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MASONIC ETHICS

Jack R. Levitt, PGM - California

What has happened to the ethics revered and generally The answer Socrates received to this was "No."
followed in the past? Mass cheating and public scandals
are the trend today. Worse yet, despite knowledge of Thus Socrates accepted his death sentence, even
misconduct, violators are not turned in. Today, more though believing it to be unjust, rather than violate the
and more Freemasons are violating the tenets of the law himself. He had made an agreement with the State
Institution of Freemasonry. Rules prohibiting gambling that he would duly obey its laws, and had not sought
and those involving the use of alcohol are unobserved. to change them. Socrates thus valued his oath and
Code sections and various time-honored regulations are obligations as sacred and, not having sought to change
being misinterpreted or ignored in attempts to increase the laws of his State, obeyed them. Can Freemasons do
membership. Lack of respect for the views of others less involving laws that do not endanger their lives, but
and like matters disturbing the harmony in Lodges are merely how they manage them? Can they not be expected
becoming more frequent. to obey their oaths and obligations and abide by the laws
of the Craft, especially if they have taken no action to
Not too long ago conduct was self-imposed; it sprang change them?
from core beliefs. At one time students signed a paper
"pledging one's honor as a gentleman that no assistance Honor, along with duty, form the bedrock of human
was given or received." Agreements used to be made character. Today, many who see an injustice or are
solely by the shaking of hands, and a man's word was dissatisfi ed with a status do nothing. Others betray the
his bond. Trust and adherence to Truth was the standard right. Toleration of misconduct makes the person who
of conduct for most Freemasons. This sense of honor is tolerates equally guilty of malfeasance. Ethics rules,
largely unobserved and probably not comprehended by unlike most laws, are observed only by ethical people,
much of our society nowadays. Freemasons, however, are who don't need them. Honor codes are meaningless to
supposed to be ethical before they become Freemasons individuals without a sense of honor. Freemasons who
and, as such, are taught to think and act ethically. breach the Constitution and Ordinances of their Grand
Lodge, or the By-laws of their Lodges, not only violate
Bobby Jones, the noted golfer, who often called their obligations, but are individuals without a sense of
penalties on himself once remarked to one who praised honor. Those who have knowledge of those breaches
him for this and other acts of sportsmanship - "You might and do nothing are likewise guilty of malfeasance. An
as well praise a man for not breaking into banks. There is observation of such inherently immoral action is set
only one way to play this game, and that's by the rules". forth in the Volume of the Sacred Law, "For what is a
The principle behind this simple observation should be man profi ted if he shall gain the whole world and lose
self-evident to all right-thinking people. his own soul ?".

There are many other instances in history of men with Freemasonry's only dogma consists of moral principles
a fi rm understanding of and adherence to ethics. One, requiring only common sense to understand them. T. R.
in particular, involves Socrates, the Greek Philosopher, Fehrenbach, an editorial writer, observed that ethics
who, when advised by Crito to escape from prison to is - Do right if you can; above all do no harm; and if
avoid his sentence of death, asked several Questions. questionable, do not do it, whatever the law allows.
Freemasonry sets a higher standard to always do right. Its
He asked - "are we to say that we are never ritual includes references to: purity of life and conduct;
intentionally to do wrong ……. or is doing wrong always being good and true; practicing the domestic and public
evil and dishonorable ……..?". Crito answered "Yes." virtues; squaring our actions by the Square of virtue; and
displaying discretion, virtue, and dignity. But even the
He then asked - "Ought a man to do what he admits to
be right …..?". Crito agains answered "Yes". most explicit laws or lists of do's and don'ts or standards
of conduct are futile if those they apply to lack the basic
He asked - "are we to say that we are never character to abide by them.
intentionally to do wrong ……. or is doing wrong always It is not diffi cult to know right from wrong. Common
evil and dishonorable ……..?". Crito answered "Yes."
sense is inherent in most people. Epictetus, when asked
Page 26 Montana Freemason November December 2018