To begin with, the EMFJ homepage assumes that freemasonry is a single, unified entity. This is not correct. Masonic lodges work in a large number of different systems. These use different rituals, varying numbers of degrees and different rules concerning membership. There is no such thing as "The" Masonic ritual, philosophy, or religion.
For example:
- In continental Europe there are "Grand Orients" which are basically atheistic and do not claim to believe in anything other than human reason.
- In Scandinavia and northern Germany most Grand Lodges are explicitly Christian, and do not admit adherents of other religions.
- In the Middle East you will similarly find Jewish or Moslem lodges which do not allow Christians.
- Some systems (Le Droit Humaine) have both male and female members; most only allow men.
- Beside the "Craft lodges", there are also "high degree" systems with 11 or 33 degrees. Among these we find many which are exclusively Christian, e.g. the Knights Templars in Great Britain.
- Rituals vary; for example the Scots, English and Irish Grand Lodges all work slightly differently. And so forth.
The three basic "Craft" degrees are similar in all masonic systems; indeed, those degrees are required for a lodge to be recognized by others as masonic. But "similar" is not "identical". Drawing conclusions about Freemasonry (as a whole) with quotes from one specific ritual is deceptive and misleading.
Anti-masonry is a doctrine shared by Pentecostals and many other Calvinist/Evangelical denominations all over the world. It is a fundamentally unshakeable dogma, no matter what proof is presented against it. Whenever an allegation has been disproved, they simply invent a new one, or reintroduce an old one which most people have forgotten. My conclusion is that it does not matter what Freemasonry says, does, or teaches; anti-masons are blind to reality.
Why? One possible explanation is that anti-masons need enemies. When you come to see it as important to unite believers in the fight for the Kingdom of God, you need someone to fight against. But the real evils of this world (war, starvation, disease, bigotry, sin) are too difficult to do anything about. Worse, doing anything about them usually requires a personal sacrifice. Freemasonry is a more comfortable target. Another possible reason is that Freemasons speak about God without being a church. In Freemasonry, people from all kinds of denominations can meet and be friends. Cults don't like this. They want people where they can control them.