The UK's Church Times has an article about the recent situation with the Church of England in which Reverend Jonathan Baker was encouraged to resign his Masonic membership by the Archbishop of Canterbury before his consecration as the next Bishop of Ebbsfleet.
If you have an opinion on the matter, the Church Times also has an online poll asking the question, "Is Freemasonry compatible with Christianity?"
Currently, out of 12,094 votes, 95% of the responses are "yes."
I'd say that's pretty overwhelming.
See also: More Masonophobia in the Church of England
If you have an opinion on the matter, the Church Times also has an online poll asking the question, "Is Freemasonry compatible with Christianity?"
Currently, out of 12,094 votes, 95% of the responses are "yes."
I'd say that's pretty overwhelming.
See also: More Masonophobia in the Church of England
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UPDATE June 3rd
An interesting lineup of letters in the Church Times this week, including a response from the Grand Secretary of the UGLE. I don't know about other U.S. Masons, but I was a little surprised to read that UGLE made changes in its ritual to respond to Church of England objections in the 1980s.
Really. The word J--b-l-- was removed from the English Royal Arch degree.
As to his note that Freemasonry does not prohibit women from joining, we concur in the U.S. Mainstream Freemasonry merely requires its members to not be present at the making of women Masons, and not to communicate Masonically with them. But just as in England, I think we all realize there are female Freemasons here and all around the world who are every bit as passionate about the Craft as we are.
As to allegations of Freemasons secretly scratching each others' backs for job advancement and pecuniary reward, good for Mr Christopher Haffner for asking, "does anyone know how much back-scratching goes into the secret process of making senior appointments in the Church of England?"
UPDATE June 3rd
An interesting lineup of letters in the Church Times this week, including a response from the Grand Secretary of the UGLE. I don't know about other U.S. Masons, but I was a little surprised to read that UGLE made changes in its ritual to respond to Church of England objections in the 1980s.
Really. The word J--b-l-- was removed from the English Royal Arch degree.
As to his note that Freemasonry does not prohibit women from joining, we concur in the U.S. Mainstream Freemasonry merely requires its members to not be present at the making of women Masons, and not to communicate Masonically with them. But just as in England, I think we all realize there are female Freemasons here and all around the world who are every bit as passionate about the Craft as we are.
As to allegations of Freemasons secretly scratching each others' backs for job advancement and pecuniary reward, good for Mr Christopher Haffner for asking, "does anyone know how much back-scratching goes into the secret process of making senior appointments in the Church of England?"