Freemasonry:
The Trojan Horse in the Church
By Pierce Dodson
In Greek mythology the Trojan horse was the means by which the Greeks successfully brought their army into the city of Troy. It was an act of subterfuge. The Greeks hid their soldiers inside the wooden horse and left it outside the city. The Trojans, thinking it a trophy, took it inside the gates, not knowing their enemy was within. At night, while they slept, the Greeks emerged from the horse, opened the city gates to the waiting army and took the city captive.
The Trojan Horse of Freemasonry brought the enemy into two churches I served as pastor. I was born and raised in a Southern Baptist home in Tennessee. At the age of nine I was converted to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. After receiving a call to the ministry, I attended Southern Baptist Seminar in Louisville, Kentucky, graduating with a master of divinity in theology.
While in seminary I was pastor of a church in which I had a fruitful ministry. Fourteen years later I accepted a call to a prominent small town church in the county seat of my home state of Tennessee. My homecoming was marked by two events that occurred during the first week I was on the field.
First, a man and his wife came to my office to inform me that a couple of Satanists were harassing their daughter at school. Second, I learned of a stabbing in the community that involved someone in the occult. I wondered what I had gotten myself into by taking a church in this community.
As I familiarized myself with my new surroundings, I discovered other troubling signs. On Main Street was a liquor store named Lucifer’s. The cemetery had a section called “Masonic Gardens.” In it a miniature lodge stood. Inside were lodge chairs arranged as found in an actual lodge. On the marble altar was a marble Bible.
It was not long before I was aware that six of my eighteen deacons belonged to the Masonic Order. A few weeks later I was talking with two ladies in the church office. When our conversation turned to Masonry, one lady commented that her husband was a Mason. I took little thought to the ramifications of the discussion. Although I was critical of Freemasonry, she seemed not to be offended. I later learned that she had told her husband.
Some time later I preached a two-part message on the exclusive nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although I did not mention Freemasonry by name, my message stood in stark contrast to Masonic doctrine. The husband of the lady who visited me was in the congregation. He apparently understood that I had contradicted the theology of Freemasonry. However, instead of confronting me, he called one of my deacons who was his lodge brother.
At our next deacons’ meeting a foreboding spirit fell on me. The deacon who had been called was visibly angry and generally rude toward me throughout the meeting. I had an idea what had triggered his hostility and it was confirmed the next night when he called me by phone. After I said “hello,” he began shouting accusations that I had called Masonry a cult. I shouted back that indeed I had. After we both calmed down, we ended our conversation in prayer.
I realized that was not the end of the matter. I felt I needed support from others to combat the spirit of Freemasonry. I quickly educated some members of the flock by clandestinely distributing anti-Masonic literature published by John Ankerberg.
A prominent member of the church privately revealed to me that some years earlier she had a vision that Satan was holding the church in his grip. She compared the vision to a Sherwin Williams paint logo, where the can is upside down pouring paint over the globe of the earth. I immediately understood her vision to be Freemasonry “gripping” our church.
The next event in my saga had to do with the John Ankerberg booklet I had distributed. It was given to the wrong person, who in turn brought it to one of the deacons, who was a Mason. I got a phone call Sunday afternoon and was told there would be a deacons’ meeting after the Sunday night service. The caller asked if I knew about it. I responded that I hadn’t been informed, but that I suspected the Masons might be behind it. Apparently, the pastor was not welcome to that secret meeting.
That night we were scheduled to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Fortunately, one of the deacons had enough courage to stand up to one of the Mason deacons and ask, “How can we take the Lord’s Supper and then have a secret meeting behind our pastor’s back?”
That was a pretty good question! Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, Satan had set a precedent about two thousand years ago. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, had likewise planned a clandestine meeting after the first Lord’s Supper.
My deacons’ clandestine meeting was probably meant to roast me in absentia. But, when the question was raised at the evening service, I was given a last minute invitation. After the service I went upstairs to a room where the deacons and I sat down. A few of the deacons did not know what the meeting was about. However, most of the Mason deacons did. You might say it was “their” meeting.
We all were seated around the room against the wall. The Ankerberg literature I had distributed was produced, and when confronted about it by a Mason deacon, I got up and took a seat in the middle of the room facing them all. I spoke of famous preachers who had opposed Masonry, such as Finney, and D.L. Moody. One of the Masons tried to shut me up. To his surprise, another deacon told him to “shut up and let the man speak.”
The meeting was tense. Near the end I was asked if I could work with the Masons. I responded I could probably give an answer, but I would prefer to wait until a later time. I closed the meeting with prayer. Afterwards, one deacon remarked to some of his peers that he would give up being a deacon before he would give up his lodge membership.
During the next few weeks, tensions mounted among church members. Even the townsfolk were discussing the problems at our church. One Mason visited a deacon and questioned his stand regarding me. I speculated the Masons were mustering forces to oust me. But, I stood my ground.
One Wednesday night the title of my sermon was “Standing Alone.” As I looked out over the congregation I sensed the opposition was not ready. I preached the sermon, with no reaction from the audience.
The following Sunday morning a Mason-deacon took me aside and asked if I had made a decision about being able to work with the Masons. I answered, “The issue here is truth.”
The Mason responded, “What is truth for you is not necessarily truth for me.”
I was under intense pressure to make a decision. If it was not in their favor, I knew I could not stay at that church. Should I force their hand, or should I resign? My emotions were on a roller coaster. First, I thought I would try to last thirty days and see if something could be worked out. After all, my wife and I had bought our first house. We had two young children, and had not yet made the first payment. I quickly discarded the thirty-day idea and wondered if I could hold out two weeks. No, I’ll resign tonight. I was not going through this any longer.
I called the deacon chairman, requesting a meeting with the deacons before the evening service. I did not tell him the purpose of the meeting. When I resigned, no one tried to stop me, not even my supporters.
That night the youth were presenting a musical entitled “The Big Picture,” based on Romans 8:28. The theme was that we do not understand our trials while we are going through them. We must wait till later to see the big picture. I could see God’s hand in the timing of my resignation.
When the youth finished their program, I got up, and without anger or animosity, read my resignation from a prepared text. I did not mention Freemasonry. I simply stated that there was a situation in the church, which made it impossible for me to fulfill my calling to the ministry of the Gospel and my calling as pastor of the church.
Some people looked shocked, others cried. Many came to the front to speak with me. I stayed up until four o’clock the next morning conversing with friends.
Friendships forged in the flames are the strongest, and I am grateful for Christian friends who stood with us. We also got support from our former church members back in Kentucky, which was an added blessing.
Our house went back on the market before the first payment was made. When I resigned, I had no idea how or if I would be offered any severance pay. But, praise God! He prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. One of the non-Mason deacons recommended that the church pay my salary for the next six months. I am probably one of the few preachers on record who was paid longer not to be pastor of a church than to be pastor.
Since our house did not sell for 18 months, we were forced to remain in that small town. I believe God used our house to make our presence a constant reminder to the town of what had happened at that church. He was not going to allow the rebellious spirit of Freemasonry in the church to be swept under the rug.
A few weeks after my resignation, my family and I spent a Sunday visiting churches in a nearby city. One church had a guest speaker that morning. He text was Genesis 50:19-21.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive. Now therefore, fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
I had honestly selected that church with the idea of talking with the guest speaker after the service. God, however, wanted to say something first. That night we attended another church in the same town. The pastor, a friend of mine, had no idea we were coming. When he got up to preach, he announced that the Lord had impressed upon him to change his text to Genesis 50:19-20!
Twice in one day! Thank you Lord! God wanted my wife and me to understand that He had a purpose in all that was taking place and that He would provide for us.
Six months after my resignation, just as the severance pay was running out, I was asked to do some fill-in preaching at a church two hours away. This led to a position of interim pastor. The pulpit committee knew of the circumstances at my previous church, but the congregation did not. After about five months I agreed to permit the pulpit committee to submit my name as a candidate for the pastorate. Several members of the church, however, had ties with my former church and learned of my confrontation with the Masons. Now the issue of Freemasonry had begun to be a problem at their church.
When the deacons learned of my stand on Freemasonry, they requested a meeting to discuss the matter. I shared my position and showed the Jeremiah film on Freemasonry, “From Darkness to Light.” Although none of the deacons were Masons, one was sympathetic to Freemasonry and told some Masons what had transpired at the meeting. They were not happy with the film and made it known.
Although these Masons were fewer in number than those at the former church, they still were able to stir up considerable dissension. When it came time to vote on a date of my official candidacy, the Masons came out en masse, and history began to repeat itself. As if on cue, all the Masons in one accord rose out of their seats and headed for the front. One pointed a finger at me and called me a troublemaker. He challenged me to meet with all the Masons. I agreed, so long as the deacons and pulpit committee could be present. “No!” he exclaimed. “I want a meeting with you and the other Masons.” He never got his meeting.
When challenged, Freemasonry will show its true colors. After the service, a dear lady asked me if I could be in any physical danger. I replied that I could be. I told her that the history of Freemasonry has had its share of violence, in spite of its denials.
In the days following, the Masons worked hard to discredit me. One of them was so strong against me that he told a deacon “I would lay down my life to keep that man from becoming pastor of this church.” After my candidate message, the vote was taken. The majority was in my favor, but not by much.
Realizing that not all the “no” votes were Masons, I struggled with the decision to accept their call. Many had been intimidated by the whole mess, and simply did not want to rock the boat. They opposed me only because they felt it best for the church. I decided to decline their call, but stay on as interim pastor.
The next day one of the Masons presumptuously took my name off the church sign, not realizing I was still interim pastor. When he discovered I was still there, you should have seen the look on his face. He and the other Masons had to put up with me for another three months until the church called a full-time pastor.
I left that church in November 1992 and have chosen not to accept another pastorate. However, I was seriously considered by a church early in 1997. But, lightning struck again! A member of the church had a Masonic brother-in-law back in the first church where my nightmare began. The Mason got his non-Mason brother-in-law to oppose me. His opposition to my candidacy was successful. Since then, the non-Mason has had a change of mind and regrets his opposition.
In some respects I am a pariah in my own denomination. I have been branded by this issue in which my position is the correct one — the Christian one. I was mistreated, but not mistaken. My family and I have paid a high price, but don’t regret it. We thank God for the privilege of suffering for His Name’s sake. Meanwhile, out Lord has given me great opportunity to evangelize in foreign countries. I have been to Russia, Trinidad, and three times to Romania. These nations are wide open to the gospel.
In America’s churches, however, evangelism will continue to be hindered so long as Masons are permitted to join the church and have a vote, or hold ruling position in our assemblies. Freemasonry is at war with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This battle cannot be understood apart from the knowledge of spiritual warfare. I have shown how Freemasonry’s battle was waged against me. Simply stated, “work with the Masons” and everything will be alright.
Working with the Masons means that you as a pastor must first allow their Trojan Horse to be rolled into the church. Inside the hollow belly of the horse is the enemy disguised as many good “projects” that keep everyone so busy that evangelizing the community is almost impossible. Each time you try to evangelize, the horse will kick. If you are persistent, either you will be kicked out of the church by their vote, or you will resign, or the Masons will leave.
The effectiveness of Freemasonry in the Southern Baptist convention, or any other denomination for that matter, is whether or not pastors, the majority of whom are not Masons, are backed by their denomination in their effort to keep the Trojan Horse of Freemasonry out of the church.
Pastors, for the sake of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, I urge you to take a stand on Freemasonry and write your denominational headquarters of that stand.
Pierce Dodson
Now you understand the true intent behind
Freemasonry’s disguised order printed below!
“Every Mason should cast his lot with the Church; to help vitalize it, liberalize it, modernize it and render it aggressive and efficient; to do less is treason to your country, to your Creator, and to the obligation you have promised to obey.” Scottish Rite New Age Magazine, January 1926.
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By Daniel D. Carlen
(20 pages)