606
MASONIC
CRI~.
Justiee, which the civillaw defines to oe c, a cor. ataut and prevailing desire to give everyone hi! just due,"* is another necessary result of love of our . neig-hbor. As one of the cardinal virtues, the candidate is instructed in the ritual of the first degree ,4 never to deviate from its minutes., principles." Injustice, therefore, in every form in which one man ran do wr,ong to another, is a violation of the moral law, and a Masonic crime. Lastly, from our duty to ourselves result all those virtues" the practice of which enables us to discharge the obligations we owe to society, our family, and onr friends. In neglecting this duty, by abusing the bounties of Providence, by imuaifing our facul ties, by irregularity, and debasing our profession by intemperance, we violate the moral law, and are guilty of Masonic crime. N ext to violations of the moral law, in the category of Masonic crimes, are to be considered the transgressions of the municipal law, or the l-aw of the land. The jurists divide a'l wrongful acts into two classes-mala in 8e and ~ala p'rohibila. .A maZum in se-an evil in itself-is that .which is uni.. , versallyacknowledged to be such among all civilized men. It is, in fact, a violation of the moral law of nature. Of this class are murder, theft, and similar crimes. A malum rohibitum-a prohibited evilia that which has been conventionally made so by the enactment of t::.te law; so that what is molu:'m • ,c Justitia. est
Itat.Ll
coostans et perpetua volunfat:; jas auum cinque tribuendi."~