“Mormon Freemasonry” in Nauvoo
Freemason Joe Steve Swick III criticizes Samuel Morris Brown’s new book on Masonic influences in Mormonism. In an editorial review, professor Richard Bushman described Brown’s book as weaving “the most exotic elements of Mormonism-seerstones, new names, hieroglyphs, angels, the Adamic tongue, Masonic catechisms, seals, ritual adoptions-into an illuminating and compelling explication of Joseph Smith’s beliefs about the temple, family, and human salvation.”
Joe Swick, however, as a Mormon and Mason, feels that Brown didn’t go far enough.
Almost unbelievably, Sam fails to anywhere significantly engage the funerary rites or traditions of Freemasons … the funeral sermon of King Follett—contained several clear Masonic references relevant to the topic of his book. These Masonic references likely exist because King Follett was the Prophet’s Masonic Brother, and the funeral itself was Masonic.
The “funerary traditions,” Swick notes, is symbolized by the apron. “Sam is unwilling to directly state that Masons – or Mormons – even wear aprons,” he writes.
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For further investigation, see John L. Brooke’s The Refiner’s Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844 for more evidence of Masonic influences, including that of alchemy, Rosicrucianism and Hermeticism; Lance S. Owens’ classic “Joseph Smith and Kabbalah: The Occult Connection“; and here.
PERFECTIBILISTS: The 18th Century Bavarian Order of the Illuminati
The Ascendancy of the Scientific Dictatorship
Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism
Fire in the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith
America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones
June 6th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Hello, Terry:
I really appreciate your work on updating this in a manner that respects my writing. I’d only suggest two additional changes: I would prefer that you indicate that I critiqued a chapter of Sam’s book, rather than criticized his entire book. This is a matter of accuracy, but you are of course welcome to characterize my blog post however you might wish.
You must know that I’d prefer a different image to accompany this link, as I do believe that the picture of some folks standing on the sidewalk in LDS temple clothing, “exposing” the content of LDS ritual is inappropriate for my writing. I suspect you already know that Latter-day Saints will find this offensive, and my blogpost was not intended to offend. However, this apparently reflects your personal opinion in the matter, and again I respect your right to characterize my post however you wish. At least the couple depicted weren’t standing on the street corner in their underwear.
Thank you for your quick response.
June 7th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Are all Mormon’s snitches or just those who also belong to the craft?
Hanging around cops, judges and lawyers all day will do that to a person, I suppose.