Before I delve into Scarlet and the Beast I want to share some of my findings of one of the biggest problems some people have with Freemasonry. I speak of Lucifer, or more specifically the word or term “Lucifer”.
Albert Pike uses this term, in his book Morals and Dogma, a total of five times in two different chapters. In chapter three, Albert Pike is using analogies about Hypocrisy saying;
… to profess the principles of Masonic beneficence, and close the ear to the wail of distress and the cry of suffering; …
and continues with…
…to inculcate humility, and in pride surpass Lucifer; to pay tithe, and omit the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith…
and completes the lengthy analogies with…
[Hypocrisy] is indeed to be like unto whited sepulchers, which appear beautiful outward, but are within full of bones of the dead and of all uncleanness.
In this chapter he is using the term Lucifer as a name for Satan or the Devil, I believe. Contrary to Webster’s definition of the term;
Lucifer /Lu´ci·fer/ (?), n. [L., bringing light, n., the morning star, fr. lux, lucis, light + ferre to bring.]
1. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; — applied in Isaiah 14:12 by a metaphor to a king of Babylon.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations !
Oddly enough Isaiah 14:12 is the only reference to the term Lucifer I could find in 48 different Bibles including the American King James version.
Later in chapter 19, Pike writes his most famous quote that anti-mason groups love to cite;
…LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darknesss! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls ? Doubt it not!
Reading this single quote alone without further investigation, as a Christian, would scare the bejesus out of me and turn me away from Freemasonry completely. However, upon further reading, we see that he is actually questioning the term Lucifer, meaning “light-bearer”, to the evil that is Satan or the Spirit of Darkness. The sentence before this quote explains it fully;
…those who receive the nineteenth Degree, the Apothesis of that Sublime Faith which aspires to God alone, and despises all the pomps and works of Lucifer.
The way I read this complete passage, in context, is that in the 19th degree one should aspire to God and despise Satan. Then he questions giving Satan, the lord of Darkness, the beautiful name of Lucifer, the brilliant shining star which, as it falls over the horizon, brings on the beauty and the glory of the day.
The term Lucifer shows up, in the bible, in the book of Isaiah where an Angel of God is speaking to the King of Babylon about his fall from grace, comparing him to the morning star “falling from the heavens”. I understand how Satan is also compared with this analogy because he was once an Angel of God who fell from grace, but to soil the name Lucifer forever because of this, is wrong.
When writing, authors try to use the most descriptive words to convey feeling or imagery. One would never think to use the analogy of “Lucifer” to Jimmy Lee Swaggart after his fall from grace in the memorable sex scandal in 1988. But, that is just what book of Isaiah is talking about. O Jimmy, how could you consort with prostitutes and fall from your faith like the great light-bearer “Lucifer”? Then forever equate the name Lucifer to Jimmy Swaggart.
As my Masonic teaching have showed me in the short time I have been involved, is that we are, as Masons and Eastern Stars, seeking light. The light of our personal God, what ever we may call him. When people hear a prominent Mason, like Albert Pike, use the term “Lucifer” in it’s correct context meaning “light” and that we, as Masons, seek the light, they immediately put the two, unrelated texts, together and claim that we worship “Lucifer the Devil”.
But, this is just my opinion and I could be wrong. (I am a man after-all)
So for now I will keep reading and questioning everything.
Being ever-mindful that just because I believe this, other people might not.
Till next time…
SF
What people are saying