THE DUTIES OF A FREEMASON – I DOVERI DEL FRATELLO MASSONE

Click here if you want to read the paper in Italian.

More and more thoughtful Brethren have a serious dissatisfaction with the state of the Craft in (X).  At the core of their concerns is the heartfelt lament that Masonry in (X) has effectively degenerated into a social and dining club, meeting upon  the excuse of initiating yet another candidate into a society whose only apparent purpose is to carry out initiations , whilst seeking to justify its existence through the business of institutional charity. 

Freemasonry  hierarchy (in X) classically maintains discipline through the assiduous manufacture of 'honours' whilst ignorantly sacrificing ancient form and spiritual value in deferential respect to transparent political correctness.

(...) THIS -  whatever it is and however socially valuable it may be in some respects - IS NOT Freemasonry.

(The Lodge has become) an initiation sausage-machine (but) if Freemasonry means anything,  it means the making of the whole man, from rough to ashlar to polished stone. It indicates a psychological and spiritual journey through an esoteric interpretation of our rich symbology.  English Freemasons who wish to pursue such studies in a working setting, have for far too long been effectively deprived.

(*)

Some of you may think that these are harsh words. But although the statement was issued around 2012, it still reflect the current situation in some part of  Freemasonry.

What follows are the duties (**) that must be adhered to by anyone who wants to become a Freemason. They relate to the behaviour in society, in the family and in the Lodge.

The spiritual aspects of the Art are also mentioned for your instruction.

The personal duties of the Freemason

The Freemason must avoid any intemperance and excesses that would prevent him to fulfill the laudable duties of the Art. He must be diligent in his work and faithful to the Master he serves. In his hours of idleness he must dedicate himself to the study of the arts and sciences so that he is better prepared for his duties towards God, the Country, his neighbor and himself. As far as possible, he must acquire a spirit of patience, meekness and self-sacrifice in order to know how to constrain himself and guide his family with affection, dignity and prudence. He must be able to repress any harmful disposition towards his fellow men by trying to promote the love and co-operation like that felt by members of a same family. He must have a good reputation and learn to obey those above him, however inferior they may seem to him in terms of social rank and conditions,  because even though Freemasonry has not deprived anyone of his own title and honors, inside the Lodges, virtue's excellence and knowledge of the Art become the only true sources of integrity, command and ruling.

The civic duties of the Freemason

The Freemason is a peaceful citizen; he must never take part in plots and conspiracies against the peace and the welfare of his Country (or the Country that has temporarily become his place of residence); nor  must he act unreasonably against the Authority. The Freemason must keep amity and live in harmony and brotherly love.

The social duties of the Freemason

Freemasons must uphold the morals and be good husbands, good children to their own parents and good neighbors. They must avoid any excess that could harm themselves and their families; they must conduct the affairs that concern their families and their Lodges with wisdom, for reasons well known to them.

The fraternal duties of the Freemason 

Freemasons have always had an obligation to shy away from slandering a true and loyal brother, from harboring unjust and evil feelings, from criticizing a brother or his actions. They must never allow unjust reproaches and slanders against an absent brother to be disclosed, nor allow that the work or the assets  -as well as the character of the brother - be damaged, but they must defend him, make him aware of any danger or damage that threatens him and help him to escape them, as far as honor,prudence,religion, morality and the State allow it. They must not go any further than that.

The spiritual aspect of Freemasonry

Freemasonry is a union that aims to achieve a sincere friendship between men who would otherwise have remained constantly divided from each other. Freemasonry represents the synthesis of all those truths which are shown and pursued by the enlightened men of all times. It was the scholars of all ages who brought their knowledge to Freemasonry.(...) Indeed Freemasonry puts at the basis of its work the belief in the existence of  a superior and ideal principle which it calls the Great Architect of the Universe and it does not recommend or oppose any particular religious convictions. Nor does it constrict with dogmatic statements but it leaves complete freedom to the investigation of the Truth by the same instrument that, throughout time, have  allowed the Sages to achieve magnificent results. That instrument is the Reason.

 Brother Eugene Comte Goblet d'AlviellaBrother Eugene Comte Goblet d’Alviella

The Masonic Virtues
In the words of Goblet d'Alviella, "Masonic Virtues are solidarity, tolerance, equality". 

Masonic SOLIDARITY includes:
relieving the unhappy Brothers through the application of philanthropy; contributing to the acceptance and education  of the Brothers in the Lodge (like sharing knowledge, promoting discussions, holding civil and artistic debates); helping the individual in the profane world, within the limits of justice and without prejudice (...) 

Masonic TOLERANCE consists in: 
accepting and encouraging the expression of  opinions  not shared by all; procuring what unites in preference to what divides. Respecting the freedom of each member in philosophical, political and religious matters, without at all criticizing the acts he commits in his private, as long as these acts do not affect his honor. 

EQUALITY demands:
the setting aside of secular distinctions in the Lodge and it prohibits taking sides among its members.Freemasonry strives to emancipate the spirit of man  and to eliminate any distinction based on belief, race, nationality, fortune, descent and social position. The achievement of Masonic perfection is achieved only after a whole spiritual transformation that involves abandoning one's own individuality.
  Maintaining the Masonic secret
Confidentiality must be maintained because it allows the success of the tasks that we set to achieve. Discipline in confidentiality is a necessity because the initiate,as a Freemason,has lost his individuality (in a Lodge each one belongs to the other) (...) The particular Rites practiced in the Temples must also be kept confidential and  not be talked about in the outside world since they could be stupidly remarked(...).  We live in a world whose people are little benevolent towards us and by misinterpreting the purpose of Freemasonry, are ready to make use of the slightest indiscretion to attack us. Freemasonry is a brotherhood that holds a secret, which consists in rationally improving an individual and through him also the community. Supported by a rational ethics, Freemasonry is seen by the Catholic Church as a formidable rival. In an honest Religion - and when it exists in an honest Church !- Freemasonry should only be seen as an ally; obviously it cannot accept the dogmas that reason refuses, because it intends to reach knowledge by a logical and natural process, by an internal process of maturation which is not influenced by others.  
Our desire to improve ourselves is the noblest attribute given to us by the Great Artificer. Freemasonry is flourishing in all truly free countries and the government that considers Freemasonry a secret Order to be feared, is one that either wants to escape the judgment of free and honest consciences, or one that wants to be enslaved by the Church whose intent is to remain blindly traditionalist for opportunistic reasons. Freemasons believe in the continuous transformation of all things, in their infinite and eternal nature which gets reflected in the phenomena of the material and moral cosmos. Freemasonry abhors any doctrine in which truth is limited by a horizon.

I hope that all this will make you reflect and meditate and that I have managed to inculcate love for Art.
Edited and translated  from the article WRITTEN by the Venerable Master of the R. L.Risorgimento of the Oriente of Taormina, Obbedienza del SOMI (Sovrano Ordine Massonico Italiano) - Pubblished in: Serenamente , No. 99 del 5 July 2010.


(*) The text appears on the website of "The Ancient & Accepted Order of Freemasons" operating under the independent jurisdiction of "The Regular Grand Lodge of England".  I have carried out some slight editing but the message is   unambiguous and it is one that I think many Masons share but are perhaps afraid to overtly support.
(**) From the Statute of the Serenissima Gran Loggia del Sud – Massoneria Universale di R.S.A.A. – Discendenza Piazza del Gesù, and from other ancient  Traditions

 

Aldo Reno
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