Concerning masonry as a religion, this is a subject I'm a little touchy on so forgive the long post. I've provided quotes and the URL where you'll find the complete article.
Here's a quote from the Grand Lodge of California website:
Is Masonry a religion?
Masonry is a fraternity, not a religion. Masonry acknowledges the existence of God, but Masonry does not tell a person which religion he should practice or how he should practice it. That is a function of his house of worship, not his fraternity.
Sometimes people confuse Masonry with a religion because we call some Masonic buildings "temples." But we use the word in the same sense that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called the Supreme Court a "Temple of Justice." Neither Masonry nor the Supreme Court is a religion just because its members meet in a "temple." Most California lodges now refer to their buildings as Masonic centers.
www.freemason.org/index.phpAnother quote, from Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon:
First, as regard religion. Freemasonry is dedicated to, and devoted to Brotherhood. Brotherhood rests upon a basis of religion. Every Mason must believe in a Supreme Being, the V.S.L. must be open at every meeting of the Lodge. Before engaging in any important undertaking a Mason should seek aid and guidance through prayer to the Great Architect of the Universe.
This is religion, but not a religion. It is faith—but not worship attached to any one altar. It is the ground which underlies all religions, all churches, all creeds, all sects. Once Masons stand together on that ground they can then proceed to build for themselves this and must not, interfere with them in so doing, but it does insist that whatever may be their private opinions they shall stand upon that ground.
freemasonry.bcy.ca/Writings/politics.htmland finally, aslo from the above Grand Lodge website:
Our purpose as freemasons is not that of a religion. Freemasonry lacks the basic elements of religion. *Freemasonry is not a religion nor is it a substitute for religion.
*Freemasonry advocates no sectarian faith or practise.
*We seek no converts.
*We solicit no new members.
*We raise no money for religious purposes.
*We have no dogma or theology. Religious discussion is forbidden in a masonic lodge thereby eliminating the chance for any masonic dogma to form.
*It offers no sacraments and does not claim to lead to salvation by works, by secret knowledge, or by any other means. The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with the modes of recognition only and not with the means of salvation.
*By any definition of religion accepted by our critics, we cannot qualify as a religion.
*Freemasonry supports religion. Freemasonry is far from indifferent to religion. Without interfering in religious practise, it expects each member to follow his own faith.
freemasonry.bcy.ca/textfiles/religion.html