The Purpose of Freemasonry

Is there a Freemason anywhere who has not thought about his role and purpose in the fraternity? Is there a Freemason anywhere who has not concerned himself about Masonry’s position and mission, past, present, and future? Is there a Freemason anywhere who has not agonized over the influence of Freemasonry and its ideals in an increasingly secular world, wherein spiritual and material interests incessantly compete for dominance? No, there is not. Why? Because Freemasons are obligated, individually and as a brotherhood, to confront and contain any and all issues that have the potential to complicate the wholesome inter-relationships of mankind.

As a brotherhood we work from a complex of principles which proclaim our belief in Deity and our freedom from religious dogma, ethnic or racial prejudice, and from specific political persuasions beyond those which are unquestionably right and true. Our movement is one that is universal in scope, and millions of good and enlightened men, the world around, have entered our portals in order to bask in the warmth of fraternal enlightenment. Within the lodge the righteous are encouraged to study, to work, and to serve, each in accord with his God-given talents, and in turn, all are enriched by acquiring friendships unlimited, moral and spiritual growth, and brotherly love.

It is generally believed that receiving the degrees of Freemasonry makes a man a “Mason”. This conception, in my mind, is but half true; far too many who have taken the degrees and regularly pay their dues are yet to become real Masons, Masons who, adhering to their obligations literally, become absorbed with the aims and objectives of the Craft and act accordingly, seeking and serving all within their preview. By so doing the sincere Mason focuses not so much on self as on others, doing good unto all in the hope that his efforts might contribute to the building of a better world.

In Masonry we proclaim our belief in the Grand Architect of Universe and look at life and our individual destinies from an eternal point of view. This conviction establishes for each of us an understanding of man’s posi

Robert Heyat, Deputy Grand Master

tion in the kingdom of the Creator and serves to encourage the belief that man’s purpose is to seek self improvement and to labor for an order of values from which the very idea of the betterment of human society derives. In the words of Albert Pike “God has ordained that life shall be a social state and we are to be members of a common civil society”.

If we lose sight of our purpose and stop caring about the conditions of our fellow man and of society at large, our Freemasonry may well be only one generation from extinction. It is therefore my prayer that we will take Masonry’s mission to heart, using our assets, human and material, to improve ourselves as we strive, from a Masonic perspective, to promote the causes of enlightenment everywhere. It is also my prayer that we will use our heritage — the achievements of the past, by men who united nations, and brought freedom, independence, culture, prosperity, progress and welfare to their societies — as directional guidelines for the present and future of the fraternity.

Let us always keep in mind the words of our beloved Washington, who when the book of Masonic Constitutions was presented to him in Boston on December 27, 1792, on the occasion of the recognition of his 40 years of service to Freemasonry, remarked:

“It is not less pleasing to know that the milder virtues of the heart are highly respected by a society whose liberal principles are founded in the immutable laws of truth and justice. To enlarge the sphere of social happiness is worthy of the benevolent design of a Masonic institution, and it is most fervently to be wished, that the conduct of every member of fraternity, as well as those publications that discover the principles which actuate them, may tend to convince mankind, that the grand object of masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race”.