A New Zealand Christian minister has objected to a local Masonic lodge being used as a temporary book repository for the town library, on the grounds that Masonry is, in his view, dabbling in pagan witchcraft.From stuff.co.nz:
John Cromarty, of St David's Church in Carterton, objects to a Masonic Lodge being used as a temporary library because he says the group is connected to witchcraft, the Wairarapa Times-Age reports.
In a letter to Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee, Mr Cromarty said he and his wife had handed in their library cards and were asking their friends not to visit the lodge, which was housing the town's books while a new events centre was built.
He said while Freemasonry did some good in the community and portrayed a facade of being compatible with Christianity, its foundations were rooted in witchcraft and paganism.
A past master and a Freemason of the lodge, Warwick Cashmore, said Mr Cromarty's attitude was extremely disappointing.
"The basic tenants [sic] of freemasonry are brotherly love, relief, and truth," he said.
Tenets, for cryin' out loud.
You know I could accept the villagers in Fiji saying something like this, but a supposedly educated minister?
ReplyDeleteOn second thought, let us not listen to Rev. Cromarty; he's a silly person.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm... there are some who say that *Christianity* is an adaptation of prior pagan rituals and traditions, sharing the same stories and 'holidays' ....
ReplyDeleteThat's it. I am going to get some eye of wart and a little bat wing and I am casting a non-pagan non-witchy Masonic spell all over his non-reading toosh.
ReplyDeleteChris, I've seen Masons spell "tenets" the same way.
ReplyDeleteBut it's still not as good as when our S.W. (at the time) gave the apron lecture and talked about the "golden fleece or Roman Candle."
Justa
The very least the Brotheren can do is learn the proper use of the trial.
ReplyDeleteOr is is Botheren?
"Tenants"? For all intensive porpoises, it's really heart-renting to here such a misteak.
ReplyDeleteRegarding "tenants" vs. "tenets" - In my [not so humble] opinion, the error in spelling comes from the reporter who did a telephone interview with the Freemason and, not being a member of the Craft himself, merely wrote "tenants" because he was not familiar with the word "tenets" and thus assumed the Freemason was mispronouncing "Tenants." In any regard, the article sure brings home the problem we Freemasons have of communicating with non-Masons when some are so close-minded they refuse to listen. - Wes Bucey, Master of Libertyville Lodge #492 (www.libertyvillemasons.org)
ReplyDelete