#33 National Universalism
Dr. Stephen Phinney: It all started with a vision that George Washington embraced for the city - in partnership with his fellow Mason, Pierre L’Enfant.
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America’s national universalism of accepting all religions is rooted in the country’s foundational principles of freedom and equality. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, ensuring that individuals can practice their faith without government interference. This acceptance encourages a diverse and pluralistic society where various religious beliefs coexist, which resulted in the contribution of the decline of cultural and religious infighting. By embracing religious diversity, America once upheld Christianity as a primary belief of respect. However, those days are gone. The once sustained belief that all religions, allowing people from different faith backgrounds to live together harmoniously as shifted to excluding Christians and Jews. This universal acceptance has deluded to a nation that no longer reinforces liberty and justice for all. What has happened to our nation?
UNIVERSALIST FOUNDERS
The Masonic founders of America, driven by their ideals of enlightenment and universal brotherhood, envisioned a nation where religious freedom and unity were paramount. They believed in the importance of a universal religious belief that transcended individual doctrines, covertly fostering a sense of collective spirituality and moral integrity. Although, history records that the Masonic power players not only dismissed conservative Christianity, but they also abhorred it. This vision ultimately led to establishing the National Cathedral, symbolizing America’s commitment to religious inclusivity and harmony. The cathedral is a visual to the founders’ aspiration for a nation where diverse faiths could coexist and contribute to the common good, reflecting the core Masonic principles of tolerance, equality, and unity.
THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
I recently finished reading a history book on the founding and establishment of Washington, DC. The book carefully unfolded the meticulous partnership of fellow Masons and their “brotherhood of builders, i.e., why they are called Masons. The historical publication revealed their efforts in mapping out streets, building 90% of all national monuments, homes, government buildings, and most of the famous landmarks of Washington DC. It was a fascinating read. I learned a lot.
It all started with a vision that George Washington embraced for the city - in partnership with his fellow Mason, Pierre L’Enfant. He sketched out a massive Temple of sorts to be built as a Cathedral dedicated to Masonic Universalism, and due to proactive conservative Christian politicians maintaining their dominance within Congress, more than a century passed before Congress gave its “blessing” in the form of a charter granted in 1893. Fourteen years later, construction finally began. It took 83 years before the building was completed. Upon completion, it was dedicated to and placed under the management of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the Freemasons’ official church.
The Washington National Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, stands as a monumental symbol of both religious and political significance in the United States. Its history is deeply intertwined with the early Masons nation’s ideals of religious freedom, unity, and the pursuit of a collective spiritual identity. While there is a plethora of iconic stained-glass windows, gold & bronze plated statues, and other idyllic relics, the only President that was allowed to be tombed within this building is President Woodrow Wilson, the founder of the United Nations.
Religious Significance
The idea of a national cathedral dates back to the early days of the United States. While Pierre L’Enfant, the French architect who designed Washington, D.C., received the credit for the envisioned “great church for national purposes” as part of the capital’s layout, the vision itself was imparted to George Washington by his Masonic mentors leading up to his Presidential seat. However, it wasn’t until 1893 that Congress, primarily dominated by Freemasons, granted a charter for the establishment of a cathedral dedicated to religion, education, and charity. The cathedral’s construction began in 1907, with President Theodore Roosevelt laying the foundation stone.
The National Cathedral is an Episcopal church, but it has always been intended as a house of prayer for all people of all religions, reflecting the nation’s commitment to religious inclusivity. It has hosted numerous significant religious events, including the final Sunday sermon delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and various interfaith services. Interesting enough, Martin Luther was assassinated seven days later. For the most part, unless the spiritual leader supports universalism, most are not allowed to conduct services at the Cathedral. The cathedral’s ecumenical character is evident in its architecture and the diverse religious symbols incorporated into its design. This inclusivity aligns with the Masonic principles of tolerance and unity, which were influential in the cathedral’s founding vision.
Political Significance
Politically, the National Cathedral has served as a venue for national reflection and unity during pivotal moments in American history. It has been the site of presidential funerals, inaugural prayer services, and national memorial services that advance the cause of universal beliefs in respecting of all gods. The laying of the foundation stone by President Roosevelt and the completion of the cathedral with the final stone placed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, who was a well-respected globalist and Freemason of the Skull & Bones society, symbolize the cathedral’s enduring connection to the nation’s vision and founding members of America’s Masonic order.
The cathedral’s role extends beyond religious ceremonies; it has been a platform for addressing social and political issues and resisting individuals, nations, and religious groups that adhere to ONE God, such as Christians and Jews. For instance, it has hosted events promoting civil rights, environmental stewardship, and international peace - while rejecting pastoral leaders who wish to conduct evangelistic revivals, or services. The Episcopal Diocese believes that the cathedral’s presence in the nation’s capital underscores its function as a moral compass and a place for national dialogue on critical issues. Presently, the Cathedral is considered by American Masons as their greatest contribution to America and consider it one of their holiest Temples.
Summing Things Up
Christians and Jews generally do not support universalism because it conflicts with their core theological beliefs. For Christians, the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ is a fundamental tenet, as emphasized in verses like John 14:6, where Jesus states, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Similarly, Judaism holds a unique covenantal relationship with God, as outlined in the Torah, which sets the Jewish people apart with specific laws and practices. Thus, both groups are excluded from the Cathedral’s list of groups welcome to use the Cathedral for religious services - unless the leaders are in full support of the acceptance of all religions as a relevant “point of light” leading to the one-god, the Eye of Providence or the All-Seeing Eye -the illumined one, which is represented as a focal point via stain glass in the Cathedral.
Universalism, which promotes the idea that all religions are equally valid paths to God, undermines these distinct religious identities and doctrines of Christians and Jews. Consequently, both faiths emphasize the importance of their unique beliefs and practices, which they see as divinely ordained and essential for their spiritual journeys. In this, we find the reason for the notion of not being welcome in the National Cathedral.
The National Cathedral represents exactly what the Masonic founding members envisioned - one church, one people, and one global government. As for me, I can easily see why our nation has become a melting pot for gods of pluralism. Has this melting pot become a bed for our enemies who use religious freedom to ignite cultural, religious, and political wars? This is an elementary sociological connecting of the dots - of course, it is!
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Dr. Stephen Phinney
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Identity Politics | Co-writer: Judge Mark T. Boonstra