Page 10 - Ashlar July-September 2019

N A L G R
I O
G E AND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XV Issue II
undoubtedly a sign of real strength. succumb to those pressures and falter in our
That is why, you are never to put on the badge pursuits. This can be better understood
should you about to enter a Lodge in which symbolically by the fact that when an egg is
there is a Brother with whom you are at broken from outside, a life ends and whereas
variance or against whom you entertain when it is broken from inside, a life begins.
animosity. In such cases, it is expected that you Freemasonry, helps us to build a mind which is
will invite him to withdraw in order to settle strong and confident. A situation in life is a
amicably your differences which, being happily problem when mind is weak; a challenge when
effected, you may then clothe yourselves, enter mind is balanced and an opportunity when
the Lodge and work with that love and harmony mind is strong and confident.
which should at all times characterize 4. Benevolence and Relief:
freemasons. Freemasonry makes us understand that it is
Freemasonry is a society of men who prize more blessed to give than to receive. If we get
honour and virtue above the external the taste of giving, we develop contentment
advantages of rank and fortune. Duty, honour within us which in turn eliminates greed. No
and gratitude bind a mason to be faithful to person is poor if there is contentment in life and
every trust, to support with becoming dignity his none is rich if there is greed within. Siddhartha,
new character and to enforce, by precept and later known as Gautama Buddha, left his
example, the tenets of the system. We all know palace in search of peace but many in this
that Swami Vivekananda always dreeses like a materialistic world are deserting peace in
monk. Once Swami Vivekanada, when he was search of prosperity.
abroad, was posed a sarcastic question by a By admitting a candidate poor and penniless,
white man “why don't you dress like a one is made to remember the peculiar moment
Gentleman?”. He politely replied “May be in when he meets a Brother at any future period in
your culture a gentleman is made by a tailor but distressed circumstances. Besides, admission
in ours it is by Character.” Freemasonry among Freemasons in a state of helpless
teaches us to live with dignity and contributes indigence is an emblematical representation of
significantly to our character building. the entrance of all men on this mortal
3. Faith in God: existence. Thereby, we are taught natural
Even before a candidate takes the First equality and mutual dependence as a useful
Regular Step in Freemasonry, we ask “In all lesson for life. It instructs to seek solace of
cases of difficulty and danger, in whom do you one's own distress by extending relief and
put your trust?”. After getting his affirmation consolation to fellow creatures in the hour of
about faith in God, we state that where the their affliction.
name of God is invoked, we trust no danger can Brethren, each one of us is destined to live up
ensue. God is omnipresent and resides within to a certain age. We are all mortals and don't
us. In cases of any difficulty in life, if God solves have eternal existence. First 25 years or so we
it for us, it reflects on our faith in God. If God learn and next 35 years or so we earn, but
does not come to our rescue, it reflects on fulfillment in life is achieved only when we
God's confidence in our ability to navigate share what we have learnt and what we have
through such a difficulty with grit and earned with those in the society who are in
determination. need of it. If we practice benevolence and
If we believe that the inner divine energy within provide relief, then we can live beyond our age
us is stronger than the challenges we in the hearts of those whose lives we touched.
encounter in life, then we can handle those That is precisely as to why Freemasonry urges
challenges with ease and successfully us to be respectable in life, useful to mankind
overcome them. On the contrary, if we get into and an ornament to the society of which we are
the wrong notion that external factors are members.
stronger than the power within us, then we On 24th November, 2018, our M.W. Grand

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