. Thus, Christ is usurped by this mystical stone – a stone that is said to have been crafted and created by Hiram. This demonstrates the pernicious nature of these orders and sinister import of their teaching. The candidate is then addressed by name and rewarded for his find by being advanced to the position of a true Mark Master Mason. The Mark Master lecture teaches, "Wherefore, Brethren, lay aside all malice, and guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, If so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, be ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God" (US wording). 1 Peter 2:1-5 is conveniently rewritten to reinforce the esoteric thought behind this lesson. The true biblical version of this reading, which is importantly addressed solely to the born-again child of God, affirms, in 1 Peter 2:1-5, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. If so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" The Mark Master degree quotes this passage, which in the Bible confirms that Christ is the chief stone in the house of God – but, notably, it modifies the wording to suit its secret doctrine. We have placed the removed text in italics for clarity. Freemasonry does this by eliminating the name of the Lord from His own Word, thus undermining the inspired scriptural teaching on God’s true spiritual temple – the Church, and most-alarmingly Christ its eternal cornerstone. In turn it applies this passage to the Masonic Lodge, carefully rejecting the Stone that upholds the building. By the time the Mason has travelled the Mark Master degree, man’s Chief Cornerstone – Christ – has been turned into a physical slab and the eternal logos has been so circumvented that another word is now being sought. Contrary to what Masonry teaches, the people in view in this New Testament reading are not Masons but those who have experienced the new birth experience i.e., “newborn babes.” It is they alone who are “lively stones” and “are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Although we do not wish to reflect any longer than necessary on this profane Mark Mason ritual it is important that we establish the backdrop against which the Mason continues his search for ‘the lost Word’ of the Royal Arch degree. Let us therefore return to the Royal Arch ceremony. The Chapter organizes a symbolic play in which the candidate pretends to partake in a search for ‘the lost Word’ among the ruins of the first Jewish Temple, during the supposed time-period of the rebuilding of the second Temple. So what are we to make of the statement in the Apron & Royal Blue degree lecture that the place in which the Word was found was where “the sun shone once each day”? There is a clear reference to this in the Masonic Royal Arch ceremony. As previously learned, the cornerstone that is found is removed from its place, revealing “an immense vault, curiously arched.” The Craftsmen then let down one of their companions into the secret vault to examine it. We find that “The sun at this time was at its meridian height, the rays of which enabled him to discover a small box, or chest, standing on a pedestal, curiously wrought, and overlaid with gold: he involuntarily found his hand raised to guard his eyes from the intense light and heat reflected from it” (American ritual p. 127). Removing Christ from Freemasonry The Royal Arch candidate is later told, "Now we command you, brethren, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such, we command and exhort, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread" (US wording). This Masonic Royal Arch degree teaching may appear familiar to many Christians as it is taken from the New Testament book of II Thessalonians 3:6-12. However, the Lodge significantly removes the most-powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ from this reading thus hypocritically making the Word of God of none effect (The Red Lodge forbids any mention of the name of Christ in its worship). The Lodge here dishonestly appropriates teaching that pertains solely to the Church of Jesus Christ and deceitfully applies it to their Masonic membership. Jesus said of such teachers, in Mark 7:6-13, "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." II Thessalonians 3:6-12 really reads, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." Here we see Masonry unashamedly and maliciously corrupting God's infallible Word. Freemasonry's Royal Arch degree here tampers with the inspired words of the Apostle Paul and then selectively appropriates them as their own - once again omitting the all powerful, majestic name our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible commands, however, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus said, in Matthew 10:32-33, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven." Paul of the Apostle under the inspiration of God warned of such an organisation nearly 2000 years. In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, he said, "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Verses 13-15 goes unto to say, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
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