Jacob,
I would like to expand upon the truth that Gina has stated more succinctly. However, if you are going to get back on topic, than call it what it is. It is not a “shirt,” it is an “apron.” A Masonic Apron, or Badge of a Mason. That apron reminds ALL Masons, whether they are Christians or not, that it is NOT Jesus and His imputed righteousness that gets one to heaven; it is ones own personal righteousness. Jacob, how “spotless” does a pagan have to be to enter the kingdom of God?
Freemasonry declares that Jesus is not the only way to salvation when it teaches that what is essentially necessary to enter heaven is purity of life and conduct, which applies to all Masons – believers in Christ and non-believers too. The “white shirt” Jacob is referring to and its Masonic meaning is explained as follows:
The Lamb has, in all ages, been deemed an emblem of innocence. He therefore who wears the lambskin as the badge of a Mason is continually reminded of the purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admission in to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides. Masonic Manual, 1983, p. 20, Grand Lodge of Georgia
Jacob can find similar language in his ritual or Tennessee Craftsman or Masonic Textbook.
How does a Mason go about living a life of purity and becoming righteous? The symbolic teaching of the Rough and Perfect Ashlar addresses how a Mason may become perfect. Notice that Freemasonry NEVER mentions faith in Jesus Christ as being a factor.
The Rough Ashlar is a stone as taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state; the Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen to be adjusted by the tools of a Fellow Craft;. . .
By the Rough Ashlar we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature; by the Perfect Ashlar, that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, or own endeavors and the blessings of God; . . . Indiana Monitor and Freemason’s Guide, 1993, pp. 66-67.
Jacob can find similar language in his ritual or Tennessee Craftsman or Masonic Textbook.
The Grand Lodge of California provides materials for those who coach new initiates which explains this teaching a little further:
ROUGH ASHLAR, a stone from the quarry before squaring, a symbol of untutored man. Perfect ashlar, a stone squared and smooth, symbol of enlightened manhood. Perfection is here attained by a process of taking away; no stroke of gavel or chisel can add anything to a rough ashlar; it may only remove. Perfection, then, is already within.
In the Great Light we read: "The kingdom of heaven is within you." All that is required is to remove the roughness, the excrescences, "divesting our hearts and consciences of the vices and superfluities of life" to show forth the perfect man and Mason and to find the kingdom within. Handbook for Candidates Coaches, Committee on Ritual, Grand Lodge of California, P. 16.
The Legend of the Third Degree also teaches salvation through personal righteousness. All Grand Lodges lift up Hiram Abiff as the Masonic savior, but they do not use the word savior in the ritual, or monitors. Yet the teaching of ritual is easily understood:
Then, finally my brethren, let us imitate our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, in his virtuous conduct, his unfeigned piety to God, and his inflexible fidelity to his trust; that, like him, we may welcome the grim tyrant, Death, and receive him as a kind messenger sent by our Supreme Grand Master, to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorious, and celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides. Masonic Ritual Similar to p. 152, Kentucky Monitor
Jacob can find similar language in his ritual or Tennessee Craftsman or Masonic Textbook.
Hiram is, in effect, a savior according to the Masonic concept of the word. Notice here that Masons are supposed to imitate Hiram in order that they may get into heaven. They are to imitate his virtuous life and righteousness, essentially, so that they may earn their own salvation. Again, this applies to ALL MASONS regardless of their religious persuasion. Freemasonry has substituted imitation for faith and Hiram for Jesus. According the Masonic concept, a savior is a way shower, or example.
Therefore Masonry teaches that redemption and salvation are both the power and the responsibility of the individual Mason. Saviors like Hiram Abiff can and do show the way, but men must always follow and demonstrate, each for himself, his power to save himself, to build his own spiritual fabric in his own time and way. Every man in essence is his own savior and redeemer; for if he does not save himself, he will not be saved. The reader who succeeds in getting back to the real teachings of the masters, including Jesus of Nazareth, will find unanimity of thinking on this matter. The Meaning of Masonry, Lynn Perkins, page 95
Now I ask Jacob to defend his position based upon the points made above. If he can refute them, he should be able to do so by providing a variety of Masonic sources that support the biblical position on salvation, which is that ONLY Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness get us to heaven. I have shown, through a number of sources, that this “spotlessness” according to Freemasonry is not the righteousness of God found only in Christ Jesus, but rather the “righteousness” of Man, which God calls filthy rages (Isaiah 64:6).
Mike Gentry
Order of FORMER Freemasons
[ August 24, 2004, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: O.F.F. ]