The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-03-28
REASONS WHY A CHRISTIAN
SHOULD NOT EE AEREE MASON.

A Summary of n Lecture Delivered
in Monument Pis ce Church, Sur.
day Evening, March 24,h, BIZ Rev.
r. VI. Spencer.
First: Because its claims are false. X
claims to date back to the time OF Solomon,
which Is not true. Nasorry. is that old,
because men then guarried stone and erec-
ted them into buildings, but Eee-masonry
is not yet two hundred years old. 1t claims
to be benevolent institution, but excludes
old men in their "dotagc, young man in
non age" women, and all unable to pay
initiating fees, which for the first three de-
drees are usually about fifty dollars. 1t
excludes those likely to become objects Of
charity and admits the strong and able
bodied who are we'll able to take care of
themselves, and spends but small portion
OF Its immense income from initiatory fees
and dues to relieve the necessitous. What.
ever else it may be it certainly does not
deserve TO be called benevolent institu-
ton.
Second: Its initiatory services are de-
grading TO manhood. The candidate, in an
almost nude condition, securely blindfolded
and with ''cable tow" around his neck. is
introduced into the lodge, and after being
required to kneel down and with one hand
under the Bible, square and compass, and
the other above them, he is required to take
an oath beginning Il --, Of my own
free will and accord" 1t would he diff
cult to degrade slave more than this.
Third: Its oaths are extrajudicial and
therefore sinful. The state and the church
by their proper officers are authorized to
require an oath for confirmation, but when
required or taken by other parties it is sim
full. A lodge Of masons or any other order
has no more right to require an oath than
a squad of school boys.
|. Fourth: 1t is wrong to take an oath not
TO reveal matters not yet made known.
They may be of such character that duty
to country or to God would require them to
be revealed, and it is certainly wrong 10
shut our mouths beforehand by an oath.
The Royal Arch Masons' oath includes the
following: See Bemord's Light on Mason
ry, page 142, Furthermore do promise
and swear, that will aid and assist COM
panion Royal Arch Mason, when engaged
in any difficulty; and espouse his cause
g.. L.
If in my power, whether he be right or
trrong.
Fifth: Its oa:Ls are cruel and impious.
For instance the Master Masons' oath closes
as follows: "To all which do most SOL
emnly and sincerely promise and swear
with fixed and steady purpose of mind in
me, to keep and perform the same, binding
myself under no less penalty than 10 haye
my body serered in tuo in the mids, and diridedi
70 the mort. and the south; my bosroLs burnt 10
ashes IN he center and the osAes scattered TO the
fur rinds of Hearen, that there might not
be the least track or trace of remembrance
remain among men or masons Of so vile and
periured a wretch as / should be were l
ever to prove wilfully guilty of violating
any part of this my solemn oath or obliga-
ton as a master mason. $50 help me God
and keep me steadfast in the due perform
ance of the same"
Sixth: 1t is sacriligious. 1t garbles the
scriptures, using many OF its most sacred
parts in a profane way. Especially is this
true of the narrations which are so inter-
woven with pagan rites as to make them
food rather for merriment than devotion.
1t is a usr: per. 1t borrows the oaths, rites
and ceremonies Of religion, and while dis
claiming to be religion is apt to take the
place Of the church. 1t is not uncommon
to hear masons say, "The Lodge is a good
enough church for me-"
Seventh: Because of its vain, unsuitable
funeral services. The solemuity Of death
and the privacy of the house of mourning
are invaded in order that by display atten-
ton may be attracted to the order which is
so advertised as to beguile the unwary into
desire for membership. At least such
seems TO be the design.