Book Review

Born In Blood
The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry
Author: John J. Robinson

Can the origins of Freemasonry be found in the bloody suppression of a powerful Middle Ages Catholic order called the Knights Templar?

The Knights Templar was an order of Catholic monks, but not in the traditional images that come to mind. They were warriors, accomplished in the Crusades to the Holy Land, and a super-secret order. According to Robinson, they were also extremely wealthy and powerful, operating as a quasi bank of sorts in their day.

A major threat, whether perceived or real, to the Pope and the French monarchy, the Vatican sought to destroy the order in the early 14th century. Plotting with childhood friend and Vatican protector French King Philip, Pope Clement moved quickly on Friday the 13th in 1307 to have Templar Knights throughout Europe arrested. Outrageously charged with various blasphemous violations, the Knights were tortured horribly (and Robinson delights in the details) to solicit confessions. All were executed.

That is, except for the Templar that managed to escape. Needing to find protection from the Crown and the Vatican, they slipped deep into hiding. They also needed a means to network in secret and to protect each other. Robinson makes a strong case by demonstrating historical examples showing very plausible parallels between the Knights and Freemasonry. Basically, Robinson argues that Freemasonry was founded by the Knights Templar as a means to hide who they were and to provide some protection.

Just as the Knights Templar were condemned and persecuted (murdered) by the Catholic Church so as to maintain and enhance it’s own power, Freemasonry has been roundly condemned by the Vatican for centuries as a super-secret, anti-Christian institution (Masons require belief in a single god as part of their membership requirements, not necessarily Catholic dogma). The Masons have been a threat to the Church’s domination because they operated as a safe haven for religious men who stood up to Catholic persecution.

A very plausible argument, if you accept a lot of historical claims here that are somewhat suspect only in that they happened 700 years ago. Still, very interesting.

The most interesting (and shocking) element of the entire book can actually be found in the appendix. In 1884, Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical Humanum Genus offering a sweeping condemnation of Freemasonry and urging Catholics everywhere to oppose it. Very, very weak on logic or valid arguments, the Pope’s absolute disdain for liberal democracy (surely with American and French versions in mind), the following passage made my blood absolutely boil:

Here naturalists teach that men have all the same rights, and are perfectly equal in condition; that every man is naturally independent; that no one has a right to command others; that it is tyranny to keep men subject to any other authority than that which emanates from themselves. Hence, the people are sovereign; those who rule have no authority but by the commission and concession of the people; so that they can be deposed, willing or unwilling, according to the wishes of the people. The origin of all rights and civil duties is in the people or in the State, which is ruled according to the new principles of liberty. The State must be godless; no reason why one religion ought to be preferred to another; all to be held in the same esteem.

Now it is well known that Free-Masons approve these maxims, and that they wish to see governments shaped on this pattern and model needs no demonstration. It is a long time, indeed, that they have worked with all their strength and power openly for this, making thus an easy way for those, not a few, more audacious and bold in evil, who meditate the communion and equality of all goods after having swept away from the world every distinction of social goods and conditions.

From these few hints it is easy to understand what is the Masonic sect what it wants. Its tenets contradict so evidently human reason that nothing can be more perverted. The desire of destroying the religion and Church established by God, with the promise of immortal life, to try to revive, after eighteen centuries, the manners and institutions of paganism, is great foolishness and bold impiety. No less horrible or unbearable is it to repudiate the gifts granted through His adversaries. In this foolish and ferocious attempt, one recognizes that untamed hatred and rage of revenge kindled against Jesus Christ in the heart of Satan.

This from Pope Leo XIII makes me boil in that it drips with such contempt for democratic ideals and stands as a naked condemnation of liberty and democracy in that it might challenge Vatican domination. That which is not the Church or is not done in furtherance of the Church - as the ultimate authority over the dominion of man - is evil and worthy of destruction. The parallels with Islamic radicalism are scary.