The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-23

Bible also. II he will place himself in |
harmony with our Hebrew brethren his |
Masonic standing will not be disturbed. !
Until he does 80 be should not claim their |
privileges He does not believe that God |
has recorded his will anywhere except in |
nature. He does not believe that any book |
contains or can contain the inspired will |
OF God. There is a vast difference be-
tween his belief and that OF the Jew, the |
Mohammedan or the Christian.
This matter Is placed in its true light by
the distinguished Masonic jurist Albert |
Pike. who says:
II is not absolutely required that every
where the Old and New Testaments shall
be used. The "book OF the law" is that
volume which, by the religion OF the
country, isbeieved TO contain the revealed
will Of the Grand Architect OF the uni
verse. Hence in all lodges in Christian
countries, the "Book OF the Law" is COM
posed Of the Old and the New Testament
In country where Judaism was the pre-
vailing faith, the Old Testament alone
would be sufficient; and in Mohammedan
countries and among Mohammedan Ma
sons the Koran might DO substituted.
Masonry does not attempt TO interfere
with the peculiar religious faith OF lis dis
ciples, except so far as relates to the belief
in the existence OF God and what necessa-
rily results from that belief. The land
mark, therefore, requires that book OF
tho law" religious code Of some kind,
purporting TO DO an exemplar Of the re-
voalcd will Of God, shall form an essential
part OF the furniture Of every lodge.
The God which our brother now be-
lieves in has no revealed will except as
~. ha in a. An
his God has made Interchangeable laws. 10
govern all things. the frequent invocations
In cur ritual must be 10 him the merest
mockery.
Suppose for q moment we admit the
correctness OF his position. Wherever the
word God, or Grand Architect OF the Uni
verse, or any other word meaning the
same person, Is used, let US give il the
meaning attributed 10 IL by him. Then
let us call the "Grcat Light" which in
open lodge is always upon our altar, q
iorgery-or, TO DO more mild, a fable or
legend, and then with these ideas promi
nent, go through with our ceremonies.
What Impressions would they maker
Would Masonry continue 10 be beautiful
system OF morals, yelled in nllcgory aud
illustrated by symbols? No. To the be-
lever in our God and his Bible, II would
be the yilest sacrlcgc and those who have
found out better" would look upon II
with contempt and disgust. With this
Interpretation, Masonry would not stand
for day. When We reach that point we
will sound the death. knell OF our order,
that has withstoOd the ruthless hand OF
time, and through all the ages has light
encd the woes Of life.
The utteranccs OF the grand lodge upon
this subject haye been uniform. In 1877
the sentiments OF Grand Master Ryland,
80 beautifully expressed. concerning the
Holy Bible, were heartily Endorsed. In
1891 Grand Master Hall spoke with en-
phasis and clearncss upon the same sub.
ject. lie discussed character very much
akin 10 the one ut bar, one who felt 'called
upon 10 east ridicnlc upon Gods word, the
Holy Bible aud boldly ayowed disbelief
In some or all OF It's essential provisions
In discussing the character OF n Mason's
belief, Grad Master Hall says "his belief
in God Is 10 be taken ~ n declaration that
Il not only means more than the bare fact
that there is a supreme being, the conccp
ton of whom Il bounded 10y the physical
senses, contracted TO their narrowest linn
It's, but that that belief IL in God as the
great creator and ruler who watches oven
down In the great light Of Masonry"
These sentiments were indorscd 10y the
! grand lodge, together with the statement
oi the grand master 'that any lodge allow,
ing one who holds and ayows such doc.
trincs 10 remain among lis members
should bc cut of with him and all perish
together"
The action Of the grand lodge must sat
isiy the appellant that tho lodge not only
has the right and authority, but il Is mad,
its duty 10 question his religious belief
or, rather, his want OF religious belief az
taught by Masonry. lie must see the i'm
prupriciy Of his remaining member OF
Masonic lodge. Usually q Mason VIII,
= abandons his religious belief aud become
mntcrialist OF disbclicvcr In the Bihl,
aud iis God, voluntarily wiihdraws IRON
Masonry. We confess 10 n Partially iol
this course. We cannot understand why
member who believes M appellant doe
should want TO rumnin u member OF
Masonic lodge To do NJ is maniicstly in
consistent. Whom one has found ouI
better than the Bible and its GOd, ht
I should unite with those In harmony with
that idea. As q citizen Of this free conn
try lao may exercise his prcrogltiyc OF irc,
speech and free discussion NJ much ~ he
! may he inclined lie should not. how.
ever. teach his views o. Mason, Tor they
ara not Masonic. hut the opposite.
Neither should b. hr Endorsed by the or.
der ~ an exponent oi rs teachings, for he
is not.
Throughout the ages. thousands and
millions VI Mason ui different religious
faiths have been comiortcd and blessed 10y
the great light Of Masonry. Those OF the
Hebrew faith by the manifestation OF God
To Moses IN the burning bush aud by the
glory Of the Lord a- 10 tllCd the Lords
house NJ the dedication IT the temple a.
revealed In the OH Testament. those OF
the Christian faith hy the manifestation ol
God la the person ui hia son, and in sweet
communion with his holy spirit
~ revealed IN the New Tcsia.
mont 10 a8nh the iaiih ol
our brethren is tho privilege Of these who
NAV think We are wrong, and who can
oncr M something hHuDr but the effort
should not hc permitted IN the name oI
Masonry. The assault lu our citadel should
not come from within Tho workmcu on
our tcmplo should ~ s1 clHsilcl and ar.
ranged chat neither envy, dsCurl nor con.
fusion should be- aup'uscd 10 interrupt "
disturb the pence uud gUui fellowship
which prevails alHpuF u4
ln any Wow of III 1850 Che appellant is
wrong loo .uppo..us ..Ht lhr lulsc has mo-
usht 30 deal NlAhu Tor th. oucB.c. tie
has voluntarily II lHa'Idol himself from
buug living st8.N Hgf mystic tomplc.
aud w. must have 40 lgl, aud thp power
Ia cast out FAULTY ulsi.UI.