Letter of the month: April 2001

Here's another question from someone who submitted a mis-spelled or incorrect e-address. It's hard to answer questions from people who don't give a correct reply address.

   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<esss10@sabinenet.com>

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to mail.sabinenet.com.:
>>> RCPT To:<esss10@sabinenet.com>
<<< 550 unknown user <esss10@sabinenet.com>
550 <esss10@sabinenet.com>... User unknown

From: "Charlie White" <esss10@sabinenet.com>
To: <masonry-ask@mit.edu>
Subject: Jesus Christ
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 15:59:21 -0500

I know that the subject must have caught your eye. Please hear me out, my father is a current mason and my husband is also a mason. I need to know if your order believes in Jesus Christ. I need to get in writing whether or not this is so. My father is wanting to leave your organization, based on some fact that he believes is true. I am very interested in this. If necessary please email me some literature. I know what the masons can accomplish and have accomplised and would be very sorry to see this take place.

Thank You,
Charlie White

Dear Charlie,

Masonry is not a religion.

Masonry teaches every member to be faithful to his own conscience and his chosen religion.

Many Masons "believe in Jesus Christ" and some are even Christian ministers, often the leading clergy in their town. Many other Masons are of other faiths and so do not "believe in Jesus Christ". All that is required of a candidate for Masonry is belief in a Supreme Being.

I hope this answers your question.

If your father has more concerns along this line, he might want to ask other members of his own lodge, perhaps the Master or the Chaplain.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Gary L. Dryfoos <dryfoo@mit.edu>| PM: Ocean Lodge AF&AM, Saugus, MA
| P.O.Box 425400, Camb, MA 02142  | PM: Mt. Scopus Lodge AF&AM, Malden, MA
| http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/  | Richard C. Maclaurin Lodge, MIT, MA
| w: 617.253-0184 f: 617.258-6875 | Internet Lodge #9659, E. Lancs UGLE
|                                 | 32~; MPS; B'hood o/t Blue Forget-Me-Not
|                                 | R.W. Grand Rep. GL Russia near GL Mass.
| "...one sacred band, or society of Friends and Brothers, among
|  whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention,
|  or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree."
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