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Which is why any discussion of religion or politics is strengstens verboten (strictly forbidden) in a Masonic lodge room.
Masons are required to declare a belief in a Supreme Being (no declared atheist may become a Mason); otherwise the obligations taken at the Altar would not be considered binding.
At one point in the Entered Apprentice initiation ritual the Worshipful Master of the lodge approaches the candidate and asks him "in whom do you place your trust?", to which the candidate must reply freely, "In God" or the name of the Supreme Being he places his trust in. The Holy Book of the candidate's faith may be placed upon the Altar when he takes his Obligation, instead of the customary Holy Bible.
Personally, I have no preference whether the phrase 'under God' is or is not included in the Pledge of Allegiance. Nor do I mind the inclusion of the motto 'In God We Trust' in our currency.
P.S. Even though I am a baptized (but not a practicing) Roman Catholic, I'm forever barred from membership in the Knights of Columbus because I'm a Mason. (Unless the rules have changed.)
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ASF
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well known.
Alpha Alpha (University of Oklahoma) Chapter, #814, 1984
Last edited by AlphaSigOU; 03-03-2003 at 10:00 PM.
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