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As far as I know, The Presbyterian Church in Canada has never made any assembly statements for or against Freemasonry and has left membership in the Lodge to the conscience and judgment of the individual.

I gather that, over the years, a number of prominent clergy have been actively involved in Freemasonry, as have numerous elders.

In the two congregations I have served, some of the most active members have also been Freemasons; although, in some cases, it seemed to me that the church membership was an adjunct to their more loyal commitment to the Masonic order.

For a variety of reasons, some denomination have stated that membership in the Church and the Lodge are incompatible. Among reasons given is the fact the Freemasons belong to a "secret" society. No Christian, they believe, should join any group where one is sworn to secrecy ad will become engaged in rituals and ceremonies that may or may not be compatible with one's Christina witness, and which one cannot divulge in defense of one's membership.

A fine elderly gentleman in our congregation, who was active in the Lodge as a visitor to the sick prior to his death, once told me Freemasons did not belong to a "secret society" but to "a society with secrets."

I believe that he meant that there are "secrets" and "mysteries" to be discovered os one progresses through the various stages of Lodge membership.

Another reason why some denominations belive the Church and the Lodge are incompatible has to do with the religious nature of the Lodge.

Prayers are offered to a non-Trinitarian Godhead and allegedly, never in the name of Jesus since this would offend those who belong to other religions.

God is referred to as "The Supreme Architect of the Universe", thus avoiding any specific name for God found in the creeds of the Church or of other religions. (My note: Calvinism himself used this term to describe God in the 1500s.)

It is also argued that in adopting portions of the belief systems of other faiths, Fremasonry promotes the view that all "roads" to God are equally valid and, in its alleged attempt to offend no one, thinks of itself as being above all religions.

There is also the view that Fremasonry is exclusive and not inclusive in terms of a person' social standing. It is alleged that on must belong to a certain stratum of society to be eligible for Lodge membership.

Such social elitism, if true, is inconsistent with the gospel which the Church at least attempts to live now and then, here and there:

"There is no loner Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; but for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

Some also believe Freemasonry encourages "work righteousness"; that is the belief that one can earn salvation - entrance into the Grand Lodge (heaven) - by good works.

If this be so, then such a doctrine runs directly counter to the biblical witness about salvation by grace though faith along.

Furthermore, some feel that the Lodge requires a commitment and devotion to time and energy that should be given only to Jesus Christ and hi Church.

In my experience, however, many active Masons have also often been keen, strong members of their churches.

In my conversations with Freemasons, I have been pointed to the fraternal nature of the organisation. It inculcates the virtues of loyalty to each other, emphasizes private and public morality, and performs many good works, particularly in the fields of education and medicine.

There is no doubt o the latter.

Only recently, I learned that a shuttle service for disabled people provided by the Masons in one of our communities is far more reliable, flexible and helpful that others that are available.

Christians who are members of the Lodge assure me that they se no conflict between their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and their membership in the Lodge.

All of my information about Freemasonry has come by way of reading and listening. Since the Lodge is, as my friend said, "a society of secrets" and since, for some of the other reasons cited above, I have never had the desire to be a member of such a society, I can only take the word of people I respect: membership in the Lodge and in the Church are, for them, compatible.

Tony Plomp

Presbyterian Record December 1997