GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW 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 November 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. 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 that 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" (Matthew 18:16). In
order to be brief, I will quote only four Masonic authorities that
masonry is a religion.

Albert Mackey, one of the most well 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 many 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: ITS AIMS
& IDEALS (Pg.185): "I consider freemasonry is a significantly
organized school of mysticism to be entitled to be called a
religion." Ward 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 other, another.

"Frank C. Higgins, a high mason, wrote in ANCIENT FREE MASONRY
(Pg.10), "It is true that 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, have some things in common. Here are three simple tests
by which any religion should be judged;

FIRST: What is its attitude toward the Bible? SECOND: Any
religious teaching should be tested by this question; What is its
attitude toward Jesus Christ?

THIRD: In judging a 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 toward 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 our Lord Jesus Christ
who said, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall
be established. Please consider now the testimony of Masonic
authorities which reveal Masonry's satanic attitude toward 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 authority and writer, in an article
entitled "The Bible and Masonry" 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 man of Islam as he takes his oath on the Koran, with the Hindu
as he makes covenant with God upon the book that he loves best."

Albert Pike, in Morals & Dogma, wrote (Pg.718) "Masonry
propagates no creed except it's own most simple sublime one; that
universal religion, taught by nature and reason."

One who is truly born-again can see from the above statement that
masonry totally rejects the doctrine of an infallible, God-breathed,
inerrant Bible.

According to the Second Test, masonry is a false religion because
it totally rejects the crucial doctrine of the Deity of the Lord
Jesus Christ.

J.D. Buck, M.D., another Masonic writer of importance, in his
book Symbolism of Mystic Masonry wrote (Pg.57) "In the early Church
as in the secret doctrine, there was not one Christ for the world
but a potential Christ in every man. Theologians first made a fetish
of the impersonal, Omnipresent divinity; and then tore the Christos
from the hearts of all humanity in order to Deify Jesus; that they
might have a God-Man particularly their own."

One would have to look far and wide in the writings of false
teachers to find statements more blasphemous than this about the
person of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

According to the Third Test, masonry is a false religion because
masonry dogmatically rejects the doctrine of salvation from the
penalty of sin by faith in the vicarious atonement of Christ's shed
blood on the cross.

Thomas Milton Steward, another Masonic author, in his book
Symbolic Teaching on Masonry and Its Message, to support his
doctrine quoted favorable an apostate Episcopal minister who wrote
(Pg.177), "Did Jesus count Himself, conceive of Himself as a
proprietary sacrifice and of His work as an expiation? The only
answer possible is, clearly, He did not...He does not call Himself
the world's priest, or the world's victim."

Salvation by Faith in the vicarious atonement are not "ignorant
perversions of the original doctrines" as masonry teaches, but they
are vital ingredients of the Glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the
power of God unto Salvation to everyone who believes. THEREFORE,
masonry fails all three tests. It manifests a satanic attitude
toward the Bible, the Deity of Christ, and the vicarious atonement.
In addition to failing these tests, there is much more proof that
masonry is a false religion.

For instance, Henry C. Clausen, 33 decree, Sovereign Grand
Commander of the Supreme Council 33 Decree mother council of the
world, in the NEW AGE, November, 1970, (Pg.4) wrote regarding
masonry, "It is dedicated to bringing about the Fatherhood of God,
the Brotherhood of Man, and making better men in a better world."

The doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man
is not found in the Bible. It is a doctrine taught consistently by
apostates. Also, the Bible makes it crystal clear that no
organization, masonry included, can make better men. Only God can
make better men!

According to a Masonic creed, found in the Masonic Bible, masonry
teaches that "character determines destiny."

The teaching that character determines destiny is a false
doctrine of the Arch Deceiver of Souls. The Bible says, "There is
none that doeth good," and "For by Grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest
any man should boast."

Masonry is anti-Christian in its teachings. For example, J.M.
Ward in FREEMASONRY - ITS AIMS AND IDEALS wrote (Pg.187), "I boldly
avere that freemasonry is a religion, yet it no way conflicts with
any other religion, unless that religion holds that no one outside
its portals can be saved." Ward, in his statement, reveals the fact
that masonry has no conflict with any apostate religion on the face
of the earth, but he also reveals that masonry is in conflict with
Christianity. The Bible says, "Neither is there salvation in any
other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men
whereby we MUST be save" (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, "No man cometh
unto the Father but by Me." (Jn. 14:6). The Bible is plainly
teaching that there is only one way to heaven and the is Christ.

A prominent college president said of masonry, "It is a
luciferian religion. We are fully aware of its diabolical origin and
purpose. I believe that any born-again Christian, when the facts
from the lips of Masonic writers themselves are presented showing
that masonry is a religion and is the worship of Satan, will
immediately withdraw." To this I must add my hearty agreement!

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only True and
Living God, has clearly commanded Christian, "Be ye not unequally
yolked together with unbelievers, and swear not at all, and have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them."

Charles Finney, the famed evangelist who God used to bring a
revival in America in the 1830's, in his book, FREEMASONRY wrote
(Pg.115), "Surely, if masons really understood what Masonry is, as
it is delineated in these books, no Christian Mason would think
himself to remain at liberty to remain another day a member of the
fraternityl. It is as plain as possible that a man knowing what it
is, and embracing it in his heart, cannot be a Christian man. To say
he can is to belie the very nature of Christianity."

For me, the signs of the time compared with prophetic Scripture,
make it apparent that we are living in the last days prior to the
Rapture of the Church. Satan is hard at work trying to hinder
believers' spiritual growth, as well as trying to keep the unsaved
from entering God's Family. Freemasonry, I have come to believe, is
one of Satan's master deceptions. Many ministers, elders, deacons,
trustees, and Sunday School teachers belong to this cult. Today, my
membership ends! Today, a new ministry begins. There is a tremendous
need to scrutinize the cultic nature of Freemasonry in view of the
massive infiltration of its effects on the working body of the
Church. It should be exposed to the True Light - Jesus Christ!

Love in Christ, Harmon R. Taylor

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT REV. HARMON R. TAYLOR BOX 12 NEWTONVILLE,
NY 12128

OR

FREE THE MASONS MINISTRIES P.O. BOX 1077 ISSAQUAH, WA 98027

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