The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-24
WHAT MASONRY is.
A REPLY TO THE ADDRESS OF
REV. w. NJ. HOW'RE
of MASONRY and What LIZ Teaches
Those Who Are Vet Masons May
Mssfnferpret Its Intentions. but
Mason. Know What Its PARALLELS
Mean


ganizsd 70 carry On crusade againsS al
secret societies, Masonry particularly.
printed In your Issue q the 2sn inst, am
LED 70 submit the following propositions for
consideration OF your readers as IN tbs
merits OF the case as presented BY the rev
erer6 gentleman
These views. Ike those os the Rev.
HOWE. are only presented for wast they
are worth Masonry needs no defense frcm
me. stfIl there are good many people VITO
do rot understand what Masonry Is. ard
what It teaches. However. in due time
they viii know II they are alive. because
tie power OF the church over the minds Of
men is lettering, and ne light OF universal
truth or religion "a finding It's way into
every dark corner OF the human intellect.
If Il is q fact. which Is denied. that So
called modern Christianity IS the only re-
iigi0n. the one and only method by which
men can De bound back 10 the deity: and
IL Christianity possesses tia only truth
ever revealed to man: and IL il should bs
fact that the deity Of the ancient Chi
nese. Hindus. Egyptians and Persians
was soma other god-a false god
than the Cod Of the so-called and self
constituted Christians OF today. and also
IL the other sixteen erueiaed saViors OUT
side OF Jesus OF which we have record just
as authentic as the church history OF Jesus,
who al taught the same ethical truths as
did Our Lord Jesus Christ hundreds OF
years prior 10 the time OF Jesus, the Nazs-
rene-sh0uld these sixteen crucified sayiors
OF which we have record al prove
10 be but igments in the brains Of the
ancient historians: ard should we but con-
slider as childish mental swaddle the say
ings and writings of al ancient philoso-
phers OF the past, then the case OF course
must be given 10 the Rev. Howie, and we
must acknowledge that secret societies are
a blot upon civilization. and also that the
reverend gentleman and his followers have
a corner on the soul-saving business of the
race; In other words. that we must all join
the church or be lost, whatever that
means.
The astonishing part Of this mans adj
dress is the Interpretation he puts upon the
facts OF the Bible. God and Christ, rl0n IN
his own conceit, in contrast to the quota
tons taken from the authoritative Masonic
books. i submit that he loses his own case
here. because he puts himself and follow
ers in a water-tighf compartment. as IL
were, labeled as the elect OF all the earth,
so-calIed Christians. and practically an
nounces that all the rest OF humanity are
heathens and idolaters. He draws his own
conclusions in the same spirit as did the
popes of old in their ancient and mod
ern bulls against Freemasenry and
secret societies. Millions of Masons have
smiled biandly at the power of the popes
In the past; and, by the way, Is 1t possible
that the Rev Howie has been reading
lately 'FThe Masonic Sect" by Leo XIII.
pope?
OF course. in one sense. as I understand
the matter. the lodges are in conflict with
the church. because very often. II man
who Is well read becomes a Mason and he
comprehends It's teachings in part or in
xxshr ha NJ
as the preachers must be paid for their
services. this Is bad for the church. which
claims 70 have the only truth, the only
way and the only life.
THE whole world Is bit one republic
says the late Albert Pike. cot which each
nation is a family, and every individual
a child. Masonry, not in anywise dero-
eating from the differing duties which the
diversity OF states requires. tends 70 Gre
ate new people. which. composed OF
many nations and tongues, shall all be
bound together by the bonds OF science.
morality and virtue
Rsbod's History OF Masonry. p. 81. says:
In fine. the real object OF this associa-
ton Green ssonry1 may be summed I'D
in these words: To efTacs among men the
prejudices Of caste. the conventional dis
tinction Of color. origin. opinion. nation
atty; 20 annihilate fanaticism ana super
stition, extirpate national dlscord and
with II extinguish the arebrand OF war;
IN a word-to arrive By free and pacific
progress at one formula or model OF eter-
nal and universal right, according 10
which each individual human being shaii
be fres to develop avery faculty with
which be may be endowed. and 10 concur
heartily and with AL the fuilness OF his
strength, In the heseowment OF happiness
upon all, and thus 10 make the whole
human race one family OF brothers. united
by affection, wisdom and labor
While undoubtedly there are a good
many honest people stu who bsiieve. be-
cause the priest has told them. that the
earth was made In six days and al the
other earths as well which are flying IN
space. cut OF nothing by an axter-cosmic
god or gos outside the earth. said god
being made in the image Of rnan-for who
has seen God the srtritp-there are also
a large majority q thinking people who
refuse to accept this sort OF teaching
along with the doctrine Of "originsl SIN
IN the light Of the discoveries Of modern
science (for instance. the in6estructibil-
fly Of matter and the correlation % rorcs
hardly agrees with this sort o. theology.
ara have turned away from the cold mum
err and ritualism of worn oil. creeds and
GoEnas to the light u the lodge hnding
the Inspiration to right conduct and the
absolute perfectsh'lity OF man In the high
80 intellectual Interpretation OF the holy
doctrine rather than IN the literal and
Theological ouA.
Di4 Christ or Jesus. the Nazarene leave
any authentic writing In which be claimed
% es the emily son % Gody Who was IL
that took the Chris. out OF humanity
and dela.d him, giving him powers sec
ord only 70 the devf9 DID the Master tell
his followers tc arm themselvs. 70 the
teeth ard kin their fellow rTleng Did hs
not say 20 his disciples and teach them not
70 bear false witness. ara did re net tel
them 60 love one another7 DID hs instruct
them % form 3 church and 10 Sight al
tia ether churches. ard ara not followers.
or alleged followers of the sam. Master
Row divided up inta ever geg different
sets. al Gaining % have the Only true
way 20 get 20 heaven7
New IN closing. Is Il not fact that the
man Jesus Is accredited as saving and IS
e rot recorded ir ID. Bible % the Chris
ttan words 20 iris -~s~t: To Won who
sra Within & - given % be taught the
nlvsterfe. % TIE kingdom % heaven. bat
% thoss who are without they are 20 bs
t4uwht in pa-ahles7 Every religion 81 the
world has SIS inner. secret or occult side,
as vel "a its outer. Masonry as a urt-
versal religion is rot an exception 20 this.
consequently these who Judge from out
si8s apneArs n1es sn3 are Minded By tAa
form are quite hsbs 20 bear false Wit
ness They 90 net sea the inner meaning
the spirit
Ths7e Is distinction new being
maas hatweaa fheologv ar c~~nds dog
mas ard r4tua'lsz- which g. dsns-nfazred
as churchianfry. and tie teachings 81 tae
great Initiate. Jesus Or Christianity TIE