http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_138.html
Interesting column. Hadn’t known about the Church of England’s 1987 criticism of Freemasonry - seems a bit of an overreaction. George Washington and Harry Truman were both Masons, too. Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in Masonic garb, and today there’s a huge Masonic chapel dedicated to him in Alexandria, Va.
Freemasonry was very big in the US, until 1826, when William Morgan, an anti-Masonic writer in upstate New York, disappeared under circumstances suggesting that he had been kidnapped and murdered by Masons. The reaction was tremendous, even prompting the formation of a national Anti-Masonic Party (which is today still remembered for having invented national party conventions). The hysteria soon died down, because Roman Catholics (especially the Irish, and especially in upstate New York) proved to be a much more attractive target, but American Freemasonry never recovered.
On the other side, the fact that Washington and a great many others were Freemasons is probably the strongest concrete proof that the modern right-wing claim that this nation was “founded by Christians” is an impudent lie.
John W. Kennedy, isn’t there surviving evidence of Masonic conspiracies to keep the accused in that case from ever facing an unbiased jury and judge?
I’m afraid I’d taken it as read that it was an ugly incident, and that the Masons of that time and place (Including, IIRC, an attempt to get the accused out of the country and into Canada, where other Masons were in a position to block any extradition?) did conspire to protect their brothers from the consequences of their actions, if not actually having been party to the disappearance and murder of Morgan.
Just doing my part to bring some crackpottery back to the Dope. I know, this is a pitiful attempt at it, but I’m only willling to do so much to make life more interesting. I’ve got standards, dammit.
I intentionally worded my post to say no more than I know. The matter is a tangled one, further tangled because Morgan’s widow later became one of Joseph Smith’s wives; few of the sources are entirely trustworthy, and I am not an historian.
But whatever happened to Morgan, the hysteria his kidnapping and disappearance provoked played a major role in American politics for years, with results lasting to this day.
Here’s a quick rundown on The Morgan Affair, a Mason-friendly site (but since we run the world you might as well accept our version of events).
Freemasons cannot also be Christians?
The Freemasons will accept Christians, but most major Christian sects, including the Roman Catholics, forbid their members from becoming Masons.
That’s what I’ve been told, anyway. As a chick, I can’t be a Mason, either. But that is due to the Freemasons, not the Church of Wymmynhood.
[Insert mandatory “Thanks, Shriners, for paying for my son’s spinal fusion surgery!” sentiment here]
Those beliefs said to be held by Masons (I’m not one, so I can only go by report) would appear to be incompatible with small-o orthodox Christianity.
As a concrete example of my original point, George Washington used to go to the Episcopal Church, but he never took Communion (which was celebrated only a few times a year in the Episcopal Church back then). One day, the rector preached a sermon in which he remarked that it was a bad thing for Christians who were role models to come to church, but not receive Communion. Washington stopped attending altogether.
Not being Christian, much less small-o orthodox Christian, I don’t have any idea what their problem is. All religions are accepted, as far as I’ve seen, and none are discussed in Lodge.
This is not official dogma or anything, of course.
And don’t think I don’t appreciate it. 
Let us try a parallel situation:
A: I maintain that democracy is the best of all forms of government.
B: I maintain that all forms of government are equally good. So you see, we have no quarrel at all.
A: Not exactly.
Well sure, if you want to look at it like that. Or you could try this -
A: I maintain that democracy is the best of all forms of government.
B: Ok, but we don’t discuss politics in Lodge nor discriminate based on political preferences, anyone who follows a system other than anarchy is allowed.
A: You rat bastards!
But this issues doesn’t really worry me much, not being particularly fond of organized religion. I am kind of proud to belong to a organization that so many large churches hate and fear.
I’ve seen it written that some churches primary problem is not that we allow all faiths in, but because they have this idea that we teach an alternate path to salvation. This is not true (we’re too busy implementing the New World Order), but what are you going to do?
At that point I run into the problem of just what it is that Masons do and do not believe and do and do not practice. Some say this, some say that. But at least some of the beliefs and practices reported are logically incompatible with standard-issue Christianity.
I really don’t have any idea what standard issue Christianity might be, so I can’t argue with you on this. It seems to me that there are as many different kinds of Christainity as there are Christians, but that’s neither here nor there. A church that has a problem is certainly free to place whatever legal restrictions they like on their members, but most of the complaints I’ve read have been (in my opinion) rather self-serving. “They don’t mention our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ (amen)” for instance, or the previously mentioned lack of requirement that all members belong to the same faith, or that oath-taking thing (which I must assume applies to testifying in court as well).
Is there something in particular that you feel is unChristian?
Masons believe many different things, and Masonry does not hold itself to be a replacement for any mans religion.
[Moderator Wielding Humongous Cluestick]Gee, wouldn’t this make a great subject for Great Debates?[/Moderator Wielding Humongous Cluestick]
even tho yes there is alot of smoke around the freemasons. but what some ppl dont see it what they have done to help. we won are freedom. But the also started something called the Shriners. You know, they guys who saved the worlds from polio. then have 3 types of hospitals. Orapedicas, Burns and Spinal Cord Injury. So, yes i think its kinda stange theres all the secreats, but they helped me when i needed it. so im not too nosie.
Oh, right. Sorry. Forgot which forum this was in. If only I had the Powers of Moderation, I could fix that right up.
Kidding!
If anyone cares, I’d be happy to do another “Ask the Freemason” or something.
Oh, Great Moderator, how about moving it then?
Because the OP wasn’t trying to start a debate.
I’m the OP, and I have no objection to it being moved to Great Debates. There’ll still be a thread icon appearing in COCC, after all.