ANNUAL OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three
One Hundred Thirty-Sixth Session,
One Hundred Forty-Eighth Year
Houston, Texas, June 15-17, 1993
Prepared by
David W. Atchison, Recording Secretary of the Convention
Distributed by
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Morris H. Chapman, President & Chief Executive Officer
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Freemasonry Report
Motion Concerning Freemasonry
In annual session of the Baptist Convention, June 9-11, 1992 the following motion was approved:
The Southern Baptist Convention in annual session June 9-11, 1992, at Indianapolis, Indiana, directs the
Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Mission Board to study the compatibility with Christianity
and Southern Baptist doctrine of the organization known variously as the Masonic Lodge, Masonry,
Freemasonry, and or Ancient and Accepted Right [sic] of Freemasonry. The study is to encompass any
and all branches and or lodges thereof. Furthermore, the convention charges the Home Mission Board
with the responsibility of bringing a report with recommendation to the Convention which is to meet in
Houston, Texas, June 1993.
We report
That the Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Mission Board (HMB) has completed a study of
Freemasonry and its various branches, as directed by the Convention, with special attention given to the
compatibility of Freemasonry with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine. The study has been
reviewed by the HMB Executive Council (president and vice presidents), by the Board of Directors'
Administrative Committee (officers and committee chairmen), and by the Board of Directors of the HMB. The study has now been published as a 75-page document and is available for purchase on a cost recovery basis from the Home Mission Board.
Page 1
We further report
That the Administrative Committee of the Board of Directors has prepared this printed report to the
Convention and that it has been reviewed and approved by action of the Board of Directors, meeting
March 17, 1993, in Atlanta, Georgia.
We commend The Masonic Order for its many charitable endeavors such as the operation of 22 Shriners hospitals, 19 orthopedic hospitals, and 3 burns institutes with noteworthy success in treatment, research, and education, often providing free treatment to children under 18 years of age. Also, we commend support of the
Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Children and the Eastern Star
sponsorship of Masonic Homes for the Aged. These, with many other charitable and benevolent
endeavors, are commendable.
We acknowledge
That many outstanding Christians and Southern Baptists now are, and in the past have been, Masons,
including such notable past Southern Baptist leaders as B.H. Carroll, George W. Truett, L.R.
Scarborough, W.T. Connor, Louie D. Newton, and J.B. Lawrence.
We recognize
That many of the tenets and teachings of some Grand Lodges could be considered compatible with, and
even supportive of, Christian faith and practice, such as the strong emphasis on honesty, integrity,
industry, and character and the insistence that every member believe in God. Some Grand Lodges have
written into their monitors, guidelines, and rituals explicit references to Christian faith, including exact
quotes from the Bible, such as in the ritual constituting a new lodge in the Monitor of the Lodge of the
Grand Lodge of Texas:
I now solemnly consecrate this lodge to the honor and glory of Jehovah, the Grand Architect of the
Universe.
2 Or the explicit reference to Jesus in the Masonic Code of the Grand Lodge of Alabama:
It is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic law and tenets for a Mason who believes in the
Christ Jesus to offer prayers in the Lodge in His Name.
3 Or the ceremony for laying a cornerstone found in The Murrow Masonic Monitor of the Grand Lodge of
Oklahoma: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
4 Or the ceremony of the extinguishing of the lights, a Scottish Rite ceremony held on Maundy Thursday:
My Brethren, this is the anniversary of that Last Supper of which Jesus of Nazareth partook with His
humble disciples, after which He was betrayed and crucified.
Who, of any creed, can picture to himself, unmoved, that noble and sweet countenance, which never
looked on anything in anger, pale with agony, and streaming with tears? His back was torn by the lash,
His brow pierced by the thorns. He suffered, willingly, until it seemed, even to Him, that His God and
Father had forsaken Him.
And yet, even then, bruised, hanged upon a cross, betrayed by one He loved, suffering and, for a moment,
questioning, He still calls down not curses by blessings and a prayer for forgiveness upon those who had
so treated Him.
5 Or that found in the Scottish Rite 18th degree:
Wherein they [older forms of religion] were deficient [Masonry] found in the New Law of Love,
preached by Jesus of Nazareth, and which He sealed with His blood.
6 Or the strong affirmation of the Bible found in the North Carolina Lodge Manual:
The Holy Bible is given us as the rule and guide of faith . . . the Bible is the light which enlightens the
path of our duty to God.
7 Or that found in the Louisiana Masonic Monitor:
However they may differ in creed or theology, all good men are agreed that within the covers of the Holy
Bible are found those principles of morality which lay the foundation upon which to build a righteous SBC 1993 Decision on Freemasonry referenced in Character Counts by M. G. Maness
Page 3
life. . . . It is the one volume which has lived in the hearts of the people, molding and shaping their
destinies; and it leads the way to Him who is the Light of the world.
8 Or the words of the chaplain in the funeral service found in the Masonic Manual of the Grand Lodge of
Georgia: I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
9 To be sure, not all Grand Lodges affirm Christian doctrine, and many do not declare Jesus as the unique
Son of God; but many do, and for this we commend them. There is not complete uniformity in tenets or
practice among lodges.
We conclude
That many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity or Southern Baptist
doctrine, including:
1. The prevalent use of offensive concepts, titles, and terms such as Worshipful Master for the leader of a
lodge; references to their buildings as mosques, shrines, or temples; and the use of words such as
Abaddon and Jah-Bul-On, the so-called secret name of God. To many, these terms are not only offensive
but sacrilegious.
2. The use of archaic, offensive rituals and so-called bloody oaths or obligations, among these being that
promised by the Entered Apprentice:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my throat cut from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by its roots, and buried in the sands of the
sea, at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-five hours, should I, in the least,
knowingly or wittingly violate or transgress this my Entered Apprentice obligation.
10 Or that of the Fellow Craft degree:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my left breast torn open, my heart plucked from thence, and given to the beast of the field
and the birds of the air as prey, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly, violate or transgress this my
Fellow Craft obligations.
11 Or that of the Master Mason:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my body severed in two, . . .my bowels torn from thence and burned to ashes, and these
scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had among men or
Masons of so vile a wretch as I should be, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly violate or
transgress this my Master Mason obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast.
12 Or that of other advanced degrees with required rituals considered by many to be pagan and incompatible
with Christian faith and practice.
Even though these oaths, obligations, and rituals may or may not be taken seriously by the initiate, it is
inappropriate for a Christian to sincerely promise and swear, with a hand on the Holy Bible, any such
promises or oaths, or to participate in any such pagan rituals.
3. The recommended readings, in pursuance of advanced degrees, of religions and philosophies, which
are undeniably pagan and/or occultic, such as much of the writings of Albert Pike, Albert Mackey, Manly
Hall, Rex Hutchins, W.L. Wilmshurst, and other such authors; along with their works, such as Morals
and Dogma, A Bridge to Light, An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, and The Meaning of Masonry.
4. The reference to the Bible placed on the altar of the lodge as the furniture of the lodge, comparing it to
the square and compass rather than giving it the supreme place in the lodge.
5. The prevalent use of the term Alight, which some may understand as a reference to salvation rather
than knowledge or truth.
6. The implication that salvation may be attained by one's good works, implicit in the statement found in
some Masonic writings that Masonry is continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is
necessary to obtain admittance into the Celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the
Universe presides.14 Even though many Masons understand that the purity of life and conduct can only be
achieved through faith in Jesus Christ, others may be led to believe they can earn salvation by living a
pure life with good conduct.
7. The heresy of universalism (the belief all people will eventually be saved), which permeates the
writings of many Masonic authors, which is a doctrine inconsistent with New Testament teaching.
15
8. The refusal of most lodges (although not all) to admit for membership African-Americans.
IN SUMMARY
In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with
Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and
Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination's deep
convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church,
membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort
Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in light of the Lordship of
Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of
God.
Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Three
One Hundred Thirty-Sixth Session,
One Hundred Forty-Eighth Year
Houston, Texas, June 15-17, 1993
Prepared by
David W. Atchison, Recording Secretary of the Convention
Distributed by
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
Morris H. Chapman, President & Chief Executive Officer
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Freemasonry Report
Motion Concerning Freemasonry
In annual session of the Baptist Convention, June 9-11, 1992 the following motion was approved:
The Southern Baptist Convention in annual session June 9-11, 1992, at Indianapolis, Indiana, directs the
Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Mission Board to study the compatibility with Christianity
and Southern Baptist doctrine of the organization known variously as the Masonic Lodge, Masonry,
Freemasonry, and or Ancient and Accepted Right [sic] of Freemasonry. The study is to encompass any
and all branches and or lodges thereof. Furthermore, the convention charges the Home Mission Board
with the responsibility of bringing a report with recommendation to the Convention which is to meet in
Houston, Texas, June 1993.
We report
That the Interfaith Witness Department of the Home Mission Board (HMB) has completed a study of
Freemasonry and its various branches, as directed by the Convention, with special attention given to the
compatibility of Freemasonry with Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine. The study has been
reviewed by the HMB Executive Council (president and vice presidents), by the Board of Directors'
Administrative Committee (officers and committee chairmen), and by the Board of Directors of the HMB. The study has now been published as a 75-page document and is available for purchase on a cost recovery basis from the Home Mission Board.
Page 1
We further report
That the Administrative Committee of the Board of Directors has prepared this printed report to the
Convention and that it has been reviewed and approved by action of the Board of Directors, meeting
March 17, 1993, in Atlanta, Georgia.
We commend The Masonic Order for its many charitable endeavors such as the operation of 22 Shriners hospitals, 19 orthopedic hospitals, and 3 burns institutes with noteworthy success in treatment, research, and education, often providing free treatment to children under 18 years of age. Also, we commend support of the
Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Children and the Eastern Star
sponsorship of Masonic Homes for the Aged. These, with many other charitable and benevolent
endeavors, are commendable.
We acknowledge
That many outstanding Christians and Southern Baptists now are, and in the past have been, Masons,
including such notable past Southern Baptist leaders as B.H. Carroll, George W. Truett, L.R.
Scarborough, W.T. Connor, Louie D. Newton, and J.B. Lawrence.
We recognize
That many of the tenets and teachings of some Grand Lodges could be considered compatible with, and
even supportive of, Christian faith and practice, such as the strong emphasis on honesty, integrity,
industry, and character and the insistence that every member believe in God. Some Grand Lodges have
written into their monitors, guidelines, and rituals explicit references to Christian faith, including exact
quotes from the Bible, such as in the ritual constituting a new lodge in the Monitor of the Lodge of the
Grand Lodge of Texas:
I now solemnly consecrate this lodge to the honor and glory of Jehovah, the Grand Architect of the
Universe.
2 Or the explicit reference to Jesus in the Masonic Code of the Grand Lodge of Alabama:
It is therefore proper and in accordance with Masonic law and tenets for a Mason who believes in the
Christ Jesus to offer prayers in the Lodge in His Name.
3 Or the ceremony for laying a cornerstone found in The Murrow Masonic Monitor of the Grand Lodge of
Oklahoma: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
4 Or the ceremony of the extinguishing of the lights, a Scottish Rite ceremony held on Maundy Thursday:
My Brethren, this is the anniversary of that Last Supper of which Jesus of Nazareth partook with His
humble disciples, after which He was betrayed and crucified.
Who, of any creed, can picture to himself, unmoved, that noble and sweet countenance, which never
looked on anything in anger, pale with agony, and streaming with tears? His back was torn by the lash,
His brow pierced by the thorns. He suffered, willingly, until it seemed, even to Him, that His God and
Father had forsaken Him.
And yet, even then, bruised, hanged upon a cross, betrayed by one He loved, suffering and, for a moment,
questioning, He still calls down not curses by blessings and a prayer for forgiveness upon those who had
so treated Him.
5 Or that found in the Scottish Rite 18th degree:
Wherein they [older forms of religion] were deficient [Masonry] found in the New Law of Love,
preached by Jesus of Nazareth, and which He sealed with His blood.
6 Or the strong affirmation of the Bible found in the North Carolina Lodge Manual:
The Holy Bible is given us as the rule and guide of faith . . . the Bible is the light which enlightens the
path of our duty to God.
7 Or that found in the Louisiana Masonic Monitor:
However they may differ in creed or theology, all good men are agreed that within the covers of the Holy
Bible are found those principles of morality which lay the foundation upon which to build a righteous SBC 1993 Decision on Freemasonry referenced in Character Counts by M. G. Maness
Page 3
life. . . . It is the one volume which has lived in the hearts of the people, molding and shaping their
destinies; and it leads the way to Him who is the Light of the world.
8 Or the words of the chaplain in the funeral service found in the Masonic Manual of the Grand Lodge of
Georgia: I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
9 To be sure, not all Grand Lodges affirm Christian doctrine, and many do not declare Jesus as the unique
Son of God; but many do, and for this we commend them. There is not complete uniformity in tenets or
practice among lodges.
We conclude
That many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with Christianity or Southern Baptist
doctrine, including:
1. The prevalent use of offensive concepts, titles, and terms such as Worshipful Master for the leader of a
lodge; references to their buildings as mosques, shrines, or temples; and the use of words such as
Abaddon and Jah-Bul-On, the so-called secret name of God. To many, these terms are not only offensive
but sacrilegious.
2. The use of archaic, offensive rituals and so-called bloody oaths or obligations, among these being that
promised by the Entered Apprentice:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my throat cut from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by its roots, and buried in the sands of the
sea, at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-five hours, should I, in the least,
knowingly or wittingly violate or transgress this my Entered Apprentice obligation.
10 Or that of the Fellow Craft degree:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my left breast torn open, my heart plucked from thence, and given to the beast of the field
and the birds of the air as prey, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly, violate or transgress this my
Fellow Craft obligations.
11 Or that of the Master Mason:
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, . . . binding myself under no less penalty than
that of having my body severed in two, . . .my bowels torn from thence and burned to ashes, and these
scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had among men or
Masons of so vile a wretch as I should be, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly violate or
transgress this my Master Mason obligation. So help me God and keep me steadfast.
12 Or that of other advanced degrees with required rituals considered by many to be pagan and incompatible
with Christian faith and practice.
Even though these oaths, obligations, and rituals may or may not be taken seriously by the initiate, it is
inappropriate for a Christian to sincerely promise and swear, with a hand on the Holy Bible, any such
promises or oaths, or to participate in any such pagan rituals.
3. The recommended readings, in pursuance of advanced degrees, of religions and philosophies, which
are undeniably pagan and/or occultic, such as much of the writings of Albert Pike, Albert Mackey, Manly
Hall, Rex Hutchins, W.L. Wilmshurst, and other such authors; along with their works, such as Morals
and Dogma, A Bridge to Light, An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, and The Meaning of Masonry.
4. The reference to the Bible placed on the altar of the lodge as the furniture of the lodge, comparing it to
the square and compass rather than giving it the supreme place in the lodge.
5. The prevalent use of the term Alight, which some may understand as a reference to salvation rather
than knowledge or truth.
6. The implication that salvation may be attained by one's good works, implicit in the statement found in
some Masonic writings that Masonry is continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is
necessary to obtain admittance into the Celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the
Universe presides.14 Even though many Masons understand that the purity of life and conduct can only be
achieved through faith in Jesus Christ, others may be led to believe they can earn salvation by living a
pure life with good conduct.
7. The heresy of universalism (the belief all people will eventually be saved), which permeates the
writings of many Masonic authors, which is a doctrine inconsistent with New Testament teaching.
15
8. The refusal of most lodges (although not all) to admit for membership African-Americans.
IN SUMMARY
In light of the fact that many tenets and teachings of Freemasonry are not compatible with
Christianity and Southern Baptist doctrine, while others are compatible with Christianity and
Southern Baptist doctrine, we therefore recommend that consistent with our denomination's deep
convictions regarding the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church,
membership in a Masonic Order be a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, we exhort
Southern Baptists to prayerfully and carefully evaluate Freemasonry in light of the Lordship of
Christ, the teachings of the Scripture, and the findings of this report, as led by the Holy Spirit of
God.
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