False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.

Plato

The Reverend Ron CarlsonMost of the material on Rev. Carlson is quoted from Art deHoyos, The Cloud of Prejudice: A Study in Anti-Masonry (Kila, Mont.: Kessinger Publishing Co., 1992), with the generous permission of the publisher, Bro. Roger Kessinger.

is president of Christian Ministries International in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He is a professional anti-Mason in that he partially supports himself and his ministry by selling audio cassettes of his sermons in which he "exposes" the secrets of Masonry. The quotations that follow come from one such cassette sermon, "Freemasonry and the Masonic Lodge," which appears to have been preached in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Early in his sermon he establishes his credentials and objectivity:

Now understand that what I am going to say tonight is not from anti-Masonic writings. I have spent two years almost full time researching Freemasonry and the Masonic lodge. What we are going to be sharing tonight is from the authoritative works of Masons themselves.Ron Carlson, Freemasonry and the Masonic Lodge, preached by the author, audio cassette (Eden Prairie, Minn.: Christian Ministries International, n.d.), side 1, 4:21. N.B. The times listed are measured from the beginning of the audio and may vary slightly depending on the equipment used.

In concluding his sermon, Rev. Carlson summarizes the results of his research, "Freemasonry is not of God, it's from the pit of Hell."Ron Carlson, side 2, 17:00.

His years of study lead us to expect a higher standard of research and documentation than from other critics. His position as a minister of the gospel lets us expect a love of truth and a sense of fairness. His promise to use "authoritative works of Masons" lets us expect accurate, factual statements. These expectations are not met.

A Sin to Divulge the Truth

Let me read for you what Albert Pike says, page five hundred and forty-five, concerning revealing any of the secrets, quote:

All the mysteries should be kept concealed, guarded by faithful silence, lest it should be inconsiderately divulged to the ears of the Profane. He sins against God who divulges to the unworthy the Mysteries confided to him. The danger is not merely in violating the truth, but in telling the truth.

Albert Pike says it is a sin to divulge the truth. Now how different this is from what we read in God's word.Ron Carlson, side 1, 11:24.

Ironically, the truth is that Ron Carlson is not quoting Albert Pike. Here is what Pike actually wrote in Morals and Dogma (unacknowledged omissions by Rev. Carlson are struck out).

St. Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, who was born in 340, and died in 393, says in his work De Mysteriis: "All the Mystery should be kept concealed, guarded by faithful silence, lest it should be inconsiderately divulged to the ears of the Profane. . . . It is not given to all to contemplate the depths of our Mysteries . . . that they may not be seen by those who ought not to behold them; nor received by those who cannot preserve them." And in another work: "He sins against God, who divulges to the unworthy the Mysteries confided to him. The danger is not merely in violating the truth, but in telling truth, if he allows himself to give hints of them to those from whom they ought to be concealed. . . . Beware of casting pearls before swine! Every Mystery ought to be kept secret; and, as it were, to be covered over by silence, lest it should rashly be divulged to the ears of the Profane. Take heed that you do not incautiously reveal the Mysteries!"

Pike was clearly quoting St. Ambrose on what he taught regarding the Christian Mysteries. It was, we find, a Christian Father who said it was a sin to tell the truth. We here discover that the Pastor himself is guilty of what he accuses Masonic authorities of doing--he lies to the unwitting.

Rev. Carlson further compounds his deception as he gleefully tells his audience that

Albert Pike says it is a sin to divulge the truth. Now how different this is from what we read in God's word. Jesus says, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Jesus said, "I am the Truth." He said, "Go unto all the world and proclaim this good news." But the Masons say, "No, it is a sin for you to reveal truth."Ron Carlson, side 1, 11:45.

If we analyze Pastor Carlson's statement we find:

(1) He claims to be quoting Albert Pike when he was in fact quoting St. Ambrose, a Christian Father.

(2) He claims that the supposed words of Pike represent universal Masonic teachings by stating, "But the Masons say. . . ."

(3) He ignores that Pike wrote in his preface that "every one is entirely free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to be untrue or unsound."

If unchecked, the subtle manipulation of source material aids both the construction and destruction of the ersatz Albert Pike by allowing the Pastor to build on a false premise. Significantly, Rev. Carlson spouts his glib remarks on the lack of truth in Masonry in spite of the fact that virtually every American "Monitor of the Lodge" advocates the cultivation of this virtue:

The principal tenets of our profession are three: Brotherly Love, Relief and 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.Grand Lodge of Texas, Monitor of the Lodge (Waco, Tex.: Waco Printing Co., 1982), p. 36.

How Carlson can make the unfair allegations he does when authorized grand lodge publications prove contrary is astounding. Surely he must have encountered the above paragraph on truth often during his two years of intensive research, because it appeared in every randomly selected American blue lodge monitor we inspected, from William Preston's 1772 Illustrations of Masonry and Jeremy Cross' 1820 True Masonic Chart to those currently in use. British publications also contain this paragraph, almost verbatim, in the current "Lectures of the Three Degrees" (first lecture, sixth section). Upon checking unauthorized publications, we found it in a host of ritual exposures, English and American, spanning over a hundred years.

A Book of Nonsense?

Perhaps the most flagrant demonstration of his ability to distort the truth is Rev. Carlson's claim that Albert Pike ridiculed Christianity and the Bible. Albert Pike revered Jesus Christ "above all the other great teachers" (Morals and Dogma, pp. 718-721), but now, Carlson has the straw-man Pike insult the Bible. (Unacknowledged omissions by Rev. Carlson are struck out, while his additions are in bold.)

Well, you want to know what Masonry thinks of Christianity? First of all, concerning the Bible. Albert Pike, page eleven, Morals and Dogma, says, quote:

The Holy Bible, Square and Compass, are not only styled the Great Lights in Masonry, but they are also technically called the Furniture of the Lodge; and, as you have seen, it is held that there is no Lodge without them. This has sometimes been made a pretext for excluding Jews from our Lodges, because they cannot regard the New Testament as a holy book. The Bible is an indispensable part of the furniture of the Christian Lodge, only because it is a sacred book of the Christian Religion. The Hebrew Pentateuch in a Hebrew Lodge, and the Koran in a Mohammadan one Moslem Lodge, belong on the Altar; and one of these, and the Square and Compass, properly understood, are the Great Lights by which a Mason must walk and work.

The obligation of the candidate is always to be taken on to obey the sacred book or books of his own religion, that he may deem it more solemn and binding. . . .

So they tell us that the Bible is considered a piece of furniture in the lodge; and that it is no more valuable than the Koran, or any other scriptures of any other religions, it's simply a piece of religious literature equal with all the others. Page seventeen we read: "The Holy Scriptures were an entirely modern addition to the Lodge."

You know, but Masons will tell me, "But we got the Bible on our altar." Albert Pike says, quote:

The Holy Scriptures were an entirely modern addition to the Lodge, like the terrestrial and celestial globes on the columns of the portico. Thus the ancient has been denaturalized by incongruous additions.

"The Bible has no place there," he is saying.Ron Carlson, side 1, 7:00.

In this quotation, Pike is using the technical terminology of the Craft when he refers to the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses as the furniture of the lodge. They are, in fact, so important that without these in place a lodge is not furnished and cannot open. Pike's statement declaring the Bible a "modern addition" refers to the addition of a drawing of the Bible atop the symbol of the point within a circle (see Figure 1), as he very clearly states in Morals and Dogma on pages 16-17. Pike believed that the symbol of the point within a circle was previously depicted without the Bible over it, and without the Saints John on its side. He was not saying, as Rev. Carlson imputes, that the Bible does not belong upon the altar of the lodge.

Rev. Carlson now performs what we believe is his most dishonest misrepresentation of Pike.

Page seven hundred forty-four, he goes on to say, quote (listen to what Albert Pike, the leading authority says):

The Bible, with all the allegories it contains, expresses, in an incomplete and veiled manner only, the religious science of the Hebrews. The doctrine of Moses and the Prophets, identical at bottom with that of the ancient Egyptian Mysteries, also had its outward meaning and its veils. The Hebrew books were written only to recall to memory the traditions; and they were written in Symbols unintelligible to the Profane. The Pentateuch and the prophetic poems were merely elementary books of doctrine, morals, and literature; and the true secret and traditional philosophy was only written afterward, under veils still less transparent. Thus it was that a second Bible was born, the New Testament, unknown to, or rather uncomprehended by the Christians; a collection of monstrous absurdities.

Unquote. Now you tell me how any Mason can be a Christian, when they say the New Testament is a collection of, quote, "monstrous absurdities," unquote.Ron Carlson, side 1, 8:03.

According to Rev. Carlson, Albert Pike deemed the New Testament a collection of "monstrous absurdities." Carlson's quotation of Pike, if accurate, would indeed reflect a prejudice against Christianity. Upon checking Morals and Dogma, however, we discover that Pike has again been misquoted. Besides putting words into Pike's mouth, Carlson misunderstood the context of Pike's remarks, which concerned not the New Testament, but the Jewish Talmudic writings. (As before, Rev. Carlson's unacknowledged omissions are struck out, his additions are bold.)

The Bible, with all the allegories it contains, expresses, in an incomplete and veiled manner only, the religious science of the Hebrews. The doctrine of Moses and the Prophets, identical at bottom with that of the ancient Egyptians, also had its outward meaning and its veils. The Hebrew books were written only to recall to memory the traditions, and they were written in Symbols unintelligible to the Profane. The Pentateuch and the prophetic poems were merely elementary books of doctrine, morals, or liturgy and literature; and the true secret and traditional philosophy was only written afterward, under veils still less transparent. Thus a second Bible was born, the New Testament, unknown to, or rather uncomprehended by, the Christians; a collection they say, of monstrous absurdities; a monument, the adept says, wherein is everything that the genius of philosophy and that of religion have ever formed or imagined of the sublime; a treasure surrounded by thorns; a diamond concealed in a rough dark stone.

This clearly says that the Christians considered the Talmudic works absurd. It is difficult to see how Pastor Carlson confused the issue, and his unwarranted interpolation of the words the New Testament into Pike's text only amplified his error. As he did in the case of St. Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, Carlson makes Pike say something he never did.

Either Carlson intentionally distorted Pike, or he could not understand his writings and therefore misrepresented them. Either of these options makes Carlson an unsafe guide.

Luciferian Masonry

Rev. Carlson displays his research skills and sense of fairness by foisting the Léo Taxil hoax upon his audience.

Well, friends, it gets worse. Albert Pike, who was the Supreme Pontiff of all Freemasonry, speaking on July 14, 1889, to the twenty-three Supreme Councils of the World, said this, I quote. If you're a Mason, listen to the leading authority as to what Freemasonry teaches. Albert Pike, July 14, 1889, to the twenty-three Supreme Councils of the World said, quote:

That what we must say to the crowd is: We worship a God, but it is a 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, to all of its initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian doctrine. Yes, Lucifer is God. The true and pure philosophic religion of Freemasonry is the belief in Lucifer.

Unquote. You can read in context, it goes on and it gets worse.Ron Carlson, side 2, 3:17.

This allegation by Rev. Carlson shows the inadequacy of his research and his naïve credulity. After spending "two years almost full time researching Freemasonry and the Masonic lodge," he still fell for Taxil's fake quotation. He didn't bother confirming the quotation nor checking his sources nor crediting the translator. But why should he? He'd already decided that Masonry is Satanic, and the Taxil quotation just confirmed what he already believed.

The section in this book, "Albert Pike and Lucifer," pp. 9-23, thoroughly details the Taxil hoax, and gives some of the abundant references available to those interested in the truth. Taxil's forgeries were exposed decades ago and have been widely published. It is difficult to believe that anyone could spend "two years almost full time researching Freemasonry and the Masonic lodge" and not discover the truth of the matter. It is especially deceptive for Rev. Carlson to invite his audience to "read [the quotation] in context," without citing his source. And this after assuring his listeners that he would refer only to the "authoritative works of Masons themselves."

Trying to Stop the Dissemination?

At the end of his talk, Rev. Carlson took several questions from the audience. Most of the questions are not intelligible on our audio tape, but they can be inferred from the answers. In answering the eighth question, Rev. Carlson asserted with authority, "You won't--you cannot--find Morals and Dogma in a library."Ron Carlson, side 2, 25:57. The answer to question thirteen further highlights Rev. Carlson's research skills and his regard for accuracy.

[Answer to the thirteenth question]: Morals and Dogma? Yeah, it's copyrighted. Yeah, "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871 in the Office of the Library of Congress." There is also, ah, a place down in Chicago where you can, uhm, buy a copy, it's the publishing house for the Masonic lodge. And I wish I had the address with me. I'd give it to you, but, uh, if they have some in stock, uh, you can get one from them. Uh, though the last person I told that to, when they called down there--they just told me a few months ago that they had called down there--and, ah, the publishing house told them that they are now only giving them to the Masonic lodges, for the thirty-second degree Masons. You can no longer buy it from their secret publishing house. And so, evidently, uh, they've heard about us, and are trying to stop the dissemination of this information.Ron Carlson, side 2, 34:18.

Carlson contradicts himself here within a matter of seconds. First he claims the Masonic publisher of Morals and Dogma is in Chicago, and if he had the address with him, he would give it to his audience, so copies could be ordered. He then turns right around and conveniently says the last person he told that to was refused a copy for not being a thirty-second degree Mason; the publisher now becomes a "secret publishing house." To top it off, Carlson's megalomania becomes apparent as he takes credit for the publisher's alleged refusal to sell the book.

We suggest this account is fictitious. Morals and Dogma has never been printed or published in Chicago.Ray Baker Harris, Bibliography of the Writings of Albert Pike (Washington, D.C.: Supreme Council 33, 1957), pp. 89-90. There is no "secret publishing house" for Masonry. Morals and Dogma originally was published for only thirty-second degree Masons, but it is widely available today from used book dealers and libraries. The Supreme Council 33, S.J., sells used copies when they can be obtained.

If Rev. Carlson had bothered to check the public libraries near Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the location of his headquarters, he would have discovered the easy availability of Morals and Dogma. In February 1993 there was a loan copy in the West St. Paul libraries and loan and reference copies in the Minneapolis libraries. These copies would have been available to Rev. Carlson through the Metropolitan Library Service Agency. Elsewhere in Minnesota, the public libraries of both Duluth and Winona have loan copies.

A little more research would have revealed dozens of copies of Morals and Dogma in college and university libraries around the country.Here are just a few of the places where Rev. Carlson could have borrowed the book in September 1993, according to the Online Computer Library Catalog (O.C.L.C.): Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama; University of Alabama; University of Arkansas; University of Arizona; University of Colorado at Denver; Grinnell College, Iowa; Northwestern College, Iowa; Murray State University, Kentucky; University of New Orleans; University of Minnesota, Duluth; Rust College, Mississippi; University of Nebraska, Kearney; University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Oral Roberts University; University of Central Oklahoma; Geneva College, Pennsylvania; University of South Carolina; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; University of the South, Tennessee; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas; University of Texas at Austin; University of Texas at Permian Basin; University of Texas at El Paso; University of Utah; Liberty University, Virginia; and West Virginia Wesleyan College. And for those in Rev. Carlson's congregation who may have difficulty reading, Morals and Dogma is available from Recording for the Blind, Princeton, New Jersey.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their heart, their religion is worthless.

James 1:26

Who should be better able to "reveal the secrets of the lodge" than a former Mason, especially one who achieved significant recognition within Masonry? This is the promise that The Deadly Deception holds out for its readers.

The Reverend James D. Shaw and Mr. Tom McKenney coauthored this engaging book. It tells the story of Rev. Shaw, from becoming a Mason to joining the Scottish Rite to leaving the Fraternity. Rev. Shaw became a Christian and decided that it was his duty to "expose" Freemasonry to save other men from being victims of its deadly deception. The reader should expect a higher standard of accuracy from Rev. Shaw's story because of the years he spent in Masonry.

The Cover of the Book

We begin our analysis of Rev. Shaw's accuracy without going any farther than the cover of his book. Six claims are made there, four of which are deliberate, verifiable lies. It does not bode well for the accuracy of the contents, if the cover achieves no more than 33% of the truth. We examine the claims individually and through them Rev. Shaw's devotion to truth.

SHAW'S FIRST CLAIM. The full title of the book is The Deadly Deception: Freemasonry Exposed by One of Its Top Leaders. It is laughable to suggest that Rev. Shaw was ever a "top leader" of Freemasonry. He served the Craft decently during his membership and received recognition for his work, but he never attained any position of prominence. Rev. Shaw's co-author, Tom C. McKenney, however, was apparently embarrassed at this claim.

I would like to explain to you that disputed "one of Masonry's top leaders" statement in the subtitle. That was insisted upon by the publisher; I argued against the word "top" for at least an hour on the phone, but he had his way. At any rate, it is a completely imprecise term; it could mean he was one of the top two, or one of the top two million ... but I'd like for you to know how it arrived in the subtitle, which I though was much too lurid (I also argued against "exposed," but lost that one too).Tom C. McKenney, Ocean Springs, Miss., 31 Oct. 1996, to S. Brent Morris, Columbia, Md.

The claim, however, is harmless puffery, well within acceptable limits for advertising. THE TRUTH

SHAW'S SECOND CLAIM. The cover claims Rev. Shaw was "Past Worshipful Master, blue lodge." To be elected and to serve as Master of a lodge is a great privilege and honor for any Mason. By identifying himself as a Past Master, Rev. Shaw seeks to establish himself as one who has achieved Masonic recognition through hard work. As with so many of his statements about Masonry, the factual record establishes something quite different.

Rev. Shaw received the First Degree in Masonry on September 11, 1945, in Evergreen Lodge No. 713 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Second and Third Degrees were conferred by courtesy in Biscayne Bay Lodge No. 124, Miami, Florida on May 21 and July 23, 1946. He transferred his membership to Allapattah Lodge No. 271 in Florida on July 1, 1952, and remained a member until his resignation on October 25, 1966. He never held office in any Masonic lodge or affiliated body in Indiana.Rollin O. Simpson, Grand Secretary, F.&A.M., Indianapolis, Indiana, to S. Brent Morris, Columbia, Md., June 10, 1993, Typescript, In the possession of the author.

In 1964 he was appointed Junior Steward of Allapattah Lodge, in 1965 he was appointed Junior Deacon, and on October 25, 1966, he resigned from Masonry. The names of the principal elected officers of every Florida lodge, the Master and Senior and Junior Wardens, are published annually in the Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Florida. These Proceedings can be inspected in any of the 300+ Florida lodges. The name of James Dayton Shaw never appeared in the list of elected lodge officers. He was never elected an officer in Allapattah Lodge, much less Master of the lodge. A LIE

Master Senior Warden Junior Warden

1967 Edwin A. Horborouny Raymond D. Slattery Lester R. Grant, Jr.

1966 George B. Tate Edwin A. Horborouny Raymond D. Slattery

1965 David K. Hellings George B. Tate Edwin A. Horborouny

1964 Arthur W. Scott, Jr. David K. Hellings George B. Tate

1963 Garnet R. McGlocklin Arthur W. Scott, Jr. David K. Hellings

1962 Marshall R. Dyer Garnet R. McGlocklin Arthur W. Scott, Jr.

1961 Daniel L. Beebe Marshall R. Dyer Garnet R. McGlocklin

1960 Robert K. Overstreet Daniel L. Beebe Marshall R. Dyer

1959 Melvin C. Foster Robert K. Overstreet Daniel L. Beebe

1958 John R. Gillette Melvin C. Foster Robert K. Overstreet

1957 Charles L. McCord John R. Gillette Melvin C. Foster

1956 Jack M. Harris Charles L. McCord John R. Gillette

1955 Donald K. Curry Jack M. Harris Charles L. McCord

1954 Harold E. Harris Donald K. Curry Jack M. Harris

1953 Justus P. Bailey Harold E. Harris Donald K. Curry

1952 Alto V. Harrison Justus P. Bailey Harold E. Harris

Treasurer Secretary

1955-67 Justus P. Bailey Harold E. Harris

1952-54 Joseph G. Roberts Robert K. Overstreet

A listing of all Masters, Wardens, Secretaries and Treasurers of Allapattah Lodge No. 271, from 1952-1967, of which Rev. Shaw falsely claimed to be a Past Master (cf. The Deadly Deception, p. 79).

SHAW'S FOURTH CLAIM. Rev. Shaw was indeed invested with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour on December 18, 1965. The award was honorably earned and is properly claimed on the cover of his book. THE TRUTH

SHAW'S FIFTH CLAIM. The 33 is an important honor in the Scottish Rite, limited to about 1% of all Scottish Rite Masons. It cannot be applied for, and must be denied if requested. It can be falsely claimed, however, by anyone brazen enough to steal the title. This is what Rev. Shaw has done.

Although he never provided the exact date, Rev. Shaw gave some hint as to the date of his alleged reception of the Thirty-third Degree.

...I had been a K.C.C.H. for only four years. A man cannot even be considered for the 33rd Degree until he has been a K.C.C.H. four years. I was being considered for the 33rd in the minimum time!Shaw and McKenney, p. 90.

He resigned from Masonry on October 25, 1966, ten months after receiving his K.C.C.H. and thirty-seven months before reaching the four year mark. In special circumstances The Supreme Council, 33, S.J., may wave the traditional four year period between the K.C.C.H. and its bestowal of the Thirty-third Degree. In such cases the recipient has performed an extraordinary labor benefitting and/or honoring the Fraternity. The Supreme Council, 33, N.M.J. may also wave its traditional period for similar reasons. An example of the latter was the bestowal of the Honorary Thirty-third Degree on John J. Robinson just before his death. Mr. Robinson was a popular author and lecturer who publically defended Freemasonry though not a Mason himself. Shortly after joining the fraternity in 1993, when it became known that Robinson was terminally ill, The Supreme Council, 33, N.M.J. exercised its right to confer the Honorary Thirty-third Degree on him, in recognition of his extraordinary labors. Although Rev. Shaw served decently in the few positions he held while an active Mason, he was relatively unknown outside of his local circle, and did nothing which would have warranted his reception of an Honorary Thirty-third Degree.

All Masons elected to the 33 have their names published in the Transactions of the Supreme Council. These volumes are easily available for inspection in any Scottish Rite body in the Southern Jurisdiction. The name of James Dayton Shaw was never listed as the recipient of the 33, despite his claims to the contrary. YET ANOTHER LIE

SHAW'S SIXTH CLAIM. The upper right-hand corner of the book's cover has a bright red, eye-catching band with this come-on, "The 33rd Degree initiation ceremony revealed for the first time in history!" Rev. Shaw takes almost seven pages in the book to describe the events leading up to his so-called receipt of the 33. The ceremony he describes is not based on his personal experience, but was rather been plagiarized from another source. The source Rev. Shaw selected was an exposé of the Cerneau 33 ritual in Jonathan Blanchard's Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated, which has been in print since 1888. It helped Rev. Shaw in his deception that such sources are easy to come by. A casual search shows that authors have "revealed" versions of the Thirty-Third Degree initiation ceremony repeatedly since at least 1813. A partial listing is given below.

1829--"Sovereign Grand Inspector General," in David Bernard, Light on Masonry, Utica, N.Y.: William Williams, 1829.

1830--"Souverain Grand Inspecteur Général," in Vuillaume, Manuel Maçonnique ou Tuileur des Divers Rites de Trente-trois Degrés de L'Ecossisme di Rit Ancien, Maçonnerie Practiqués en France, 1830 (reprint ed.; Paris: Dervy-Livres, 1975)

1843--"Réception au 33ème degré," in F. T. B. Clavel, Histoire Pittoresque de la Franc-Maçonnerie, Paris: N.p., 1843.

1857--"Sovereign Grand Inspector General," in Charles Laffon de Ladebat, Thirty-Third Degree and Last of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite: Sovereign Grand Inspector General, New Orleans: N.p., 1857.

1860--"Sovereign Grand Inspector General," in Jabez Richardson, Richardson's Monitor of Free-Masonry, New York: Fitzgerald, 1860.

1860--"Sobrano Gran Inspector General," in Andres Cassard, Manual de la Masoneria, New York: Macoy, 1860.

1861--"Souverain Grand Inspecteur Général," in Jean-Baptiste Marie Ragon, Tuileur Général de la Franc-Maçonnerie, ou Manuel de l'Initié, Paris: Collignon, 1861.

1872--"Old Cahier of the 33rd Degree," in Albert Pike, Grand Constitutions of Freemasonry, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, New York: Masonic Publishing Co., 1872.

1888--"Sovereign Grand Inspector General," in Jonathan Blanchard, Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated, 2 vols., Chicago: Ezra A. Cook, 1887-1888.

1890--"Sovereign Grand Inspector General," in Secret Societies Illustrated, Chicago: Ezra A. Cook, ca. 1890.

1923--"Sovereign Grand Inspector-General," in Arthur Edward Waite, A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, 2 vols., rev. ed., London: Rider & Co., 1923.

1933--"Official Ritual of the 33rd and Last Degree of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite," in Paul Rosen, Satan et Cie, Paris: 1888, excerpted in Edith Starr Miller, Occult Theocrasy, 2 vols., 1933, reprint, Hawthorn, Calif.: Christian Book Club, 1968, 1976, 1980.

1933--"33d Degree--Knight Grand Inspector General," in W. J. Coombes, trans., E. J. Marconis de Negre, The Sanctuary of Memphis or Hermes, [N.C.]: Nocalore, 1933.

1946--S. Farina, "Sovrano Grande Ispettore Generale" in Il Libro Completo dei Rituali Massonici Rito Scozzese Antico ed Accettato. Rome: n.p. 1946.

1984--"Soverain Grand Inspecteur Général," in Paul Naudon, Histoire, Rituels et Tuileur des Haut Grades Maçonniques, Paris, Dervy-Livres, 1984.

A naïve anti-Mason might be forgiven for not knowing that the Thirty-Third Degree has been "exposed" for the better part of two centuries. Rev. Shaw, however, obviously knew about at least one such "exposure" because he lied about receiving the degree. Not only did Rev. Shaw lie about receiving the Thirty-Third Degree himself, he did not have the intellectual integrity to cite the source he pilfered for his so-called description. THE FOURTH LIE ON THE COVER

These lies could not have resulted from simple misunderstandings; they were carefully calculated to deceive the trusting. Since at least 1976, Rev. Shaw has been making similar claims, one assumes to increase his importance in the eyes of his readers.

I was not willing to be just a "card carrier." I was too eager for that. So I served in all the chairs and ultimately became Worshipful Master of the lodge. I pursued the degrees of the Scottish Rite and joined the Shrine in my quest for preeminence in the eyes of men. In time I became Past Master to all Scottish Rite Bodies. And finally was selected for the coveted 33rd Degree, and was made a 33rd Degree Mason in House of The Temple in Washington, D.C.James D. Shaw, introduction to The Masonic Report by C. F. McQuaig (Norcross, Ga.: Answer Books and Tapes, 1976), n.p.

Before getting to even the first page of The Deadly Deception, the reader is deliberately deceived with four verifiable lies. They seem intended to boost the reputation of Rev. Shaw as an important former Mason, to reinforce the believability of his story, and to increase the sales of his book. They obviously are not intended to promote the truth.

The Cost of the Thirty-Second Degree

On page 59 Rev. Shaw describes joining the Scottish Rite. On page 63 endnote 1 to this description amplifies the cost of "going all the way to the 32nd Degree."

The Secretary greeted me and explained the nature and structure of the Scottish Rite. . . . He said that some men could not afford to take all of the degrees at one Reunion because of the cost.1

1There is a price to be paid, in dollars, for all "earned" Masonic degrees, from Entered Apprentice to the 32nd Degree. Dollar values change with time and fees vary some from place to place, but the total cost of going all the way to the 32nd Degree can be very substantial, well into the thousands of dollars today.

It's not clear what the authors intended by this aside, unless it was to suggest an extravagant waste of money by Masons for initiation fees. A copy of Rev. Shaw's Scottish Rite petition, dated August 14, 1952, shows the true state of affairs (see Figure 2).

The cost in 1952 for the Fourth through Thirty-Second Degrees, "including Patent [membership certificate], [gold 14] Ring, and Copy of Morals and Dogma" was $160. Rev. Shaw chose to purchase a 32 cap for $7.50. So his complete cost for joining the Miami Scottish Rite was $167.50. During his 15 years of membership, he paid a total of $107.50 in annual dues: $7.50 dues annually for 1953 to 1966 plus $2.50 pro rated dues for 1952 (see Figure 3).

The cost of joining the Scottish Rite in Miami has not kept pace with inflation. The fees in 1993 for the 4-32, including patent, 14 ring in a lucite pyramid, and a 32 cap is $200. Rex Hutchens's A Bridge to Light is now given to new members rather than Albert Pike's Morals and Dogma. Members wanting a 14 ring to wear must make a separate purchase.

When joining Evergreen Lodge No. 713 in 1945, Rev. Shaw paid $50.00 in initiation fees for the 1-3, Entered Apprentice to Master Mason; his annual dues then were $7.00. By 1993 the initiation fees of Evergreen Lodge had risen to $125.00 and the annual dues had risen to $56.00.

Rev. Shaw's entire cost for the 1-32 was $217.50 and his total annual dues then were $14.50. The cost now for the 1-32 is $325.00 and annual dues are $96.00. This is far from being "well into the thousands of dollars today."

Scottish Rite Obligations

As he continues his summary of joining the Scottish Rite, Rev. Shaw describes receiving the Fourth Degree on pages 60-61. Endnote 2 on page 63 amplifies the obligations of the degrees.

The Fourth Degree was put on just like a play, with one candidate chosen from the class to represent us all as he participated. The presentation went on until time to take the oath at the end. At this time we were told to stand, put our hands over our hearts and repeat the oath2 of obligation. . . .

2There was a blood-oath of obligation for each degree, as in the Blue lodge.

This description of the twenty-nine Scottish Rite obligations certainly sounds ominous, but it overlooks a few niceties of fact. To start with, there have been no symbolic physical penalties in the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, since about 1860, and there have never been any actual physical penalties. Here is what Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia says about the matter.

Albert Pike, in revising the rituals of the Southern Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite about 1855-1860, completely eradicated all such penalties from the degrees and substituted mental, moral, and symbolic condemnation, and that example was followed in the Northern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite about the middle of the 20th century.Henry W. Coil, et al., Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (New York: Macoy Masonic Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., Inc., 1961, 1996), s.v. "Penalties, Masonic."

Rev. Shaw received the Scottish Rite degrees and conferred them for years. He knows as well as any Mason that there are no "blood oaths" in the Scottish Rite.

Why Must We Always Do So Much Drinking?

Rev. Shaw describes traveling to a "conclave" in a distant city to receive the Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (K.C.C.H.). In his story he makes an aside about drinking, much like his comment about the cost of the Scottish Rite degrees. There is a subtle attempt by the authors to vilify Masons without the courage of making direct charges.

There was a great deal of drinking at the Conclave and it bothered me. "Why must we always do so much drinking?" I asked myself, but had no answer. I enjoyed a little drinking and did it regularly. But it bothered me that there was always so much of it and that it played such a major role in the Masonic life.Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, The Deadly Deception (Lafayette, La.: Huntington House, 1988), p. 83.

The Grand Lodge of Florida, like most other American grand lodges, firmly forbids the sale or consumption of alcohol at any lodge function. Here is the 1954 regulation on alcoholic beverages that governed Florida lodges when Rev. Shaw joined.

28.06 (398) No particular Lodge shall allow its properties or any part thereof to be used for the purpose of conducting or carrying on a liquor business or for the dispensing of alcoholic beverages in any form.Grand Lodge of Florida, F.&A.M., Digest of the Masonic Law of Florida F.&A.M. (Tallahassee: Rose Printing Co., 1954), p. 157.

In 1975 the regulation was unchanged, though the following decision had been added to clarify the law. "The serving of any intoxicating beverage in Masonic Temples or Lodge Rooms or at Masonic banquets is forbidden by Masonic Law. (1969 Proc. 58, 212)" Grand Lodge of Florida, F.&A.M., Digest of the Masonic Law of Florida F.&A.M. (Jacksonville, Fla.: Grand Lodge F.&A.M., 1976), p. 245. Bro. William Wolf, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Florida, summarized the 1993 rules governing alcohol in Florida lodges.

. . . the Grand Lodge of Florida itself does not allow any alcoholic beverages in its ceremonies or the sale or dispensing of any alcoholic beverages on any property that it owns. Nor do we allow a function that is held in a particular lodge or in the Grand Lodge to have any alcoholic beverages for dispensing, such as Grand Master Homecomings, Grand Lodge Dinners, etc.William G. Wolf, Gr. Secretary, Jacksonville, Fla. to S. Brent Morris, Columbia, Md., Nov. 18, 1992, in the possession of the author.

Equally explicit are the 1953 Statutes of the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, to which the Scottish Rite Bodies of Miami hold allegiance. "Art. XV 24. The use of any spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors by any Body is hereby prohibited. . . ."Statutes of the Supreme Council, ([Washington]: [Supreme Council, S.J.], October 1953), p. 60. The prohibition remains in the 1991 Statutes, though renumbered as Art. XV, 25.

Neither the Grand Lodge of Florida nor the Supreme Council, S.J., permits alcoholic beverages to be used by any of their subordinate bodies. Florida Masons are bewildered when asked how alcohol "played such a major role in the Masonic life," because there it has no role. What sort of meetings did Rev. Shaw attend where they "always do so much drinking?" It could not have been meetings of the blue lodges or the Scottish Rite bodies in Florida. His statement is cleverly designed to leave the reader with the impression that regular, heavy drinking is the norm at Masonic gatherings.

The Resurrection of Hiram Abif

One of the most subtle frauds of The Deadly Deception is Rev. Shaw's distortion of the legend of Hiram Abif. Rev. Shaw tries to convince his readers that he is a reliable expert on Masonry: "33rd Degree [sic], Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, Past Worshipful Master [sic], blue lodge, Past Master of all Scottish Rite bodies [sic]."Shaw and McKenney, cover. How could someone with these credentials not expose the plain truth about Masonic ritual?

The legend of Hiram Abif is a simple story, apparently based upon Hiram the metalworker, mentioned in 1 Kings 7:13. In the Masonic tale, Hiram is the master architect of King Solomon's Temple and one of only three Master Masons, the others being King Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyre. One day Hiram Abif is accosted by three Fellowcrafts who demand the secrets of a Master Mason. Hiram refuses to betray his trust and is murdered. The murderers are captured and executed. After a search, Hiram's body is removed from its temporary grave and reinterred in the Sanctum Sanctorum. (Such a burial never would have been allowed under Jewish law, but that didn't stop the authors of Masonic legend, who were familiar with the European practice of burying dignitaries beneath the floors of a cathedral.)

The legend is a simple vehicle for teaching fidelity to a trust; it has no basis in historical truth. It seems to have been introduced into Masonic ceremonies shortly before 1730. The legend was first published in 1730 in Masonry Dissected by Samuel Prichard, an exposure of Masonic rituals.

In the Masonic legend the body of Hiram is taken from its temporary grave so it can be given a more suitable burial. Rev. Shaw's description, again, does not agree with the record: "Hiram was not only brought up out of the grave but restored to life."Shaw and McKenney, p. 151. The purpose of this subtle distortion isn't entirely clear, but it seems to be to support Rev. Shaw's charge that Masonry teaches a doctrine of reincarnation to its members.Shaw and McKenney, pp. 84-85. This teaching is offensive to Christians and, if true, would be ample reason for a Christian to leave the lodge.

With the degree work and other Masonic writings as our source, we finally decided that the truth lay in reincarnation and that if we would try to live a good life now, be good to our brother Masons, help the sick and attend to good deeds in general, when we died we would enter the next life on a higher plane--just like going through a door.Shaw and McKenney, p. 85.

This lie is best discredited by Rev. Shaw's fellow anti-Masons who, in this case, have agreed with Masonic writers. Since at least 1723, Masonic ritual has been "exposed" in print, usually with the motives of embarrassing Masons, closing lodges, and making money for the author. For over 250 years these books have sought the same ends as Rev. Shaw, but they have told a story that stands in contrast to his. We quote several representative books to illustrate the consistent version of the Hiramic legend. Rev. Shaw's motives here are unknown but, like his version of the Hiramic legend, are not to be trusted.

Masonry Dissected, Samuel Prichard (London: 1730; reprint, Bloomington, Ill.: The Masonic Book Club, 1977), pp. 28, 29.

Ex. What did King Solomon say to all this?

R. He order'd him to be taken up and decently buried. . . .

Ex. Where was Hiram inter'd?

R. In the Sanctum Sanctorum.

Light on Masonry, David Bernard (Utica, N.Y.: William Williams, 1829), p. 81.

Q. What did they do with the body?

A. Raised it in a masonic form, and carried it up to the temple for more decent interment.

Three Distinct Knocks, anonymous (London: 1760; reprint, Bloomington, Ill.: The Masonic Book Club, 1981), p. 61.

After this King Solomon sent those 12 Crafts to raise their Master Hiram, in order that he might be interred in Sanctum Sanctorum.

Jachin and Boaz, anonymous (London: 1762; reprint, Bloomington, Ill.: The Masonic Book Club, 1981), p. 45.

When the Execution was over, King Solomon sent for the Twelve Crafts, and desired them to take the Body of Hiram up, in order that it might be interred in a solemn Manner in the Sanctum Sanctorum. . . .

"What did they do with the body?"

Ans. "Raised it in a Masonic form and carried it up to the temple for more decent interment."

Morgan's Freemasonry Exposed and Explained, William Morgan (New York: William Brisbane, [1826]), p. 74.

Q. What did they do with the body?

A. Raised it in a Masonic form and carried it up to the Temple for more decent interment.

Q. Where was it buried?

A. Under the sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies of King Solomon's Temple. . . .

Secret Societies, Norman MacKenzie (New York: Crescent Books, 1967), pp. 318, 319.

[King Solomon], when the first emotions of his grief had subsided, ordered them to return and raise our Master to such a sepulture, as became his rank and exalted talents. . . . Our Master was ordered to be reinterred as near to the Sanctum Sanctorum as the Israelitish law would permit. . . .

The evidence is clear and consistent. Anti-Masonic authors, all with the intent of harming Masonry, have told the same story for over 250 years, which in this instance happens to agree with what Masons have said. Hiram Abif was murdered and buried in a hastily dug, temporary grave. His body was taken from the grave to be reinterred in, or near (workings vary) the Sanctum Sanctorum. There is no resurrection nor doctrine of reincarnation. The legend of Hiram Abif is not the only thing Rev. Shaw misunderstood while he was a Mason--Freemasonry teaches a reverence for truth to its members.