Declaration of PrinciplesDeclaration of Principles
|
GEORGE WASHINGTON LODGE # 585
A.F. & A.M.
Vicenza, Italy We, the members of the George Washington Lodge No. 585, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, have joined together solely for the purpose of practicing the principles of Free Masonry in a land away from home, and do hereby declare the following: 1. We profess our belief in the Supreme Being. The duties of Masons toward God are to revere His name, to exalt His honor as the Grand Architect of the Universe, and ever allude to Him with that profound respect which is due from the creature to the Creator. 2. We pledge our loyalty and allegiance to our nation, the United States of America. Our duties, as Masons, to our country are to submit to the decisions of the law, to yield obedience to lawful authority, and to encourage and support its institutions for the moral and intellectual culture of its people. 3. We pledge that in our practice of Free Masonry that in no manner will we interfere with, or attempt to influence, the political atmosphere of any nation other than that of our own country. 4. We most solemnly promise and swear to faithfully abide by the tenets of Brotherly Love and Free Masonry. 5. Our duties to Neighbors. Our duties , as Masons, to our neighbors are to deal honorably with all men, to suffer none to be injured in character or property, and to be charitable in the times of their destitution and humane in the times of their extremity. 6. Duties to Brothers. Our duties, as Masons, to our brothers are to avoid all piques and quarrels, to defend them so far as honor and truth will warrant, to give them good counsel, to sustain them when falling, to keep their secrets, to invoke their protection and to aid them. 7. Duties to Strangers. Our duties, as Masons, to strangers are to be courteous in behavior, discreet in speech, and manage all discussions on the subject of Masonry to the honor of the Fraternity. 8. Duties to the Grand Lodge. Our duties, as Masons, to the Grand Orient of Italy, are to obey its constitution, By-Laws and all its regulations, in spirit as well as in letter, to uphold all its lawful interests, and to extend the honor of its name throughout the Masonic world. 10. Duties to Body of Masonry. Our duties, as Masons, to the Body of Masonry are to maintain the customs of Masonry unimpaired, and so transmit the to our successors, and to see that none of the Ancient Landmarks and Usages of Masonry are infringed, set aside or renamed. 11. Duties of Members to Our Lodge. The members shall perform such duties as the Lodge or as the Master may require of us, ever being reverential toward God, obedient to the laws of their country, and humane, charitable and just to our neighbors and all others. We shall observe the Moral law, and support and enforce the regulations of Freemasonry, defending, maintaining and extending the honor of its name. |