Why Do They Lie About Freemasonry?
First of all, all anti-Masons do not intend to lie. Some of them are only repeating what they have heard from some "expert" in Masonry. Many of them have never been Masons and have never studied the organization to any extent. Some anti-Masons have their minds made up that Freemasonry is wrong and do not wish to be open minded. How many of us really question our political parties or our religious organization's doctrines to determine if they are correct? We tend to believe the way our parents taught us. It is too much work to question whether they were right or wrong?
Other anti-Masons, on the other hand, seem determined to be right about their stand regardless of the facts. For some reason they will not believe anything good about Masonry. They have taken a position against it and will not allow anyone to change their minds. They see nothing wrong in lifting out quotes from Masonic writers that prove their points even if they know they are taking them out of context. They see no harm in using resource materials from very unreliable sources if it will aid in their quest to destroy Masonry.
Dishonest in little-dishonest in much.
To sell a book, or a tape, claiming it reveals truth while knowing it to contain lies is cheating. Soliciting or accepting contributions in the name of truth while telling a lie is stealing.
It's hard for us to believe that of men of the cloth. But when a man presents us, in writing, with repeated proof of his deceit, we ultimately must conclude that he is deceitful.
This book is not intended to be an exhaustive defense of Freemasonry. None is needed. It is intended to show, by example, just what anti-Masons are capable of doing.
There may be some readers who, in spite of the proof of the lies told by the anti-Masons examined in this book (and in spite of the fact that they can get the original sources themselves and check them out if they doubt the integrity of Brothers deHoyos and Morris), still continue to believe in the honor and integrity of the anti-Masons. If so, there is little that can be said to them.
But for readers who resent being lied to and resent even more the implication that they are too stupid to know the difference, this book will come as something of a revelation.
What motivates such men? Part of it may simply be unreasoning hatred. But a very large part of it can be explained in financial terms. Anti-Masons are fond of selling audio and video tapes. One can do a video tape, even in fairly small quantities, for about $5, and that includes the cost of the tape, its reproduction, a sturdy hinged plastic case, and a color title card for the box; an audio tape costs about $1.25. Since these earnest entrepreneurs sell their video tapes for $2030 and their audio tapes for $56, there is a useful bit of change left over.
Freemasonry, therefore, is a profitable target.
It is not that Freemasonry considers itself above criticism. It is a human institution and, like all such institutions, imperfect and open to improvement. Criticize us if you wish--most Masons do. Examine us in depth--we have nothing to hide.
But do not lie about us.
And, especially, do not lie about us and then dare to claim you are doing the work of God.
(From the Foreword "Is it True What They Say About Freemasonry" by James T. Tresner,II)