There has been much discussion that the individual who committed the atrocious crimes in Norway was a Freemason. His actions which are so far away from what we as Masons advocate and swear to make them incompatible with the fraternity which I know and love. The following statement from the Grand Lodge of Norway was posted on their Web site.
The Norwegian Order of Freemasons expressing compassion and care
- I am appalled by the horrible atrocity that was committed in the government district and at the Utøya island, says the Sovereign Grand Master of the Norwegian Order of Freemasons, Ivar A. Skar.
We are filled with mourning and compassion for those who have been affected and their relatives.
It has appeared in the media that the accused has been a member of the Norwegian Order of Freemasons.
He has now been excluded - the exclusion immediately effective.
The exclusion reflects that the acts he is accused of having carried out, and the values that appear to have motivated them, are completely incompatible with what we stand for as an Order.
We build our activity on Christian and humanistic values and want our members to contribute to the promotion of charity, peace and goodness among all people.
The police will of course get all the help and information we can give to contribute to the investigation.
4 comments:
So Norwegian Masons aren't non-sectarian like they are in the USA and Britain?
Right, You must profess Christianity to belong to a Norwegian Lodge. Here is an explanation from the Freemasons for Dummies Blog http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2011/07/norwegian-terror-suspects-masonic.html
Norway practices the Swedish Rite, which I believe is strictly Christian. Here in the United States, we do not interfere with your religion, but we also acknowledge that the super majority of our members are Christian, although we have brethren who are Jews, Muslims and Buddhist among others. Shame that one psycho can impact us in such a way; it appears that the W.G. was left wide open.
Having visited your wonderful city and photographed the front door of the lodge building without being sure if I was in the right place, i now know I was right, and would now like to bring greetings from Dorset England. I am a Past master of my lodge. Skipp. email theorganist1940@gmail.com
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