Automatic's translation of my webpage:
http://www.chez.com/tjrecherches/fm1.htm
Was Russell a freemason ?, Left 1: Through the papers
The debate which divided and which still divides the small world of the former(ancient) Jehovah's Witnesses on the French Internet, is that of the membership or not of the franc - masonry of the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses, namely Charles Taze Russell. Having been an actor of this debate, it seemed to me convenient of summary my ideas in writing to take advantage of it the readers of this site.
This small summary which does not want exhaustive will be divided into three parts :
1/ Russell's reports(connections) in the franc - masonry through the papers
2/ Study and criticizes arguments of the upholders of Russell's membership of the Franc - masonry.
3/ Summary of the serial of the debate on the French Internet.
Russell and the franc - masonry through the papers :
Russell drew his(her) ideas from the second adventisme American. One of the inspirers of Russell was called Henri Grew. The Watchtower company(society), always worried about criticisms which it undergoes, although it forbids his(her) followers to listen them, recently dedicated an article on this person, as well as on Georges Storrs. Although as usual, she(it) does not quote the sources, she(it) aspires in Page 24 of Nurse's tower of October 15, 2000, although Henri Grew had as faith, fact that " the Christians do not have to belong to a secret society, such as the franc - masonry ". One can wonder so effectively Henri Grew did not influence Russell because from the first brochure, Russell classifies the franc - masonry in the organizations of the world which will not bring any help to the human beings at the time of the Big Distress preceding God's war.
Has the page 58 of its Lord Return's brochure Object and Manner pf our, commenting On apocalypse 6 15 which declares :
15 And the kings of the earth(ground), and the people of high row(rank), and the commanders(majors), and the rich, and the strong, and every slave, and (every) free man hid in caves and in cliffs of mountains. 16 And ceaselessly they say to mountains and to cliffs: " Fall on us and hide us from the face of The one that sits on the throne and of the anger of the Lamb …
He says :
" They will seek hiding, also, in such great rocks of worldly society have Free Masonry, Odd Fellowship, etc., drank none of these shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Of Lord anger. "
Translation:
They ( the people) will try to hide, also , in the big cliffs of the company(society) of the "world" as the Franc - masonry, " Odd Fellows " but any of those will not be capable of freeing(delivering) them from the anger of the Lord. "
One sees him(it) for Russell, from 1877 , the franc - masonry is a work of the "world" , that is the world remote from God and is not of use to anything in front of God.
It(he) takes it especially for a company(society) of protection, mutual mutual aid.
As Mickaël Tussier's site on the page reveals him(it) http: // www.multimania.com / tussier / fm4.htm, on June 15, 1895, Russell will say in Nurse's tower about the franc - masonry :
Has the question of a reader who asks :
DEAR BROTHER: - I would like to have your opinion one the subject of life insurance. They are organizing lodges all around here - United Workmen, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Masons, Odd Fellows, etc. They are working it just about like sectarianism in the churches. Would like to see year article in the TOWER one the subject. Yours in the coil of the truth, W. E. KILLAM. OUR REPLY TO TEA QUERY.
----------
Translation:
Dear brother, I would like having your opinion on " insurances - lives ? ". They organize changing rooms quite all around here - the United Employees, the Knights de Pythias, the " red people ", the masons, Odd Fellows, etc... They work in the same way as sectarianism in Churches . I would like seeing an article in the TOWER on this subject.
Russell answers :
" We notice as well as the order of the Francs - masons, if he is judged by his past history, has some secret object or schema, other than brotherhood and grant in the times of diseases or death. And as far as we can judge it, there is certain degree of profane worship or of momeries bound(connected) to the rites of this order and of some the others, as far as members do not understand(include), but which, in a lot of case, serve for satisfying the tendency of the natural spirit, for the worship, and consequently prevents them from looking for God's worship in spirit and really - through Christ, the only authorized Intermediary and Grand Master.
In this measure, such companies(societies) waste a precious time in madnesses, rites and ceremonies divested of sense(direction), and by substituting the worship of their officers, and the use of words and symbols which have no sense(direction) for them, in the worship of God, of a way suited through Christ and according to the spiritual knowledge of the Spirit of a healthy spirit.
In this measure, these companies(societies) are cruelly bad, without taking into account earnings or financial losses in connection with the membership to one of them "
The complete article is available on http: // reslight.addr.com/towers/95/06/1895-06b .html
Russell criticizes so austerely the Franc - masonry in this Nurse's tower. It(he) do not put her(it) any more in the category of a simple brotherhood of mutual aid as he seemed to perceive her(it) in 1877, and as his reader seemed to perceive him(it). But what is interesting in this message, it is that Russell made a mistake in this statement on the Franc - masonry and that an ex-franc-maçon will point out him(her) its errors in Nurse's tower of the 1 er in August, 1895 :
" To BROTHER, ounce very deep in Secretism, and who knows that the Editor has had no such experience, writes have follows:-
DEAR BROTHER Secret RUSSELL: - Your remarks under caption of and Beneficial Societies in TOWER, of June 15, ' 95, seem rather funny to me. You hit the nail very fairly considering that you were hammering so much in the dark. I am glad that you defend the principle of protection have
Afforded by legitimate now old line companies, life, fire and accident. With you, however, I think their days are numbered. No. human business was ever organized with broader and more philanthropic institute than Insurance, and no business has been so abused and diverted from its real purposes. When Insurance fails (have it has failed) from the effect of selfishness, we can not hope that any human work will succeed. Have to the secret societies, they use(wear out) has ritual applicable to each different degree, which is fully have reasonable have that of many of the churches, and like those of the churches, it is usually of heathen origin. The worship of the Sun appears prominently in Masonry, and so it does in the service of the Episcopal Catholic and churches. The term " Worshipful ", have used in masonry, is now practically obsolete, drank was formerly and generally used have has term of respect. I
Occupied the station of " Worshipful Master " for three years, drank I never received the worship of my fellow mortals, and I certainly never fill up it to others. Your suggestion, that it is done ignorantly, is has good suggestion, drank it does not apply in that accommodate. Perhaps no man in my state, during the twenty odd years I was has member of the fraternity, fills up more careful study to the symbolism of Masonry, its moral teaching, and its jurisprudence.
While masonry does not inculcate the worship of its officers, it does what is worse; for in its essence the symbolism used in the ceremonies are derived from devil worship. Although no follow unequally yoked with those unbelievers (2 Corn. 6:14-17), I doh want to say for those who
Are still in the bondage that they have much excuses. Masonry consists very largely in has series of morale instructions, taught agreeably to ancient custom(usage), by types, symbols and allegorical figures. It is has system, and has very beautiful system - have is very much of Of Satan work - when seen from
The worldly standpoint. Your fellow-worker in the best (not the worst) of jumps. "
Translation:
A BROTHER, who was a time profoundly involved in secret societies ( " Secretism " ), and who knows that the publisher(editor) had not such an experience(experiment), writes what follows:
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL: - your remarks on secret societies and of protection in NURSE'S TOWER of June 15, on 1895, appeared me rather funny. You touched just even though you knocked in the darkness. I am happy that you defend(forbid) the principle of the protection as it is present in the companies assuring(insuring) life, against the fire and the accidents. With you, however, I think that their days are counted. No human affair(business) was ever organized with more generosity and intentions more philanthropic than assurance, and any other affair(business) was so mistreated and was so diverted(hijacked) from its true purposes. When one sees that assurance fails (because it failed) by the effect of the egoism, we can hope only for any other human work succeed.
As for secret societies, they use a rite for every different degree, which is completely as reasonable as that of many churches, and as those of churches, it is usually heathen origin. The cult of the sun appears in evidence in the masonry, as in that of service of Roman Catholic Churches and episcopal. Term "Worship" used in the masonry, is now practically old-fashioned,
But formerly and it(he) was used generally as a mark(brand) of respect. I occupied the post office of " boss of Worship " during three years, but I have never received the worship of my mortal companions, and I certainly never gave her(it) to the others. Your suggestion, which was made by ignorance, is a good suggestion, but do not apply in that case. Maybe no man who as me was member of the brotherhood during more than twenty years, made more careful study of the symbolism of the masonry, its moral education, and its jurisprudence.
Although the masonry does not inculcate the cult of his(her) officers, she(it) makes what is badger; because in the essence symbolism used in ceremonies is diverted from the cult of devil. Although we do not form an ill-matched harness with these godless (2 corn 6:14-17), I mean for those that are always in the links that they have many excuses. The Masonry consists of very big part in a series of moral instructions, taught pleasantly by types, symbols and allegorical figures. It is a system, and very one beautiful system - as is it infinitely the work of Satan - seen by the point of view of the world.
Your companion - worker in the best (not the badgest) links.
***
Another brother writes: - -
the masonry is not the Christianity; and the one that is so deceived by thinking that she(it) is her(it), is led by this fact in a labyrinth of painful errors. I think that I know about what I speak about, I was during seven years 'a boss' of a 'changing room', and I conferred on it one hundred degrees. The masonry does not clean sins, and does not save our soul of the death; and it is a grave question for a child of God to pass of time and of some money(silver) in an institution of the world. There is nothing pure which is ground, but purity comes down(falls) of at the top. "
One can so note of what follows, what Russell did not understand(include) big thing(matter) of the rites of the Franc - masonry and what they are ex-masons become Students of the Bible which(who) are going a little to teach him(her) it that it is or quite at least to give him(her) a negative opinion, which he already had, from a priori inherited from the Adventist environment(middle).
In 1904, Russell will speak again about the Franc - masonry, always in report the companies(societies) of mutual aid, he will disadvise again to make it left to his followers, by identifying the masonry in Babylon, that is false religions :
Page 640,641 of the Volume VI of the Studies of Writings: " new Creation "
" This puts in front of us the quite complete problem of orders, companies(societies), etc., and privileges which possesses New Creation face to face of these organizations. Is it suitable that new creatures make left for these companies(societies)?
We answer that if associations of churches are purely religious and what trade union movements of mutual aid are laic, generally , purely, there are the others of it else who have religious aspects and laic aspects. As we understand(include), for example the Francs - masons, Odd-Fellows, the Knights de Pythias, etc., carry out certain rites and certain ceremonies of religious character. That it(he) is naturally that we do not pursue any hostile campaign against the members of these different orders, no more than we make him(it) against different sectarian religious systems. We put on the same foot all the systems which understand(include) ceremonies and educations with religious character, etc. And we all consider them as parts of Babylon, whose certain districts are more appropriate(clean) and the others less appropriate(clean), but that nevertheless are all full of confusion, error, contrary to the divine intention such as reveals her(it) the organization of the primitive Church, and in the instructions that gave to them, by the word and by the example, the inspired Founder and his(her) twelve apostles.
We advise the Short story - creation(piece of news - creation) to have nothing to make with some of these companies(societies), clubs, orders, churches with semi-religious character, but " go out of the environment(middle) of them, be separated and not touch what is impure " (2 Corn. 6:17) "
In 1913, in a fearless speech, Russell will compare the Christian Church with a secret society of which the Grand Master is a Jesus Christ and so members not knowing because only Jesus knows them. It is the main argument of the upholders of Russell's membership of the franc - masonry. Russell will declare himself frank - mason of this masonry, the biblical masonry. Throughout the speech, it(he) will try to make analogy between the Church and a secret society, certainly to seduce some masons in the room.
It(he) will slide some shells in the text showing that it(he) did not know always enough the masonry as he had admitted him(it) following the mail(courier) of his ex-mason reader.
For example :
" And so, if we speak to our friends Maçons about the temple and about its meaning, and on the way to be of good Masons and about the Big Pyramid, which is main emblems which they use, "
Regrettably, the pyramid is not the main masonic emblem, it is the myth which has its origin in the presence of the eye in the pyramid on the USD and Russell repeats only this gossip.
On the site very informed on the masonry, " masonicinfo " , (http: // www.masonicinfo.com / eye.htm), the author reveals that symbol " is not used that several times in touch with the degrees of Scottish Rites (and not Royal Arch as asserts it the upholders of Russell's masonry). The masonic author Brent S . Morris, quoted in this site declares about the pyramid :
" Has pyramid, whether incomplete now finished, however, has never been has Masonic symbol. It has no generally accepted symbolic meaning, except perhaps golden durability mystery. The combining of the eye of providence overlooking a year unfinished pyramid is has uniquely American, not Masonic, icon, and must be interpreted have its designers intended. It has no Masonic context "
Translation:
" A pyramid, that it is incomplete or finished, nevertheless, was never a masonic symbol. She(it) has generally any accepted symbolic sense(direction), except maybe durability or mystery. The combination(overall) of the eye of the providence overhanging an incomplete pyramid, is an iconography purely American and not masonic, and it must be interpreted as these designers wanted him(it). She(it) has no masonic context. "
We are very far from the main emblem of the franc - masons as asserts it Russell.
Has another place Russell declare :
" although I was never Mason, I heard that the Masonry has something which illustrates very well everything this. "
Russell asserts his(its,her) non-membership in the masonry ( "ground" we shall add), the upholders of the thesis of the membership of Russell's masonry explain that he belonged in fact to Knight Templar (Knights of the temple) which was an organization paramaçonnique, and so not completely masonic what allowed him(her) to say that it was not mason. Regrettably, Knight Templar is many masons, it is necessary to be frank - mason to become Knight Templar as reveals him(it) the site of this movement in the United States at address http: // www.knightstemplar.org / freqaq.html:
Under the intertitle " How to become Knight Templar "
" How to Become has Knight Templar
To petition has golden Commandery of Knights Templar membership, you must first be has member of has Masonic Lodge and other pre-requisite bodies such have the Royal Arch Chapter and possibly has Royal Council of and Select Masters. (This depends one the state where you reside) To petition has Commandery one must profess has belief in the Christian Religion.
One who does not know has golden Knight Templar has local Master Mason should contact the Masonic Temple for information now The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America, 5097 N. Elston avenue, Continuation(suite) 101, Chicago, Illinois 60630-2460. "
Translation:
to sell door-to-door(canvass) with Knight Templar's Commanderie or to become member, you have at first to be member of a masonic changing room and another body as meadow required as the Chapter of the Royal Arc or the council of the Misteres Royaux and Selected players (It depends on the state in which you live(lie)). To sell door-to-door(canvass) with Commanderie you have to profess Christian religion.
A person who would not know Knight Templar or a mason Boss should contact the local masonic Temple for information or the Big " Encampment ? " Knight Templat of United States of America … "
Russell could not either be so Knight Templar, or be a franc - mason because for being Knight Templar, it was necessary to be already frank - mason.
We have just made the tour of sources written on Russell and the franc - masonry. Russell in the papers and speech made a mistake regularly on the franc - masonry, even though on the last speech it demonstrates a better knowledge of the movement. He asserted not being mason and he has indentifié the masonry in Babylon the Big of which it was necessary to deviate (Apocalypse 18 4) . Of part these texts, one can not conclude that Russell was well a franc - mason.
For the opposite point of view to see http: // www.microtec.net / mleblank /
For a sharp analysis from the sources of the theories of this site to see www.multimania.com / xmd /
Bye
Charles
