STB-JU98
Music by Brother J. L. F. Mendelssohn.
FALSE ACCUSATIONS ANTI-MASONIC
ABUSE OF SCOTTISH RITE LITERATURE
By: Art deHoyos
(Art DeHoyos is a Post Muster of McAllen Lodge #1110 of McAIlen, Texas. Bro deHoyos together with S. Brent
Morris, Co-authored the Book Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry?) This article is reprinted (in part)
from the May 1998 Northern Light with permission. The full text is available in that issue.
Editor
A Pennsylvania pastor urged members of his church to dissociate themselves from Freemasonry and announced that
Masons would be ineligible for membership in his church. Using a 19th-century Masonic monitor as a source, the
pastor has condemned the fraternity based on a lack of understanding and an unwillingness to hear the truth.
I recently read Pastor David S. Janssen's "Sermon on the Rituals of Freemasonry," which is a compilation of three
anti-Masonic sermons he delivered on Sept.28, 1997, at State College Christian and Missionary Alliance Church,
State College, Pa. Anti-Masons are generally content to condemn the fraternity based on their misunderstanding of
the sources they haphazardly select, and Pastor Janssen is no exception. In this instance the single source selected by
Pastor Janssen was a 1914 printing of Charles T. McClenachan's The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Rite (first
edition, 1867). It is hardly possible to understand and fairly judge any complex topic by exposure to a single book,
and in the case of Freemasonry it is a sure way to get confused. So much has been written about Freemasonry from
so many viewpoints that even intelligent Masons sometimes have difficulty sorting the credible from the incredible.
It is perhaps, a good idea to begin by observing that McClenachan's book was only a Scottish Rite ~monitor," not
the ritual itself. As most Masons know, a monitor is a book containing some instructions, and selected, brief exoteric
(non-secret) extracts from the ceremonies, lectures and rituals. Because monitors are intended for those familiar with
the ritual, they generally do not provide the context of the selected excerpts, a fact which partially explains Pastor
Janssen's misunderstanding.
Pastor Janssen also appears to be ignorant of the fact that since the founding of the first Supreme Council in 1801,
Scottish Rite rituals have undergone numerous refinements and revisions, and differ worldwide today. Even within
the United States there are significant differences between the ceremonies and rituals of the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction, the Southern Jurisdiction, and the Prince Hall Affiliation.
McClenachan's book
Recall that prior to the Union of 1867 McClenachan had belonged to three successive Supreme Councils. The
second of these was the Hays- Raymond Supreme Grand Council, mentioned above. On Oct. 20, 1864, this Supreme
Council adopted a resolution authorizing the printing of a Scottish Rite monitor. Although it was not published for
three years, McClenachan's book was, in essence, the end-product of the resolution. Concurrent with the Union of
1867, when the two rival Supreme Councils merged, was the adoption of the ritual of the Hays-Raymond Supreme
Grand Council, printed in a new edition. I have studied both the five-volume Hays-Raymond, or Revived Raymond,
Secret Directory and the four volume Union of 1867 rituals. They are virtually identical.
My study has satisfied me that McClenachan's book was simply a monitor of the Union of 1867 ritual, which would
be revised by 1870.
Relevance of McClenachan's book
Now that we understand its historical origins, we might ask, "What relevance does McClenachan's book have for us
today?" As noted earlier, the rituals of the Northern Jurisdiction have been under continuous refinement and
revision, and it is noteworthy that within just three short years after its publication. McClenachan's book was
outdated. Beginning in 1870 the Supreme Council revised and adopted new rituals, and it has continued to do so
from time to time. McClenachan's lectures, largely taken from Pike's first attempt at ritual (the Magnum Opus), have
long since been abandoned. Dramas once set in ancient times are now placed in historic settings within the memory
of those living today. Pastor Janssen and other anti-Masons have not bothered to keep up on these facts. Rather, he
assumes that because McClenachan's book was published at least through 1914, it still reflects current practices.
Using the Pastor's logic, reprints of any book are grounds to misjudge the groups which once published or used
them. This would mean that reprints of the notorious Malleus Malefacarum (the "witch-hunters bible" used during
the Inquisition) indicate that the modern Christian Church condones physical torture to extract confessions from
people accused of "witchcraft." Clearly, this methodology is flawed.
Much of the pastor's misunderstanding results from the fact that he superficially read a monitor which was intended
for someone familiar with the rituals as they were used from 1867-70. Freemasonry does explain its symbols, but the
pastor has no way of knowing this. Although we do not confuse the symbol with the thing symbolized, this seems to
be another problem with Pastor Janssen.
Concluding remarks
McClenachan died in 1896, and later editions of his book were published by his wife who, no doubt, considered it a
tribute to her husband's many years of hard work in Freemasonry.
Earlier I asked, "What relevance does McClenachan's book have for us today?" We are of a different age, but this
does not mean that his book has no interest for us as Freemasons today. It has been wisely observed that in order to
appreciate our future we must remember our past. The value of McClenachan's book lies in its usefulness to the
historian or student of the evolution of ritual. It includes some fascinating passages which give us a glimpse into an
earlier type of Freemasonry, at a time when unfamiliar allegories and tales of knighthood and intrigue were used to
teach the lessons of tolerance and morality.
Pastor Janssen, like other non-Masons, cannot appreciate the context of the extracts he reads in Masonic literature,
He is ignorant of our literature, The 1864 Resolution which authorized the printing of the "Manual or Guide"
specified that the context be intentionally withheld, This is because nonMasons do not have a right to read the full
rituals, Not having studied the full rituals, Pastor Janssen assumes too much-far more than is warranted and cannot
appreciate what he is reading, or who is speaking the parts. His condemnation of Masonry is as illogical as a
condemnation of Shakespeare based on Othello's murder of Desdemona, or a condemnation of Christianity based on
Bible quotations removed from context.
Freemasonry does not teach the dogmatic or doctrinal truths of any one religion, or teach the absurdities espoused by
Pastor Janssen. It teaches truths upon which all honest men agree. Its love of humanity is seen in the many
philanthropies which are open to people of all races and faiths. If Pastor Janssen and other anti-Masons choose to
condemn us we invite them to do so on a basis of truth.
Pastor Janssen's Top Ten Misunderstandings:
Pastor Janssen outlined ten reasons why he believes Freemasonry is incompatible with the bylaws of his church.
Here are just a few examples to demonstrate his many errors. (The pastor's allegations are in bold, while Art
deHoyos' comments follow).
1. Freemasonry freely uses pagan religions as an inspiration for their ceremonies. One of the hallmarks of early
Christianity was its adoption and transformation of pagan ceremonies and symbols.
To be consistent, Pastor Janssen would have to Using the pastor's argument, no Christian should use a Christmas
tree, burn a Yule log or eat gingerbread cookies, because of their "pagan origins." The use of Christmas trees
resembles a practice forbidden in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 10:2-5), while the latter two symbolized human
sacrifice and cannibalism.
give up the observance of Easter, as the name derives from a pagan festival celebrated at the vernal equinox, in
honor of the Teutonic goddess of dawn, Eastron or Austron.
2. Freemasonry teaches Universalism, that all will be ultimately saved. Pastor Janssen found a passage in
MeClenachan's book which he, as a nonMason, interprets differently than I do, as a Mason. It reads, "The Masonic
system regards all the human race as members of one great family-as having the same origin and same destination;
all distinctions of rank, lineage, or nativity, are alike and unknown." I don't believe this passage teaches universalism
(universal salvation). Rather, it reminds me of Acts 17:26. Further, I suggest that the words "same destination" can
refer to a bond of universal brotherhood, irrespective of the "rank, lineage, or nativity."
3. Freemasonry teaches the principles of pagan religions as truth. In support of this, Pastor Janssen quotes from the
"argument" or rationale of the old 25 (disused in 1880), which employed an allegory that mentioned "the fables of
Osiris and Ormuzd, and Typhon and Ahriman" (emphasis added). Pastor Janssen objects to the use of "the symbols
and allegories of the mysteries," but not having read the complete ritual he seems unaware of the Old Testament
setting.
4. Freemasonry teaches that the cross is not the most important symbol of the world, but rather the pentagram. This
is a misapplied reference to the old 25', which mentioned that among the mysteries of Magism, gnosis (secret
knowledge) and occult (hidden) philosophy, the pentagram was considered "the greatest and most potent symbol."
The ritual does not say that the pentagram is the greatest Masonic symbol, or that it is greater than the Christian's
cross. It merely makes a comment on the pentagram in the context under discussion.
5. Freemasonry teaches astrology in its rituals. The passage which Pastor Janssen objects to begins, "The world, the
ancients believed Had Pastor Janssen paid attention to these introductory words he should have understood that the
passage is describing ancient beliefs, not Masonic beliefs or practices. It's almost amusing that Pastor Janssen
accuses Albert Pike for the "offending" passage. In a letter written to a friend, Pike wrote: 'I think that no
speculations are more barren than those in regard to the astronomical character of the symbols of Masonry, except
those about the Numbers and their combinations of the Kabalah. All that is said about Numbers in that lecture, if not
mere jugglery, amounts to nothing .... The astronomical explanations of them, however plausible, would only show
that they taught no truths, moral or religious. As to tricks played with Numbers, they only show what freaks of
absurdity, if not insanity, the human intellect can indulge."
6. Freemasonry does not affirm the uniqueness of the Old and New Testaments. Pastor Janssen seems to desire some
type of special Masonic proclamation on the uniqueness of the Bible. He expresses the dissatisfaction at the fact that
the old 17 (disused in 1870), noting common motifs, suggested an interdependence of the Mosaic laws and those of
other cultures. A course in comparative religion would help him see the similarities between Hammurabi's Code and
the Ten Commandments, and the parallels between the Biblical Noah and the Mesopotamian hero Utnapishtim in
the Gilgamesh Epic. These do not detract from the value of the Bible as the "inestimable gift of God to man." As the
"Great Light of Masonry," the Holy Bible is afforded respect and admiration by all good Masons.
7. Freemasonry states that it is not a religion, then affirms that it actually is. In essence, the pastor says, "I don't care
what Freemasonry says, I know better." Citing older versions of the 4 and 20, the pastor notes that "primitive"
Freemasonry 'approache[dl religion." Pastor Janssen should learn that similarity is not equivalence. The movies Ben
Hur and The Ten Commandments are religious, but they are not religion. Similarly some Masonic ritual dramas are
religious in character, but they do not teach sectarian dogma.
8. Freemasonry uses the Kabalah as a base of teaching. Although there were references to the Kabalah (a form of
Jewish mysticism) in some early Scottish Rite degrees (and still are in some jurisdictions), they are presented in a
form which is consistent with the setting of the drama. They portray one group's attempt to discover the truth. Just as
there are many types of 'Christianity," there are many types of "Kabalah." In fact, there was even a type of 'Christian
Kabalab" which was used to convert Jews. Pastor Janssen, not having studied the rituals, is incapable of assessing
the context of the discussion.
9. Freemasonry believes it alone is the guardian of spiritual truths given at the dawn of humanity. This refers to a
statement in the old 8 (disused in 1871), in which it was stated that Freemasonry pre- served 'divine truth, given by
God to the first men The context of the degree makes it apparent that they are the moral truths of integrity, virtue
and charity. Symbolic Masonry does encourage their practice and maintains that they will better mankind.
10. Freemasonry contains material shared in common with Spiritualist groups. Pastor Janssen alleges that the
double-headed eagle originated with 17th century alchemy. Actually, it was used by the Holy Roman Empire with
the two heads looking East (to Byzantium) and West (to Rome). The symbol was later adopted by the Masonic
"Emperors of the East and West" which was an ancestor of the Scottish Rite.
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