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Freemasonry – A Principle Centered Fraternity

R.W. Bro. Garnet Schenk

Freemasonry is a fraternity that is based on a set of Steven Covey, in his book Seven Habits of Successful
principles that have the power to speak to us and to People, made the point in his writings that an
direct us. ey have power because they are universal individual’s character is a composite of his habits. He
principles that come from God, through that great suggests that integrity, humility, delity, temperance,
light that we know as the V.O.S.L. ose principles courage, justice, industry, and living by the Golden
are part of every major enduring religion as well as an Rule are the bases for what Covey calls “Character
enduring social philosophy, and ethical system. Ethic.” e bases of what Covey calls Character Ethics
is what Freemasonry regards as the fundamental
Let us look for a moment at the three questions idea that there are principles that govern human
that are posed to the candidate before his admission e ectiveness and that they can be traced back to time
to the Lodge for his initiation. ese questions must immemorial. ey are natural laws in the human
be answered in the a rmative without any doubt or dimension and as unchangeable as the law of gravity.
reservation. Considering the answers that must be
given by the candidate, we can only conclude that the e design of the Masonic system is directed toward
fraternity is built upon God-centered and faith-based developing character and the improvement of the life
principles. and conduct of the individual Mason. e V.O.S.L.,
the Ritual, the Constitution, the Strategic Plan, and
Principles are guidelines for human behavior the ceremonies that ow out of them, great principles
that are proven to have enduring permanent value. of morality virtue as well as spiritual direction are
ese principles are not invented by us or by society; inculcated. Aristotle’s quote seems to be appropriate,
they are laws of the universe that pertain to human “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not
relationships and human organizations. an act but a habit.” In order to become a principle-
centered member, we must integrate those principles
Our Strategic Plan, Strengthening the West Gate, and habits deep within our nature so that it becomes
refers to providing leaders with an opportunity to part of our character.
restate the organization’s principles, beliefs, and
values. Correct principles are like a compass; they Masonry is a principle-centered, character-based,
are there to point the way. ey are the foundation inside-out approach to inter-personal e ectiveness.
upon which Freemasonry is built. ose foundations An inside-out approach means that it starts rst
have been there from time immemorial. ey are with yourself. e Strategic Plan, Strengthening the
evoked through prayer at the opening and closing West Gate puts it clearly “Masonic Vitality Begins
of each degree. ey are also evoked through prayer with You.” Each member of the Fraternity is to live
for the candidate and Masons alike the admission the Craft each day through the application of the
of a candidate in each degree. As author Lon Milo working tools in one’s life and embracing the message
Duquette wrote in e Key to Solomon’s Key, “no that Freemasonry conveys to each of us at the most
man should ever undertake any great or important personal of levels. e most e ective and powerful
undertaking without invoking the blessing of God.” promotion of Freemasonry, as a Principle-Centered
Fraternity, occurs when our daily actions as masons
A quote by David Starr Jordon in Seven Habits of re ect the virtues communicated to us on the oor of
Successful People points out that “there is no real the Lodge.
excellence in this world which can be separated from
right living.” at very fact, in a sense is endorsed What we are, communicates far more eloquently,
by Our Strategic Plan, Strengthening the West Gate than anything we say or do. Our mind-sets or
when it talks about good men transforming their lives paradigms, correct or incorrect, are the sources if
through the ancient and enduring tenets of brotherly our attitudes, behaviors, and our relationships with
love, relief, and truth. It goes on to state that “building others. ose paradigms are inseparable from our
is what Masonry is all about; building a better person, character. Our mind-sets or paradigms are powerful
a better society, and a better world – all in that order.” because they create the lens through which we see the
What is expected by the quote is right living both world.
inside the Lodge and outside the Lodge.

Montana Freemason Page 24 July 2019 Volume 95 No. 5