Freemasonry is not a religion though all members must affirm a belief in a supreme being of the universe.
Masonry is not a social club, even though it encourages fraternal fellowship among its members. Topics such as politics or religion might provoke controversy or dissention are not introduced at its meetings.
Masonry has no policy of evangelism or reformation. It does not strive to convert or rehabilitate wicked or immoral men: in fact, it tries to exclude them from its ranks. It does seek to make good men better, and it encourages charity in act, word and thought.
Masonry is not an avenue of social advancement. There is no place in the Fraternity for a man who cannot meet his associates, and deal with them as equals. He must always remember that all men, no matter what their station in life,or their race, or color, are partakers of the same nature, and that in the long run the only distinction which counts for anything is individual human worth.
Yet despite these lofty goals and principles, there has been anti-Masonic sentiment that has attempted to degrade the reputation of this noble organization. This sentiment has occurred from two major sources: One is based on the religious opposition of the Roman Catholic Church. A substantive argument is that the power of the Church is undermined since the Fraternity insists on preserving its secrets. The other major argument grows from a political base going back as far as the eighteen hundreds. The rise of the National Socialists in Germany in 1933 added significantly to the political opposition. In that year Hitler charged the Masons with responsibility for various subersive activities, including all the incidents leading to World War I. Hitler's propoganda machine was very active.
The controversy over the years has been aggrivated by opponents in sections of the press, churches and others who suspect the order because of its intent to maintain privacy and descretion of its principles, tools, traditions and ceremonies. From time to time, there have been those who have threatened to provide an expose of the secrets of the order ... a press worthy interest.
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