The Virtues of the Craft

Many people see Freemasons as little more than a group of men who meet in secret, partake in secret rituals and whose ultimate aim is to look after each other.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

From the moment an Apprentice is entered into a lodge, it is impressed upon him that his duty is not to himself, but to his family and his fellow man, his community and country.

Inherent in the precepts of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth is the duty to be tolerant in respecting the right of others to hold beliefs that are different to his. So the Freemason must be tolerant.

The committed Freemason must do whatever he can to improve society, and that is why members of the Craft have helped found schools and colleges, hospitals and libraries. To enable them to do this they must strive to achieve.

Millions of pounds, dollars, francs, marks, kroner and now euros have been raised by Freemasons over the years, all over the world and donated to charities large and small. In one year alone (1990) British Freemasons disbursed over 18 million pounds to Masonic charities, while … their Americal brothers raised similar sums, much of it donated to the sick and the elderly.

No natural disaster occurs without Freemasons making substantial donations to emergency appeals for funds. From as long ago as 1871, when fire swept through Chicago, to as recently as 2004 when a terrible tsunami engulfed many Indian Ocean countries and killed over 250,000 men, women and children, Freemasons have dug deep into their pockets and donated to the necessary charities.

It goes without saying that to live up to the ideals of the Craft, Freemasons must live a life of integrity, and that they must be faithful to their lodges and fellow Freemasons.

These five virtues – tolerance, achievement, charity, integrity and fidelity – are the backbone of the Freemasons’ way of life.

The world would be a better place if more of us accepted them as watch-words to live our own lives.