~ Several Masonic Principles ~
Masonry Teaches some important principles. There's nothing very
surprising in the list below. Masonry teaches that:
Since God is the Creator, all men and women are the children of God.
Because of that, all men and women are brothers and sisters, entitled to
dignity, respect for their opinions, and consideration of their feelings.
Each person must take responsibility for his/her own life and actions.
Neither wealth nor poverty, education nor ignorance, health nor sickness excuses
any person from doing the best he or she can do or being the best person
possible under the circumstances.
No one has the right to tell another person what he or she must think
or believe. Each man and woman has an absolute right to
intellectual, spiritual, economic, and political freedom. This is the
right given by God, not by man. All tyranny, in every form, is
illegitimate.
Each person must learn and practice self-control. Each
person must make sure his spiritual nature triumphs over his animal nature.
Another way to say the same thing is that even when we are tempted to anger, we
must not be violent. Even when we are tempted to selfishness, we must be
charitable. Even when we want to "write someone off," we must
remember that he or she is a human and entitled to our respect. Even when
we want to give up, we must go on. Even when we are hated, we must return
love, or, at a minimum, we must not hate back. It isn't easy.
Faith must be in the center of our lives. We find that
faith in our houses of worship, not in Freemasonry, but Masonry constantly
teaches that a person's faith, whatever it may be, is central to a good life.
Each person has a responsibility to be a good citizen, obeying the law.
That doesn't mean we can't try to change things, but change must take place in
legal ways.
It is important to work to make this world better for all who live in
it. Masonry teaches the importance of doing good, not because it
assures a person's entrance into heaven -- that's a question for a religion, not
a fraternity -- but because we have a duty to all other men and women to make
their lives as fulfilling as they can be.
Honor and integrity are essential to life. Life, without
honor and integrity, is without meaning.
Source: The Masonic Information Center, 8120, Fenton Street,
Silver Spring, Md., a division of The Masonic Service Association.
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