Early Masonic historians sought to establish the foundation of Freemasonry in antiquity, but reputable modern historians put no faith in these legends....
The organization of the three-degree Masonic system as we know it today was completed by 1725. ...
A Masonic lodge will initiate a Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, or adherent of any other religion. Although each Anglo-American lodge will place a Holy Bible on its altar, an initiate may elect to swear his oaths on the Koran or the Vedas, or any scripture of his choice. Anderson's Constitution states that a Mason, "if he rightly understand the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist or an irreligious Libertine." Thus English-speaking lodges will initiate an agnostic or freethinker but not an atheist. When the Grand Orient of France eliminated (Sept. 13, 1877) the requirements of belief in God and in the immortality of the soul, the United Grand Lodge of England and its affiliated grand lodges immediately severed fraternal relations. This schism in worldwide Freemasonry has not been healed. Typically the Masonic lodges in Latin countries have appealed to freethinkers and anticlericals while those in England, northern Europe, and America draw their membership largely from Protestant churches. ...
Condemnation of Freemasonry by Church and State. Twenty-one years after the organization of the Grand Lodge of England, Roman Catholics were forbidden to seek membership in any Masonic group. In the bull In Eminenti of April 28, 1738, Clement XII condemned Freemasonry on the grounds of its naturalism, demand for oaths, religious indifferentism, and the possible threat to Church and State. These remain the chief objections to the Masonic system today. Since 1738 seven other popes have specifically proscribed Freemasonry. The major papal documents are: Benedict XIV, Providas, May 18, 1751 Pius VII, Ecclesiam, Sept. 13, 1821 Leo XIII [XII], Quo graviora, March 13, 1825 Pius VIII, May 21, 1829 Gregory XVI, Mirari, Aug. 15, 1832 Pius IX, Qui pluribus, Nov. 9, 1846
Quibus quantisque malis, April 20, 1849
Quanta cura, Dec. 8, 1864
Multiplices inter, Sept. 25, 1865
Apostolicae Sedis, Oct. 12, 1869
Esti multa, Nov. 21, 1873 Leo XIII, Esti nos, Feb. 15, 1882
Humanum genus, April 20, 1884
Ab Apostolici, Oct. 15, 1890
Praeclara, June 20, 1894
Annum ingressi, March 18, 1902
As a consequence no Catholic may join a Masonic lodge or affiliated organization without incurring excommunication reserved simpliciter to the Holy See (CIC c.2335). This deprives him of the reception of the Sacraments, the spiritual treasures of the Church, Christian burial, and such rights as acting as a godfather in Baptism. Likewise a Mason who wishes to enter the Catholic Church must first sever all ties with the lodge.
Several Protestant states were the first to enact restrictive measures against the Masonic lodges. Holland banned the lodge in 1735; Sweden and Geneva, in 1738; Zurich, in 1740; and Berne, in 1745. Spain, Portugal, and Italy attempted to suppress Freemasonry after 1738. Bavaria followed in 1784; Austria, in 1795; Baden, in 1813; and Russia, in 1822. ln more recent years the various Nazi, fascist, and communist governments have attacked Freemasonry. Hitler and Mussolini confiscated lodge buildings and paraphernalia and disbanded the membership. However, the lodges revived to some extent after World War II. Communism considers Freemasonry a bourgeois organization and forbids its recognition. It is also outlawed in Spain, Portugal, Indonesia, and the United Arab Republic.
The Roman Catholic Church is not alone in denying its followers membership in a Masonic lodge. Many Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations have similar prohibitions for their communicants. In the U.S. the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which have a combined membership of 3 million, and all other major Lutheran denominations warn against lodge affiliation, but not all enforce the ban. Among the other antilodge churches are the Christian Reformed Church, Church of the Brethren, Assemblies of God, Society of Friends (Quakers), Mennonites, Church of the Nazarene, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), United Brethren, Wesleyan and Free Methodist churches, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. General Booth condemned it for the Salvation Army. The National Christian Association was formed in 1874 to coordinate Protestant opposition to secret societies. On a worldwide basis the majority of Christians belong to denominations that absolutely forbid membership in a Masonic lodge or similar secret society. It must be admitted, however, that many of these Protestant condemnations have never been enforced and are dead letters today.
Diffusion from 18th Century to the Present. Freemasonry had a wide expansion during the last 3 centuries.
England, Ireland, and Scotland. The original lodges of the Grand Lodge of England attracted few members until 1721. Thereafter some members of the Royal Society applied for initiation and added prestige to the organization. Many others enrolled who were weary of the religious dissension of the times and sought a basis for society in the naturalism and unsectarianism of the lodge. Apart from any religious considerations, secret societies became fashionable among the 18th-century aristocracy. By 1725 the number of lodges had risen to 63; and by 1733, to 126. Gradually Anglo-Saxon Masonry turned away from deism and incorporated elements of Biblical Christian orthodoxy. Toward the end of the 18th century lodge chaplains were appointed, and the support of members of the Protestant clergy was enlisted. A rival grand lodge in England was formed by Irish Masons in 1751. Those who gave their allegiance to the new grand lodge were then known as "Antients" or "York" Masons. The Antients won recognition from the Grand Lodge of Scotland and Ireland and gained influence in the American colonies. A reunion was effected in 1813 and the new authority was called the United Grand Lodge of England. It incorporated several of the ritualistic preferences of the Antients such as the royal arch degree. The reunion of Moderns and Antients also reestablished the unsectarian character of the Masonic lodges under the staunchly deist Duke of Sussex as grand master. Several Roman Catholics served as grand masters of the English lodge during the 18th century. The Catholic Duke of Norfolk became grand master in 1730. Another prominent Catholic Freemason was Viscount Montagu. Robert Edward, the ninth Lord Petre, who was considered the head of the Catholic community in England, became a grand master in 1772 and held that office for 5 years. The Marquess of Ripon resigned the grand mastership in 1874 when he joined the Catholic Church.