From the Worshipful Master

Freemasonry and religion has been a hot topic for centuries, at least to those who are not Free Masons. What most people outside of our fraternity don’t know is that Freemasonry teaches that each of us should pursue the religion of our choosing. This thought process is in line with the founders of our country and the principles of our constitution. In a world where much blood is shed in the name of religion, Freemasonry is the one place where we respect the diversity of religion and welcome all good men of different faiths. Where church is a place to gather in a religious context to strengthen ones faith within their particular believe systems, Freemasonry is a place to strengthen our individual character through acts of charity and other good works while working within our individual religious beliefs. How free and uplifting it is to know that in a world of intolerance, our lodge is a place to celebrate the diversity of our members and respect our differences.

Although we do welcome the diversity, and we are taught to be tolerant, the lodge also follows the rules of never discussing religion or politics in open lodge. These topics often tend to focus on the differences which can cause hard feelings rather than unite us as brothers, this is why it is a Masonic offense to speak of these topics in open lodge. Since we are all required to profess a belief in god in order to bind ourselves to our obligations, the lodge does not dictate Christianity over Judaism, Mormonism or any other religion following.

It is my hope that each of you will attend lodge, and share your unique individualism with us.

Doug Steele
Worshipful Master,

From the Senior Warden

What do we mean when we say “Great Architect of the Universe?” Do we really believe that there is some mythical being drawing plans for buildings in Heaven? What is the image that is brought to the mind when we use this phrase?

To many, Masonry might seem like a religion, but nothing could be further from the truth. The reason I ask the questions above is simple: We use the symbolism of a “Great Architect” to describe our Creator. It is, however, a very deliberately vague description indeed.

Of course we know that Masons use the symbolism of building and the tools involved in the trade to teach lessons, and this common name among Masons for our Father is no different. What does an architect do? He designs. He draws. He writes. He CREATES! And it is to this we are paying homage.

Masonry is not a religion, but I personally feel it is an enhancement to religion. We make no promise of salvation, and we have no religious dogma. We use the requirement of religion so that our oaths may be binding. But it is more than that. We are religious, believes in a Heavenly Father because we too were created. And we cannot create for ourselves without recognizing that we too have been created.

Masonry only requires that you have faith, but the faith itself is up to individual brothers. Your faith will not be questioned, nor will it be told that it is wrong. So long as a man has faith, he has everything, and this is the true secret of Masonry.

Jason Michlowitz
Senior Warden

From the Junior Wraden

To those who know no better, Freemasonry may appear to be a religion. After all, they might say, we have an altar, we pray, we speak of the Creator. But those who believe that Freemasonry is a religion make the error of confusing the trappings that they associate with religion, with the religion itself.

In blue lodge, or “mainstream,” Masonry, a man must meet several requirements to become a Mason. One is that he must believe in a beneficent god, a single all-powerful deity to whom he is beholden for his oaths. And while all Masons must believe in a god, the nature of that belief is the man’s own business. So a Mason may be Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu… Or many other religions.
Because men of many religions meet in the lodge, we keep our mentions of religion vague. We have the Volume of Sacred Law on the altar, and while it is often the Holy Bible in lodges with large numbers of Christian members, it may be a Torah, a Quran, or other holy book. We refer to the God of All Things, the Grand Architect of the Universe, or the Great Master.

And because religion often divides men, it is one of the things we do not discuss in lodge.

Some confuse the sacred with religion, and those who do mistake Masonry for a thing it is not. Masonry contains many sacred elements, but it is not religion.

Bryan Bullock
Junior Warden