Automatically extracted text. OCR transcription may contain errors.
A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume X, No. 7 fT October 15, 1989
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
aecause the USAis all but saturated with illicit sex in and those in control ofthe mass media are as little concerned
a_#every conceivable form, it is readly understandable to about truth as they are about the welfare and survival of this
suppose that this is the predominant moral evil of the day. In nation. They are anti-American and more and more openly
the catalog of grave sins could there possibly be any moreser- pro-Communist.
ious than this onein termsofits current extensiveness on the
American scene? What about abortion? Several thousand un- Overthe last several decades, how often have the powers that
born infants are murdered each dayin this country alone. be in Washington done anything of substance to contain,
Surely, if sexual licentiousnessis not the paramount immoral- much less turn back, the diabolical forces of Communism
ity presently contaminating our nation, then it must be anywhere in the world? When will the American government
abortion. The wholesale liquidation of innocent and defense- begin to take action to release the countless millions of
iess human beings on the part of presumedlycivilized people people enslaved under Communist tyranny worldwide? How
is indeed a vice of overwhelming magnitude. come the American governmentis forever befriending Com-
munist nations in various ways and betraying the anti-Com-
But, as exceedingly wicked and extremely widespread and munist ones, such as South Africa? (The most recent example
utterly abhorrent as are illicit sex and abortion in America of the latter is, of course, Nicaragua. Which country in
today, there is a third evil which is, I submit, every bit as Central America is next for American betrayal? El Salvador
destauctive of American society as are the other two. And that likely—and then Honduras and Guatemala.) After the
evil is the sin of dishonesty. It is, in one form or another, the slaughter in China of several thousand freedom-seeking men
most commonofall offenses against God, so much so that the and women some monthsago, whyisit that the USA did so
personis very muchthe exception whois thoroughly honest little by way of retaliatory action
¢ against the Red Chinese
in every respect. However morally good an individual may butchers? |
otherwise be, the chances are that he is not beyond an oc-
casional deception (for example, falsehood, hypocrisy, Questions such as the above could be readily multiplied and
duplicity) in his dealings with his friends and associates. scores of examplescited to indicate that the current Ameri-
can governmentis decidedly a pro-Communist one. But, in
But, while all dishonesty is at least objectively sinful, it line with the subject matterof this article, the point here is the
becomesa matter of great concern when the dishonesty is of massive and rank dishonesty involved on the part of the
a serious nature—and how more and more commonplacethis American governmentin its deception of the generality of the
seemsto be. Because of the widespread rejection of God and citizens of this country. Throughlies, hypocrisy and treason
His moral law and the consequentprevailing spirit of permis- the American people are being steadily led by “masters of de-
siveness across the land, with ever increasing frequency do ceit” along the road to an atheistic, amoral, totalitarian One
we read or hear of gross acts of dishonesty ofall kinds being World Order—and they remain in ignorance of the develop-
committed in so many areas of our society and in practically ing tragedy, naively continuing to imagine that the USA is
all walks of life—infidelity, corruption, betrayal, theft, fraud, being run by Americans.
etc. That such are violations of the law of Godis rarely of any
regret to the culprit. His one regret is likely to be his being Andthenthereis that other major source ofwholesale decep-
caughtin his wickedact. tion, the mass media of disinformation, where falsehoods,
half-truths, innuendoes, slanted reporting are just about the
There are, however, two places in the USA where dishonesty order of the day. This is especially applicable to the national
is a characteristic feature of operation: the American govern- media (radio, TV, the daily paper, mass circulation maga-
ment and the American mass news media. Whilethisis a fact zines) and their news presentations. Almost invariably events
well-known to those who are informed, they are very much of are described with a subtle, but unmistakable, pro-“‘liberal’”’
a minority. The overwhelming majority of the people of this or pro-leftist or pro-Communist twist. In other words, the
country are not informed and so,at least for the most part, truth is distorted or ignored so that an overall impressionis
they are likely to trust those in positions of leadership in civil conveyed which is contrary to the reality. And the same ap-
government and they more orless instinctively believe what plies to well-known individuals. If they are “liberal” or anti-
comes their way through the communications media. The American orirreligious or subversive in one way or another,it
stark fact of the matter is that both the American government is pretty much of a foregone conclusion that they will be
‘reated on a favoraoie fashion: wnile those whose conserva- tudes ofAmerican youth.
ismor patriotism or honestyis a quality widely identified with
them are usually, if not invariably, presented in a derogatory Was there ever a time in this nation’s history when the qual-
manner. Have you ever heard by way of the mass media the ities of truth and honor and integrity were more rare than
truth about, say, Jesse Jackson or Mikhail Gorbachev or they are today both amongthe rank and file of the populace
Martin Luther King, Jr.? Or, on the other side of the coin, of America and among its leadership? Dishonesty of every
have you ever known the media to have anything much good kind and description is rampant, muchofit in the highest
to say about Senator Joseph McCarthyor, for that matter, echelons of power and influence of our national life. But
about any staunch anti-Communist? surely the days of any free nation are limited wherein vast
numbersofits citizens are men and womenwithoutintegrity,
Perhapsthe best single current exampieof the dishonesty of without principle, without character—and especially when
the American news media is the propagandait has been so such men and womenare in positions of leadership. Indeed,
brazenly spreading for some time nowto the effect that Com- the destiny of America is, and has long been, largely in the
munism is mellowing and that Mikhail Gorbachevis really a hands of people without honor, people who—if they believe
pretty decentfellow. But Communism remains today whatit in God at all—pay Him butlip service while holding His moral
has ever been: an international, criminal, militant, atheistic law in disregard or even contempt.
conspiracy whose ultimate aim is to control the world—andit
will never of its own accord abandon the pursuit of that ob- The vice of dishonesty is today at what mustcertainly be an
jective, not even, [ submit, in Poland. (Is Lech Walesa for all-time high on the American scene. How long more, pray
real?) As for Gorbachev, his record in years past belies the tell, before the USA reachesthe pointof no return as a conse-
“good guy” impression of him which has been created by the quence of the flagrant immorality which is profoundly cor-
controiled media. Despite all appearancesto the contrary, he rupting this nation and of which dishonesty is so prominent a
is a hard-core Communist. And—as others have observed— part? t
given the nature of Communism,it is preposterous to sup-
pose that Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen for the supreme
position he occupies in the Red regime in order to preside
over the dissolution of the Communist empire.
The date on the envelope address label indicates the
As with the dishonorable American government, the pre- month and year in which the recipient’s subscriptionis
ceding is but a skimming of the surface on the subject of the due for renewal. At the propertime, a subscription en-
exceeding dishonesty of the mass media.Its biased coverage velope will be enclosed with the newsletter. One may
of current events and personalities is manifest in many ways enter a new subscription at any time, of course, and
and on numerous subjects, (to say nothing, of course, of the will then receive the eight following newsletter issues. +
contribution it is making to the moral decadence of America
in its glamorization and glorificationofillicit sex). The mass
media of this country is a prime force in the ongoing
destruction of the USA.It is one of the most powerful and
influential allies the Communist conspiracy could possibly
have on the Americanscene. |
For dishonesty practiced on a massive scale, the American
Sovernment and the American mass media would appear to
have norival in this country or perhaps even woridwide. Not
so, in my opinion. The Conciliar Church, I really believe,
must also be included. All manner of deceit (duplicity, dis-
simulation, hypocrisy) is rampant in myriad ways in that
Church among so manyofits leadership from the Vatican on
down (wolves in sheep’s clothing), a fact well known by those
who have madeit their business to be informed on the sub-
ject. Apart from the principal deception that John PaulI is a
true Pope, the most comprehensive dishonesty is obviously
the admittedly hard-to-believe fact that millions of people in
this country alone are still under the delusion that the Con-
ciliar Church to which they belong is the Roman Catholic
Church.
Cometo thinkofit, any—even partial—list of major organiza-
tions or operations in the USA in which dishonesty abounds
would have to include the National Education Association
which, under the pretext of education, is destroying mullti-
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
John Kenneth Weiskittel
seers
j hat is Freemasonry? Ask a hundred people this If we are to take the words of Masonic scholars seriously—
@ @ simple question and you are likely to receive almost words usually addressed primarily to other Masons—we
as many different answers: a secret society, a fraternal order, must answerin the affirmative. According to Albert Pike, the
a benevolent group, a descendant of medieval guilds, a “male nineteenth-century Scottish Rite Grand Commander known
chauvinist’ stronghold, an organization of mutual assistance, by his fellow Masons as “the Sovereign Pontiff of
a schoolof the “mystic arts,”a patriotic association, a chance Freemasonry,”it is his Rite that “raises a cornerof theveil,
for husbands to spend “a night out with the boys,” an even in the Degree of Apprentice; for it there declares that
interfaith group, a Christian group, an anii-Christian group, a Masonry is a worship.” This assertion appears in his 1871
fast track to career or business advancement, a clubofpolit- tome, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted
ical conservatives, a bandofpolitical revolutionaries,a fellow- Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, a work that the publisher
ship promoting world unity and progress,a…well, you get the targeted specifically at members of that Rite in his native
idea. America and in Canada. In the sameplace, Pike elaborates
on this theme:
Such confusion is by no means confined to non-Masons.
Since most membersof the Craftdo not go beyond the Third It (Masonry—JKW)is the universal, eternal, immutable
(or MasterMason) Degree and since many are inactive,it is religion, such as God plantedit in the heart of universal
likely that the perceptions of Masonry held by them would humanity. No creed has ever been long-lived that was
vary as muchas their motivesfor entering its ranks. As British not built on this foundation.It is the base, and they are
journalist Stephen Knight writes: the superstructure…The ministers of this religion are
all Masons who comprehendit andare devotedtoit; its
There is… no authoritative statement of what Masons sacrifices to God are good works,the sacrifices of the
believe or what the Brotherhood standsfor in thefirst, base and disorderly passions, the offering up of self-
second and third degrees, to which the vast majority of interest on the altar of humanity, and perpetual efforts
members restrict themselves. Even a 33° Mason who to attain to all the moral perfection of which man is
nas persevered to attain all enlightenment that capable. (Morals & Dogma, Supreme Council [Mother
Freemasonry claims to offer could not—evenif he were Council of the World] 33° of the A.GA.S.R. of Free-
freed from his oath of secrecy—provide more than a masonry, Southern Jurisdiction, 1960 ed., p. 219)
purely personal view of the masonic message and the
meaning to be attached to masonic symbolism, since Whatis evident here is that Pike not only presents Masonry
this remains essentially subjective. (The Brotherhocd: as a religion but as the religion upon whichall otherreligions
The Secret World ofthe Freemasons, Stein & Day, p. are based. And heis not alone in sucha pronouncement.
16)
Manly P. Hall, a prolific author of occult Masonic lore, takes
Knight may be overly generous to the high-ranking Masons, the same position in a work dedicated to Scottish Rite
since a perusalof the writings of such indicates that they con- Masons:
sistently share the same “personal view’ of the Lodge—andit
is a view, frankly, that would shock more than a few of their The sanctum sanctorum of Freemasonry is orna-
nominal “brothers.” mented with the gnostic jewels of a thousand ages;its
rituals ring with the divinely inspired words of seers and
The followingarticle will examine someof the claims made by sages. A hundred religions have broughttheir gifts of
key Masonic figures such as Albert Pike, W. L. Wilmshurst wisdom to its altar…Freemasonry is a worldwide uni-
and Manly P. Hall. It will demonstrate that, however valid versity, teaching theliberal arts and sciences of the soul
some of the responses opening this study may be, Free- to all who will hearken to its words.Its chairs are seats
masonry is, aboveall, a religious body that preaches a kind of of learning andits pillars uphold an arch of universal
surrogate and counterfeit Christianity. education. Its trestleboards are inscribed with the
eternal verities of all ages and upon those who compre-
Is Masonry A Religion? hendits sacred depths has dawnedtherealization that
In its most general sense, a religion may be said to be any within the Freemasonic Mysterieslie hidden the long-
system of organized worship of one or more deities, which lost arcana(that is secrets—JKW) soughtby all peoples
also teaches its adherents a moral code and advances explan- since the genesis of human reason. (The Secret
ations concerning creation, the soul, man’s purpose and Teachings ofAllAges, Philosophical Research Society,
destiny, etc. Does Freemasonry fit such a description? 1977 ed. of 1928 work, p. 176)
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
were Masons) silenced debate on the issue, Hannan became
Here Hail actuaily expands on Pike’s thoughts by fashioning disillusioned, converted to Roman Catholicism and moved
the Brotherhood into a theological school. This is reason- to Canada. His study was so damaging to Masonry that an
able, of course, as every faith needs it own seminary. And, “answer” was forthcoming. Light Invisible, which also
given its claim to be the fatherofall religions, a faith whose appeared in 1952, was written by another Anglican vicar,
roots stretch back to time immemorial, Masonry believesit put one who belonged to the Craft and identified himself
posesses the wisdom it can pass on to its members, no only as “Vindex.” The defense offered by Vindex turns out
matter what their religious preferences. to confirm much of Hannah’s stance. For example, he
writes:
Whenwe cross the Atlantic, we find British Masons making
precisely the same sort of statements. One periodical, The if (Masonry—JKW) is the oldest ofail religious systems
Freemason, boasted in its August 1926 issue: “Freemasonry dating back to time immemorial (italics—Stephen
can stand and watch all religions as they pass in review.” Knight). It has never been a separate religion, and has
(Cited, Fathers L. Rumble, M.S.C., and C. M. Carty, Radio never claimed to be one, but it embodiesin itself the
Replies, Radio Replies Press, 1938, p. 228) Sir John Cock- fundamental truths and ancient mysteries on which
burn (Past Grand Deacon of England and Past Deputy Grand every religion is based. Taunts that it worships a “com-
Master of Australia), in a book entitled Freemasonry: What, mon denominator’ God are rather wide of the mark if
Whence, Why, Whither,treats this subject at length: the phrase indicates any inadequacy or limitation in
nature or title of the God we worship, for we worship
The question whether Masonryis a religion has been and believe as a first principle in the fulness of the God-
keenly debated. But the contest appears merely as a head of which otherreligions see only in part. (Cited,
war of words. Perhaps the best wayof arriving at a con- Knight, p. 233)
clusion would befirst to enumerate the points which are
common to mostreligions and then to enquire in what This, of course, is patently heretical, as it denies the fullness
respect Masonrydiffers from them. Religion deals with of Christian revelation and claims the same exclusively for
the relationship between man and his Makerandinstills Masonry. Vindex is even clearer on this when hestates: “T for
a reverence for the Creator as first cause. Religions one can never understand how anyone whotakes an exclu-
abound in observances of worship by prayer and praise. sive view of Christ as the only complete revelation of God’s
They inculcate rules of holding up a God or Hero as a truth can become a Freemason without suffering from spiri-
pattern of imitation…It would be difficult to say in which tual schizophrenia.” Ubid., p. 234) Here we havea frank ad-
ef these characteristics Freemasonry is lacking. Surely mission that the Christian, in order to embrace the Masonic
it aboundsin themall. Its ceremonies are elaborate and faith, must, in effect, deny Our Lord’s exclusive status as the
are unsurpassed for beauty and depth of meaning(sic). only-begotten Son of God. Although Vindex would seem to
They are interspersed with prayer and thanksgiving…If retreat from such a stand in the following passage, careful
the title of religion be denied to Freemasonry it may reading reveals otherwise.
well claim the higher ground of being a Federation of
Religions. It is a form of worship in whichail religions As Masons, webelieve in God, the Father, Almighty. As
can unite without sacrificing a jot of their respective Christian Masons we may believe in a symbolical triune
creeds. (Cited, Walton Hannah, Darkness Visible: A essence, and that Jesus Christ is His Son, Our Lord. As
Revelation and Interpretation ofFreemasonry, Augsus- Moslem Masonswe are equally entitled to believe that
tine, 1980 ed. of 1952 work, p. 31. Thetitle, incident- ~ Mahomet (Mohammed—JKW)is his prophet. With
ally, comes from the Masonic rite for raising to the these subsidiary and secondary beliefs Masonry has
Third Degree: “Thelight of a Master Masonis darkness – nothing to do, giving the members a perfectliberty to
visible.” See p. 140) interpret the Godheadas theyplease.(/bid.)
This notion of the Lodge as an “ecumenical” superreligion, There is so mucherrorin these four brief sentencesit is diffi-
an umbrella faith beneath which Christians can jointly wor- cult to know whereto begin. The Holy Trinity is nota dogma
ship with Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists and others, is that Christians may call a symbol, but is God’s very essence.
one of the reasons that Masonry has ever been opposed by In turn, to deny the Trinity is to deny Our Lord’s true nature
the Roman Catholic Church for, despite Cockburn’s claims and His relationship with His Father. Moslemsare invited by
to the contrary, there is no waythat such religiousindifferent- the Brotherhood to continue in their darkness that
ism can leave the views ofthe Christian Mason unaffected. Mohammedis a true prophet of God and that Christ, though
a minor prophet, is not the Savior. Finally, Vindex tells us
This conflict came out in the open in 1952 when the that Masonry views these teachings as ‘‘subsidiary and
Reverend Walton Hannah, a 38-year-old Anglican clergy- secondary beliefs,” while it is impossible to embrace an ortho-
man, challenged his Churchto investigate what he saw rightly dox Christian faith without affirming the revealed truths
to be the incompatibility of Masonry and Christianity. His about God and His Son. By attacking such central doctrines,
book, Darkness Visible, caused a furor in Anglican circles Masonry has contributed greatly to the ongoing destruction
but,when the Churchof England’s hierarchy (many of whom of Christian tradition and has demonstrated that it represents
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
a false worship.
corruptible body,” and death has been swailowed up in
The Masonic ‘“‘Sacraments”’ the victory he hasattained over himself. (p. 42)
Masonry has ever coveted the Catholic Church’s status as
the universal religion and has ever desired to usurp her Nowthis passage is nothing but a distortion of the Christian
crown. As Satan apes God, the Lodge imitates His Church. teachings on the Resurrection, specifically as set forth by
So we find that it has concocted its own version of the Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. When the
sacraments. Apostle writes: “Death is swallowed up in victory’ (15:54),
he is referring to the fruits of Our Lord’s atoning
For a man to seek entry into a Masonic lodge is, whether he death—“the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ.” (15:57)
realizes it or not, equivalent to his seeking membership in a But Wilmshurst is twisting this to fit the Masonic belief in a
Church. Another major authorof the Craft was Walter Leslie self-deliverance. True, some Masons may delude themselves
Wilmshurst. In his 1927 book, The Meaning of Masonry into thinking that he is somehow in agreement with Saint
(dedicated to the United Grand Lodge of Engiand), hestates: Paul but this ignores two plain facts: (1) Far from upholding
“Theoretically, every man upon reception into the Craft ac- Christian doctrines, the Lodge avoids mention of the most
knowledges himself as within the category of the spiritually blessed name of Our Savior in its prayers, and (2) Such a
poor, andis content to renounceall temporal riches if haply dogma as Christ's saving death must, by definition, be
by that sacrifice his hungry heart may be filled with those excluded from Masonry sinceit is seen as offensive to Jews,
good things which money cannot purchase, but to which the Moslems, Hindus and other non-Christian members.
truly initiated can help him.” (p. 15) Thus the claim is made
that Masonry consists of a priesthood able to minister to the A strongattraction to the Brotherhoodfor someisits claim of
needs of “the spiritually poor.” This alleged function of the being able to impart secret “spiritual” knowledge. They see
Lodge can also be seen in the following definition from a stan- it— with its place of worship, elaborate symbolism, “priest-
dard American Masonic reference work: hood,”rituals and “sacraments”—as an acceptable substitute
for or addition to their Church. Wilmshurst, writing on the
Darkness…Applied to Masonic symbolism, it is influx of new members into Masonry earlier this century,
intended to remind the candidate of his ignorance observes: |
which Masonry is to enlighten; of his evil nature, which
Masonry is to purify; of the world, in whose obscurity he The growth synchronizes with a corresponding defec-
has been wandering and from which Masonry is to tion of interest in orthodox religion and public worship.
rescue him. (E. R. Johnston, Masonry Defined, Nation- It need not now be enquired whether or to what extent
al Masonic Press, 1930, p. 186) the simple principles of faith and the humanitarian
ideals of Masonry are with some men taking the place of
As one author whohas investigated the Lodgewrites, “(At his the theology offered in the various Churches; it is
initiation) the Masonic candidate—Christian, Jew, Moslem, probable that to some extentthey do so.(p. 15)
Buddhist, or Hindu—beseechesthe lodge to deliver him from
darkness.” (William Whalen, Separated Brethren, Bruce, It is not unusual to read obituaries stating that the deceased
1958, p. 226) will be given a Masonic funeral service (at which thoseoffi-
ciating askthat his soul be admitted to “the Grand Lodge
So Masonry tells its aspirants that it will provide them with Above”) in addition to one said by a Church minister. Butfor
spiritual wisdom andsalvation. To do this it claims to have many Christian Masons, trying to juggle the beliefs of their
rites that confer grace, that is, sacraments. The First (or Church withthose of the lodge can get confusing. Stephen
Entered Apprentice) Degree, Wilmshurst writes: “…is Knight writes that “hundreds of members of the Brotherhood
eminently the degree of preparation, of self-discipline and have spoken to me of the turmoil they experience in attempt-
purification. It corresponds with that symbolical (sic) cleans- ing to reconcile their religious views with the demands of
ing accorded in the sacramentof baptism…” (Op. cit., p. 35) masonicritual.” (p. 231)
The Second (or Fellow-Craft) Degree, he writes, “is equiva-
lent to the rite of Confirmation in the Christian Churches.” The Mysteries of Iniquity
— (p. 40) The next degree, known as Master Mason, signifies What we’ve seen so far should be enough to convince any
nothing short of resurrection itself. Wilmshurst has no honest Christian in the Masonsto sever thoseties, but what
trouble in sacrilegiously citing Sacred Scripture while dis- follows should turn him into an active opponentof the Craft.
cussingthis: In his great encyclical on Freemasonry, Humanum Genus,
Pope Leo XIII accused the Lodge of wishing “to bring back
All that has happenedin the third degree is that he (the after eighteen centuries the manners and customs of the
initiate——JKW) has passed symbolically through a great pagans.” And in 1933, some forty-nine years after Leo’s pro-
and striking change: a rebirth, or regeneration ofhis nouncement, bishops of the Greek Orthodox Churchissued
whole nature. He has been “sown a corruptible body”; an excellent report that found, among otherthings, “a link
and in virtue ofthe self-discipline and self-development between Freemasonry and the ancient idolatrous
he has undergone, there has been raised in him “an in- mysteries…” (Cited, Hannah,p. 71)
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
Cot
ihese are serious charges indeed. How can they be substan- human reproduction. (Similariy, when Clausen talks about
uated? Simply by returning to the Masonic writers. Before how Masonry uses symbols from ancient India, Hail alludes
seeing whatthey haveto say,a brief definition of “mysteries” favorably to two such “sacred” Hindu forms, the lingam and
or “mystery religions”is in order. Webster’s New Collegiate yoni, which are stylized representations of the male and
Dictionary includes the following under mystery: “5. Class. female genitals.)
Relig. a A secret religious rite to which none but duly ini- —
tiated worshippers were admitted. b (offen cap.) A cult The mystery religions included the Isis-Osiris cult in Egypt,
characterized by suchrites…” those dedicated in Greece to Demeter and Persephone, the
Persian sect of the sun-god Mithra and the Bacchusrites in
W. L. Wilmshurst states that Masonry “reproduces for the Rome. It was in Imperial Rome that these and other mys-
modern world the main features of the Ancient Mysteries…” teries met and mingled, so much so that “beginning with
Op. cit., p. 14) Henry C. Clausen, 33° Sovereign Grand Augustus Caesar many Roman Emperors were initiated into
Commanderof the Scottish Rite, in discussing the works of them.” (Horace L. Friess, editor, Non-Chrisiian Religions,
nis predecessor, Albert Pike, writes: Grosset & Dunlap, 1963, p. 101) Mithraism has been called
the “Freemasonry of Antiquity,” since “the initiates were
Our teachings and symbols preceded our formal bound by an oath ofsecrecy; there were various degrees of
organization by thousands of years. They go deep into initiation; the members were known to one anotherbycer-
ancient ages. The signs, symbols and inscription come tain signs; and membership was restricted to men.” John
to us from across long, drifting centuries and will be Heron Lepper, Famous Secret Societies, Gryphon Books,
found in the tombs and temples of India to those of 1971 ed. of 1932 work, p. 34) Emperors who supported this
Nubia, through the Valley of the Nile in Egypt downto cult included Nero, Trajan, Constantine (he wavered be-
its Delta, as what was then known as Chaldea, Assyria, tween it and Christianity until choosing the latter on his
Persia, Greece, Rome, and even in Mexico and deathbed), Julian the Apostate and Commodus, who“is re-
Yucatan…(Clausen’s Commentaries On Morals & ported to have soiled his hands by a murderduringthe cere-
Dogma, Supreme Council 33° A.&A.S.R. of Free- monies of his admission.” (/bid., pp. 33-34) Perhapsthis is
masonry, Southern Jurisdiction, 1974, p. 2) why foes of Mithraism charged it with ritual murder. Recent
archaeological excavations of the sects temples have
Clausen evokes ancient cultures from four continents. What unearthed human bones and would seem to confirm the al-
do these nations, which vary as greatly in their civilizations legations. (p. 34) In any case, the era of the mysteries were
as they do in their geography, have as a common thread? brought to a decisive end in the fourth century by the Cath-
Theanswer, of course, is that they all were cradles for what olic Emperor Theodosius the Great. (/bid., p. 12)
became thriving pagan religions—religions, we might add,
that practiced what were often obscene or bloodthirsty Apart from their different origins, the mysteries all shared
rituals. | certain traits: the secrecy, all-male membership (excepting
the Demeter cult, which was for women only) and a myth
The early Church Fathers taught that at the time of Satan’s cycle that involved a “resurrection” of a pagan god. Thelast
greatest defeat—the Crucifixion—pagans in Rome moaned, point is significant. Christian writer Julius Firmicus
“The Great God Panis dead!” It is interesting in this context Maternus in 345 exposed the Osiris cult so that “all may see
to read Maniy P. Hall’s somewhat fanciful description of the law ordained by God has been perversely imitated and
Masonry’s background: corrupted by Satan.” (Cited, Lepper, p. 10) He relates how
an imageof the dead Osiris is placed before theinitiates in a
Masonry came to Northern Africa and Asia Minor from darkened chamber. They pretend to mourn until a light is
the lost continent of Atlantis, not under its present brought into the room. “Thereafter,” Firmicus states, “the
name but rather under the general designation of Sun faces of all the mourners are annointed bythe priest, and he
and Fire Worship. The ancient mysteries did not cease whispers in a low murmur, ‘Take cheer, ye initiated, the god
when Christianity became the world’s most powerful being saved, for we shall have out of toils deliverance.’”
religion. Great Pan did not die! Freemasonry is the (Cited, ibid.) A century before that Tertullian (in his “De
proof ofhis survival…(p. 176) Praescriptione Haereticorum”) similarly castigated the
Mithra mystery cult, to which he had once belonged, as a
Pan, whose modern cult Hail finds in Masonry, was the Satanic parody of the Church. The points he mentioned
hideous fertility god, half man and half ram, who include parallels of Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist,
represented, “through his rather bestial appearance and virgins, and that it “introduceth a representation of the
unsated love, the unconquered and diffuse force of all resurrection.” (Cited, ibid., p. 40) Lepper notes: “It was a
nature.” (Joel Schmidt, Larousse Greek and Roman commonfeaturein all the mysteries for the candidate to die
Mythology, McGraw-Hill, 1980, p. 206) This is but one symbolically and be born anew.” (p. 40) As we’ve seen,this is
example from many to indicate why some scholars have also a feature of the new mystery cult, as is the mourning of
suggested that the “deity” worshipped by occultists in the death of a mythical hero (in Masonry’s case, this involves
Masonry, beneath layers of symbols, is nothing but the act of a reenactment of the murder of Hiram Abiff, a supposed
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
builder of Solomon’s Temple). the answer one need only consider the subversion in the
Church, the similar Modernist inroads in “mainstream”
Masonry’s Ultimate Goal Protestant Churches and the rapid growth of the pagan New
Whenstrippedofits mask of respectability, Freemasonry is Age movement. We must, then, continue to tear away
seen to have a pagan face. Yet its ability to stay hidden Masonry’s disguise of righteousness. If we do not, it is
behind the mask continues to fool most non-Masons and undeniabie that the spiritual warfare that is sweeping like
most Lodge members. How many Masons would know,for fire through the worid will leave it in ashes. t
exampie, that Christ has been called a “solar deity,”
brother of Apollo, Osiris, Orpheus, Mithras and Bacchus.
(Hall, pp. 50-51); that Simon Magus, the sorcerer
concemned by Saint Peter (Acts 8:9-24), is praised as the
founder of the secret heretical sect of the Gnostics. (Ibid, DO WE } {AVE WHATIT TAKES?
p. 25); that the “secret name of God,” Jah-Bul-On,
mentioned in the Scottish Rite’s Fourth (or Perfect The history of the Church is replete with accounts of
Masier—Royai Arch in England) Degree, is an unholy the extraordinary lives of personal sanctity of the saints
combining of the names Jah (Jehovah), Bul (Baal, a and of the heroism ofthe martyrs. All down through the
Canaanite fertility god associated with magic) and On Christian centuries multitudes of men and women,both
(Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld) (Knight, pp. young and old and from ail levels of society, have
236-240); or that occultism and demonism are practiced by willingly and joyfully made the supremesacrifice of
some high degree Masons. (See “Devil Cults: A Growing their lives in martyrdom in testimony to their love for
Menace” in the July 15, 1989 issue of this newsletter.) The God and for His Church. Undergoing every imaginable
answerto all these questions is the same: few Masons and kind of suffering and torture, they sealed with their
even fewer outsiders are aware of just how deeply go the blood their proclamationsof loyalty to Christ andfidel-
Craft’s pagan roots. ity to the Faith, even as they prayed for their prese-
cutors to their dying breath. To them (and their ranks
Those Masons whoprofessbelief in Christ must ask them- included kings and queens)life literally meant nothing
selves which faith it is that they truly seek to embrace—one if, to preserve it, they had to deny or compromise the
or the other, you can’t have both. Walton Hannah has Faith by word or deed. Truly this legion of martyrs is
shownthe utter incompatibility of the two, writing: one of the greatest glories of our beloved Church. And
the Faith which they professed andfor which theylived
…lf Freemasonry had been practised in the primitive and died is the very same Faith which wetraditional
Church of Rome to the same extent as in the present- RomanCatholics possess today.
day Church of England many quite unnecessary mar- But, if the day should ever dawn when open and
tyrdoms would havebeen spared. Christians in those bloody persecution would confrontus in this country,
days were willing to face death rather than cast a few would we do what so manyof our heroic predecessors
grains of incense to the Emperoror otherdeities. But in the Faith have done? Is our love for Christ and our
had their pagan brethren from Numa Pompilia Lodge loyalty to His Church of sucha caliber that we too would
claimed the right to visit the Lodge Roma Ecclesia be willing to make the supremesacrifice of ourlives in
the latter would doubtless have discovered that the martyrdom? If or when the day comes when we are
Great Architect of the Universe to whom they prayed faced with torture and death because we are Roman
together…could be equated with Nero and Jupiter Catholics, will we too put our lives on the line in
quite as legitimately as with the Holy Trinity. Why testimony to our God-given Faith? Are we at this
then deny to the point of death in the Colosseum out- momentspiritually prepared and unreservedly willing
side the Lodge what was so inevitably true inside? to do so if we were today confronted with that prospect?
(Op. cit, p. 39) Ina word, do we have whatit takes?
But such adulteration of Christianity with beliefs hateful to
Godis precisely what Masonry’s hidden leadership desires.
According to Wilmshurst the final aim of the Brotherhood
is the reestablishment of paganism. He writes: “Carried to
its fullness, that achievement would involve the revival, in a
form adapted to modern conditions, of the ancient Wisdom
teaching and the practice of those Mysteries which became
proscribed fifteen centuries ago, but of which modern
Masonry is the direct and representative descendent…”
(Op. cit., p. 17)
How far is Freemasonry in fulfilling this wish? To arriveat
THE ATHANASIAN OCTOBER 15, 1989
Fr. Oswald Baker (Engiand)
hy do Catholics cherish devotion to Mary, our – great things to me, and holy is His Name.” Mary knew that
i Blessed Lady? They do so by reason of their love upon no other had God bestowed such honour and nobil-
for her Son. Andthey revere and worship her Son because ity. “Henceforth ail generations shall call me blessed.” The
He is God. God became Mary’s Child. Her God, and ours, prophecy has been fulfilled. All ages and all nations have
the Creator of the universe, was her Son. Thedivinity of acknowledged herregal glory and splendour, and have ren-
Jesus Christ means that Mary gave human existence to Him dered homage to Mary, the Motherof God.
Who had created her. For some months Godlived physi-
cally within herlife. In a unique sense Mary could say with At the beginning of Our Lord’slife, the Gospel assigns an
Saint Paul: “I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me.” important position to Mary. Then follows the long obscu-
(Galatians II: 20) The truth that Jesus is God and man in rity of the thirty years at Nazareth. For thirty years Jesus
one Person involves the other truth that Mary is the Mother was Mary’s own, their hearts joined in a divinely perfect
of God. union, culminating in a joint suffering for our salvation.
When Our Lord’s “hour” came, on Calvary, when ordinary
Of all Christian practices the two most tender and most maternal instinct wouid have kept her aloof from the fearful
characteristically Catholic are the adoration of Jesus in the tragedy or have shownitself in hysteria, tears and fainting,
Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary, the Mother of Mary “stood” by the Cross, silent, outwardly impassive, ful-
God. A faithful Catholic, with childlike simplicity and trust, filling a part providentially appointed to her. She alone
has recourse to Mary as a true and precious motherin all knew what was really taking place. To others, the
his needs. In temptations, to be sustained: in falls, to be Crucifixion was, variously, either the execution of a
uplifted; in crosses and adversities, to be consoled and disturberof the peace, or the martyrdom ofa holy prophet,
fortified. True devotion to Mary will of its nature inspire or the failure of another noble enterprise. Mary was aware
and dispose a soul to desire holiness, to avoid sin, to seek that the sufferer was God and that this was the
God rather than self. True devotion to Mary will lead souls accomplishment of the divine plan for the salvation of
to te love and observance ofthe virtues, of chastity in par- mankind.
ticular. Sin is infinitely hateful to Our Lord.It is the direct
contrary of God. There couid be no possible association of When Mary’s own hour came, death was in no sense a pen-
Jesus Christ with sin. It is inconceivable that God the Son alty, not an object of anxiety and dread, but of hope and
could be born of an ordinary sinful mother, that He could delight. The aspiration of Mary’s ardent iove for Jesus was
unite His divinity with flesh and blood which had been in- a force ever drawing her away from this life towards
fected with the putrefaction of sin. For the glory of God, Heaven, ever gradually gaining in intensity, to unite it for-
Who was to become her Child, Mary was full of grace the ever with Him Whom with her whole heart she had loved
moment she came from His creative hand. and served. By her status and her course on earth she had
ennobied not only her own family and nation, but all her
Mary was herself not blind to the unexampled favours she sex and ail humanity. Mary’s influence gave to women in
had received from God and the exalted position to which our civilisation a position of dignity unknown elsewhere, a
sne had been raised. It is not humility to deny honour and position which declines wherever the honour due to
eminence. Mary proclaimed: “He that is mighty hath done Christ’s Motheris neglected. tf
THE ATHANASIAN
Published by Traditional Catholics of America
Eight issues a year: (Jan. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 15, June 1, July 15, Sept. I, Oct. 15, Dec. 1)
Subscriptions: $12.00 per year (via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico; $16.00 per
year (via Air Mail) for all other countries
Additional copies: single copy – $1.50; 10 copies – $12.00; 40 or more to same address – $1.00 each
Mailing address: P.O. Box 38335, Colorado Springs, CO 80937
Telephone: (719) 636-1575.
Articles appearing in this newsletter may be reproduced providing no changesof any kind are madein thosearticles
and adequate credit is given to The Athanasian for them. The adequate credit preferred would be the inclusion with
the articles reproducedof the information contained in this box.
Manuscripts sent to us for possible publication in The Athanasian should be typewritten, double-spaced and no
more than seven pagesin length. If not accepted, they will be returned to the sender.