Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious fraternity.
Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its
methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.
It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income
inures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the
welfare and happiness of mankind.
It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty.
It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of
morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.
It is religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is
open upon its Altars whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever
present in its ceremonial, and to its Brethren are constantly addressed lessons of
morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological.
It is a social organization in that it brings good men together
in numbers to teach and practice the art of Freemasonry.
Through the art of Freemasonry, the improvement and strengthening of the
character of the individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community.
Thus it impresses upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and
personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those things which make for human
welfare, and inspires them with that feeling of charity, or good will, toward all
mankind which will move them to translate principle and conviction into action.
To that end, it teaches and stands for the reverence of God; truth and justice;
fraternity and philanthropy; and enlightenment and orderly liberty - civil, religious
and intellectual. It charges each of its members to be true and loyal to the
government of the country to which he owes allegiance and to be obedient to the
law of any State in which he may be.
Masonry abhors Tyranny as being repugnant to its concept of the dignity of
the individual personality, destructive of the basic human rights which are the
Divine heritage of all men, and contrary to the fundamental Masonic tenets of
faith in God and the free exercise of religion.
It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by
laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect and
opinion may unite.
Believing these things, this Grand Lodge affirms its continued adherence to
that ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which forbids the discussion in
Masonic meetings of creeds, politics or other topics likely to excite personal
animosities.
It further affirms its conviction that it is contrary to the fundamental
principles of Freemasonry and dangerous to its unity, strength, usefulness and
welfare, for Masonic bodies to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or
influence for or against any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the
election or appointment of government officials, or to influence them, whether or
not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The
true Freemason acts in civil life according to his individual judgment and the
dictates of his conscience.