MASONIC SERMON
( Inscription on a large medal struck in December,
1838 in response to an interdict against the Masonic Order by the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Mechlin. Around the border is inscribed a Latin phrase meaning
"Masonry will Live, God wills it. Grand Orient of Belgium, 5838")
Masonic
conduct is to adore the Grand Architect of the Universe:
Love thy neighbor: Do no evil: Do good: Suffer man to
speak:
The worship most acceptable to the Grand Architect of the
Universe consists of good morals and the practice of all the virtues:
Do good for the love of goodness itself alone:
Ever keep thy soul in a state so pure as to appear
worthily before the presence of the Grand Architect, who is God:
Love the good, succor the weak, fly from the wicked, but
hate no one:
Speak seriously with the great, and prudently with thy
equals, sincerely with thy friends, pleasantly with the little ones, and
tenderly with the poor:
Do not flatter thy Brother, that is treason:
If thy Brother flatter thee, beware that he doth not
corrupt thee:
Listen always to the voice of conscience:
Be a father to the poor: Each sigh drawn from them by thy
hard-heartedness will increase the number of maledictions which will fall upon
thy head:
Respect the stranger on his journey and assist him, for
his person is sacred to thee:
Avoid quarrels and forestall insults:
Ever keep the right on thy side:
Respect Woman, never abuse her weakness: Die rather than
dishonor her:
If the Grand Architect hath given thee a son, be thankful,
but tremble at the trust He hath confided to thee: Be to that child the image of
Divinity: Until he is ten years old let him fear thee: Until he is twenty let
him love thee and until death let him respect thee: Until he is ten years old,
be his master, Until twenty his father and until death his friend: Aim to give
him good principles rather than elegant manners, that he may have enlightened
rectitude, and not a frivolous elegance: Make of him a honest man rather than a
man of dress:
If thou blushes at thy condition it is pride: Consider
that it is not the position which honors or degrades thee, but the manner in
which thou dost fill it:
Read and profit, see and imitate, reflect and labor:
Do all for the benefit of thy Brethren, that is working
for thyself:
Be content in all places, at all times, and with all
things:
Rejoice in justice, despise iniquity, suffer without
murmuring:
Judge not lightly the conduct of men, blame little, and
praise still less:
It is for the Grand Architect of the Universe who searches
the heart to value His work:
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