RELIGION
IN EPIGRAM
The Master Mason - May 1925
AN ORATOR in a
recent conference summed up the finished product of the various
religions of the world in a series of very striking epigrams. An
epigram is seldom perfect; it is a brief, flashing insight of a
salient truth, and that is true in this instance. None the less
the speaker did put the matter picturesquely: Greece said,
"Be moderate - know thyself." Rome said, "Be strong - order
thyself." Confucianism said, "Be superior - correct
thyself." Buddhism said, "Be disillusioned - annihilate
thyself." Hinduism said, "Be separate - merge
thyself." Mohammedanism said, "Be submissive bend
thyself." Judaism said, "Be holy - conform
thyself." Modern Materialism says, "Be industrious - enjoy
thyself." Modern Dilettantism says, "Be broad - cultivate
thyself." Christianity says, "Be unselfish - give
thyself." What would Masonry add to this symphony of faith,
duty and aspiration? How would its distinctive aim and
obligation be described? Would it not be correct to put it in
this fashion: Masonry, says, "Be a brother - build thyself." Or,
better still, "Be a Brother and a Builder - forget all about
thyself." THE GOLDEN RULE
Persian - Do as you would be
done by. Greek - Do not that to a neighbor which you would
take ill from him. Chinese - What you would not wish done
to yourself, do not do to others. Egyptian - He sought
for others the good he desired for himself. Let him pass
on. Jewish - Whatsoever you do not wish your neighbor to do
to you, do not to him. This is the whole law. Christian -
All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them. back to top
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