Chapter 24 - Masonic Obligations
The Scottish Rite of the Freemasons has a total of 33 initiation ceremonies, one for each of the first 32 earned degrees, and one for the honorary degree, called the 33rd degree.
Students of the Masons can know just what the initiation rites of the various degrees consist of. Many individuals, such as Masons, ex-Masons, and historians who have researched the Masonic Lodges, have described the exact content of the ceremonies in a variety of books and articles.
For instance, it is possible to know how Masons protect themselves from harm by reading part of the oath the Mason takes during the initiation ceremony of the Third degree, called the Master Mason degree. The initiate binds himself to this oath: "Further, I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted.
Further, I will not cheat, wrong or defraud a Master Mason's Lodge, nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may ward off all danger." 490
That means that any Mason who determines that a fellow Mason has committed, or is about to commit, a crime, "murder and treason excepted," will be oath-bound not to report him to the proper authorities. A Mason who tells a fellow Mason that he is going to blackmail a non-Mason, can know that the hearer will not report him.
And, if the first Mason learns that the blackmailing Mason is about to be arrested for his crime, the first Mason must report his discovery to the other Mason.
But these examples of Masonic oaths are but a part of the evidence. The student can learn about the other commitments that the initiated Mason obligates himself to.
Another book that explains the obligations that Masons assume is one entitled the MASONIC HANDBOOK, and it further explains what these commitments are. This written manual explains what the Mason should do if he is selected on a jury and observes the defendant identifying himself as being a member of the Fraternity: "If you're on a jury, and the defendant is a Mason, and makes the Grand Hailing sign [a secret sign that identifies one Mason to another,] you must be sure not to bring the Mason guilty, for that would bring disgrace upon our order.
It may be perjury, to be sure, to do this, but then you're fulfilling your obligation, and you know if you live up to your obligations you'll be free from sin."
And the HANDBOOK advises the member that it is permissible to cheat or swindle certain people: "If you cheat, wrong, or defraud any other society or individual, it is entirely your own business.
If you cheat the Government even, Masonry cannot and will not touch you, but be very careful not to cheat, wrong or defraud a brother Mason or a lodge, whoever you may defraud; live up to your obligation and you'll be free from sin."
And this advice to the Mason further extends to the crimes of murder and treason: "You must conceal all the crimes of your brother Masons, except murder and treason, and these only at your own option, and should you be summoned as a witness against a brother Mason be always sure to shield him, prevaricate, don't always tell the whole truth in this case, keep his secrets, forget the most important points.
It may be perjury to do this, it is true, but you're keeping your obligations, and remember if you live up to your obligation strictly, you'll be free from sin." 491 The Mason also redefines the two words adultery and chastity: "Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a Master Mason's wife, mother, sister, or daughter, I knowing them to be such, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it." 492
Critics of this part of the initiation ceremony observe that this restriction, in essence, allows the Master Mason to engage in adultery with any other wife, mother, sister, or daughter, just as long as that woman is not connected to another Master Mason. It would appear that a better reading of that oath would be something like this: "Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of anyone's wife, mother, sister or daughter... especially be they connected to a fellow Master Mason."
But that is not what the oath taken by the Third Degree Mason says. That oath implies that permission is given to violate any other woman, just as long as they are not connected to another Master Mason.
A brief summary of this advice was offered by Carl Claudy in his book entitled, INTRODUCTION TO FREEMASONRY.
He wrote: "We keep our brother's secrets, guilty or innocent.
It makes no difference in what way our brother stumbles. We are not told to stretch forth the hand in aid if, and perhaps and but!
Not for us to judge, to condemn, to admonish...
for us only to put forth our strength unto our failing brother at his need without question and without stint." 493
So, the Mason protects his fellow Masons, even if they commit murder or treason. And the Masons teach their fellow Masons that certain forms of adultery are acceptable.
As has already been explained, the Mason takes oaths to obey orders from his superiors inside the Masonic Order.
Albert Mackey told all Masons this truth in his book entitled, THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FREEMASONRY under the title of "Obedience:"
"The first duty of every Mason is to obey the mandate of the Master. The Masonic rule of obedience is like the nautical imperative: 'Obey orders, even if you break owners.'" 494
So, the Masons obey orders, protect criminal activities, lie if necessary, and are free to commit adultery with anyone other than a fellow Mason's wife, child, mother or sister.
And the Masons claim that their Order is a moral one.
And the average citizen continues to believe that it teaches its members good values.
And worldwide, men of rank, wealth, office and talent continue to join it.
The Scottish Rite of the Freemasons has a total of 33 initiation ceremonies, one for each of the first 32 earned degrees, and one for the honorary degree, called the 33rd degree.
Students of the Masons can know just what the initiation rites of the various degrees consist of. Many individuals, such as Masons, ex-Masons, and historians who have researched the Masonic Lodges, have described the exact content of the ceremonies in a variety of books and articles.
For instance, it is possible to know how Masons protect themselves from harm by reading part of the oath the Mason takes during the initiation ceremony of the Third degree, called the Master Mason degree. The initiate binds himself to this oath: "Further, I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted.
Further, I will not cheat, wrong or defraud a Master Mason's Lodge, nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may ward off all danger." 490
That means that any Mason who determines that a fellow Mason has committed, or is about to commit, a crime, "murder and treason excepted," will be oath-bound not to report him to the proper authorities. A Mason who tells a fellow Mason that he is going to blackmail a non-Mason, can know that the hearer will not report him.
And, if the first Mason learns that the blackmailing Mason is about to be arrested for his crime, the first Mason must report his discovery to the other Mason.
But these examples of Masonic oaths are but a part of the evidence. The student can learn about the other commitments that the initiated Mason obligates himself to.
Another book that explains the obligations that Masons assume is one entitled the MASONIC HANDBOOK, and it further explains what these commitments are. This written manual explains what the Mason should do if he is selected on a jury and observes the defendant identifying himself as being a member of the Fraternity: "If you're on a jury, and the defendant is a Mason, and makes the Grand Hailing sign [a secret sign that identifies one Mason to another,] you must be sure not to bring the Mason guilty, for that would bring disgrace upon our order.
It may be perjury, to be sure, to do this, but then you're fulfilling your obligation, and you know if you live up to your obligations you'll be free from sin."
And the HANDBOOK advises the member that it is permissible to cheat or swindle certain people: "If you cheat, wrong, or defraud any other society or individual, it is entirely your own business.
If you cheat the Government even, Masonry cannot and will not touch you, but be very careful not to cheat, wrong or defraud a brother Mason or a lodge, whoever you may defraud; live up to your obligation and you'll be free from sin."
And this advice to the Mason further extends to the crimes of murder and treason: "You must conceal all the crimes of your brother Masons, except murder and treason, and these only at your own option, and should you be summoned as a witness against a brother Mason be always sure to shield him, prevaricate, don't always tell the whole truth in this case, keep his secrets, forget the most important points.
It may be perjury to do this, it is true, but you're keeping your obligations, and remember if you live up to your obligation strictly, you'll be free from sin." 491 The Mason also redefines the two words adultery and chastity: "Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a Master Mason's wife, mother, sister, or daughter, I knowing them to be such, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it." 492
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Critics of this part of the initiation ceremony observe that this restriction, in essence, allows the Master Mason to engage in adultery with any other wife, mother, sister, or daughter, just as long as that woman is not connected to another Master Mason. It would appear that a better reading of that oath would be something like this: "Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of anyone's wife, mother, sister or daughter... especially be they connected to a fellow Master Mason."
But that is not what the oath taken by the Third Degree Mason says. That oath implies that permission is given to violate any other woman, just as long as they are not connected to another Master Mason.
A brief summary of this advice was offered by Carl Claudy in his book entitled, INTRODUCTION TO FREEMASONRY.
He wrote: "We keep our brother's secrets, guilty or innocent.
It makes no difference in what way our brother stumbles. We are not told to stretch forth the hand in aid if, and perhaps and but!
Not for us to judge, to condemn, to admonish...
for us only to put forth our strength unto our failing brother at his need without question and without stint." 493
So, the Mason protects his fellow Masons, even if they commit murder or treason. And the Masons teach their fellow Masons that certain forms of adultery are acceptable.
As has already been explained, the Mason takes oaths to obey orders from his superiors inside the Masonic Order.
Albert Mackey told all Masons this truth in his book entitled, THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FREEMASONRY under the title of "Obedience:"
"The first duty of every Mason is to obey the mandate of the Master. The Masonic rule of obedience is like the nautical imperative: 'Obey orders, even if you break owners.'" 494
So, the Masons obey orders, protect criminal activities, lie if necessary, and are free to commit adultery with anyone other than a fellow Mason's wife, child, mother or sister.
And the Masons claim that their Order is a moral one.
And the average citizen continues to believe that it teaches its members good values.
And worldwide, men of rank, wealth, office and talent continue to join it.
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