more light #344
Theological Values
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
“Spend time thinking about the virtues of other people. Not
merely as a passing thought, but try to feel pleasure in thinking of their
virtues.” Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler;
The ancient Pagans knew of what we know and call the Cardinal Virtues;
Temperance, Prudence, Fortitude, and Justice; they gave them a prominent place
in their system of ethics. “Faith, hope, and Charity”, which we know as the
“Theological Virtues are very old and come from the writings of Paul in the New
Testament. The Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity are intimately connected with
the relationship of man to God; it was the Christian writers who gave them the
name; Theological Virtues. These Theological Virtues have become a vital part of
Freemasonry, which every Mason will recall from the lecture of his first degree.
A study of every virtue included in the Cardinal and Theological Virtues will
significantly add to the knowledge and enjoyment of Freemasonry for every
Masonic student. Today we will concentrate on the virtue known as “Charity.”
When thinking of “Charity” many will think of giving money to worthy causes.
But with study and understanding we are more likely to think of ‘Love;’
Brotherly Love and love for our fellow man.
Reference books on the virtues have an illustration symbolizing “Charity”;
it’s an illustration of a beautiful woman surrounded by children: This symbol
could easily represent the unconditional love a Mother has for her children. The
figure of the woman represents Pera, a Roman maiden who is also referred to as
caritas humana, she is referred to as that because the word Charity comes from
the Latin Caritas.
When we read the scripture relating to Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:12) and the
three Theological Virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13) in the Authorized or King James
Version of The Holy Bible we read about the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity,
but in more modern translations Charity is translated as Love. The figure of a
woman surrounded by children teaches us that caring love extends beyond the
grave through the boundless realms of eternity.
Charity as it is known in today’s society with the giving of various forms of
support from goods, to volunteering, to monetary donations, is agreeable to the
word charity as it is used in Masonry and in the Bible. What Masons do with
their donations of time, talent, and treasure, are done as a result of brotherly
love for those less fortunate. And what is done for love of others is manifested
in the visible through organizations such as Minnesota Masonic Charities, the
Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, and the Grand Lodge Funds
used to help where help is needed. Money, time, and man power, donated by Masons
is given freely to all who need and can benefit from help – the help is not
restricted to only certain people or groups. A good book you might like to read
is; “Masonic Charities – A tradition of Caring” by
S. Brent Morris.
“There is no virtue in a promise unless it be kept.” Danish Proverb
“The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities;
and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the
head.” Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America, 1788
After Lodge Discussion Topic:
The Fundamentals of Masonry
from a German Masonic Paper, published in “A Masonic Thought for Each Day of
The Year.” Published 1972 by the Missouri Lodge of Research
“Freemasonry unites men who, in brotherly formations and through honorable
and ritualistic methods, endeavor to achieve spiritual understanding and moral
refinement.
“Universal Charity, Brotherhood, Beneficence and Education toward these and
everything, which benefits humanity, are its main purposes.
“Freedom of religion, of conscience, and of thought are Freemasonry’s highest
goal. Freemasonry accepts without religious, racial, national or political
prejudice or without regard to station in life, upright and moral men as
Brothers.
‘Freemasonry recognizes in the structure of the World in all that lives in
the inner consciousness of man a divine Creator – spirit, full of Wisdom,
Strength and Beauty, and reveres Him as the Great Architect of the Universe.
“Freemasonry is a moral, not a political order and takes no part in political
or religious disputes. It is not a religious society, not a secret alliance,
demands no unlawful secrecy and imparts no magical information.”
“He that is good will infallibly become better, and he that is bad will as
certainly become worse; for vice, virtue, and time, are three things that never
stand still.” C. C. Colton (1780 – 1832)
back to top | 
