Why do Masons call themselves "Worshipful Master"?

The term "worshipful master" has a Jonestown ring to it to me.

Let's take a look at the word "worshipful".

The American Heritage Dictionary defines worship as "the reverent love and allegiance accorded a deity, idol, or sacred object." The Greek words for worship combine the ideas of "falling down before," "paying homage to," and "serving." From these definitions it is obvious that worship involves recognition of worth in God, and the offering of our honor, praise, and adoration to the One who is altogether worthy.

www.newtestamentchurch.org...

The word worship is reserved for a deity, idol or sacred object.
What makes a Mason a deity?
It's rather quite silly if you ask me.

So, I guess my question is, do you actually worship the "Worshipful Master" if you are a lower Mason?

Also, is there a higher level than the "Worshipful Master"?

Check out a Google search of the term "worshipful"

[edit on 20-12-2008 by doctordoom]

It's old English.
Ever watch a movie where the "Worshipful Lord Baron Drottwirst" or "Her worshipful Ladyship Gingerburg" was introduced?
It's in the same vein.

It's still used in that way:
en.wikipedia.org...(style)

It's meant as nothing more than a honorific, and carries with it no religious overtones.

So of course, the Worshipful master is not worshiped, he is the person who the other brothers vote on to take the job. Generally the Worshipful Master is voted in for a year, before being put to vote again.


[edit on 20-12-2008 by RuneSpider]

It's a term used as respect. When CO's are conducting video court they call judges "Your Worship". It doesn't mean that they worship them, just a title of respect.

reply to post by RuneSpider


I'm sorry, but the very word "worship" is full of religious undertones, and had a cult like sound to it.

Let me show you what an ex-Mason says.

One evening, I asked about the inconsistency involved for the Jewish member in having the Bible resting on our altar. I was informed that it did not necessarily have to be the Bible. It could be the Koran, the Rig Veda, or even the Book of Mormon. What sacred writing was on the altar would depend upon the religious persuasion of the lodge. So, it really didn’t matter if the Lodge had any Jewish member or not. The important thing was not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ!

www.ephesians5-11.org...

This, I believe is the true identity of the Freemasons. They are the tentacles of the Anti-Christian beast.

I believe in Jesus, but I am not a "Christian". I don't believe in the church system, a system that meets behind closed doors with secret back rooms, just like the Freemasons.

reply to post by doctordoom


So you're saying that CO's and lawyers that use the term "Your Worship" are "tentacles of the Anti-Christian beast?"

reply to post by intrepid


Absolutely.

The statement that the term worshipful came from old English is really quite questionable.

You find the term worship translated from Hebrew and Latin way before old English was ever invented.

Where do you come up with your answer from? A Masonic website??

reply to post by doctordoom



I dont know where you got your info from or who this supposed ex-mason actually is. All I can tell you is that I am very much a christian and we end prayers in the name of Jesus Christ quite often in my Lodge. You should do some more research on Masonry or just ask a Mason what you want to know. You'd be surprise the information you can get just by asking. and Ephesians.com is not a good site for credible research.


[edit on 20-12-2008 by Level_Head]

Originally posted by doctordoom
Where do you come up with your answer from? A Masonic website??

No, I work in a jail and hear this daily. Where did YOU get your info? From an anti-Masonic site?

boy, ATS is SO CONSUMED by Masons.

it's like, bizarre.

Masons are not anything special.

My Uncle was a Mason and he doesn't EVEN work or have ANY money.

reply to post by intrepid


I believe I have posted my sources.

Umm, are there a lot of Masons in jail?

Originally posted by doctordoom
Umm, are there a lot of Masons in jail?

There are a few that I work with. It's not like they go around and say, "I'm a Mason." Hell, I worked with one guy over 2 years before I found out that he was a Mason. Strangely enough it came about as I was laughing at something I read on this forum.

reply to post by intrepid


So, are you not a Mason yourself?

If not, why haven't you joined them?

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by intrepid

 

So, are you not a Mason yourself?

No.

If not, why haven't you joined them?

Why should I?

I don't know what more answer you want. Worshipful is a old term of respect, was used and is used as such without referencing religion.
it is used within that context within Masonry, as it is within court systems.

Im guessing he wants us to say that we are using the word in a religious sense.

reply to post by doctordoom


Free masonary is not a religion and there is no devil worship (sorry to disapoint you).

Free masons do however follow the old testiment, therefore Christians, jews and muslims and 'worship' side by side and in peace. It's just a pity others don't take a leaf out our book, instead of making up stupid rumours.

If you are so interested in free masonary, pop along to your local lodge and speak to them. You will find they are not as 'cloak and dagger' as you think

reply to post by Level_Head


Oh good, your a Christian.

Remember the part in the bible where is says, "I am a jealous God, and thou shalt not put any other gods before me?" .

If your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by Level_Head

 

Oh good, your a Christian.

Remember the part in the bible where is says, "I am a jealous God, and thou shalt not put any other gods before me?" .

If your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

What makes you think I dont pray to the GOD of the bible? You are sadly mistaken. Masonry teaches you to be steadfast in your faith and to defend it. It also teaches us to look to the Volume of Sacred Law daily. Again I ask, why do you think I pray to a different GOD?

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by Level_Head

 

Oh good, your a Christian.

Remember the part in the bible where is says, "I am a jealous God, and thou shalt not put any other gods before me?" .

A giant omnipotent super-creature with a tendency toward jealousy?

If your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

I think one idea within Masonry is that it's all the same "God," but I may be mistaken there. They just encourage each Mason to follow his own religious scriptures, and those scriptures aren't always Christian. So what?

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

I can't stop laughing at this. It's a cruel world!

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by Level_Head

 

Oh good, your a Christian.

Remember the part in the bible where is says, "I am a jealous God, and thou shalt not put any other gods before me?" .

If your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

this is so preposterous laughable 1st taking an Old testament verse out of context and not understanding that whatever you call the Almighty- the God is always God. (Allah, Yahweh ) they are not different entities as it is said
God is not "jealous" that God is worshipped by a million different names in just as many languages.
the Koran-Bible (which includes the OldTestament or Torah- not the Midrash and rabbinical writing however- and the New Testament) any can be used in the Lodge as the holy book of the Mason who is swearing an oath. A muslim brother would not use the Torah or the Bible but the Koran and if it be that every member of the lodge is a Bible reader than that is the book used- a new member can bring their holy book into lodge if it is different. My lodge has many Jews and just as many Christians (Catholic-Lutheran-Protestants of other sorts etc...) and even Muslim members, and we all use our respective book, the boble is left in lodge because the Muslim member do not wnat to leave the Koran there, and the Jewish member have agreed to care for there book in the lodge as well.
the "ex-mason" who said the Bible was the book of the lodge doesn't sound like he was around long enough to meet others.