Generally speaking, the Masonic misuse of the Bible falls into two general categories: either quoting it out of context as above or misinterpreting it as allegory. Consider the following non-contextual uses of Scripture.

'The "All-Seeing Eye" (God) is said to "never slumber nor sleep" (Ps. 121:3). The same "All-seeing eye" (God) is said to "reward us according to our merits" which he sees through His watchfulness.69 


There is supposedly "joy among the angels of heaven" (Luke 15:7,10) when as Entered Apprentice has been initiated.70 


The Master Mason, through his own efforts, has made Himself "dead to sin." Rom. 6:1171

      As far as improperly interpreting the Bible allegorically, consider these examples. They place Masonry clearly in the camp of the neo-orthodox.

      The resurrection of Christ from the dead is not seen as a bodily, physical resurrection. Rather, it is described as something which takes place within us as we are raised up (Masonically) to new levels of awareness.72 The resurrection is an event in this life, which gives us a perfect union with God.73

      The Paradise of the Garden of Eden, says Masonry, is riot a historical fact, but a myth. Creation is not clearly described in the Bible, it is merely "shadowed forth."74 The fall of Adam and Eve into sin is likewise seen as allegory.75 The sun standing still for Joshua is also seen as allegory.

"The problem of the much discredited biblical miracle of the sun standing still in the heavens disappears when its true meaning is perceived in the light of the interpretation given by the compilers of the Masonic ritual, who well knew that it was not the solar orb that was miraculously stayed in its course in violation of natural law, but that the "sun" in question denotes an enlightened perceptive state experienced by everyone who in this "valley of Ajalon" undertakes the task of self-conquest and "fighting the battles of the Lord" against his own lower propensities."76

Such repeated misuse of the Word of God should be enough to show that the Masonic religion is not the religion of the Bible. Yet, there are several other miscellaneous points which also show us the paganism of Masonry.

      The most glaring deficiency of Masonic deism is its equation of the Lord with every other so-called God in the world. What follows from one of the Masonic ritualists, concerning the "lost word" "Jah-Bul-On" certainly misrepresents Deut. 6:4, "The Lord our God is one."

"One says it was Jau, another thinks it was Jaoth, a, third, Java; others, Juba, Jao, Jah, Jehovah, and Jove. In a word, the letters of the name are perishable, and the pronunciation of little moment; but the Being himself is ineffable, incomprehensible, and worthy of our utmost veneration. He was called by the Romans Jove, or Jah; by the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, and the Celtae, Bel or Bul; and by the Indians, Egyptians, and Greeks, Om or On."77

The Lord is equally misrepresented by the Masonic idea of the Trinity. Masons do speak of a trinity, but not the Father; Son and Holy Ghost. Typical of Trinitarian references in Masonic literature is Wilmshurst's reference to the threefold purity of body soul, and spirit.78

      Deism is also evident; in the Masonic approach to God's providence. Basically, Masonry says that God has put the "scheme of the universe…into the hands of humanity to restore."79 This restoration is to take place as Masons seek light, seek more light; and seek still more light in the Masonic rituals.80 I order to assist them in finding this light, Masons are encouraged to employ astrology81 and the powers of the occult, which, the Masons say, are released in the purposeful use of Masonic ritual.82 Once the Mason has received this light he is expected to let it guide his life as he shows benevolence to other Masons. But even that benevolence is limited to those occasions when it will not harm or inconvenience the Masonic good samaritan.83 What a contrast to Christ who was benevolent enough to die for us "while we were yet enemies!"

      Yes, it is safe to say that Masonry is religious. But it is anything but the Christian religion. And, unfortunately, we shall now go on to see that this false religion is the basis of all the other lodges. 

      The I.O.O.F. has its roots in eighteenth century England. It was first brought to the U.S. in 1819 by Thos. Wildey and four other Englishmen who organized a lodge in Baltimore, connected with the Union Order of Odd Fellowship. The first Union Grand Lodge was founded in 1821. The order drew enough to warrant a Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of the U.S. by 1825. In 1843 the Grand Lodge of the U.S. severed its connection with the English Grand Lodge, and in 1879 renamed itself the Sovereign Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.84 From a peak member ship of more than two million in the 1920's, the Odd Fellows have declined to about 1.25 million currently.85

      Odd Fellows may obtain four basic degrees, plus three superior degrees given through separate "encampments".86 Another separate military branch, the Patriarchs Militant, has three degrees similar to the Masonic Knights Templars. The basic degrees beyond the initiation degree, entitled Friendship, Love, and Truth, are taught by means of enacted Bible stories. "Friendship" is taught by the story of the good Samaritan - "Love" is portrayed by the story of Jonathon and David. "Truth" is taught by a number of symbols, the Bible among them. In none of these however, is God's grace ever presented as the reason and motivation for living as these degrees urge the members to live.87

      The Rebekah Degree may be conferred on men and women in a Rebekah Lodge, making it similar to the Masonic Eastern Star. The Sovereign Grand Lodge controls all Rebekah's Lodges, as well as the Junior Order of Odd Fellows for boys, and the Theta Rho girls' clubs.

      The purpose of the I.O.O.F. may be summed up by a few quotations from their ritual.

It, (the I.O.O.F.) will arouse the soul to a just sense of its responsibility to God, and its duty to man. It will fill his heart with a salutary horror of that monster sin, whose power has arrayed man against his fellowman and washed the earth with tears, and deluged it in blood."88

But the purpose of fulfilling our duty to our fellowman is severely restricted by the I.O.O.F.

In spite of these and many similar declarations of universal brotherhood the Odd Fellows exclude from their lodges (the so-called illustrations of the fraternity of mankind!) the defenseless, the poor, the afflicted, and the weak; namely, all women, all persons except free white Caucasian males; and from these again they exclude all afflicted with chronic diseases, the deaf, and the blind, all others that on account of their poverty cannot pay their dues, or who on account of the enmity of three members of the lodge cannot secure a clean ballot.89

      Such restrictions on their own love for man certainly take the power out of this exhortation to benevolence:

May your initiation and consequent practice, aid in releasing you from all blindness of moral vision, set you free from the fetters of ignorance and error, and bring you from a death in selfishness into a life of active benevolence and virtue.90

      Even more to the point, for us, is the self-acknowledgement that the I.O.O.F. is a religious order.

What regeneration by the word of truth is in religion, initiation is in Oddfellowship.91 


…we are a religious body, and have a religious faith for the basis of our fellowship and to unite us in religious duty.92

      It should not surprise us at all that the I.O.O.F. is religious in the deistic sense. All of the above quotes from their ritual were written by their lost venerated spokesman, the Universalist minister, Rev. A.B. Grosh. The 1895 edition quoted here, is still substantially what the I.O.O.F. stands for according to Rev. Phillip Lochhaas of the LC-MS Commission on Organizations.

      According to Grosh, "Oddfellowship was founded on great religious principles…"93 Other Odd Fellow authors assert the same.

To some it may seem sacrilegious and ridiculous to assert that every lodge of Odd Fellows is a religious organization, but I say it with a clear conscience and without fear of successful contradiction.94 


Odd fellowship will make man more religious rather than less religious. It will draw him to God rather than away from God.95

      To further enhance the religious aspect of their order the I.O.O.F. insists on having prayers in their meetings96 as well as the presence of a Bible. "No lodge or encampment can be legally opened without the presence of a Bible."97

      A closer analysis of their religious features tells us what kind of a religion the I.O.O.F., the Rebekahs, and their junior affiliates have. Universalism is evident in the words of Paschal Donaldson, Odd Fellow author:

Mankind is divided into numerous sects and parties. The Christian's faith in Christ is not more earnest and positive than the Jew's in his expected Messiah, the Mohammedan's in his prophet or that of the Chinese in the object of his worship. Christendom is itself divided into scores of sects and parties. Difference of opinion on religious subjects, especially, has always existed, and will be likely to continue to divide the hearts of men, until the reign of the sublime principle of Universal Brotherhood shall have been established on the earth. Let us exert our utmost endeavor to hasten this most desirable period.98

A verse taken from a song in the Odd Fellow ritual reads:

A temple where no narrow creed

Protects a chosen few

It holds alike deserved heed

To Christian, Turk and Jew.

      The prayers of the Odd Fellows are also designed to be universally acceptable by men of all creeds. Note that all Odd Fellows, while in the lodge, are expected to forsake Christ in their prayers.

The Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows for the State of Massachusetts asked the following question of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the World, Feb. 14, 1889 (Report, page 336): "Is it lawful for a chaplain to commence and finish his prayer in the name of Christ?"

In answer, the Sovereign Grand Lodge states:

Our Order only requires a belief in the existence of the Supreme Being as a qualification for membership, and has no affinity with any religious sect or system of faith hence everything savoring of sectarianism is not to be tolerated. The words 'system or sect' do not have reference merely to the sects within the pale of Christianity, but have a far broader significance and include all the religions of the world. In this sense Christianity is a sect; hence it is inexpedient, and I think unlawful to make prominent reference to it in lodge work. We have Jews, and may have Mohammedans and others of non-Christian sects within our Order, and the rule applies to them equally with members of the Christian faith.99

Such a low view of Christ and Christianity as a "sect" is certainly not compatible with Jesus words, "No one come to the Father, but by me."

      Finally, consider these asserted quotes from the manual by Grosh.

Judaism, Christianity, and Mohammedanism recognize the one, only living and true God.100

The funeral odes, below are sung for any departed lodge brother, whether Christian or not:

"Though in the Grand Lodge above,

We remember thee in love."101 


And now he quits our weary train

And marches o'er the heavenly heights;

But he shall walk with him again

And share his rest and his delight.102

In response to this Christless universalism, we read,

There appears to be little dispute among Odd Fellow authors as to whether the Order is religious or not. At least two books entitled The Religion of Odd Fellowship and The Religion of Franternity have been written by members. Both present the basic religious tenets of the ritual: God is the Father of all men, His goodness dictates that He deal in mercy with all, and all men can look forward to eternal life if they hope of such life within them. In Odd Fellowship man can find that hope. He enters morally blind, but in the principles of the Order he receives "light" which enables him to rise above selfishness and passion. There is within the individual the potential to reflect the image of God, and within society the latent ability to achieve the "golden age" of universal brotherhood. There is within man a tendency toward selfishness which he can overcome through the lessons the Order teaches. 


The Order has no concept of sin as it is described in the Bible as "separating between man and God," "enmity against God," or deserving of eternal death. Hence there is also no concept of redemption in Jesus Christ and no necessity for approaching God through the merits of His Son. Forgiveness is merely God's overlooking of faults because of His having bound Himself to man in a covenant of friendship. Saving faith is viewed as belief in the Creator and Preserver and the hope of immortality. "To all who practice the charities and virtues of the Order is given the assurance that they shall be commended of God, "well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of Thy Lord." As men unite in the bonds of friendship, love and truth, the happiness that God intends for man to have will be discovered. The true Christian will find that in the ritual of the Order he is required to give assent to a substitute gospel, "The Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man," by which men can be led to eternal perdition. His responsibility to his Savior's injunction to be a "witness" forbids his compromising his faith for the sake of business or social advantage or the sick and disability benefits which are offered. As in many similar fraternal organizations, the frequently-declared concept of universal brotherhood, based on "consanguinity"and the "Springing from one parent" breaks down in the membership restrictions, since only those are accepted who are male, free, white Caucasians, devoid of physical impairments and chronic diseases, of an economic level enabling them to pay their dues, and who have not incurred the enmity of more than two of the members.103 

      The BPOE, was formed in 1866 in New York in order to help members of the acting profession evade the strict Sunday liquor laws then in force. Originally the group of actors called themselves "The Jolly Corks", either in allusion to corks flying from the liquor bottles, or an allusion to the theatrical profession. Seeking a distinctly American name after they were organized, a name to reflect their growing interest in benevolence, they chose the name Elks, because the Elk is a purely American animal "fleet of foot, timorous of wrong, but ever ready to combat in defense of self or the female of the species."104

      Membership in the Order is limited to white male American citizens at least twenty-one years of age, who believe in the existence of God. There are no branches or degrees of membership and no auxiliary organizations, except for State Associations, Past Exalted Rulers' Associations, and the Grand Lodge.

      The ritual of the Elks bears several marks of Masonry, including the aprons, and several references to "quarry work." However, none of the ritual is known to be standardized except the special services, such as memorial, and burial services.105 Overall, ritual is receiving less and less emphasis among the Elks, although the full initiation rite is still required by the national organization as well as the opening and closing of the regular meetings.106

      Social memberships are known to exist, whereby a person may obtain the use of lodge facilities for a fee, without actual membership. Such practice, however, is repeatedly condemned by the national organization, as in this letter from a national officer, dated 1970:

Let me assure you very positively that we do not and never will permit any candidate to become a member of the Elks without the full initiation ceremony prescribed by our ritual, and neither do we permit, nor will we tolerate, any so-called social membership, and if any of us in positions of authority learn of any officer of any Lode granting so-called social memberships, or permitting candidates to be classified as members without the full initiation ceremony, then you may be assured that such officers will be promptly removed from office, and if the Lodge itself is at fault, the charter will be revoked.107

"Official" membership of initiated members is currently over 2 million. The "Antlers", "Antlerettes", "Does" and "Lady Elks" generally accept the position of the lodge, but are not officially endorsed.

      The purpose of the Elks has become much more social than some lodges like the Masons.

Fraternal orders is the United States are enjoying their greatest growth and success in those geographic areas where they have transformed themselves into middle-class country clubs, where a man and his family may dine, swim, golf or buy liquor in an otherwise "dry" area. The Order of Elks has been quick to seize upon this advantage. He…or a masculine haunt, the Elks Lodge has emphasized conviviality coupled works of charity. A national officer recently observed, "Our emphasis is now upon family participation."108

More formally stated, the purpose of the Elks is:

To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization; and to provide for its government.109

      If this were all the further the Elks went we would find little to complain about. But when we delve into their rituals further, we find reason for the same basic objections which we see in other lodges.

      As with other lodges there are several "religious" features. The order does apply a religious test, asking if the applicant believes in a "Supreme Being"; prayers and sacred music are employed in the rituals; the Bible must be place on the altar before opening a meeting.110 The candidate swears, "And may God help me" to obey his vow of secrecy and fidelity to the Order.111 Explanations of the resurrection in the funeral services also point to the religious character of this lodge.112

      The Order is to be highly commended for its patriotic, civic, social, and benevolent contribution to society. But because it has obvious religious teachings also, we must include them in our evaluation of the Elks.

      As with the other lodges the religion we find here is deistic. The Elks say that they "question no man's religion."113 This is because, as far as the Elks are concerned, all religions are the same.

The Altar has in all ages been regarded as most sacred. With us it typifies neither sect nor creed, but a shrine erected to signify our belief in the Fatherhood of the Grand Exalted Ruler of all the universality of the Brotherhood of man.114

      Beyond the general deistic attitude, we see specific practices which point to the "Fatherhood" of a general god which is non-trinitarian and excludes Christ.

      In correspondence dated 1927, Mr. B.M. Holt was informed by the Managing Editor of Elk's Magazine, "The name of Jesus Christ is omitted from Elk Prayers."115 Through the decades since 1927, little has changed. In three out of three Elk prayers quoted in full in the LC-MS Commission Article on the B.P.O.E., there is no reference to Jesus Christ and no mention of the Trinity.116

      The Trinity was also conspicuously absent from a doxology sung at an Elk memorial service in Ft. Wayne. Notice the rewording of the last two lines.

Praise God from whom all blessing flow;

Praise Him, all creatures, here below;

Praise Him above for all that's good;

Praise God for our true brotherhood.117

      Besides describing God in non-trinitarian terms, consider this Elk hymn which describes the type of god the Elk worship.

Great Ruler of the universe

All-seeing and benign,

Look down upon and bless

And be all glory Thine;

May Charity as taught us here

Be ever borne in mind,

The Golden Rule our motto true,

For days of Auld Lang Syne.118

      "Great Ruler of the Universe" is a catch-phrase in almost every deistic unitarian group. The Lord of Scripture, who says "The soul that sinneth, it shall die", is certainly not "benign." The "Golden Rule" is certainly a fine guide for our conduct, as far as it goes; but can it be the motto of a Christian whose creed is, "A man is justified by faith apart from observing the law"?

      Such confusion is natural when we consider the Elks use of the Bible. Usually, it is just a piece of furniture, placed on the altar to identify the lodge as a religious meeting place. But when they do speak of it they miss half the message. Seeing only the Law they disregard the Gospel. The Grand and Esteemed Loyal Knight calls the Bible, at the dedication of a new hall, "The book of law, upon which is founded justice."119

      In the Elk's unbiblical theology, the resurrection unto eternal life in heaven is granted because of merit: merit earned by a virtuous life and Elk membership. We can see this in the memorial services.

it will be their deeds on earth which will aid them in partaking of the treasures of a better world.120 


so direct us in observing and advancing the principles upon which our fraternity is founded that we may ever wear the badge of thy fellowship and the crown of Thy approval.121 


bless us in the benevolent and practical work of our order…that we may ever merit Thy blessings and approval. Amen.122

Can this harmonize with the words "By grace are you saved through faith…"?

      Since they misunderstand God's Word and salvation by grace, we will not be surprises at their misguided efforts at benevolence. Blacks are not allowed to join. Anyone with any kind of physical defect or chronic illness is barred. They have no system to solicit funding for their "benevolent" projects. Membership can be prohibited if only 3 members dislike the applicant.123

      Finally, the universalism of the Elk religion must be questioned. They say of all Elk members, whether Christian or not, "…guide us across the uncharted spaces of death, and bring us at last where worlds unite in bonds of eternal peace. Amen."124

      Jesus said to such attitudes, "Not everyone who says to me Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven…" Elsewhere He made it clear that our merit has nothing to do with salvation. "No one comes to the Father but by me." Jesus said.