Former Grand Chaplain of NY

GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF YORK .

Grand Chaplain
1983-1984
REV. HARMON R.TAYLOR. . November 25, 1984.

Dear Servant of God:

Knowing that you desire to serve the Lord with all your heart, I share this letter with you. Perhaps you have been struggling with the same situation. On Nov. 22nd, I sent the facts contained in this letter to all masonic bodies of which I am a member. I invite you to prayerfully read it. It will explain why I, as a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, am requesting a demit from all bodies of the masonic fraternity. There is much more that I could share with you. I would be happy to share more if it will help you in the Lord's service.

Many have asked me if FREEMASONRY is a religion. I have always responded, "No." Others have told me it is a religion. Study has revealed the fact that learned writers in the fraternity say MASONRY IS A RELIGION. The Lord Jesus Christ said: "in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word is established" (Matt. 18:16). In order to be brief, I will quote only four masonic authorities that masonry is a religion.

ALBERT MACKEY, one of the best known masonic authorities, wrote in A LEXICON OF FREEMASONRY (pg. 402): "The religion, then, masonry, is pure theism .

ALBERT PIKE, the most important of all American masonic authorities, wrote in MORALS AND DOGMA (pg. 213-214): "Every masonic lodge is a temple of religion, and its teachings are instructions in religion ... this is true religion revealed to the ancient patriarchs,' which masonry has taught for centuries, and which it will continue to teach as long as time endures."

J. S. M. WARD, a masonic authority who has written several important books on masonry, wrote in his book: FREEMASONRY: IT'S AIMS & IDEALS. (pg. 185): "I consider freemasonry is a significant organized school of mysticism to be entitled to be called a religion." He continues on page 187: "Freemasonry ... taught that each man can, by himself, work out his own conception of god and thereby achieve salvation." It holds that there are many paths that lead to the throne of the all-loving Father which all start from a common source. Freemasonry believes, according to Ward, "that though these paths appear to branch off in various directions, yet they all reach the same ultimate goal, and that to some men one path is better and to others, another."

FRANK C. HIGGINS, a high mason, wrote in ANCIENT FREEMASONRY. (pg. 10): "fit is true the freemasonry is the parent of all religion."

These masonic witnesses all agree in their doctrine that masonry is, indeed, a religion. It is necessary now to ascertain whether masonry is a true religion or a false religion. In an article entitled, How to Recognize a False Religion (Faith for the Family, Nov/Dec 1974), a prominent Christian leader wrote:

"All false religions, however, have some things in common. Here are the three simplest tests by which any religion should be judged; FIRST, what is its attitude towards the Bible? SECOND, any religious teaching should be judged by this question: 'What is its attitude towards Jesus Christ?' FINALLY, in judging any religious system, we should ask: 'What is its attitude toward the blood of Jesus Christ.'"


According to these three tests, masonry is a false religion manifesting a satanic attitude towards the Bible, the Deity of Jesus Christ, and the blood atonement of Jesus Christ. In order to establish this charge, keep in mind the word of Christ, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." Please consider now the testimony of masonic authorities which reveals masonry's satanic attitude towards the Bible, the Deity of Jesus Christ, and the vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross.

JOSEPH FORD NEWTON, a famous masonic authority and writer, in an article entitled: THE BIBLE AND FREEMASONRY, wrote: "The Bible so rich in symbolism is itself a symbol ... thus, by the very honor which masonry pays the Bible, it teaches us to revere every book of faith in which men find help for today and hope for tomorrow, joining hands with the Hindu, as he makes covenant with God upon the book that he loves best."

ALBERT PIKE, in MORALS & DOGMA, (pg. 718) wrote: "Masonry propagates no creed except it's own simple sublime one,' that of universal religion, taught by nature and reason.

One who has been truly "born-again" (born from above), can see that the above statement from masonry totally rejects the crucial doctrine of an infallible, God-breathed, inerrant Bible.

GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF YORK .

Grand Chaplain
1983-1984
REV. HARMON R.TAYLOR. . November 25, 1984.