Masonic Tartan

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Billmcc wrote:

Being a Christian is not a requirement to be a Mason. The requirement is you must believe in a God. Which God is up to you.

In point of fact (in case anyone is interested) many Christian bodies either forbid their members to be Masons, or discourage it.

Among those Christian bodies that forbid members to be Masons are:
Catholics [the largest body of Christians world-wide]
Eastern Orthodox [the second largest body of Christians world-wide]
Lutherans [one of the largest groups of Protestants]
Most all Pentecostal, Holiness, and Assemblies of God denominations
The Church of the Nazarene
Christian Reformed Church
Quakers
Mennonites
Amish
Seventh-Day Adventist
Jehovahs Witnesses

While many of the more mainline Protestant denominations (Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians) have not expressly forbid lodge membership, many have condemned either the Masons in particular or secret societies in general in various non-binding statements.

For instance, in 1992, the Southern Baptist Convention (representing the laegest Protestant body in the US) voted to do a study of Freemasonry, and in their final report concluded that many tenants of Masonry were incompatible with Christian and Southern Baptist doctrine. But because of the way the SBC is structured, they left the decision of membership up to the individual. One can find similar non-binding statements coming from various Methodist and Episcopal bodies, as well.

So Ron's statement that he cannot be a Mason because he is not a Christian would strike many Christians as odd. It is estimated that three out of four Christians world wide belong to Churches that either expressly forbid or strongly discourage Lodge membership!

Aye,
Matt