The Mission of Masonry Masonry has long recognised that men need guidance in their search for light. Through the years our Fraternity has presented the ideal of perfect manhood, the ideal man, true to God, to his country, to his neighbour and to himself. It has been a great spiritual guide to the higher and nobler concepts of life. Masonry has opened the door to happiness for many men. It can mean much to you.
realization that their members must be taught something of the history, traditions and purposes of our great Order, the meaning of its symbols, an explanation of its tenets and precepts; all are necessary for a proper understanding of the place of Masonry in our lives and in the world about us. With this knowledge and understanding Masonry can do much to advance this fellowship amongst men of all nations and bring happiness into their Masonry is a philosophy of life, teaching equality lives. of men, a belief in the one true and living God, in the resurrection and in life everlasting. It is not a With shorter working hours today, men have religion as it has no creed or dogma, yet its pre- more leisure time to devote to the interests of cepts and principles are based on the great truths Masonry, to take a greater part in that glorious found in the Volume of the Sacred Law we place fellowship that is theirs for the asking, and to aton our Altar. Masonry is next to the church in the tain that happiness which is the object of our building of men's character, to make better men, search. Masonry has another mission that could the best that each man can become, the better to mean much to our nation and to the world in serve his fellowmen. which we live. It could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world today, to make life It presents a fellowship not equalled in any other worth while, and to bring happiness to the people organization. In Masonry a man is not regarded of this earth. for his wealth or rank, but only for the fine qualities of his character, and for his deThere are nearly 4,000,000 Masons sire to be of service to mankind. It in the United States alone. Just Masonry is a is a fellowship, however, that we think what a great influence Maare inclined to overlook in these sonry could have if all of us carphilosophy of life days when each hour is crowded ried out into the world the great with the demands of work and precepts taught us at the Altar, pleasure. It is time that we gave more and made them part of our lives. What thought to this wonderful fellowship, so gener- a change it could bring to our homes, our commuously given and so easily lost. With our meetings nities, and to our nation. I do not mean that Maso often crowded with ritualistic work we are sonry, as an organization, should take a stand for prone to neglect the very purpose for which we some particular programme, but for each member are taking men into our Fraternity. Time must be to so live and act that his light would shine before set aside for the enjoyment of that fellowship. men as a living example of true manhood. Then justice and equality would prevail. The ritualistic ceremony is simply a means of bringing the Brother into our fellowship. Let us There can be no progress without faith, there not forget this important fact. To be worthy of must be a spiritual enlightenment in men. We this fellowship we ourselves must be friendly. We must carry the torch to spread this faith, to banish must have a sincere regard for our Brethren, fear and to reverse the trend to materialism that showing a sympathetic understanding of their now menaces the peace of the world. Perhaps the way of life, holding a tolerant judgment of their story of the Transfiguration in the Volume of Saactions and expressing our outspoken praise for cred Law may suggest a way. As we read the actheir service, while they are still in our midst. Let count of this unusual and momentous event, we us give our earnest attention to this important find Peter, James and John ascending a high Tenet of our Fraternity. Brotherly Love is more mountain with Jesus. Reaching the top, they knelt than just an empty phrase, to be heard and soon to pray, and then, before their eyes, they saw Jeforgotten. It has a most significant meaning for sus transfigured, his raiment white and shining, each of us who are united by this fellowship in the and his face as radiant as the sun, and they beheld bonds of a declared faith in God. him talking with Moses and Elijah. Peter was so overwhelmed that he wanted to build three tabMore and more Grand Lodges are coming to the ernacles on the mountain top to commemorate
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