To the editors:
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Had Mr. Adams done even the most basic research (e.g. one trip to Kroch’s & Brentano’s) or had he talked to one active Mason, he would have found that we are far from being pagans. The Holy Bible is open and reverenced at every meeting, our initiates are sworn upon it, our prayers and recitations are either based upon it or directly quoted from it. We call God the Great Architect of the Universe, or just the Deity, because we wish to avoid sectarianism between those who say God, and those who say Yahweh, Allah, Jah, or other names. We do not worship anyone but Him (Her?), nor are those antique deities mentioned by Adams (Baal, Osiris, etc.) ever mentioned in any lodge ritual. How else could we number so many Christian priests, ministers and bishops among our fellows? As for Jahbulon, I never heard of him.
Mr. Adams mocks our hand grip signal. Does he know its origin or the history we perpetuate by it? Apparently not. What’s the next target, the sign of the Cross?
Would that Mr. Adams had bothered to treat the Masons with similar fairness. I request a withdrawal of his slanders.
Cecil Adams replies:
