Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

Ethics is defined as a science of morals. It is a treatise on morals, dealing with human character and conduct. It is thus a system of morals and rules of behaviour. We often find that man's dissipation of mental energies ends in the tuberculosis of the mind. To detect this wasteful disease at the right moment and to carefully nurse back the tuberculosis mind to a healthy condition is the contribution of ethics. Freemasonry is through and through ethical in nature and contributes to a great extent for the regaining of a fight living by man. Freemasonry, we see therefore, is concerned with human conduct and character. It is essentially a system of morals and rules of behaviour which detaches ethics from religion. No doubt, many of the morals and ethical rules of right living are common in all the existing religions as is seen in the Sacred Laws of all religions.

Freemasonry does not simply lay out a set of rules of "do's" and "don’ts". Members of this fraternity are not merely forced to obey implicitly any rules of conduct, but are told why a certain way-of-life is prescribed. While advocating ethical and moral life to its adherents, the seeker's mind is constantly made to lift itself in atonement with the ideal: TRUTH; The Almighty Architect of the Universe. We shall now examine the extent of these assertions in the Rituals of the three Degrees.

Before the Lodge is opened in the several degrees, the regular feature is to invoke the assistance of the G.A.O.T.U., supplicate the G.G.O.T.U., or invoke the aid of The M.H.; so that all the undertakings and labours begun in order may be conducted in peace and closed in harmony. Like wise, while closing the Lodge in the third degree, and brethren bend with gratitude to the M.H. While closing in the second degree, brethren are reminded that HE is with them and HIS all seeing Eye observes what ever they do and are exhorted to discharge their duty to HIM with fervency and zeal. Before finally closing the Lodge in the first degree, gratitude is expressed to the G.A.O.T.U., for favours received and He is implored to assist in continuing to preserve the Order by cementing and adorning it with every MORAL and SOCIAL VIRTUE.

By way of advocating ethical and moral life to the Initiate, he is told that Freemasonry is free and requires perfect freedom of inclination in every candidate for its mysteries and that it is ethically founded on purest principles of piety and virtue. He is also informed that in the vows of fidelity, there is nothing at variance of his religious belief, confirming that the ethics of Freemasonry have nothing to do with the religious belief of the candidate. He is made to understand that Freemasonry is a society of men who prize honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune. His attention is directed to the three great Emblematical lights in Freemasonry, which are meant to govern his faith, to regulate his action and to exhort him to keep in due bounds with all mankind. Proceeding further, he is told that the distinguishing Badge of Freemason is made of lambskin, the acknowledged emblem of innocence and purity, as a reminder to the candidate that purity of life and action should at all times distinguish a freemason.

The ethical value of Freemasonry is further indicated to the candidate by telling him that of all the moral virtues; the principal ones are Faith, Hope and Charity. It is pointed out to him that Charity is the virtue which should be the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason's heart. He is told that his charity should have no bounds save those of prudence. By way of a charge after Initiation, the candidate is informed that no Institution can boast of a more solid foundation than that on which Freemasonry rests - the practice of every moral and social virtue. As a Freemason, the candidate is asked to seriously contemplate on the V of S.L. which is assured to be the unerring standard of truth and justice; teaching the important duties a Freemason owes to GOD, to his neighbour and to himself, so that he may regulate his actions by those Divine Precepts if contains.

The Initiate is further told that Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice must direct, chasten, support and guide all his actions and to be careful to maintain in their fullest splendour the truly Masonic ornaments; benevolence and Charity. As a last and general recommendation, the Initiate is exhorted to dedicate himself to such pursuits as may at once enable him to be respectable in life, useful to mankind and an ornament to the Society of which he has become a member. The charge after Initiation concludes with the hope that the candidate will duly appreciate the value of Freemasonry and indelibly imprint on his heart the sacred dictates of Truth, of Honour, and of Virtue. Explaining the Tracing board in the fist degree, the attention of the Initiate is drawn to the four tassels as pendant to the corners of the Lodge which are meant to remind Freemasons of the four cardinal virtues viz., Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice, all of which he is told that a great majority of ancient Brethren constantly practiced. In conclusion the Initiate is informed that the distinguishing characteristics of a good Freemason are virtue, Honour and Mercy which are ever to be found in a Freemason's breast.

The working tools of an operative mason which are applied to the morals of Freemasons is all the three degrees is a further proof of the ethical value of Freemasonry. The Initiate is told that the 24 inch gauge represents 24 hours of the day, part to be spent in prayer to Almighty God, part in labour and refreshment and part in serving a friend or Brother in time of need. that the common g..... 1 teaches that skill without exertion is of little avail and that the C.... I points out the advantage of education by which alone one can be a member of a regularly organised Society. In the Fellow Crafts Degree, it is explained that the S.,L., & P.R. are meant to teach morality, equality and justness and uprightness of life and actions. In the M.K.'s degree it is told that the Sk., points out the straight and undeviating line of conduct laid down in the Vs. O.T.S.L. That the P.... teachers that our worlds and actions are observed and recorded by the Almighty Architect to whom we must give an account of our conduct through life and that the Cs., remind us of His unerring and impartial justice by way of rewarding or punishing, as one who has obeyed or disregarded His Divine Commands.

In the ceremony of Raising, the M.M. is told that his admission among Freemasons in a state of helpless indigence was an emblematical representation of the entrance of al men on this, their mortal existence. His attention is also drawn to the emblems of mortality and is reminded that it is to lead him to contemplate on his inevitable destiny and guide his reflections to that most interesting of all human studies, the knowledge of his Self. he is also told that even in his perishable frame resides a vital and immortal principle, which inspires a holy confidence that the Lord of Life will enable him to trample the Kind of Terrors beneath his feet.

The Sublime Degree of a M.M., reveals to the candidate the mystery that the Supreme Being is never far away from him and that He seems to be far away, because, he holds Him aloof by his attitude of mind; but that He can be drawn close to him through simple faith and purity of heart. Thus it is assured that every one can find the Hidden and attain the Unattainable. It further shows that the ramparts of the dwelling of the Self are build with faith, hope, courage and love and that these four walls sand all weather and storm. It points out, that when one walks in the Light of God, there is no darkness. This part of the Ritual is nothing but a dramatisation of the Vedantic path of Self-realisation. In short, here the little man, the selfish man fades away, and another takes his place, one that is bigger, nobler, more efficient.

It is to be remembered that the evolution of man is in proportion to the degree of knowledge acquired by him and the extent to which his knowledge has been utilised for the improvement of one-self and the world that one lives in. Therefore, an artistic self-growth, spiritual fulfilment in life, moral unfoldment with, ethical growth in the personality, are the goals pointed out by Freemasonry for man to follow. Such rehabilitated minds of its members are expected to pursue the right value of life brimming with an ever-growing energy and become the right vehicle to gain real achievements in life.

Thus beyond doubt, Freemasonry abounding through and through with ethical science in its ritual, chastens men by its morals and ethical rules and aids to evolve from good men, men of God, pure at heart, noble in thoughts, magnanimous in attitude and assures harmonious living of men among men as Brethren in the belief of Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man.