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New Testament

Goatrider

Registered User
I just noticed a flyer for our lodge's live auction on a wall at a local diner. It says Romans 8:28 on the bottom. Should I complain?
 
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Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Goatrider said:
I just noticed a flyer for our lodge's live auction on a wall at a local diner. It says Romans 8:28 on the bottom. Should I complain?

Is the flyer something the Lodge decided to do or did a Brother take it upon himself to do it?
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I don't know if I'd "complain", but I'd ask why it's on there, since we are not a religious organization.
 

MikeMay

Premium Member
I'm with Bill. I'd be more curious than offended. I don't quite get the reference.

I agree with Bill too...the reference (in King James) Roman 8:28

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
 

Beathard

Premium Member
I don't think Goatrider was offended. He was more worried that another mason might be.

I'm not sure if I would ask. I asked the same lodge about the Chaplin saying "in Jesus name". I was told by the incoming WM that they were Christians and this was going to be a Christian lodge. Any brother that was offended could just leave.

I'm not sure they would understand the issue with New Testament quotes on a poster.
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
I was told by the incoming WM that they were Christians and this was going to be a Christian lodge. Any brother that was offended could just leave.

I need to know about that lodge so as to make sure I never to go there, oh wait that was said in our lodge and we drove the bigot out of the temple.:glare:
 

Beathard

Premium Member
I am a pretty devout Christian, but if we are all like this I think the rest of the world would be justified in hating us. Masonry was the one place I felt men of different faiths could come together and understand each other. After this discussion with the SW, I am doubting my belief that masonry is the one place we can all safely meet. Very upsetting.
 

Beathard

Premium Member
I won't judge all of masonry by that conversation. I won't even judge all of that lodge. I was just is a little shock by the intolerance of the men picked to be WM and Chaplain.
 

JohnnyFlotsam

Premium Member
I'm not sure if I would ask. I asked the same lodge about the Chaplin saying "in Jesus name". I was told by the incoming WM that they were Christians and this was going to be a Christian lodge. Any brother that was offended could just leave.

That such a group of religious bigots still has a charter is a sad commentary on Texas Masonry.
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
It's not Masonry- it's that Lodge. Please don't judge all of us by them.

Whilst we are in total agreement that we shouldn’t judge the whole of masonry because of one bigoted wm; it does not stop others from judging our institution as such. Let’s say just in Texas alone this makes the GLoT look like the religious arm of the KKK. (If it does not distance itself from this claim). I would almost venture to say this could become a bone of contention for dropping recognition. I think perhaps it may be time for a visit from the district deputy for some good counsel; if you get my meaning.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
Wait, what's the problem? No way we'd ever use bible verses as masons, right?

Hah, I don't see the problem at all.

Masonry is rife with "true freedom is serving the true master" and that is what the verse refers to.

My question would be "Why wasn't a more appropriate verse chosen?"
 

Beathard

Premium Member
There are a lot of old testament verses that would convey the same sentiment and be masonically appropriate.
 

gnarledrose

Registered User
The verse itself isn't offensive; The comments supporting the verse by the lodge officers ARE. It's not as if the entire New Testament is off-limits inside a lodge, any more than quoting a Koran or the Bhagavad Gita would be during a degree of a particular candidate. But saying that
I was told by the incoming WM that they were Christians and this was going to be a Christian lodge. Any brother that was offended could just leave.
is VERY worrying. "Either subscribe to our faith or leave" has never been a Masonic creed.
 

JohnnyFlotsam

Premium Member
The verse itself isn't offensive; The comments supporting the verse by the lodge officers ARE. It's not as if the entire New Testament is off-limits inside a lodge, any more than quoting a Koran or the Bhagavad Gita would be during a degree of a particular candidate. But saying that

is VERY worrying. "Either subscribe to our faith or leave" has never been a Masonic creed.

I believe we're talking about two different incidents in the same Lodge; a verse from Romans on a flyer, and the chaplain appending "... in Jesus' name" to a Masonic prayer (and the WM's statement about it). I can't see what's offensive about the former. It's an expression of a Brother's particular faith, sure, but it's not "in Lodge" and it's presence on the flyer certainly doesn't impact us, so what would be offensive? I want all of my Brother Masons to feel free to make their faith a part of their daily lives.

The latter issue, however, is deeply troubling. I certainly hope that someone talks to the District Deputy about this, and that he is able to set things aright there.
 
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