Masonry and the Endowment

[UtahDan]

On my way to a not very nearby courthouse today I listened to a recorded interview with Mormon and Master Mason Greg Kearney. Kearney is an expert on both have been raised in both worlds, being both LDS and from a family of masons going back hundreds of years. He gave a very interesting presentation at the 2005 FAIR conference that is linked here:

http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferen...eemasonry.html

People can read the article and listen to the interview (at Mormonstories) but several things jumped out that I thought were interesting, including some things about the endowment. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable here with what is "shareable" on this topic, but I will take my cues from Kearney and not say anything he hasn't said in public.

1. Both Masonry and the Endowment use the teaching device of a symbolic story. For Masonry it is that of Hyrum Abiff, and for the Endowment it is Adam and Eve.

2. Not only Joseph, but all of the early church leadership were Masons. There are detailed records from the Masonic side that show this. If one visits Nauvoo they will find a building with a sign on it saying "Cultural Center" which is in fact the Masonic lodge used by the early brethren and on the third floor the wood is still worn in patterns corresponding precisely to the rituals performed there.

3. Each Masonic lodge is independent and it was only in Utah that Mormons were not permitted to become Masons, though this was lifted in 1984. All of the presidents of the church were Masons through Wilford Woodruff, but after him there was simply no lodge in Utah they had access to.

4. Both the Endowment and Masonic ritual include specific actions that represent certain things, though their names and meanings are different. They also, up until the change in the Endowment in 1990, included specific actions which represented punishments for failing to keep covenants or reveal information. These were identical in every respect.

5. Men of Joseph's day universally believed that the rites descended from Solomons temple. Masons no longer believe this and the best scholarship suggested that their existence originated in European stone guilds of the middle ages. Joseph surely would have believed this. Still, there is no reason to believe that the Endowment as a form represents a restoration of ancient rites, but rather it is a restoration of information. We know what the ancient rites were from the old testament: animal sacrifice.

6. Joseph was made a Mason "on site" without the need for initiation, a rare honor only conferred upon a Lewis. A Lewis is one whose father is a Mason.

7. Masonry was widely practiced in the Nauvoo church. When John Bennett leaves the church, it is polygamy that he rails against, not Masonry, notwithstanding that he held high office in each organization and knew the rituals of each. It appears that early members readily accepted that the Endowment was a teaching devise, one that was already familiar to many of the men.

8. Masonry is not a "secret combination." Secret combinations are entered into to kill for the purpose of getting gain. Masonry involves oaths to do good. It is also not a religion of any kind and no worship is involved, though to be a Mason one must believe in a Supreme Being.

9. Joseph uttered in the Masonic sign of distress right before his death, and there were apparently Masons in the mob. Of course it didn't work, and Kearney views that as a failure to live up to high ideals for Masons, much as the MMM represents the same for LDS.

There is much more, just very interesting to me.

[scottie]

9. Joseph uttered in the Masonic sign of distress right before his death, and there were apparently Masons in the mob. Of course it didn't work, and Kearney views that as a failure to live up to high ideals for Masons, much as the MMM represents the same for LDS.

Thanks for sharing. Can you go into a little more detail on the part I bolded?

[UtahDan]

Thanks for sharing. Can you go into a little more detail on the part I bolded?

Here is the quote from the linked talk:

Joseph was killed and as he fell from the window he gave what's called the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress and its name, which is "Oh Lord, my God, is there no help for the widow's son?"

Joseph was- of course it didn't work. You're supposed to give to and give aid to a fellow Mason who gives this and they didn't do it. Masonry, like any other human endeavor has its good moments and its bad moments and this is one of our not very good ones. Latter-day Saints are no better, we killed people at Mountain Meadows for not a very good reason other than they just happened to be passing through. But no, we are made up of men, we're not immortals. We don't- it doesn't endow us with some sort of special power to be better than any other man.

[jay santos]

Of the various church history easter eggs I've discovered over the last ten years that are sometimes very difficult to process, this one isn't too hard for me.

My understanding is the same as how you outline it here. The standard apologist response to this is that there is nothing inherent about the temple ceremony that is copied from Masonry that is doctrinal. It is all simply a teaching method or a worship method. And I buy that with no qualms.

The one issue I might have is in the language in the ceremony specifically related to the deification doctrine and how that also possibly mirrors Masonic language. That's the only area that might be difficult to explain.

[UtahDan]

Jay, I agree. There are areas out there for which there is no good answer, at least for me. But this one isn't one of them once you learn a little about it. There is part of me that thinks it would be cool to become one, if only to understand the temple a little better. I wonder if anyone on this board will own up to being a Mason?

[scottie]

Jay, I agree. There are areas out there for which there is no good answer, at least for me. But this one isn't one of them once you learn a little about it. There is part of me that thinks it would be cool to become one, if only to understand the temple a little better. I wonder if anyone on this board will own up to being a Mason?

I have a coworker whose dad is a Mason, maybe I'll start asking more questions about it. This dad in question is also the grandson of a very prominent former -- that is, he's no longer alive -- LDS apostle.

[UtahDan]

I have a coworker whose dad is a Mason, maybe I'll start asking more questions about it. This dad in question is also the grandson of a very prominent former -- that is, he's no longer alive -- LDS apostle.

Maybe you and I should join.

[Indy Coug]

Start a messageboard campaign.

[beefytee]

All the men in my mother's family are masons.

I don't know much about it, but any family social gathering happens at the masonic lodge.

I also remember seeing the portrait of my grandfather in all his masonic clothing.

[FN Phat]

Thank you, UD, for this topic of discussion. I have been mulling over a possible way to bring this up. I appreciate that someone far more capable has done just that. I am intrigued with the Masons. I live in an area that anyone who is anyone is a Mason (I also work in the heavy construction industry, which tends to have lots of Masons). I recently found out about a boss of mine being Mason. He shared this with my because he found out I was Mormon and had some questions for me. We have not had the opportunity to sit down and share comments and concerns, although I am very eager to do so. I would love to hear some different perspectives from some of the more experienced CUFers.

I would be shocked if there was not a Mason or two amongst the CUF population.

EDIT: I saw a bumper sticker on a pick-up truck this afternoon that stated: ASK12B1

[Mrs. Funk]

Jay, I agree. There are areas out there for which there is no good answer, at least for me. But this one isn't one of them once you learn a little about it. There is part of me that thinks it would be cool to become one, if only to understand the temple a little better. I wonder if anyone on this board will own up to being a Mason?

Our of our good friends is a LDS convert and a Mason. He just attained his Master Mason level a few months ago. He's a very humble, spiritual guy. We've talked a little about it with him, and he's definitely very open about it.

[scottie]

Is there anything visibly identifiable about a practicing Mason, like their version of the eternal smile?

[Mrs. Funk]

Is there anything visibly identifiable about a practicing Mason, like their version of the eternal smile?

Our friend wears this massive ring with masonic symbols stamped on it. It's pretty cool looking.

[Indy Coug]

Is there anything visibly identifiable about a practicing Mason, like their version of the eternal smile?

A guy I home teach has the fact that they are a 32nd degree Mason in their electronic signature.

[RC Vikings]

9. Joseph uttered in the Masonic sign of distress right before his death, and there were apparently Masons in the mob. Of course it didn't work, and Kearney views that as a failure to live up to high ideals for Masons, much as the MMM represents the same for LDS.

There is much more, just very interesting to me.

I've heard that much of the Mob was made up of Masons and the reason for the attack was because they were upset that their ritual and been exposed and used by Joseph. I have no idea if this is true or not.