Pure crap from start to finish.
You seem to think that if a group doesn’t cite the name of Jesus, why then it must be EEEEE-VIL. Ummm...no. Life doesn’t work on that kind of either/or basis.
You also seem to want to believe that all Masons must be horribly benighted saps, with no ability to grasp what they’re being hoodwinked into. Try again...most of the Masons I’ve known or met along the way have been quite intelligent and ethical. The kind of people who want to learn everything they can about their interests...the kind who, if they discovered they had been deceived into joining a malicious organization, would have not only left en masse (oaths be damned), they would have publicly denounced it in large numbers. Masonry would not have survived for hundreds of years if many of its members had concluded they were being hoodwinked.
The people that I knew who departed Masonry either were expelled for wrongdoing (stuff that would have gotten them fired from a job) or left for personal reasons (like getting passed over for advancement, or not getting the acclaim they felt they deserved). It would be interesting to know *all* the reasons the authors of these various “Freemasonry Exposed” and “Masonry is evil” tomes had for leaving the organization, assuming they ever actually belonged in the first place. Too many of them remind me a bit too much of David Brock.
Regarding the business about “Masons worship Lucifer”: Albert Pike was an extremely educated man. In this case, perhaps a bit overeducated...his “Lucifer” reference was based on a Hebrew translation of the Biblical “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Son of the Morning Star”. In the Hebrew translation, the figure identified in modern translation as “Lucifer” isn’t Satan-who-rebelled-against-God-and-was-cast-out-of-Heaven, it’s referring to an ancient king with such a high opinion of himself that his attire earned him the name “Son of the Morning Star” (a reference to the planet that rises and shines brightly in the eastern sky before dawn), and fell out of God’s favor for his hubris.
In short, Pike was referring to obscure knowledge that *he* understood, but his audience didn’t and still doesn’t. “Speaking over the heads of your audience” is never a good idea because, as in this case, it’s just asking for misunderstandings.
As to your last statement, it was remarkably easy for me to turn away from Freemasonry...I just stopped being involved. I will, however, happily step up to defend this fine organization when I see it being defamed by the uninformed, or people or organizations with ulterior motives.
That is simply one of many reasons to see Masonry for what it is and it is not compatible with Christianity. You can argue against the authors comments....and excuse Pikes statements all you want....but I am not speaking from any lack of experience with those involved with Masonry.
Yes, most Masons at the lower levels are saps...though the upper levels lead them to believe otherwise of course, but they would be the first to acknowledge to one another the low enders are the grunt workers and all about deceiving them.
Intelligence has nothing to do with one being deceived, it does have to do with an individual getting high off the rhetoric the upper enders hand you...."Oh look what we can do for your business"....Oh look at the connections we will give you"...Oh look you're a member of a very prestigious secret organization privy to only a few "special selected men", "And oh my, Presidents and highly prolific individuals are Masons"......Which does play to men's egos in a big way...especially those who see themselves as "Intellectuals".
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell they are after the revenues the wealthier individuals bring to their table in order to go from one degree to the next...... Doctors, Lawyers, Politicians is where the big bucks are and they will "Pay to Play" with other big boys...... Heck look at those supporting Obama if you really want to see the 'intelligence' of our day, if you insist on calling it that.... and why claiming "intelligence" isn't exactly a favorable thing.
As for morality....just wait until they rise in the organization...and discover what goes on behind closed doors...... BTW my friends have left Masonry...and they were not at the lower levels....it was no easy feat I might add...and they did not come away unscathed of course........ These men who left did so because of much prayer for them...their blinded eyes finally saw Masonry for what it is, not what they wanted and determined it would be for them. Embarrassed that they, of "intellect", had fallen for the scam....and frightened for having mis-lead all those whom they did while they themselves rose thru the rank and file and recruited others.......
And contrary to what you think you know of other peoples involvement with Masonry's.....you do not have a corner on understanding Masons...in fact I would say you are much limited....one could easily assume you did not go the distance as my friends had done. I say this because those who have gone the distance and thereafter left would not at all agree with you.
I am curious if you wrote a formal resignation of leaving Masonry.....and in that why you were leaving. I'd assume you did not.