"Paganism"
Some critics of Freemasonry claim the recommended readings for some of the degrees of Masonry are "pagan." Pagan, as they are using the term, simply means pre-Christian. The study of man's moral and intellectual history allows the achievement of Masonry's major pur­pose, the enhancement of an individual's moral and intellectual development. Such a study has to start with the concepts of man and God as held by early cultures and evidenced in their mythologies.

 The Greeks and Romans, as well as earlier peoples, had much of importance to say on many topics, including religion. The idea that a physician must act in the best inter­ests of his patient comes from the pagan Hippocrates, and the concept that the govern­ment cannot break into your house and take what it wants on a whim comes from the pagan Aristotle. None of us would want to live in a world without these ideas.

 In almost every field-law, government, music, philosophy, mathematics, etc.-it is necessary to review the work of early writers and thinkers. Masonry is no exception. But to study the work of ancient cultures is not the same thing as to do what they did or believe what they believed. And no Mason is ever told what he should believe in matters of faith. That is not the task of a fraternity, nor a public library, nor the government. That is the duty of a person's revealed religion and is appropriately expressed through his or her church..

 The Bible as "Furniture"
Ironically, some people complain about the Bible in the lodge being referred to in Masonic ritual as the "furniture of the lodge." Again, it's a matter of not understanding how Masons use the word. Freemasons use "furniture" in its original meaning of "essential equipment." All lodges must have a Volume of the Sacred Law open
during every meeting. In North America, this is almost always the Bible which is an essential part of Freemasonry and its ritual.

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 The Meaning of "Light"
Others critics of Freemasonry are concerned that when Masons use "light" someone might think the word is referring to salvation rather than truth or knowledge. But that's a word confusion again. Light was a symbol of knowl­edge long before it was a symbol of salvation. The lamp of learning appears on almost every graduation card and college diploma. Masonry uses light as a symbol of the search for truth and knowledge. It is very unlikely any Mason would think Masonic "light" represents salvation.

 "Salvation by Works"
Some believe Freemasonry teaches salva­tion may be attained by one's good works. Masonry does not teach any path to salvation. That is the job of a church, not a fraternity. The closest Masonry comes to this issue is to point to the open Bible and tell the Mason to search there for the path to eternal life.

 Masonry believes in the importance of doing good works, but as a matter of gratitude to God for His many great gifts and as a matter of individual moral and social responsibility. The path to salvation is found in each Mason's house of worship, not in his lodge.

 " Universalism"
There are those who claim some Masonic writers teach the "heresy of universalism." Universalism is the doctrine that all men and women are ultimately saved. Masonry does not teach universalism nor any other doctrine of salvation. Again, doctrines of salvation are the province of a church, not a fraternity. In point of fact, one has to look rather hard to find those "many Masonic writers" who supposedly teach universalism, but even if you could find one, he's writing a statement of personal opinion. It's important to remember that any Masonic author writes for himself alone, not as an official of the Masonic fraternity.
Masonry simply does not have a position, official or otherwise, on salvation.

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Since men of all faiths are welcome in Freemasonry, Masons are careful not to offend the faith of any. Possibly, that may seem to be universalism to some critics. Masons call it common courtesy.

 Racial Exclusion
Some critics, more eager to attack Freemasonry than to put their own houses in order, allege "most Lodges refuse to admit African-Americans as members." Masonry is not a whites-only organization, as the hun­dreds of thousands of Black, Native American, Hispanic and Oriental Masons all over the world can testify. The petition for Masonic membership does not ask the race of the petitioner, and it would be considered completely wrong to do so.

 At the international celebration of the 275th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England in 1992 (the most recent Masonic gathering of about the same size as the Southern Baptist Convention) there were far more people of color present than there were at the Southern Baptist Convention in Houston in 1993.

 At the same time, Masonry in America, like churches and society in general, has not lived up to its teaching of brotherhood as well as it should. That is changing, in Masonry as in society. While it is still true, as Martin Luther King, Jr., remarked, "Sunday morning at 10:00 is still the most segregated hour in America," it's getting better throughout all organizations.
 

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Masonry Compatible with Christianity and Other Religions
Clearly, Freemasonry is compatible with religion. It may be incompatible, however, with the way a few narrowly focused people see religion. Of course, most of them feel that only they have the truth and that even many members of their own congregations are not as pure as they should be.

 Masonry stands, as it has always stood, with open arms, saying, "Believe as your conscience dictates, and if you are a good man who believes in God and that there is more to life than work and play, if you believe that you have a responsibility to develop yourself and to benefit others, come join us."

 Freemasonry is simply a fraternity an organization of men banded together to develop themselves further ethically and morally and to benefit the community at large. Give yourself a chance to find out who we are. We're the next door neighbors you've known all your life.
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The Masonic Information Center is a division of The Masonic Service Association. The Center was founded in 1993 by a grant from John J. Robinson, well known author, speaker, and Mason. Its purpose is to provide information on Freemasonry to Masons and non­ Masons alike and to respond to critics of Freemasonry. The Center is directed by a Steering Committee of distinguished Masons geographically representative of the Craft throughout the United States and Canada.

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