Re: Wife having a problem with Freemasonry, she wa
This is not a disparagement of anyone's church, but just a way to shed some light on churches in MY area:
Around here, you won't generally hear anything negative from established Presbyterian, Methodist, or Baptist churches that have met under the same stained glass and steeple for the last 150 years - (my own church was standing long before the Civil War and withstood a bombardment of downtown during one of the local battles) - you know, the types of churches were the preacher has the title Rev. Dr. So-and-So, many of whom are Masons themselves.
The churches/preachers/churchgoers that have negative comments are usually ones that meet in abandoned convenience stores, some little building that was shackled together out in a field somewhere, a mobile home purchased and turned into a church, etc. They usually have some kind of hand-painted sign that says "Full Gospel" or "Tabernacle of the Redeemer" or "God's Church" or something. The preachers are only "ordained ministers" by the congregation of that particular church, and many times they are just selected "OK, Bill, you can preach this month; then it's Bob's turn." We laughingly refer to these as BYOS - bring your own snakes.
There is a guy who lives just out the road from my folks and myself, and he is one of these self-style "preachers." He has lived there most of my life and has known my family longer than I have been alive. One day my dad and I were working out in the yard, and he stopped by to chat. I don't know what even got it started, but the conversation turned toward him talking about "them ole Masons." My dad and I just looked at each other smiled. We let him say his peace. Then my dad asked him, "how long have you known us?"
"Forever."
"And you say the Masons are up to something bad?"
"Oh yeah. ... (I don't remember what all he said here)"
"You realize you are talking to two of them, and you know we don't do any of those things."
"Oh, oh, oh, but I don't mean you regular Masons. Y'all's good people. It's just them higher ups that's the bad ones."
"Well, in one aspect of it, Joe here is the highest ranking one in this part of the state." (I just shook my head and smiled)
"Uhhhhh, well, I gotta go."