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Montana Freemason February 2013 Volume 86 Number 1
ARE WE TRULY MASONS
Jack Levitt (6, 18), PGM-CA
There continue to be emerging problems charge refers to our Order as honorable, as tending
in our modern society. Changes are being to make all men so who are strictly obedient to its
effected improperly by violations of standards and precepts and that we are to manifest our fidelity by a
rules. Changes are necessary but should be attained strict observance of the Constitution of the Fraternity.
legitimately by legislation or other appropriate means.
When the foundation of trust is shattered by scorn The second degree charge demands that our laws
for rules, the result is a fragmentation of trust of the and regulations be strenuously enforced and that we
basic fabric, which results in ultimate loss of values. should always be ready to assist in seeing them duly
Unhappily, pervasive dishonesty is prevalent, not only executed.
in society, but in our beloved Fraternity.
An organization is known not The third degree tells us that duty and honor alike bind
only by its members abilities, us strenuously to enforce by precept
but also by their attitudes. The and example a steady obedience to the
history of our Fraternity is the tenets of Freemasonry. We are therein
judgment of our Fraternity. The also told to caution the inexperienced
world judges us as they perceive against any breach of fidelity and that
us. To select those ordinances and no motive should make us violate our
tenets of Freemasonry we wish to comply with and vows.
violate others is not only a direct violation of our
obligations, but is to continue a Fraternity built upon While there may be a permissive attitude of non-
sand. Whether violations concern liquor or raffles or Freemasons, Freemasons themselves should remain
advertising or any other prohibited activity, the rules unaffected by such lowered standards. To reason - “I
relating to them lose their force as a result. More might as well cheat because others do”, or sell raffle
importantly, our standards begin to crumble. tickets when prohibited because it is for a good cause,
The most precious wealth in the world is that of or hold a special or stated meeting in a prohibited
established character. While not all of us can become place, is to collaborate in the tearing apart of the
famous leaders, each of us can be pure of heart and fabric of trust and the dismantling of the basis of our
faithful to our principles. The greatest influence of structure.
Freemasonry is the eloquent influence of integrity.
Our great Order has at all times religiously preserved The best hope of reversing the trend toward
the teachings of moral self-respect and fidelity to our ignoring rules and to restore those standards which
trusts and ideals. It has endeavored to endow us with form the cornerstone of our nation and our Fraternity
spiritual strength and moral fortitude. Our principles is to understand that we are indeed mandated to be
are the fundamental basis of our Fraternity. We have inflexible in our fidelity and to familiarize ourselves
the right to demand deeds of principle and integrity with our rules, which we swear to uphold, and then
rather than the negligence of indifference or the to act in conformity with them. If we do so, we will
treason of violations. not only be heeding the prompting of right reason
If truth is truly a divine attribute and the foundation and the voice of conscience, but we will be entitled to
of every virtue, then to be good and true is more than self-esteem and we will set a good example for others
a charge, it is a command. Our teachings of inflexible to emulate.
fidelity are so extensive that to make reference to
them is to state a commonplace. The first degree If we cannot justify them by abiding by Freemasonry’s
moral and philosophical principles, how can we expect
non-Freemasons to accept them or to join us to learn
them? Individual wills or desires, and even those
which are collective, cannot be imposed irrespective
of lawfully enacted ordinances, because to do so is
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