Originally posted by GLeamer
You agree then that Smith was made a Mason
Yes, it is a known fact that Smith was made a Mason.
- a man who had never been a masom was suddenly a mason leader A man who was a religious leader
Who gave him this honor?
Who took it away?
He never became a "mason leader." He received the degree of Master Mason on March 15, 1842, by Bodley Lodge in Nauvoo, Illinois, along with many
other Mormons. The Grand Master of Illinois suspended the Lodge's charter and arrested the jewels of its officers because of the irregularities of
mass initiation. The Grand Lodge of Illinois approved of the Grand Master's decision during 1843 sessions, and expelled all the parties involved.
This was the entire extent of Smith's Masonic career: he never served as a Masonic officer nor did he receive any Masonic honors. He was simply one
of many hundreds who were admitted to the fraternity illegally in one Illinois town.
You said "Smith was never a member of the Scottish Rite"
What Rite was he?
He was a member of the Symbolic Lodge of the York Rite, which is sometimes called "Blue Lodge".
Why were the masons so interested?
Apparently, several officers of that Lodge had become Mormons, and wished to introduce their Mormon brethren into the Lodge. No one knows exactly why.
It is even possible that some of the Mormons would believe they would be able to take over the Fraternity and turn it into a Mormon organization. In
any case, the non-Mormon members of the Lodge complained to the Grand Master that the Lodge was being infiltrated by polygamists, and the Grand Master
acted quickly and decisively.
This was the reason of the long chill between Mormonism and Masonry. For many years following, the Mormon Church became even more anti-Masonic than
the Vatican; likewise, the Grand Lodges of Utah and Nevada refused to allow Mormons into Masonry.
Today, the chill has warmed, and Mormons are allowed to become Masons. The Mormon Church, however, continues to be generally anti-Masonic.
