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Jim Shaw is one of the highest ranking Freemasons to ever
defect to Christianity. Billy Graham took part in Rev. Jim Shaw's
33rd Degree Masonic initiation. This was before Shaw left the
Lodge for Christ. Only 33rd Degree Masons and candidates participate
in that initiation. Jim Shaw refers to Billy Graham's presence
at this Masonic ritual on page 104 of his
book co-authored with Tom McKenney titled 'The Deadly Deception'
Lafayette, LA: Huntington House, Inc. 1998. Huntington House
refused to print this book unless they took out Billy Graham's
name and substituted it with a general description on page 104
("internationally prominant evangelist" ) Before
Jim died he confirmed this fact to many people. At page 107 I have included a letter from Tom McKenney
stating that p104 definately refered to
Billy Graham. For those of you who do not have the time to read
through Jim's whole testimony, I reccomend you read page 104 and the letter located on page 109
to verify the fact that it was Graham refered to in the book.
Page 99
INTO THE LIGHT
The hurricane came and went without any harm to us. But the one
within me continued to gather force. It seemed strange, from
my point of view, for all the people around me seemed calm. Even
the doctor was no longer speaking much to me about the Lord,
for I wasn't seeing him regularly. Bonnie was quietly supportive,
but we really didn't say mch about it. Mike and my other friends
went on with life. It was "business as usual" around
me, but definitely not that way inside of me.
THE HIGHEST MASONIC DEGREE
Easter was approaching and one quiet morning I was at home recuperating
from the second operation when the doorbell rang. It was a special
delivery letter from the Supreme Council in Washington, notifying
me that I had been selected for the 33rd Degree.
I could hardly believe it was true! This honor is one most Masons
never even think of receiving. It was too much, too far out of
reach, beyond limits of reality. It was unreal to think I had
actually been selected. It was an honor just to be considered
for this ultimate degree and I had actually been selected, chosen
by that small and powerful group, the Supreme Council of the
33rd Degree.
I called Bonnie to share the good news with her. In talking with
her, I surprised myself by asking her if she thought I should
accept it.
Page 100
"What a strange thing to ask her," I thought. But before
I could contemplate it she said, "Why, sure you should accept
it. You have worked so hard for so long to get there - by all
means you should accept it." So I returned my acceptance
immediately and began making plans for the trip.
I MADE IT ON MY OWN
With plenty of time to reflect, I thought about my long climb
up the mounatin of Masonry in search of light. I thought about
the odds against anyone's ever making it to the 33rd Degree.
I realized that in my case the odds have been even greater. I
had made it by hard work and dedication alone. Some men have
an edge on selection because of their wealth, political power
or prominence. I had none of these.
Like the day I had carried the man all the way to the top of
"Shaw Hill" between Camp Butner and Raleigh, I had
made it to the top of the Masonic mountain because I was willing
to make the effort required and refused to quit. Thinking of
this, I felt particulary good about it and wished my mother could
know.
I had come a long way since leaving the front gate that terrible
day so many years ago. I had come the distance with no help from
Uncle Irvin. Who would have thought that the lonely walk, begun
so many years ago by that frightened 13 - year - old boy, would
have led to this point? I had reached the pinaccle - made it
all the way to the top. Some of the most prominent and influental
men in the world would undoubtedly be there to participate when
I was given this ultimate degree - for me - little Jimmy Shaw,
who had gone to work at age five and made it alone since age
13. They would be
there to give the 33rd Degree to me. It was really a bit difficult
to take it all in.
3 DAYS AT THE MOUNTAIN TOP
In order to receive the 33rd Degree it was necessary to go to
Washington, D.C. The initation and related functions were to
last three days.
Page 101
Since Bonnie could participate in practically none of the things
I would be donmig each day, she decided not to go along. We were
both excited as I made preparations to leave. But I was not as
excited as I expected to be. The edge was taken off the excitement
because, in me, it was mixed with a considerable amount of conviction.
Way down deep there was a growing restlessness, an increasing
conflict, produced by the things the doctor had been sharing
and by all the Scripture I had been reading. Preparing to receive
this "ultimate honor" was not as thrilling as it might
otherwise have been.
Arriving At The House Of The Temple
I flew into Washington National Airport and took a taxi to the
House of the Temple on Northwest 16th Street. Upon arriving at
the Temple I was met by a receptionist who asked if I were there
to receive the 33rd Degree. I was surprised to find a women in
those sacred Masonic precints, but said that I was and showed
her my letter from the Supreme Council. She then told me that
in order to receive the degree, I would be expected to make a
"minimum donation" of a very large amount of money
(at least it was a "very large" amount for me). This
took me completely by surprise for
there had not been a word about any such "minimum donation"
in the letter sent by the Supreme COuncil. I didn't carry that
much money with me and had left my checkbook at home but was
able to borrow the money from one of the other men and gave it
to her. We candidates were all unhappy about this unpleasant
surprise and grumbled to one another about it. We were too close
to the "top of the mountain" to turn back at that point.
The Temple Itself
The House of the Temple is quite impressive - a bit awesome,
really. Standing large, grey and silent on the east side of Northwest
16th Street, between "R" and "S" Streets,
it looms very wide and tall from the curb. There is a huge expanse
of granite pavement in front of it, including three levels of
narrowing steps as the entrance
Page 102
is approached. Flanking the entrance are two Sphinx-like granite
lions with women's heads, the neck of one entwined by a cobra
and decorated with the "ankh" (the Egyptian symbol
of life and deity). Adorning the neck and breast of the other
is an image of a women, symbolic of fertility and procreation.
In the pavement, just in front of the tall bronze doors, are
two Egyptian swords with curved, serpentine blades and, between
the two swords, brass letters, set into stone, saying, "The
Temple of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite."
Over the tall, bronze doors, cut into the stone, is the statement,
"Freemasonry Builds Its Temples in the Hearts of Men and
Among Nations." (1)
High above the entrance, partially concealed by stone columns,
is an elaborate image of the Egyptian sun god, backed with radiating
sun and flanked by six large, golden snakes. Inside is elegance:
polished marble, exotic wood, gold and statuary. There are offices,
a library, dining room, kitchen, Council Room, "Temple Room"
and a large meeting room. This room is like a luxurious theater,
rather elegantly furnished and decorated. The ceiling is dark
blue, with lights set into it to give the appearance of stars.
These lights can even be made to "twinkle" like stars
in the sky. There is a stage, well-equipped, and it is all very
nicely done. But the thing that is most noticable is the way
the walls are decorated with serpents. There are all kinds; some
very long and large. Many of the Scottish Rite degrees include
the representation of serpents and I recognized them among those
decorating the walls.
It was all most impressive and gave me a strange mixture of the
sensations of being in a temple and in a tomb - something sacred
but threatning. I saw busts of outstanding men of the Rite including
two of Albert Pike, who is buried there in the wall.
The first day was devoted to registration, briefings and interviews.
We were called into one of the offices, one at a time, and interviewed
by three members of the Supreme Council.
The Deadly Deception...
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