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#5 The Facts On The Masonic Lodge
5. Is Freemasonry another religion?
There are approximately two million Masons in the United States. Many Masons
are Christians and many are from other religious faiths. The question is, "Are
those members of the Masonic Lodge willingly or unwillingly participating in
another religion-the religion of Freemasonry?"
Most Masons are adamant in stating the Freemasonry is not a religion.
Alphonse Cerza, former Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and many
of the Masons who have written to us argued that Freemasonry is not a religion
because of the following: (1) It does not meet the definition of a religion;
(2) it offers no system or teaching of salvation; (3) it has no
creed, no confession of faith, no theology, and no ritual of worship; and
(4) it has no symbols that are religious, like the symbols that are found in
a church.
To quote Bill Mankin: "All we are saying is that if you as an
individual adopt the principles represented {in Freemasonry}...that you will
be a better person. Not that you are going to go to heaven."
Is Freemasonry a religion! Masonic author Alphonse Cerza in his book Let
there be light-A Study in Anti-Masonry quoted Dr. M. W. Thomas S. Roy, Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge in Massachusetts, in his address to that Lodge. Dr.
Roy stated: "By any definition of religion accepted by our critics, we cannot
qualify as a religion."
To see if Cerza and Roy are correct, let us begin with the definition of
religion from Webster’s New World Dictionary which defines religion as: "(1)
{a} belief in a divine or superhuman power...to be obeyed and worshiped as the
Creator and ruler of the universe; (2) expression of...{this}
belief in conduct and ritual."
Now, would any Mason deny that Freemasonry fits this definition of religion
as given by Webster? Is it not true that Masonry demands belief in a Supreme
Being? Would any Mason deny that their authoritative Ritual describes exactly
how they are to express this belief in conduct and ceremony? In brief, can any
Freemason say Masonry is not a religion? The answer is obviously "No"
But Masons do not need to take our word for it. They only need to listen to
their respected Masonic authorities. The number-one author recommended by the
Grand Lodges was Henry Wilson Coil and his Masonic Encyclopedia. Coil
quotes the definition of religion given by Funk and Wagnalls’ New Standard
Dictionary (1941), and then asserts that Freemasonry fits not only this
definition, but also fits the dictionary definition of what constitutes a
"church." Coil states:
"Freemasonry certainly requires a belief in the existence of, and man’s
dependence upon. A Supreme Being to whom he is responsible. What can a church
add to that, except to bring into one fellowship those who have like
feelings?...That is exactly what the Lodge does.
In other words, Coil is saying that not only is Freemasonry a religion,
but Freemasonry also functions as a religion as much as a church does.
Albert Mackey in Mackey’s Revised Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, the
third most recommended author by the Grand Lodges, quotes Webster’s
definition of religion and then comments, "Freemasonry may rightfully claim to
be called a religious institution."
So is Freemasonry a religion? According to Webster’s Dictionary, according to
Funk and Wagnalls’, and according to leading Masonic authorities Coil and Mackey
as recommended by the Grand Lodges in this country, Freemasonry is a religion.
John Ankerberg & John Weldon
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