WHEN IS A MAN A MASON?
by
Joseph Fort Newton
When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far
horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of
things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage which is the root of every virtue.
When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as
vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to
forgive, and to love his fellow man.
When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows,
yea, even in their sins knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many
odds.
When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and
above all how to keep friends with himself.
When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels
the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child.
When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner
drudgeries of life.
When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing
waters, subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead.
When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no
hand seeks his aid without response.
When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay
hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of
that faith may be.
When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something
beyond mud, and into the face of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see
something beyond sin.
When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.
When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man, and
with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song -- glad
to live, but not afraid to die!
Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the
one which it is trying to give to all the world.
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