Some who oppose Freemasonry have made the claim that it has descended from the ancient Mysteries of ancient days. In case you are unfamiliar with the Mysteries, let me offer a brief education.

The Mystery Religions seemed to have originated in India. From India they circulated to Egypt, Ethiopia, Phoenicia, Greece, Persia, Rome, Britain, and then Scandinavia. They apparently died out with the onset of Christianity, however, in some aspects were partially resurrected by the Church. The Church removed the paganism from the Mysteries, but maintained many of their tenets. When about to open a service for the "full members" of the Church, the announcement was made, "Depart ye profane! Let the Catechumens (neophytes) and those who have not been admitted or initiated, go forth." This is clearly borrowed from the Mysteries.

Membership in the Mystery Religions was selective. Only the initiated could take part in the ceremonies. The Mysteries did not teach dogmatic religious doctrines, but did try to instill in their members a strong sense of moral values. Most of the Mysteries gave emphasis to the fact that the soul was eternal and that there was an after life.

In the Mystery Religions everyone became a member by choice. No one was ever invited to join. No one would be able to say that they were coerced into this new relationship. Once a person is accepted into the Mysteries they go through a series of initiations before becoming a full member.

It may be of interest to some to mention at this point that during the times of persecution in the Christian Church, there were three steps of initiation to become a member of the church. The first step in initiation often took three years. Everything about Christianity was not revealed to the initiates until they reached the highest level.

The candidate in the Mystery Religions would enter an emotional experience that was designed to bond them with the other members. As a part of this community he would receive the benefits of a family member. The group now had a responsibility to help and encourage the new initiate. A person entering the Mysteries was made to feel that they were entering a new life. There were new rules to follow; a new code of morality; a new set of rituals; and a new "family" that would always help in time of need.

Historians have recorded some things about the Mystery Religions, but there is much that is still unknown. They have remained a mystery because records were not kept. All instruction was handed down orally. Thieves could not steal their documents because there were none to steal. The members of the group could not be coerced to talk about their activities, because they were committed to silence. This is only speculation, but I would venture to say that we mostly likely know something of the Mystery Religions by people who became disgruntled and decided to tell everything they knew.

So, what do the Mystery Religions have to with Freemasonry? Some have been of the opinion that Freemasonry is directly descended from the Mysteries, and as such is nothing more than a pagan institution.

Masonic writers have often professed to see many points of resemblance between Mithraism and Freemasonry. Albert Pike once declared that Freemasonry is the modern heir of the Ancient Mysteries.

Many of the critics of Freemasonry have taken statements made by the older Masonic Writers concerning the Mysteries and have tried to build a strong case that Freemasonry and the Mystery Religions are one in the same.

While some Masons will acknowledge that a few things have been borrowed from their structure and philosophy, you will be hard pressed to find many who will agree that Masons are promoting some kind of paganistic worship from the past.

The founders of the United States borrowed a great deal from the British when they established their federal government, their court system, and their military, but we are very distinct from the British system. Because we are similar in many ways does not make us the same. In like manner, Freemasonry has many similar systems with the Mysteries, but there are some fundamental beliefs and practices where we sharply disagree.

As we have already stated, Albert Pike, the famous author of Morals and Dogma, which is a favorite target of anti-Masons, has been sharply accused of promoting the Mystery Religions as the predecessor of Freemasonry. Here is what Pike actually said:

The enemies of Freemasonry are quick to quote the first seven words of the above quote, and often will delete the rest. Pike only agreed that Masonry was identical with the Ancient Mysteries in a qualified sense. Pike, as a sincere Trinitarian Christian, would have never agreed with their system of worship, except in the sense that the Mysteries did, for the most part, believe in one supreme God. The Mysteries were on the brink of collapse just prior to the advent of Christianity. With the rise of the Christian Church the bulk of the Mystery Religions were swallowed up by this new religion. Pike and Masonry have only praised them for the effort they made to lift up a Supreme God (in the midst of gross paganism), their emphasis on morality, the eternal soul, an after life, the importance of doing good to others, etc. Freemasonry has in no way ever lifted up a system of paganism, immorality, or other believes that have been contrary to the Word of God.

The concept that Freemasonry is the direct descendant of the Mystery Religions has been a matter of speculation for decades, and perhaps even centuries. Yes, there are parallel concepts and structure between the two institutions, just as I pointed out with the analogy of the governments of Great Britain and the U.S.A., but let me assure you that there has never been a direct connection made between the two. The idea that it is a direct descendant is ridiculous.