ELEVEN REASONS FOR BEING LOYAL TO FREEMASONRY
or
THE POWER OF FREEMASONRY
Taking pride in our fraternity
1. Freemasonry is the oldest and most prestigious fraternal organization known to recorded history. The blueprint for fraternalism.
2. Fraternalism is needed in our present society more than ever before.
a) Members of a family learn to love, respect, appreciate, have compassion for and to live harmoniously with each other.
b) Freemasonry is an expansion of the family circle. Masons learn to be better brothers within the Masonic family and thence to the world at large.
3. A genius of Freemasonry is the emphasis it places on the need to support a set of moral values which has withstood the test of time. It is a privilege to be loyal to that fraternity which continues to stabilize a moral code that is being eroded by indecision, experimentation and indifference by others.
4. A second genius of Freemasonry is its proposition that one cannot build a better society without first building better ingredients of that society -- e.g.: men. We can be proud of our Ritual, which is filled, with lessons of how to be better and more "upright" men.
5. Freemasons played a noble and impressive role in the formation of the United States government. Much of the insights, concerns and brilliance of Masonic stalwarts such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Peyton Randolph, Robert Livingston and scores of others helped to develop that profound document we call our Constitution. Every Freemason can be proud of the American and Masonic heritages which are so closely related. The concepts of liberty, freedom and fraternity are Masonic concepts.
6. The Masonic Home at Utica is an example of Masonic principle put into action. It is a sense of satisfaction to know that at the Home, over 450 individuals are guests of the New York State Freemasons.
7. The Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, also at Utica, and operated by the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the State of New York, continues to make regular and important contributions in medical research. This work ultimately will lengthen and enhance the quality of life of every human being.
8. Fraternities can help to break down the greatest of all barriers to a healthy society -- the caste system that grows out of uncontrolled egos. Freemasonry is unique in this effort by teaching that it is a place "for the high, the low, the rich, the poor to meet together -- on the level". This one important contribution alone is worth all the support that can be given to Freemasonry.
9. Freemasonry is an international Fraternity. It exists in nearly every country except where totalitarian governments outlaw it by decree. Freemasonry is perhaps the strongest tie that binds the world into a universal brotherhood. It certainly has the potential to be even a stronger cord for that noble purpose.
10. Freemasonry is an educational institution. It teaches that a part of being a Freemason is to learn to improve oneself. It offers and promotes many opportunities for its members to grow as individuals.
11. Freemasonry is probably the first, and certainly continues to be, the strongest force to promote ecumenism.