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ONCE A MASON, ALWAYS A MASONIt has been thought a rather large controversy in Freemasonry whether a Mason can demit, that is, resign totally from the Order. In ancient times a Mason who tried this might well be killed, though it would be secretly done. Here is Albert Machey's conclusion on the matter. Machey wrote the approved encyclopedia of Freemasonry in which he define Demiture in his day, which is in about 1900 and following:
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"But I cannot deny to any man the right of [162] withdrawing, whenever he pleases, from a voluntary association. The laws of the land would not sustain the Masonic authorities in the enforcement of such a regulation, and our own self-respect, if there were no other motive, should prevent us from attempting it."
Since
Albert Mackey has written this, and in recent years, many Masons who have tried
to leave Freemasonry have again been accosted by fellow Masons and told they may
demit, but they will always be Freemasons. Again, just as long ago, these recent
threats have been added to intimidate the Mason leaving the Order. It is very
clear that the official position in Freemasonry is that Demiture is accepted and
not fought by Masonic leaders.
Albert Mackey further states:
"Freemasonry is, in all respects, a voluntary association, and as no one is expected or permitted to enter within its folds unless it be of his "own free will and accord," so should his continuance in it be through an exercise of the same voluntary disposition. These are the views which were entertained by a committee whose report was adopted in 1854 by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and which they have expressed in the following language:"
'We recognize fully the doctrine laid down in the ancient Constitutions, `that it is the duty of every Mason to belong to some regular Lodge.' But as his entrance into the fraternity is of his own free will and accord, so should be the performance of this and every other Masonic duty. When, from whatever cause, he desires to withdraw his membership from the Lodge, it is his undoubted right to ask, and the duty of the Lodge, if there be no objection to his moral standing, to grant him an honorable discharge.'
A Freemason who is a Bible believer and born again, and who tries to leave the Lodge, may expect to be accused of a moral breach of some sort. He should at once pay for a report from an online personal search entity showing he is under no moral of criminal accusation, and send it to his former Lodge by registered mail with a return receipt of delivery.
"Although, as I have already said, there is no law in any of the ancient Constitutions which forbids the granting of demits to individual Freemasons, yet the whole spirit of the Institution is opposed to such a system. To ask for a demit, without the intention to unite with another Lodge, is an act which no Freemason can commit without violating the obligations which he owes to the Order. It is an abandonment of his colors, and although we have no power to prevent his desertion, yet we can visit his unfaithfulness with moral condemnation."
"Some changes have been made since Dr. Mackey wrote these comments. North Carolina, for example, Masonic Code, 1915 edition, section 136, provides: "Dimits cannot be refused by a Lodge to a member whose indebtedness is fully paid, if there be no charge pending against him," and the Constitutions, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1918 edition, section 506, say "A Master Mason who has voluntarily remained for more than one year without being affiliated with some regular Lodge shall be subject to the same disabilities as if under suspension for non-payment of dues."
It is quite clear that the Order intends to black ball the man, both in the Lodge by trial, and in society where he will be attacked in business, work, and by Masonic law enforcement agents. This is well known as the pattern he must expect. He may eventually have to leave his home area and move to a city where Freemasonry is not powerful. There is a price to pay for being clear of worldly associations in order to walk righteously with Jesus Christ. I have heard stories of Freemasons haunting a Christian who Demited with long faced remarks as if he is heart broken to lose the "fellowship" with a former Mason. This is devilish at best.
NOTICE OF DEMITURE FROM THE MASONIC LODGE
To the Master, Officers, and Members
Dear Friends,
It is with regret that I submit my resignation from your Lodge, and from all Masonic bodies. I have taken this step in spite of the fact that I value very much the friendships and associations I have developed within Masonry over the years. However, One whom I love more than all of you has said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" Matthew 10:37).
Those who call themselves Christians and believe in the name of Jesus are called to that kind of radical discipleship. If I am to be true to my Lord, Who loved me and gave Himself for me, then I must keep His commandments. If I am called to love Him more than my own family, how much more am I called to love him more than friends and fraternal brothers?
Unfortunately, in spite of the fraternal love I bear you all, I find that in following Jesus Christ, I must sever my ties with all forms of the Masonic fraternity. This is no reflection upon you, or upon the many good things that Masonry does. It is simply the fact that Masonry does not honor Jesus Christ as the Almighty God who came in the flesh to save us from our sins.
Our Lord said that, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" Matthew 12:30).
Masonry refuses to confess Jesus before men, and Jesus has warned that, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Buy whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
Anything which presents itself as a moral or religious institution and yet does not confess Christ as God is denying Jesus! I'm deeply sorry, brothers, but I cannot be a part of such a thing.
Masonry establishes itself as a complement to one's church, which sounds fine. Masonry has prayers, rituals and solemn ceremonies in which the authority of the Bible is invoked. The Lodge is not secular, but religious. But in my study of the Bible, it seems clear that Masonry asks us, as Masons, to do things contrary to Biblical teachings.
For example, Jesus commands us to teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20) and to Preach the gospel to everyone (Mark 16:15), yet Masonic etiquette forbids me as a Christian from sharing my Savior with my non-Christian Lodge brothers. I must stand by politely and watch them go to hell, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Who am I to obey, my Lord or my Lodge?
The very Bible which sits on the altar commands these things. It is one -of the "three great lights" of Masonry, and yet you ignore its teachings for the sake of harmony!
Jesus also commands us not to swear oaths (Matthew 5:34-37) and His sovereign command is echoed by James (5:12). Yet the taking of solemn oaths is at the very heart of Masonic degree work. My brothers, these things ought not to be! Finally, the apostle Paul commands that believers in Jesus Christ be "...not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14).
I take my Masonic obligations very seriously, and for that very reason, I realize the cable-tow was a
powerful yoke which bound me to many Masons who do not worship the true God or His Son Jesus, however sincere they may be in their devotions. I must take the commands of my God more seriously. To remain in Masonry is to compromise my fellowship with Jesus Who died for me.
I realize that whatever benefits Masonry has, they cannot possibly be compared with the joys of full friendship with the Almighty Lord of the Universe Who died that I might live, and Who loves all Masons, as I do, even though they allow Him no place in their ceremonies.
You, my brothers, must decide for yourselves what you will do with the god of Masonry, but "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15)
Thus, I respectfully serve notice of my total and final demiture from the Masonic Lodge and all of its orders and degrees.
God bless you as you seek His will in this important matter.
In Christian love,
Signed:
A Bible believer who maintains a membership in the Masonic Lodge, even if he rarely ever attends meetings, will NEVER have victory in the Christian life. I have NEVER met a Freemason who was a faithful soul winner and lived in bold faith in Jesus Christ. Christians who are Masons are wimpy and timid about talking about Christ in public, and they ESPECIALLY will not talk to other Freemasons about Christ and their own personal faith. They will often claim that the Lodge would be offended and it is not appropriate to talk about religion there. At that point I conclude that they are NOT born again.
If you pastor is a Freemason, I suggest you print this page, hand it to him, and let him know that you will be following up to see if he demits soon. If he does not rage on you then you ought to take him to dinner for controlling himself. Masons are animals about being confronted about Freemasonry, and pastors are the worst.
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