THE BUILDER February 1915

THE TWO PATHS
BY
Brother S.W. Williams

MASONRY, the Church--in fact all religions --teach that each one of
us has the choice of two Paths in life. One is long, tedious,
tortuous and beset with all manner of dangers and temptations--but
finally leads to Peace and Rest--an eternity of Happiness. The
other --a broad highway, easy to travel--with delightful groves and
a plentitude of sunshine, music and flowers --everything to delight
the eye and charm the senses-- gently, almost imperceptibly, but
none the less surely, leads downward to despair and death.

All men that have lived have chosen--yea, travelled--one or the
other of these Roads. There is no avoidance of it. Either we must
struggle as long as life lasts, to keep on that Path which leads to
Light and Life Eternal--or give up the fight--yield to the many
temptations that beset us--branch off upon a pleasanter Path
leading to the Downward Road--exchanging our God-promised reward
for a few short hours of indulgence in whatever debasing Passion or
Desire may appeal most strongly to our brutal instincts.

In the Dhammapada, the authorship of what is ascribed to Buddha
himself, and pronounced to be one of the most practical ethical
hand-books of Buddhism, we read:

"The virtuous man is happy in this World, and he is happy in the
next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good
he has done; he is still more happy when going on the GOOD PATH."

"Earnestness is the Path of Immortality. (Nirvana.) Thoughtlessness
is the Path of Death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those
who are thoughtless are as if dead already."

"Fools follow after Vanity. The Wise man keeps Earnestness as his
best Jewel."

"The Disciple will find out the plainly shown Path of Virtue as a
clever man finds the right flower." 

These verses are about 2600 years old, and yet the truths therein
contained have never been more completely or more concisely stated.
Analyze them as you will, and the more thought you expend upon
them, the more thoroughly will you understand and appreciate their
breadth and scope.

No thinking man can gainsay that True Earnestness leads to the
Upward Path. "The Path of Immortality." It is beset with numerous
dangers. Innumerable temptations and obstacles obstruct our
passage.

Our Lodge lessons have taught us we have need of the three
Theological Virtues--Faith, Hope and Charity--together with the
four Cardinal ones--Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance and Justice;
but without the foundation of Earnestness how could Success crown
our efforts ?

Truly Earnestness is man's "Best Jewel."

And, just as this is true of Earnestness, so is it also true that
Thoughtlessness, if not eliminated from our character, will
ultimately lead us on the Downward Course--even unto the Shades of
Death.

How shall we find this Path of Virtue ?

Reflect upon the teachings of the Lodge from the First degree to
the last one you have taken, and you will find the answer.

But neither Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance
nor Justice will avail unless they are backed up with Sincerity--
with Determination--call it what you will--Earnestness is the word
that best suits all phases of the case--and this message of Buddha,
which has come down to us through 26 centuries, cannot be
controverted.

About six hundred years after this message was given to the World,
there was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the CHRIST. He said to the
sinful Woman: "Go thy way--thy sins are forgiven thee"--her faith
had made her whole.

But think you that Earnestness had no part in the healing? This
poor woman had thrown every particle of Earnestness of which she
was capable into her appeal--and the Christ saw--and approved.

It was the Earnestness of her Faith which wrought the cure.

Volumes might be written upon this subject, but more cannot be said
than that which Buddha has so tersely expressed:

"Earnestness is the Path of Immortality. 
Thoughtlessness is the Path of Death."

Dear Brother, ponder over this seriously. Choose the RIGHT PATH. BE
EARNEST and PEACE and REST will attend thy efforts.



WHAT IS MASONRY?

"Freemasonry is the subjugation of the Human that is in Man, by the
Divine; the conquest of the Appetites and Passions by the Moral
Sense and the Reason; a continual effort, struggle and warfare of
the Spiritual against the Material and Sensual. That victory--when
it has been achieved and secured, and the conqueror may rest upon
his shield and wear the well-earned laurels--is the true Holy
Empire."
--Albert Pike. Morals and Dogma.

