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[ Freemasons throughout the
world were shocked at the publication in “The Independent”, about the views
held by the present Archbishop of Canterbury against Freemasonry vis- a- vis the
Church and about his alleged assertion that he would
continue his practice of not promoting clergy, who are Freemasons to
sensitive senior posts. They were also eager to know about the details and the
result of the steps taken by the United Grand Lodge of England in this regard.
We are posting this article furnishing the information collected by us. Please
read on…]
Anti Masonic Feelings and Utterances
R.W.Bro.R.Ratnaswami P.A.G.M, Grand Lodge of India.
Freemasonry has been the target of unjustified and
unprovoked attacks during the past several centuries, from several sources, most
of which were ignorant of the lofty ideals and the tenets of our peculiar system
of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Some had been either
not properly informed or had acted on hearsay. Still others have maliciously
misinterpreted our rituals and practices. There is a great volume of antimasonic
literature and even several web sites are being maintained to malign our order.
Freemasonry had always ignored all those attacks, probably by just dropping “
a tear of sympathy over” their failings. Some of the brethren had advocated
that we must either clear their misunderstandings or enlighten them on the
genuine principles
of the order. Some are of opinion that
we must at least express
our indignation. The matter assumes some importance, when unjustified
comments and criticisms are made by persons
holding exalted
positions.
Recently, such a case of unjustified and probably
unwarranted comments were made
against Freemasonry in England. The United Grand Lodge of England
promptly reacted and sent representations in vindication and offering to clear
any misapprehensions. Ultimately the authority had relented. This instance is a
clear pointer to the imperative necessity for Freemasonry to assert itself and
repel the attacks against it from without. As the matter is of universal
importance to the Freemasons throughout the world, more details of the episode
are given hereunder.
The Newspaper The Independent published in England carried
a report about the views of The Archbishop of Canterbury, who appears to have
pronounced that
Freemasonry is not compatible with Christianity and that the rituals of
Freemasonry have Satanic basis and that, he would continue his practice of not
appointing Freemasons to sensitive senior posts under his control. The United
Grand Lodge of England reacted
promptly and the Grand Secretary Bro.RA.H. Morrow addressed a letter to
the Archbishop on December 2 nd 2002 conveying the feelings of
Millions of Freemasons. That
letter referred to the said newspaper report, which indicated that the
Archbishop had
1)
expressed doubts on the
compatibility of Freemasonry with Christianity and that he appeared to believe
that elements of the ritual may have Satanic
basis and that he further
2)
appeared
to believe Freemasonry to be both a secret society and a self-serving
network and that he had declared
3)
that he had not in the past
appointed to sensitive senior posts candidates, who are Freemasons and he
intended to continue that practice.
The
Grand Secretary in his letter had stated that Freemasonry had existed in an
organised way in England and Wales for nearly three centuries and that during
that period hundreds of thousands of committed Christians (clergy and laity)
have found no incompatibility between their Christian faith and the principles
and practices of Freemasonry, but many had testified that their membership of
Freemasonry had strengthened their faith and, in some cases, brought them back
into active church membership.
He then urged that the prime and inalienable qualification for
admission into Freemasonry is a belief in God and the individual's religion is a
matter for his conscience, and Freemasonry had not and will not interfere in or
in any way comment on religious matters and that its membership encompasses
Christians of all denominations, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, etc, and all of
them meet together in harmony, despite that their religions differ on certain
matters, but they did not allow those differences to come in between them during
Masonic meetings.
As regards the belief that
Freemasonry is "Satanically inspired" in its rituals the Grand
Secretary had characterized the same as risible (ridiculous) and that such a
postulate questions the basis of the faiths of over 300,000 Freemasons under the
United Grand Lodge of England, whatever be their religion. He had pointed out
that even a small amount of elementary research would have shown how nonsensical
that dreadful assertion is, and would have enabled the Archbishop to avoid
giving deep and gratuitous offence to so many, who are encouraged in every form
of Freemasonry to be true to their God above all other considerations.
As regards the criticism that Freemasonry is a "secret
organisation", the Grand Secretary has urged that Freemasonry makes its
rules and aims available to the public; publishes annual lists of its national
and local leaders together with the dates and places of meeting of all of its
units; opens its national headquarters to the general public on a daily basis;
maintains national and local web sites on the Internet; gives regular briefings
to the media; and provides spokesmen to speak anywhere about its nature and
activities and that each Freemason is at perfect liberty to tell whomsoever he
pleases that he is a Freemason and that Freemasonry is one of the few
organisations to have been specifically declared not to be a secret society. The
Grand Secretary has cited that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled in
July 2001 that (a) Freemasonry was neither a secret, criminal nor an illegal
organisation, and (b) that in making appointments or promotions it is illegal to
discriminate against a candidate simply because he is a Freemason.
Rebutting the comment that Freemasonry is a self serving network,
Grand Secretary had pointed out that on at least six occasions during the
process of becoming a Freemason the new member is told that it is contrary to
our principles and rules to use his membership to gain any form of advantage for
himself or anyone else and that any attempt to do so would result in
disciplinary proceedings, with sanctions running from admonition to irrevocable
expulsion.
The Grand Secretary had sent two booklets including the booklet
“Your Questions Answered” and some leaflets explaining the background to
Freemasonry and how it relates to society in general.
An
invitation was extended to the Archbishop to meet privately some senior
Freemasons to discuss at the true source any doubts he may have, in preference
to simply putting his reliance on secondary and unreliable information and
further informing him that three immediate former Archbishops had visited the
Grand Lodge and had met the brethren at lunch and found it an interesting,
stimulating and enjoyable experience. Realising that the Archbishop would be
busy at the moment , the Grand Secretary extended an open invitation for such a
meeting at least after
his Enthronement.
That exceedingly well
written letter of the Grand Secretary was replied by one Sheila Rainger, a
Deputy Secretary to the Archbishop on December 18 th. It would be appropriate to
consider the full text of the reply, which betrays complete non application of
mind and the same runs as follows.
“On behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I am writing to thank
you for your letter of 2nd
December. I apologise for the delay in replying.
The Archbishop expressed his personal views in a private letter and
his position is that there are difficulties in reconciling some of the
expressions of belief and practice
of Freemasonry with those of Christianity. He recognises, however, that there
are a variety of opinions within the Anglican Church.
While his diary does not allow him to accept at present, the
Archbishop has noted your kind and open invitation to meet you and your
colleagues at a future date.”
The reply not proving satisfactory in that none of the
representations of the Grand Secretary had been either considered or adverted
to, the Grand Secretary forwarded a terse rejoinder, emphatically asserting that
any disqualification for promotion of the clergy, who are Freemasons would be a
serious act of discrimination and illegality both under Human Rights and
Employment Legislation and that many of the Freemasons have also pointed out the
said discrimination and are aggrieved. The Grand Secretary had also enquired,
whether it was the intention of the Archbishop to continue such discriminatory
practices.
Finally, the Archbishop sent a reply on January 23 rd as follows.
“I have been sorry to learn of the distress of a considerable
number of Freemasons. It is true that a great deal of upset and hurt has been
caused by the newspaper reports about my purported views on freemasonry. In
replying to private correspondence, I had no intention of starting a public
debate nor of questioning the good faith and generosity of individual freemasons
and I regret the tone and content of the media coverage.
Much of the distress has been due to what amounts to a serious
misrepresentation of views I am supposed to hold. The quoted statements about
the "satanic" character of masonic ceremonies and other matters did
not come from me and do not represent my judgement.
Since my late father was a member of the Craft for many years, I have had every
opportunity of observing the probity of individual members.
Where anxieties exist, however, they are in relation not to
Freemasonry but to Christian ministry, and. my letter simply reflected a
personal unease about Christian ministers subscribing to what could be and often
is understood (or misunderstood) as a private system of profession and
initiation, involving the taking of oaths of loyalty. Concerns like these have
led to a number of debates within the church in recent years and it is clear
that there are still widely differing views ? held with sincerity and honesty ?
about the compatibility of certain aspects of Freemasonry with Christian belief,
ministry and, service.
My statement about resisting the appointment of freemasons to
certain posts in Wales needs to be understood against the background of the
belief that I and
the Church had deliberately advanced the cause of Freemasons. In saying
that I had resisted the appointment of Freemasons to certain posts I was not
suggesting that people had been blackballed, but asserting that I was satisfied
that membership of the Craft was neither a disqualifier nor an advantage.
I welcome the manner in which Freemasons have engaged in debate and
especially the increasing openness of recent years. Their commitment to
charitable causes and the welfare of the wider community is beyond question.”
The reply of the Archbishop clearly indicates that the media had
misrepresented his views and that the Archbishop does not hold the view that
Masonic rituals have satanic basis and that the clergy who are Freemasons would
not be discriminated against. There is however one aspect which requires further clarification. The Archbishop
has pointed out that still widely differing views are being held
by the
Church on the compatibility
of certain aspects of freemasonry with Christian Belief, Ministry and Service
and those views are said to be held with sincerity and honesty. The United Grand
Lodge of England, The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Ireland may
have to in due course obtain audience with the Archbishop and dispel the
misconceptions about the incompatibility between Freemasonry and the Christian
Belief, Ministry and Service now being entertained by a few in the Church. The
earlier it is done, it would be
better for Freemasonry. The present Archbishop has been fair enough to concede
that he does not entertain any hostile attitude towards Freemasonry and we
believe that, we can persuade him to feel that there is no incompatibility as
referred to in his reply. We entertain no doubt that Freemasons throughout the
world will be solidly behind the brethren in England in this endeavour and we
are also invoking the blessings of the G.A.O.T.U for clearance of all
misconceptions about Freemasonry.
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