My Response to Pastor Win Worley and Hegewisch Baptist Church

My attention was recently turned to an article entitled "The Demonic Roots of Freemasonry," an excerpt taken from "Demonic Deceptions, Booklet #15" by Pastor Win Worley. This excerpt was published on the website of Hegewisch Baptist Church and takes us for quite a spin. Let's get started.

Worley states that Masonry claims to be a revival of ancient pagan philosophies (Egyptian, Phoenician, etc.) and that these all secretly worshiped a sun god (Lucifer).

Grand lodges speak for themselves and for the lodges under their respective jurisdictions. If a claim is made by one of these entities, it will be published by the grand lodges; grand lodges are the only entities that carry the weight of Masonic authority to make any claims regarding its nature or character. Notice also that Worley does not provide any sources for this claim; no historians are mentioned and no lodges or grand lodges are specified.

Worley then states that such secret worship was called "the Mysteries," and that these were revived by the founders of Masonry in the early 1700s. Worley then concludes that these mysteries (which he specifies as the worship of Osiris, Ba'al, Bacchus, or Dionysus) must be the mysteries of Freemasonry today, claiming that they are identical in every aspect. He then appeals to Albert Mackey, whom he incorrectly labels as a "Masonic authority," by misattributing a quote to him, saying that they are the "same in substance, being derived from one source and celebrated in honor of the same deities."

It should first be noted that no such quote comes from Mackey; instead, it comes from Author A. T. C. Pierson, whom Worley references in the next paragraph (the correct citation is provided at the end of this post among the works cited section). Even so, neither Mackey nor Pierson carry this supposed weight of authority, as they themselves do not constitute entire grand lodges.

Since we have established that neither Mackey nor Pierson carry the incorrectly presupposed weight of authority, we therefore know that this quote and conclusion are nothing more than opinion.

Worley then vaguely states that a "converted witch" claimed to him that Masonry was identical to witchcraft. He then states that Masonic rituals are "rooted in ancient witchcraft and demon worship" and "places people under dangerous occult powers." He also posits that signs, grips, passwords, etc. somehow "bring lives under secret bondage."

I would love to see the primary source material that led this vaguely referenced convert to the conclusion that Masonry uses the same ceremonies as witchcraft. Notice that no such material is provided by Worley and we are expected to accept this unsupported hearsay without argument.

That stated, I find no logical basis for the claim that signs, grips, and passwords "bring lives under secret bondage." Does the same apply to your passwords for your email, bank, or social media accounts? How about for your children's exclusive treehouse club? Such things serve as nothing more than credentials to indicate that one belongs to the group.

Worley then claims that we have "infiltrated the churches" and therefore cause "spiritual paralysis." He then appeals to Christ's words in John 18:20 that Christ spake openly to the world and has said nothing in secret; he uses this to take issue with his claim that we are a secret order that "[enforces] secrecy … with bloody oaths." He then states that "believers" are charged to renounce "the hidden things of darkness," appealing to Romans 13:12.

In contrast, we know that Christ had no problem with secrets. Multiple occasions are recorded where Christ commanded witnesses of His miracles to say nothing. In addition, we know that He taught via parables in order to keep His teachings secret from those who were not yet ready to receive them (Matthew 13:10-11). As far as the nature of the secrets which we Masons keep, it is merely superficial and traditional (Cole What are some secrets of the Freemasons?). Worley's use of "bloody oaths" is nothing more than a scare tactic; since no blood is drawn or exchanged in Masonry, we know that the term blood oath only applies to Masonry as "a very serious or solemn oath" (Blood Oath) which covers the grand majority of promises, oaths, contracts, and covenants ever made.

Secrets are a sociological norm in society. Everyone has secrets, and Worley is no exception.

 As for "hidden things of darkness," this does not apply to Masonry for the following reasons:

• We publish our:
• meeting places
• meeting times
• We sport Masonic signs/symbols publicly on our:
• Belt buckles
• Baseball caps
• Rings
• Bracelets
• Bumper stickers
• Car decals
• Pandemic facemasks
• And so on and so forth
• We pay our electric bills and replace our light bulbs as needed.
• Our by-laws, constitutions, legislation, etc. are published and therefore available to the public.

Worley then goes on to claim that Freemasonry refers to Ba'al as the "Tyrian Architect," and that, since this demonic entity was "worshiped on the high places," this must be the reason why lodge meetings are held in upper chambers: "to worship celestial bodies."

I have never come across any Masonic ritual that makes any reference to Ba'al. I assume that the "Tyrian Architect" that Worley refers to is Hiram Abiff, a Biblically historical figure (1 Kings 7:13-14; 2 Chronicles 2:13-14; 4:11, 16) who plays a key part in our allegories. He does not qualify as "demonic" in any way, shape, or form, given that his is merely an allegorical example used to illustrate integrity.

Also, the extent of worship that occurs in Masonry is that of neutral prayer (the same as what are given in Boy Scout troop meetings, town hall meetings, the Senate, etc.). That stated, Worley is more than welcome to provide us grand lodge materials that support their position.

As for why we hold our meetings in upper chambers, let's turn to Masonic ritual (EA: Lecture) for aid in understanding this matter:

Our ancient brethren met upon high hills or in low valleys, the better to observe the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, ascending or descending; but Masons of the present day usually meet in upper chambers, for the better security that such places afford.

Considering that stone mason guilds of ancient times met in private in order to protect their trade secrets, Worley's claims here are wildly out-of-bounds.

Worley goes on to claim that "Freemasonry is wicked system of sworn deception, fraud and cunning craftiness from beginning to end." He goes on to state that, until the candidate takes the MM obligation, lodge members are "system of sworn deception, fraud and cunning craftiness from beginning to end" and that, by the time that the candidate reaches that "level" (a term that denotes equality in Masonry instead of advancement), he'll be so obligated that he cannot rebel.

This is wholly incorrect. For starters, let's look at the character and tenets of Freemasonry (EA: Senior Steward's Lecture):

Freemasonry is far removed from all that is trivial, selfish and ungodly. It is a beautiful system of morals, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Its tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Let's see what the ritual (EA: Lecture) says about its principal tenet of Truth:

Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this theme we contemplate and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct. Hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us; and the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity.

Worley's accusation that Freemasonry is a "wicked system of sworn deception, fraud, and cunning craftiness from beginning to end" is likewise wholly unsupported and false. In addition, Masons are certainly able to rebel against their obligations; however, such action, if learned by Masonic authority, will result in a reprimand, suspension, or expulsion as necessary.

Worley goes on to claim that the Masonic symbols of pillars representing Wisdom, Strength and Beauty are taken directly from the Brahma initiation of the mysteries of Hinduism.

Again, Worley is making a claim without supporting it; no sources are provided to show a provenance of these symbols being adopted from Hinduism into Masonry. Even if this were proven, this does not make Freemasonry in and of itself Hinduism anymore than the adoption of the fish symbol makes Christians worshippers of the pagan water-god Enki. The concepts of wisdom, strength, and beauty are universal.

Worley then baselessly claims that "every symbol, ceremony and emblem of Freemasonry" confronts us with "nothing but the sun-god (Lucifer)." He adds to this, identifying Masonry as the worship of Ba'al. At this point, it is clear that Worley is trying to force his own understandings of symbols onto Masonry, thereby throwing context (an essential component of truth) out the window. Nothing in Masonry has anything to do with a "sun-god" nor with Lucifer.

Worley then goes off the deep-end, trying to force an irrelevant interpretation upon the Masonic symbol of the Point within a Circle. He claims that this is borrowed from "Ba'al mythology" and represents the veneration of the "male organ of generation" or phallus. He then references various passages from the Old Testament to condemn this, after which he again appeals to Albert Mackey (this time correctly attributing the following quote):

The Masonic point within a circle is undoubtedly of phallic origin.

Here we have Mackey's opinion, this time out-of-context and unsourced (I had to track down the above-quote and have provided a source for it in my works cited below; Synoptical Index). Mackey also writes the following (Mackey et al.):

This is a symbol of great interest and importance, and brings us into close connection with the early symbolism of the solar orb and the universe, which was predominant in the ancient sun-worship. The lectures of Freemasonry give what modern Monitors have made an exoteric explanation of the symbol, in telling us that the point represents an individual brother, the circle the boundary line of his duty to God and man, and the two perpendicular parallel lines the patron saints of the Order—St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

But that this was not always its symbolic signification, we may collect from the true history of its connection with the phallus of the Ancient Mysteries.. The phallus, as I have already shown under the word, was among the Egyptians the symbol of fecundity, expressed by the male generative principle.

It's clear that Mackey is referring to the history of the symbol itself and not to its use or significance in Masonry when referring to the point within a circle as a phallus. As has been mentioned in some of my other posts, symbols are finite and ambiguous; there is no one symbol that is limited to one sole group or interpretation. To force irrelevant meanings and interpretations on any group's symbols equates to bearing false witness against that group; that is what Worley is doing when it tries to force ancient Egyptian interpretations onto Masonry.

Worley again makes vague reference to some "ex-witch" providing from a supposed "Masonic book" a mangled version of the following fake quote  (Anti-masonry Frequently Asked Questions):

That which we must say to the world is that we worship a god, but it is the god that one adores without superstition. To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the brethren of the 32nd, 31st and 30th degrees: The masonic Religion should be, by all of us initiates of the higher degrees, maintained in the Purity of the Luciferian doctrine. If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay and his priests calumniate him?

Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god. For the eternal law is that there is no light without shade, no beauty without ugliness, no white without black, for the absolute can only exist as two gods; darkness being necessary for light to serve as its foil as the pedestal is necessary to the statue, and the brake to the locomotive.

Thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy, and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil.

Had Worley done any research on the matter, he would have learned the following points about this quote:

1. The original quote does not appear in any Masonic texts (or, in other words, anything published by a legitimate grand lodge) unless being quoted and debunked.
2. The quote was first published in a letter from admitted hoaxer Léo Taxil, and was forged to appear like it had been written by Albert Pike; this letter appeared three years after Pike's death (Anti-masonry Frequently Asked Questions). Léo Taxil later admitted to writing it (Bernheim et al.).

Worley goes on to mislabel Manly P. Hall as authoritative just before taking one of his quotes out-of-context by claiming that one of the degrees is of human sacrifice. Worley identifies Manly P. Hall as a 33° Mason who authored The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, which he falsely states was published in 1942; he also makes the claim that this quote regards the Council of 33, which he falsely identifies as the "second highest council within the Masons." The quote is as follows:

When the Mason learns that the key to the warrior on the block is the proper application of the dynamo of living power, he has learned the mystery of his Craft. The seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands and before he may step onward and upward, he must prove his ability to properly apply energy. He must follow in the footsteps of his forefather, Tubal-Cain, who with the mighty strength of the war god hammered his sword into a plowshare.

(Sigh.) First, there is a false attribution here. Hall published The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923; he didn't become a Freemason until 1954. He also did not receive the honorary title of 33° until 1973. Therefore, to flaunt Hall as a 33° of the Scottish Rite as if this somehow affected the credibility of his authorship of The Lost Keys of Freemasonry is anachronistic and therefore illogical. In this case, therefore, Worley is relying on the irrelevant opinions of someone who had not even been initiated in Masonry at the time of publication. Though I am sure that this quote is taken out-of-context, it doesn't matter in the slightest because the quote itself, being the opinion of a non-Mason (at the time of publication) is inconsequential.

Second, there is no "highest" or "second highest council within the Masons." Freemasonry in and of itself has three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. There are appendant/concordant groups that offer extra degrees (which are lateral to instead of higher than the Master Mason degree), one of which is the Scottish Rite. The degrees of such appendant/concordant groups (like the Scottish Rite), have no bearing on the whole of Masonry and are only relevant to their respective groups.

I invite Pastor Win Worley and Hegewisch Baptist Church to consider the following:

• Verify the veracity of your sources before you make claims.
• Do not force irrelevant interpretations of symbols onto other groups.
• Learn what is considered authoritative for entities that you critique.
• Irrelevant opinion-pieces do not qualify as authoritative.
• Gossip, rumor, and libel (such as what I have had to address here) are forms of bearing false witness against your neighbor.

Works Cited

“Anti-Masonry Frequently Asked Questions: 2. Was Albert Pike the Leader of Universal Freemasonry?” Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon A.F. & A. M., 26 Oct. 2011, freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/anti-masonry06.html.

Bernheim, Alain, et al. “The Confession of Léo Taxil.” Heredom, Transactions of the Scottish Research Society, vol. 5, 1997, pp. 137–168, freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/taxil_confessed.html#letter.

“Blood Oath.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood%20oath.

“Chapter X. Master Mason—Continued.” Traditions of Freemasonry and Its Coincidences with the Ancient Mysteries, by A. T. C. Pierson, Fourth ed., vol. 1, Masonic Publishing Company, 1870, p. 233. Masonic Household Library, www.scgrandlodgeafm.org/uploads/1/9/0/8/19088243/traditionsoffreemasonry-pierson-1870_4th_ed.pdf.

Cole, Brandon Todd. “What Are Some Secrets of the Freemasons?” Quora, Quora Inc., 7 Oct. 2020, 12:40 PM, www.quora.com/What-are-some-secrets-of-the-Freemasons/answer/Brandon-T-Cole.

“EA: Lecture.” Monitor, Tenth ed., The Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah, 2016, pp. 14–27.

“EA: Senior Steward's Lecture.” Monitor, Tenth ed., The Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah, 2016, p. 7.

Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/.

Mackey, Albert G., et al. “Point Within a Circle.” Encyclopædia of Freemasonry, Revised Edition ed., II, The Masonic History Company, 1927, p. 573.

“Synoptical Index.” Symbolism of Freemasonry: Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, Its Legends, Myths and Symbols, by Albert G. Mackey, 1882, www.sacred-texts.com/mas/sof/sof36.htm.

Worley, Win. “The Demonic Roots of Freemasonry.” Hegewisch Baptist Church, Hegewisch Baptist, 12 Oct. 2011, hbcdelivers.org/the-demonic-roots-of-freemasonry/.