Well, I am not a mason, but I have heard a lot about their secret signs and symbols. So, when I had the opportunity to go inside a masonic building, I was primed to look for art and architecture that is distinctly masonic. There are two main branches of freemasonry, the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. Yesterday, I attended a ceremony conferring United States citizenship upon a group of immigrants and it took place in an edifice built by members of the Scottish Rite branch of Freemasons.
The first thing that caught my eye was the sign announcing this chapter as the Albert Pike chapter, the Order of De Molay, for these are two names of men who figure very prominently in masonic history.
Albert Pike was the Grand Master of the Scottish Rite masons, a general for the Confederate Army during the civil war, and the author of what some claim is the Masonic Bible, Morals and Dogma, published in 1871.
Jacques DeMolay (1244-1314) was a member of the Knights Templar, and during this organization's 200 years of existence, he was possibly the most remembered Grand Master. Did you know there is a link between the legendary Knights Templar and Freemasons? Well, here is proof!
"That which we must say to the crowd is: We worship a God, but it is the God one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Instructors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the Brethren of the 32nd, 31st, and 30th degrees: The Masonic Religion should be, by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian doctrine." 1
Freemasonry holds that "God" in whom they trust is a mix of both Lucifer and Jehovah, good and evil, light and dark. Here is a quote detailing how the organization of Freemasons view the Christian God (Jehovah) and Lucifer:
"...here it is in plain English who "The Great Architect Of The Universe" that Masons worship really is: "Lucifer is the equal of the Adonay, with Lucifer the god of light and goodness struggled for humanity against *Adonay the God of Darkness and Evil. Albert Pike had only specified and unveiled dogmas of the high grades of all other Masonry's, for in no matter what rite, the Great Architect of the Universe is not the God worshipped by the Christians."Quote from Domenico Margiotta, a 33rd Degree Mason; William Still, New World Order: The Ancient Plan of Secret Societies Page 123 "2
So, when you see such a motto in a Masonic setting, you might be justified in supposing that their God is not the same as the God worshipped by Christians.
Notice that Lucifer is the god of light? There is much focus on light-bringing in Masonic doctrine. Here are some architectural features that I found that reflect that thought.
Finally, without making this blog too lengthy, I am including a couple of the mosaics I spotted. They are artistically beautiful, and full of symbolism, but that is for another blog....
Masonry has long been full of mystery and has a history that goes back hundreds, possibly even thousands of years. Many United States presidents have been Masons, including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and both Bushes. Other famous people who are/were Masons include Billy Graham, Joseph Smith (founder of Mormonism), J. Edgar Hoover, and Walt Disney.3
I have been fascinated with the history and influence of Freemasonry for quite some time. So, when I was offered the chance to roam through the halls of a Masonic temple, I made sure I had my camera. The architecture was magnificent, the art and decor was over-the-top impressive and beautiful. The organization, however, is filled with mystery, intrigue and hints of darkness, rather than light.
1,2 August 5, 2011. <http://www.religiouscounterfeits.org/ml_realgod.htm>
3 August 5, 2011. <http://www.whale.to/b/33.html>
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