posted on Nov, 10 2003 @ 02:45 PM
SirCyco,
Its all politics and has nothing to do with religion. those ministers are just trying to blackmail freemasonry.
NSW grand master's response:
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RESPONSE FROM
OUR GRAND MASTER
MWBro Anthony Lauer
From the Grand Lodge press release
Tuesday 21 October, 2003
�Sydney synod resolution that anglical freemasons withdraw from Freemasonry or from attending the Anglican Church is misconceived, discriminatory and
a betrayal of its followers,� says MW Bro Anthony Lauer, Grand Master of NSW & ACT Freemasons
A resolution proposed by the Reverend William Winthrop of Lithgow that all Anglican Freemasons withdraw from their Lodges OR sever all connections
with the Anglican Church, was passed last night by the Diocesan Synod in Sydney.
� The resolution is pure discrimination, smacks of bigotry and religious fundamentalism and is a betrayal of all Freemasons who practice the Anglican
Faith,� says Tony Lauer, Grand Master of the NSW & ACT Freemasons, �especially since a great percentage of Freemasons throughout the State are
Anglicans.�
�Furthermore, this a one man vendetta on the part of Reverend Winthrop, over a local issue and very petty situation � that received widespread
publicity - which occurred in Lithgow last year.�
�This resulted in all local Freemasons being publicly not welcomed at the local Anglican Church,� says Mr Lauer.
�The stance taken is based on total ignorance and is a misrepresentation of what Freemasonry is all about,� says Mr Lauer.
�First and foremost, Freemasonry is tolerant and respectful of all religions and admits all men of good character who have a commitment to self
improvement and to serve their community. Our one requirement is that they have a belief in God as the �supreme being�. We do not question their other
beliefs,� continued Mr Lauer.
�We accept members of all faiths as Freemasons, as long as they have this belief, hence many of our Lodge members work within their communities with
men of many faiths including Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Catholics and Muslims,� added Mr Lauer.
�I would like to point out to Reverend Winthrop and the Synod, that many high-ranking ministers of religion, including Anglicans, have been � and are
� Freemasons,� said Mr Lauer.
�I ask Mr Winthrop and the Diocese, whether these men are now to be considered not to be Christians because they are Freemasons,� said Mr Lauer.
�Freemasonry teaches tolerance, equality, compassion and brotherly love. If Reverend Winthrop�s and the Synod�s interpretation of �Christianity�
disagrees with these teachings, does this mean that the Sydney Anglican Church does not believe in the basic principles of compassion, brotherly love
and above all � truth?� challenges Mr Lauer.
�Over the last 200 years Freemasons have played a significant role in shaping the fabric of Australian Society, and have been prominent in all areas
of Australia�s proud history including politics, commerce, sports, the armed services.�
�In fact since Lachlan Macquarie became Governor of New South Wales in 1809, each State has had one or more Governors who were Freemasons.�
�Three of Australia�s Governors General have been Freemasons as have 10 out of 25 Prime Ministers, since Federation.�
�Are these distinguished Australians now to be branded as �non-Christians� by the Anglican Church,� asked Mr Lauer.
Mr Lauer added that � I would also like to point out that Freemasons in this state alone each year distribute more that $1,000.000 to non-Masonic
worthy causes, community initiatives and charitable organisations � irrespective of their connection to any Church Group.�
� The world, as we have come to know it today, is undergoing very alarming, uncertain and chaotic times, fuelled mainly by religious fundamentalism.�
�Surely, in this civilised society the church�s role is to teach, love, compassion, unity and tolerance of one�s fellow man, and not to promote
division, hatred, alienation and down right bigotry,� concluded Mr Lauer.
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