The False Gospel of Freemasonry:
Pulpit & Pen Interviews a Former Mason
BY SETH DUNN
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Recently, Pulpit & Pen
interviewed theologian and former Freemason William Guilkey. William’s
story provides a sobering reminder of how deeply Freemasonry has
infiltrated the visible church. As a former Masonic insider, William
provides confirmation that Freemasonry’s many Christian detractors have
been wise to sound the alarm about the unbliblical nature of the Craft.
William is clear: Freemasonry is not compatible with Christianity.
Please find the interview below:
How long have you been a Christian?
My eyes were opened to the truths
of the Gospel in the Summer of 2004 (after many years of habitual sin).
While I cannot pinpoint the moment in time when the Gospel began to make
sense to me, I can say that it seemed to start that Summer. I began to
come under heavy conviction of my sin and in time found the hope of the
Gospel. Nearly 13 years later there is much evidence of repentance and
belief in my life, I hate the sins I once embraced, am at war with sin
on a daily basis, continually repent when I fail and I’m continuing in
Christ. There were some really rocky times in the first several years
due to deeply, ingrained patterns of sin but God has faithfully given me
ever increasing victory over them. There is much evidence of a change
in me thanks to the Lord and it all began in the Summer of 2004.
Are you currently an active member of a New Testament Church?
Yes, my wife and I are members of Christ Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Janesville, WI.
Do you have any level of formal theological education?
Yes. I grew up in the Assemblies
of God. I was a “false convert” who never truly understood the Gospel as
well as a legalist with an air of works righteousness. I have a B.A. in
Bible from Central Bible College (1989)
How long were you involved in Freemasonry?
Approximately 6 or so years (with varying degrees of activeness).
What was the name of your lodge?
Bee Hive Lodge #393 in Lawson, MO
In what degrees of Masonry were you proficient?
I received the 3 degrees of the
Blue Lodge as well as the degrees in the Scottish Rite (up to degree
#32). Giving one’s proficiency in the degrees (orally) was no longer
required but as a tribute to my grandfather for his 50th year in the Lodge, I orally repeated the 1st degree and was deemed proficient.
Did you hold any leadership positions in Freemasonry?
Yes, I was the Junior Warden one year and the Senior Warden the next year.
Were there any professed Christians in your lodge?
There were several (including at
least one Pastor). Most were from the older, liberal, mainline
denominations (United Methodist, Presbyterian USA and The Disciples of
Christ, which in our small town was merged with the PCUSA Church). There
were also a few Southern Baptists.
Were there any non-Christians in your lodge?
Yes, including some with the veneer of “Christian” and some outright secular men.
In what degrees of Masonry were you proficient?
In Missouri, they no longer require oral proficiency of the degrees but I did an oral proficiency of the 1st degree in honor of my grandfather’s 50th anniversary in the Lodge.
Why did you leave Freemasonry?
I began to be convicted by the
Holy Spirit that Freemasonry was incompatible with Christianity over
time. It promotes a universal “gospel” of “salvation by
works/Freemasonry” and it requires unbiblical oaths to enter.
Do you believe the blood oaths required to enter Blue Lodge Freemasonry are antithetical to Christian practice?
Yes, per Matthew 5:34-35 for example.
What would you say to someone who
said the oaths were merely symbolic and do not violate Christ’s commands
regarding oath-swearing?
While the oaths are almost
certainly symbolic in our day (since violating them comes with the
penalty of death), there is a sense in which they are serious and that
has to do more with the “brotherhood of the Lodge” and the secrets
contained within its walls. What one is giving oath to essentially is
their silence/secrecy and this is expected to be adhered to by the one
making the oaths.
What can you tell us about the story of Hiram Abiff and the ritual related to him?
Hiram Abiff is loosely based on a character in the verse 2 Chronicles 2:13
(which is not really clear). In Freemasonry, he is known as the “Grand
Master Mason” of King Solomon’s Temple, who outlines the work duties for
the other Masons. The candidate for the 3rd
Degree plays the character of Hiram Abiff and is escorted around the
Lodge and put through various scenarios as the character Hiram Abiff.
Hiram Abiff supposedly has the “Master’s word” and the deeper secrets of
Freemasonry. Hiram is confronted by some ruffians (Fellowcrafts) who
are impatient to receive the word and the secrets of the Master Mason
and after refusing to comply with their demands, Hiram is killed with a
mallet to the head (which happens to the candidate who is left in the
temple under some rubble then later carried to Mount Moriah and laid on
the ground as though buried). Later when it is discovered that Hiram
Abiff is missing, a panic ensues. Eventually some other Fellowcrafts
come to King Solomon and admit that they knew of a plot to kill Hiram
(but did not participate). King Solomon orders them to find the ruffians
(three were missing when he had a roll call of the Fellowcrafts) under
penalty of death if they fail to do so. They found the ruffians when
they stopped to rest and one of the searchers grabbed an acacia branch
which easily gave way to him (it marked the shallow grave of Hiram
Abiff). At that point, they heard the three ruffians mourning about
their role in the death and indicting themselves under the penalty of
their obligations. They were seized, taken to Solomon and executed
according to those penalties (outside the city gate). King Solomon and
all of his followers then go to the shallow grave (where Hiram has laid
for 15 days according to the story). He asks both an Entered Apprentice
(1st degree) and a Fellowcraft (2nd
degree) to raise him by their grips but the rotting flesh slips from
their hands. King Solomon then proceeds to raise the body by the strong
grip of the Master Mason (complete with a certain posture and a word).
This works and the candidate is raised to the “sublime degree of Master
Mason” (their description). In my case, my Grandfather was inserted for
King Solomon and performed my “raising” (of which I am now very ashamed
of as I type). There is no question that the Hiram Abiff character is a
blasphemous characterization of the resurrection (at the very least in
symbolism).
Are non-Christian Freemasons led to believe that they can reach Heaven outside of professing faith in Jesus Christ?
Without question. In the long
speech in the second degree, a Fellowcraft is explicitly told that they
will be happy at death if “the setting splendors of a virtuous life gild
his departing moments with the gentle tints of hope.” Often Freemasonry
is described as an organization that exists to “make good men better.”
It presupposes the basic goodness of man (at least of those who pass the
initial screening of their candidacy).
If the Great Architect of the Universe the same God as the God of the Holy Bible?
It cannot be by definition since
Freemasonry only requires a belief in a Supreme Being/God/god and leaves
that up to the candidate to determine who/Who/what that is for them. In
rural Missouri, people were basically “Christian” in their mindset (not
born again mind you but simply meaning that they took their oaths on
the Bible but one could have taken it on any “holy book”). The only
requirement is that you cannot be a professing atheist. That kind of
pluralistic approach cannot be the God of the Holy Bible.
Is there any truth to the notion that Freemasonry teaches belief in Osiris, Hours, or other Egyptian deities?
I do not recall these names in
either the Blue Lodge or the Scottish Rite (however, the Scottish Rite
was a weekend “marathon” in which degrees 4-32 were given and it was
done “theater style” with us watching the proceedings so I have very
little recollection of it)
Is the “All Seeing Eye” a representation of God?
Yes, because we are reminded that
even if our actions evade the eyes of men, that all of them are seen by
the “All-Seeing Eye” who will reward us according to “our merits” (yet
another false doctrine, unless by “reward” they mean “judgment”).
In your degrees of Freemasonry did you ever receive teaching about Jabulon, Lucifer, or any other such spirit being?
I do not recall these names in
either the Blue Lodge or the Scottish Rite (however, the Scottish Rite
was a weekend “marathon” in which degrees 4-32 were given and it was
done “theater style” with us watching the proceedings so I have very
little recollection of it). Having grown up in the church (even if I was
not genuinely converted at the time), I am pretty sure I would have
been disturbed if I heard the name of “Lucifer” in any positive context.
Does Scottish Rite (or any other form of Freemasonry) confer a Melchizedek priesthood on adherents?
I was hardly active in the
Scottish Rite and the weekend “marathon” of degrees only allows them to
confer so many through the ritual. I do not know if this one was acted
out for us or not but I have read that it is in the 19th degree. I did not know this before researching for this question so I am not a good source on this answer.
Does Freemasonry contradict the doctrine of Original Sin?
Yes, by stating that Freemasonry
serves to “make good men better.” One of the things all Masons say in
repeating the ritual is “to improve myself in Freemasonry” and in
another place, they ask for “Further light” (implying that they may have
some light).
Does Freemasonry teach that salvation can be obtained by performing good works?
Yes, in the lecture portion of the 2nd and 3rd degrees (as outlined in previous questions)
Do Freemasons believe that they
possess wisdom or light that cannot be obtained from the Bible or a
relationship with Jesus Christ?
In my small town, they would
always say “it’s all based on the Bible” but when one hears of the
various study clubs and meetings for the more advanced degrees, you hear
implications of “deeper” or “esoteric” knowledge. To me, it all sounded
like pretentious “gobbled-y gook” to be honest. I never really “got”
that part of it all.
How were you treated by other Freemasons after leaving the lodge?
I live in a different state and do
not encounter any of the men for the most part but no one has sought me
out to discuss it etc. When I resigned, I resigned in writing, with a
letter containing the Gospel. They clearly know where I stood and where I
stand on the matter. I am however, always open to talk with any of them
about the Gospel should a door be opened to me.
Is there anything you would like to say to the “Christian” Masons who are reading this interview?
I would say first of all that I
think many, many people go into Freemasonry innocently enough. By that I
mean that there are some appealing features to some of the “perks” (for
example, where I am from, there were certain jobs that were more
attainable for someone who was a member of the Lodge). I know also that
many men put almost no effort into learning or practicing anything
related to Freemasonry and see it as an opportunity to get together with
some guys a few times a month to eat, smoke, drink coffee and tell tall
tales. As far as some of the deeper conspiracies that people allege are
concerned, I never saw any of that in my small town. If we were somehow
trying to overtake the world, we were definitely way behind in our
efforts! Our Lodge did some nice public service things (i.e.
scholarships, Child Identification Programs to help police in the event
of an abduction and chili/ham & bean suppers). That is how most of
the “brothers” approached Freemasonry. That being said, it really is a
“False Gospel,” with a “False, Pluralistic god” and it gives false
assurance to many people. It is the antithesis of the Bible’s teaching
about the true nature of man and his need before the Thrice Holy God.
Because of that, whether done in “innocence” or “ignorance,” it is a
system of idolatry and must be avoided. It violates the First, Second
and Third commandments and that alone is enough to flee from this false,
religious system. I would encourage you to read the Bible for yourself
and to ask the LORD to open your eyes to His holiness and His
requirements. If/when He does this, you will likely begin feeling the
heavy weight of conviction of sin (because you will then see how much
you have offended God). When that happens, cry out to Him for mercy,
turn from your sin (including the sin of aligning with the Masonic
Lodge) and believe that if you come to Him, He will “in no wise cast you
out” (John 6:37) for “Whosoever calleth on the Name of the Lord, shall be saved!” (Romans 10:13)
Please share this with friends and family, especially those with
Masonic connections. Freemasonry is a very serious gospel issue and a
very present sin in many churches. The Pulpit & Pen encourages all
Christian former Masons and any pastors who have dealt with the issue of
Freemasonry to contact us with your stories.
*Please note that the preceding is my personal opinion. It
is not necessarily the opinion of any entity by which I am employed, any
church at which I am a member, any church which I attend, or the
educational institution at which I am enrolled. Any copyrighted material
displayed or referenced is done under the doctrine of fair use.