WHAT WAS FREEMASONRY DESIGNED TO BE?

By BRO. SILAS H. SHEPHERD, Wisconsin

In a letter accompanying the following too brief article Bro.
Shephard says: "Perhaps I have stressed brotherly love rather
forcibly, but it seems to me it really needs stressing. I have met
many brethren who admitted they did not believe in it. They were
unwilling to practice what Freemasonry teaches." One wonders very
much why such brethren ever joined the Order. It hardly seems
possible that they could have truthfully answered the questions put
to them before they entered the lodge, unless this attitude be due
to disillusionment. It is as true of Masonry as of anything else,
one only gets out of it what one puts into it, and only one who
practices the fraternal precepts of the Craft can ever know what
brotherly love may be.

THE Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons is the custodian of a
system of symbolic teaching which had its origin in a remote
antiquity. From the earliest records of humanity we find evidence
of the use of geometrical and architectural symbols being used to
teach basic moral and spiritual truths.

The advantage of this method of teaching is twofold. It makes a
deeper and more lasting impression, not only on the mind, but on
the heart and soul of the candidate and it precludes the dogmatism
which verbal teaching has so often included, and which has obscured
the vital and fundamental truths.

The symbols and allegories used by Freemasonry are all symbolical
of basic moral and spiritual truths. The verbal explanations
offered may be considered as commentaries. The symbol or allegory
is always of greater value than the commentary. In fact the great
design of Freemasonry is to build a Temple of Character by the use
of the symbolic tools and implements, and every effort to arrive at
a clearer conception of Freemasonry should have this purpose ever
in view.

The enduring things in life are those that are true and vital. The
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man are basic laws of
nature, and our failure to recognize and obey them is the cause of
all our economic, social and political strife and discord. Nature
displays harmony, and mankind should subdue the passions of
ignorance, prejudice and superstition, and improve themselves by
building a character which is found to be square, level and plumb.

We profess Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth as our tenets. We
explain our broad and comprehensive idea of Brotherly Love. It must
be made more than lip service to be of value--we must make it an
active principle of our lives.

The brethren who formed the Grand Lodge of England, in 1717,
clearly defined the only basis on which a universal brotherhood can
be established. To "Only oblige them to that Religion in which all
men agree." Are we doing this today when we refuse to recognize
Freemasons who have adhered to this basic principle more carefully
than we have?

There is great difference of opinion among Masonic writers
regarding the exact status of Freemasonry regarding religion. Some
say it is not a religion. By "a religion" we infer one of several
or many religions, and in such a sense they are correct.

No man can, however, participate in the forms and ceremonies and
fail to have the highest emotions of his religious nature reached.
Here he finds the vital truths of his particular religion, be they
what they may.

Freemasonry is such a wonderful system of morality that it reaches
the heart of the most humble initiate and is profound enough to
make the greatest intellects its lifelong students.

The fact that it contains a whole philosophy of life and
immortality and has hidden and veiled allusions to the details
which each brother must work out for himself, makes it advisable
for us to frequently revert to the vital and fundamental truths
which differentiate it from all other institutions.

The Square of virtue includes, in its visible symbolic form, the
lines which are symbols of the Level and the Plumb. It also
includes in its Masonic application the basic duties of man to God
by an upright life, and to our fellowmen by equality, or Brotherly
Love. The point within a circle is capable of many interpretations
and much speculation. When we consider that from a center there are
radii which project as the spokes of a wheel, we can receive a most
beneficial idea of how Brotherly Love conforms to a great law of
spiritual development. The center symbolizes the Supreme God. Each
radius symbolizes an individual. As the several radii draw away
from the center they draw further away from each other. The only
way we can do our full duty to God is by fulfilling our duty to our
fellowmen, and likewise the only way we can do our full duty to our
fellowmen is by doing it to God.

As builders of character we have to become proficient in the use of
the tools and implements of the several degrees, and these are for
use on our own character only. Not until we have thoroughly learned
how to apply them are we given the Trowel, which is the first
implement that in any way affects others.

By its use we may learn to actually practice the tenet of Brotherly
Love, and consider every human being as a brother. True, he may err
most grievously and appear to deserve our severest condemnation but
who among us does not err, and are we not in a measure responsible
for the environment which may have contributed to his errors? The
poorest human creature is our brother, and even though his faults
appear most grievous we must remember a most wise admonition,
"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

The great design of Freemasonry is to build character. To live up
to the tenets we profess ought to be of first importance. If
Brotherly Love is not true we should cease to teach it. If it is
true we are bound by every obligation of honor and duty to put it
into practice.

Belief in a Supreme Being, whom Freemasonry designates as The Great
Architect of the Universe, and belief in the Immortality of the
Soul are the only basic religious tenets which can possibly unite
men of every country, sect and opinion.

Belief in the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are as far
as we may safely go in social relationship.

As individuals we must continually apply all the tools and
implements so that we may complete our Temple and receive the
reward, Truth--the long lost WORD. We must use the twenty-four-inch
Gauge and Common Gavel; the Plumb, Square and Level; the Trowel and
all they signify continually. Never let them rust for want of use.

When every member of a lodge has some such conception of the design
of Freemasonry, our Fraternity will function as it was designed to
do, and Plenty, Health and Peace will abound, and Peace and Good
Will prevail on earth.
So mote it be.
