Taxil Hoax by Sword of the Spirit Apologetics

The following "Luciferian Doctrine" admission by Albert Pike (Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite) is documented in many source articles by a number of Masonic investigators and authors. There is some evidence to conclude, however, that the purported statement may not have been made by Albert Pike as claimed. The statement was attributed to Pike after its alleged circulation by Abbe Clarin de la Rive in his tract La femme et l'enfant dans la franc-maconnerie universelle (The Woman and Child in Universal Freemasonry).

The statement was reported to have been made by Albert Pike to the 23rd Supreme Councils of the World, July 14, 1889, and states: "To you, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, we say this, that you may repeat it to the brethren of the 32nd, 31st and 30th degrees - the Masonic Religion should be, by all of us initiates of the high degrees, maintained in the purity of the Luciferian Doctrine. If Lucifer were not God, would Adonay whose deeds prove his cruelty, perfidity [sic] and hatred of man, barbarism and revulsion for science, would Adonay and His priests calumniate Him? Yes, Lucifer is God, and unfortunately Adonay is also god...for the absolute can only exist as two gods....thus, the doctrine of Satanism is a heresy; and the true and pure philosophical religion is the belief in Lucifer, the equal of Adonay; but Lucifer, God of Light and God of Good, is struggling for humanity against Adonay, the God of Darkness and Evil."

Masonic apologists place the "blame" for this statement on the back of a self-professed "hoaxster" of the late 19th century. The story surrounds a French journalist by the name of Gabriel Jogand-Pagès (also known as Leo Taxil) who had an inordinate desire to ridicule both the Catholic Church and the Masonic Lodge. Taxil had been affiliated with both and spent many years in spreading tales about them. A connection between Rive and Taxil has been made because the name of Taxil's fictitious "co-conspirator" was found in the footnotes to "La femme."

Considering the probability that the "Luciferian Doctrine" was indeed a hoax by Taxil, he may rightly be judged as an unfair and dishonest man. It is always a tragedy when one must resort to fabrication or content-altering in order to prove a point. In the case against the Masonic Lodge, it is also unnecessary. It is much like throwing an extra drop of blood on a Jack-the-Ripper scene in order to convince others that a murder has taken place. The archives of Freemasonry alone are enough to show any discerning Christian that an abomination against the Lord is evident within its walls.

Several other notes should be mentioned about the "Taxil Hoax." Remember that Leo Taxil was both a Mason and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Neither system is Christian! When Christ spoke the words of John 8:44, He could have been speaking to Taxil, Masonry, and Catholicism alike: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Not only was Leo Taxil a natural liar, but his ability to misrepresent and twist the facts was probably reinforced through his Masonic influence. It does not take an investigative genius to understand that Freemasonry is shrouded in misrepresentations and double-speak. Let's look at a couple of small examples as explained by Masonic authorities:

"Masonry is not a religion. He who makes of it a religious belief, falsifies and denaturalizes it." (Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, p. 161) However, on page 213 of the same work we read, "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion; and its teachings are instruction in religion."

Was Pike confused? Or was he merely following the example set by the father of all lies and confusion?

In the Master Mason degree in the Blue Lodge, the initiate is required to kneel on both naked knees with both hands resting on the Holy Bible. He is promised that nothing in Masonry "...will interfere with the duty you owe to your God." The initiate is also required to kiss the Bible to seal his vows. (Malcolm C. Duncan, Masonic Ritual and Monitor, David McKay Co., pp. 93-96) It can be properly assumed by the initiate at this point in the ceremony that the god of Masonry may be the God of the Bible. However, according to Masonic authority Carl H. Claudy, "[The Mason] must declare his faith in a Supreme Being before he may be initiated. But note that he is not required to say, then or ever, what God. He may name him as he will, think of him as he pleases; make him impersonal law or personal anthropomorphic; Freemasonry cares not!.God, Great Architect of the Universe, Grand Artificer, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Above, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, or Great Geometer!." (Carl H. Claudy, Introduction to Freemasonry, Vol. 2, 1984, p. 110 [from Ankerberg/Weldon, Christianity and the Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge, 1989, p. 45])

As the names and natures of the Masonic gods and idols change so frequently throughout the various degrees, it is almost impossible for the normal man to ever come to a conclusion. Maybe that is the reason why so many men can attend a Christian church service one day and a Masonic Lodge meeting the next. They have been told so many different stories that they are not able to recognize the true God of the Bible anymore!

You must be asking yourself this question: "Why would Masonic authorities give diametrically opposed answers to the same questions? Isn't that about the same kind of character that Taxil displayed?" EXACTLY! It seems that Masonic apologists can see right through Taxil but are completely immune to their own twisted verbiage. The answer is really quite simple--the Masonic Lodge has determined that the truth is not right for the peasant class. They have determined that all those outside their royal class are not worthy and would only pervert the truth. Albert Pike treats all non-Masonic folks as nothing more than pond scum who only deserve to hear lies and falsifications.

According to Pike (pp. 104-105, 819 ), "Masonry, like all the Religions, all the Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secret from all except the Adepts and Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who deserve only to be misled; to conceal the Truth, which it calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from it. Truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it, or would pervert it! He is intentionally misled by false interpretations. It is not intended that he shall understand them; but it is intended he shall imagine he understands them." (It is certainly ironic that the table may have been turned on him in the person of Leo Taxil!)

As a Christian, however, I have never met one single person who was not worthy of the truth! I have never met a person who "deserves" to be mislead! And I have never met a Mason who did not deserve to hear the words of the open Gospel and the prayers of concerned Christians! But alas, all we pray for will not come to pass. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

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