freedom of religion
is an inalienable human right and
tolerance
an
indispensable trait of human character; therefore, I will stand in my
Lodge with Brothers of all faiths,
and respect their beliefs as they respect mine, and I will demonstrate the
spirit of Brotherhood in all
aspects of my life.
… I know that
education
and the rational use of the mind are the keys to facing the problems
of humanity; therefore, I will bring my questions and my ideas to my
Lodge, and strive to advance
the growth of my mind alongside my Brothers.
… I know that the rich
tradition of Freemasonry
and its framework of
Ritual are
important platforms for growth and learning; therefore, I vow to stand
upon these platforms to
improve myself as a human being, and I vow to help in the mission of the
Craft to provide tools,
atmosphere, challenges and motivation to help each Brother do the same.
… I know that
charity is
the distinguishing human virtue, and that
personal community
service is
the best demonstration of one’s commitment to humanity; I acknowledge that
words
without deeds are meaningless, and I vow to work with my Lodge to provide
service to the
community, and to promote charity, friendship, morality, harmony,
integrity, fidelity and love.
… I know that my obligation to community extends beyond my
local sphere and is partly fulfilled
in my
patriotism:
love of my country, obedience to its laws and celebration of the freedoms
and
opportunities it symbolizes.
… I know that
leadership
is best demonstrated by
commitment to serving others;
I will therefore participate in, and help work at improving individual
leadership skills, and serve
the Brothers of my Lodge to the best of my ability.
… I know that
friendship, fidelity and family
are the foundations of a
well-lived life;
I therefore vow to be a faithful friend to my Brothers, as I expect my
Lodge to respect my personal
obligations, and to treat my family as though my family were their own.
… I know that the last great lesson of Freemasonry --
the value of personal integrity and
the sanctity of one’s word
-- is a lesson for all people in
all times; I therefore vow to be a man
of my word.
… I know that
Masonry’s power is best exercised when its Light is shared
with
the world at large; I therefore vow to bring the best of myself to my
Lodge, in order that my growth
might be fostered and nurtured, and to present myself to the world as a
working Freemason, on
the path to building a more perfect temple.
Because I am a Freemaso
n,
these values and aspirations are guideposts for my progress through life.