| What Good Is Freemasonry Today? By David A. Roach, PM, Associate Grand Chaplain 2002 F & A M of the State of Louisiana |
Wouldn't it be nice to have a place where men of high moral conscience could meet together as
brothers? In such a place they could find ways to improve the moral character of our community and
country. It could be a place where men are taught the benefits of peace, benevolence, fraternity, and
charity. Welcome to Freemasonry.
brothers? In such a place they could find ways to improve the moral character of our community and
country. It could be a place where men are taught the benefits of peace, benevolence, fraternity, and
charity. Welcome to Freemasonry.
In the beginning our forefathers were probably just stonemasons who sought to improve their trade.
They became men who sought not only to improve their trade but also to improve the quality of life of
those around them. What started out to be just another guild became one of the greatest molders of good
men that this world has ever seen. They were good men who, out of the good treasure built up in their
hearts, tried to do good things. (Mat. 12:35; Luke 6:45)
They became men who sought not only to improve their trade but also to improve the quality of life of
those around them. What started out to be just another guild became one of the greatest molders of good
men that this world has ever seen. They were good men who, out of the good treasure built up in their
hearts, tried to do good things. (Mat. 12:35; Luke 6:45)
God said that the two most important things that we can do is to love Him and to love others as He
loves them. (Mat. 22:36-40; John 13:34,35) He said that if we have some good to give to someone in
need and withhold it, the love of God is not in us. (1 John 3:16,17) Loving God and loving others are the
greatest principles to live by on this earth. We promote the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of
man in our Lodges.
loves them. (Mat. 22:36-40; John 13:34,35) He said that if we have some good to give to someone in
need and withhold it, the love of God is not in us. (1 John 3:16,17) Loving God and loving others are the
greatest principles to live by on this earth. We promote the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of
man in our Lodges.
Due to the efforts of our forefathers, Freemasonry is the neutral ground on which all good men can
meet. We meet on the same level for a lot of reasons. God fearing Men can meet together without the
threat of scrutiny because of their politics or religion as long as they are in agreement with the moral ethics
set aside in God's Law. They can fellowship with other men who believe in the same high moral ethics that
they do. It's a place where men can exchange ideas and work together for the common good.
meet. We meet on the same level for a lot of reasons. God fearing Men can meet together without the
threat of scrutiny because of their politics or religion as long as they are in agreement with the moral ethics
set aside in God's Law. They can fellowship with other men who believe in the same high moral ethics that
they do. It's a place where men can exchange ideas and work together for the common good.
What good is Freemasonry today? Different religions today still distance themselves from each other.
They may even worship and love the same God, but when it comes to working together against the
common foe, they resist alliances. We are the very organization that gives men who belong to different
institutions of high moral development a chance to work together for the causes that our country and
communities need the most. We represent that kind of mutual effort. We build that kind of brotherhood.
They may even worship and love the same God, but when it comes to working together against the
common foe, they resist alliances. We are the very organization that gives men who belong to different
institutions of high moral development a chance to work together for the causes that our country and
communities need the most. We represent that kind of mutual effort. We build that kind of brotherhood.
We seek to make men better by giving them a place to evolve into better men. Through our
organization a man no longer has to stand by himself against the cruelties of the world around him. He has
a forum to bring up unfair situations and circumstances in the community without having to deal with the
morally inept. He has a place to inform caring people about a family in distress and expect to get aid for
them. He has a place to belong and a place where he can fellowship with men from all walks of life
comfortably knowing that each man there is obligated to have his best interest in mind. We aren't finger
pointers and scrutinizers of the brethren. We are simply brothers trying to improve our community and
ourselves.
organization a man no longer has to stand by himself against the cruelties of the world around him. He has
a forum to bring up unfair situations and circumstances in the community without having to deal with the
morally inept. He has a place to inform caring people about a family in distress and expect to get aid for
them. He has a place to belong and a place where he can fellowship with men from all walks of life
comfortably knowing that each man there is obligated to have his best interest in mind. We aren't finger
pointers and scrutinizers of the brethren. We are simply brothers trying to improve our community and
ourselves.
Our ritual may be old and boring to some. But if you sit and really pay attention, you'll find that it
reminds you of what a good man should be. A good man sees the beauty and glory of the sun when it is in
the south at high meridian, in the west at the close of day, as well as when it opens and adorns the sky in
the east. He praises God for creating such beauty. He welcomes the opportunity to be in a place erected
to God and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, John the Baptist and John the Apostle. He tries to keep it
such a place.
reminds you of what a good man should be. A good man sees the beauty and glory of the sun when it is in
the south at high meridian, in the west at the close of day, as well as when it opens and adorns the sky in
the east. He praises God for creating such beauty. He welcomes the opportunity to be in a place erected
to God and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, John the Baptist and John the Apostle. He tries to keep it
such a place.
"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised."
Psalms 113:3
Psalms 113:3
We must become selfless in our resolve to improve the moral ethics of our nation and build a better
and stronger fraternity. You will scarcely if ever find a better and fairer place to do so than in an Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons. So may it be
and stronger fraternity. You will scarcely if ever find a better and fairer place to do so than in an Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons. So may it be
This article appeared in the July 2002 Issue of "The Louisiana Freemason"
magazine. To view articles like it, please click on the lamp.
magazine. To view articles like it, please click on the lamp.