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Of the
RICHLAND CITY LODGE No. 702 F. & A.M.
Adopted April 1, 2004
FROM THE
INDIANA BLUE BOOK OF MASONIC LAW
Page 1 & 2
Adopted May 24, 1939
Revised May 18, 1949
Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society.
Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in its
methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.
It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income
inures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the
welfare and happiness of mankind.
It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty.
It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of
morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.
It is religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is
open upon its Altars whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever
present in its ceremonial, and to its Brethren are constantly addressed lessons of
morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological.
It is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that
men may foregather in numbers, thereby providing more material for its primary
work of education, of worship and of charity.
Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual
man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its
members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility,
enlightens them as to those things which make for human welfare, and inspires
them with that feeling of charity, or good will, toward all mankind which will move
them to translate principle and conviction into action.
To that end, it teaches and stands for the worship of God; truth and justice;
fraternity and philanthropy; and enlightenment and orderly liberty, civil, religious
and intellectual. It charges each of its members to be true and loyal to the
government of the country to which he owes allegiance and to be obedient to the
law of any State in which he may be.
Masonry abhors Communism as being repugnant to its conception of the
dignity of the individual personality, destructive of the basic human rights which
are the Divine heritage of all men, and inimical to the fundamental Masonic tenet
of faith in God.
It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by
laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect and
opinion may unite rather than by setting up a restricted platform upon which only
those of certain races, creeds and opinions can assemble.
Believing these things, this Lodge affirms its continued adherence to that
ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which forbids the discussion in
Masonic meeting of creeds, politics or other topics likely to excite personal
animosities.
It further affirms its conviction that it not only contrary to the fundamental
principles of Freemasonry, but dangerous to its unity, strength, or usefulness and
welfare, for Masonic bodies to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or
influence for or against any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the
election or appointment of government officials, or to influence them, whether or
not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The
true Freemason will act in civil life according to his individual judgment and the
dictates of his conscience.