Masonry is Duty
Prepared by Andy Albright, 32°, Valley of Charleston, SC
If the public were to be surveyed as to who best personifies “duty”, there would
be references to those who serve in the Armed Forces, police officers, firefighters, and
perhaps even some who serve in political offices. Such individuals are viewed as the
very personification of what it means to live a life committed to a sworn duty to serve
their country and its citizens. However, duty exists in many forms, not just those related
to military or public service. In Asia and the Middle East, there is Filial Duty, where
children are expected to conduct themselves in such as way as to bring honor to the
family in the community’s eyes. In Eastern Asia and in the South Pacific Islands, Filial
Piety is considered a central part of one’s duty to family. A quote from The Analects of
Confucius says, “It is rare for a man whose character is such that he is good as a son
and obedient as a young man to have the inclination to transgress against his superiors;
it is unheard of for one who has no such inclination to be inclined to start a rebellion.
The gentleman devotes his efforts to the roots, for once the roots are established, the
Way will grow there from. Being good as a son and obedient as a young man is,
perhaps, the root of a man’s character.”
We all have what we perceive as a sense of duty to many things, whether it be to
a job, family, or to our chosen faith. Whatever the case may be, we attached ourselves
to these objects of our duty with great zeal. But, what is “duty”? And why, when we
commit ourselves, do we feel such zeal to duty? In his great work titled De Officiis (On
Duty or On Obligations), Marcus Tullius Cicero list four sources of duty:
1. as a result of being human.
2. as a result of one’s particular place in life.
3. as a result of one’s character.
4. as a result of one’s own moral expectations for oneself.
In a Masonic sense, perhaps the fourth source best describes why Masonry becomes a
duty to those who seek out its mysteries and knowledge. We take to ourselves the
obligations of Masonry voluntarily, of our own freewill and accord. In doing so, the
Mason sets for himself certain moral expectations in order to distinguish himself among
his peers and his community.
Like the soldier who swears to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United
States, so the Mason takes his solemn obligation before Almighty God to conduct his
life in a manner pleasing to God and the brethren of the Craft. The charges he receives
at the end of each degree help to further expand the manner of conduct he is expected
to exhibit at all times. The Great Tenants of his Masonic profession, Brotherly Love,
Relief, and Truth, are not his duty, but the manifestation of his duty to Masonry. The
Cardinal Virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice serve as guides for
his actions in this world. The fulfillment of his Masonic duty is displayed in every act
performed without regard for reward or recognition.
If we look at soldiers as the one of the most popular personas of duty, consider
the lives of four Roman soldiers who are often associated with the Quatuor Coronati,
the Four Crowned Ones, who were made martyrs for their faith. These four soldiers,
who are identified as being cornicularii, clerks in charge of regimental records and
paperwork, were sentenced to death by Emperor Diocletian for their refusal to offer
sacrifices to the pagan image of Aesculapius. Although the names of these four martyrs
have never been historically proven, their names were given and accepted by Pope
Melchiades as Secundus, Severianus, Carpoforus, and Victorius. A study of their
names will reveal a curious resemblance to the Four Cardinal Virtues.
The name Secundus translates as “second or favorable”. By favorable, the
name suggests something that is worthwhile, something agreeable to have in our
possession. As Mason, the government of our prejudices and passions is most
certainly as prized possession to assist in keeping the body tame and governable,
thereby freeing our minds from the allurement of vise. Without such restraints, a Mason
might find himself in a position where he might disclose some of the valuable secrets he
has promised to conceal. Thus, by the virtue of Temperance, the Mason is best able to
govern his mind and body in his duty to maintain the secrecy of the Order’s mysteries.
Severian, the second of the Four Crowned Ones, carries the meaning of “stern”.
The word “stern” implies ideas of other words, such as rigid, unyielding, and firm. One
might think of some authoritative figure, such a principle, police officer, or a judge;
anyone whose character projects an image of duty to moral principles that cannot be
uprooted by any means. We might even ponder the image of a parent who was
unwilling to bend their rules, therefore teaching us the value of obedience. Fortitude is
the noble virtue which allows us to defend ourselves against any type of force, physical
or mental, that attempts to extract from a brother the secrets of the Fraternity. Fortitude
is the great mental force that enables a Mason to maintain his duty of obedience to his
obligations.
From the name Carpophorus, we get the translation of “fruit-bearer” and the idea
of a pleasant reward. The very idea of a “fruit-bearer” presents the notion of a person
who brings with them something pleasant and worthwhile. In order to put this
translation into the context of behavior, a Mason can refer to the Holy Scriptures: “"But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. By the exercise of Prudence, the virtue
by which the Mason makes wise decisions concerning his life and actions, he is best
able to project an image of these Divine fruits, thereby bringing honor to the Institution
of Masonry. An attachment to this duty will ensure that the World will be convinced of
the good effects of the Order on the heart and soul of a man.
The name Victorinus actually has no known translation. However, there are
attempts to give the name some sort of persona, suggesting that the person who bears
this name will exhibit a certain type of behavior. Of those suggestions, one seemed to
stand out from among the others. Consider this possible meaning: one who analyzes
objectively. The meaning given here seems to suggest a sense of logic without bias,
searching calmly after truth. Other possible persona include one who seeks to assist
but their assistance is not wanted; a person who prefers a settled environment; and a
person with a forceful will. Consider such qualities as representing law, and the virtue
of Justice. Among the duties of a Mason, Justice can be one of the most challenging.
A Mason, who has been called upon to render a judgment in either a civil or criminal
matter, or in a Masonic trial, must always remember to be objective in his decisions.
If duty is the mental force that drives the Mason to exercise virtues and morals,
then labor must be the physical and mental effort employed in the performance of those
duties. The physical effort can be seen in the acts that are performed and visible to all
who witness the event. When a person is observed in the performance of some act of
kindness or charity, that person is physically demonstrating a labor in the performance
of duty. The sense of duty compels a Mason to perform physical acts that are the
manifestation of his obligations and charges.
Labor is not to be viewed with any sort of disdain by a Mason. The ability to
perform labor should, and must, be embraced with all joy and happiness. We are
taught that God created the heavens and the earth, thereby setting the example of the
divine nature of labor. Man, being the image of God, should seek to imitate the divine
plan and seek out labor. By the performing acts of labor, the Mason will be engaged in
his duty to God to emulate His divine plan in this temporal world. Be mindful of the fact
that our labors are not always physical. We must endeavor, every day we have a
breath to live, to labor in our hearts and minds. Always, we should be continuously
seeking to improve our knowledge and understanding of truth. We must work our heart
and conscience to see that they are free of vice and superfluities.
Simeon Ben Azzai, who lived during the 2nd century in Jerusalem, is quoted as
having said, “The reward of doing one’s duty is the power to do another.” Perhaps no
other quote captures the ideal of the Masonic journey about the Lodge than this one
quote. Each of the Three Steps we took in the early part of our Masonic journey was
accomplished by the fulfillment of our duty to study and learn. We learn the catechisms
of each degree and stand for proficiency before the Lodge, demonstrating the fruits of
our mental labors. Having earned the privilege of being raised to the sublime degree of
a Master Mason, and upon demonstrating a zealous attachment to the duties as such, a
Mason may very well find himself in an appointed officer’s position. Now he begins the
next part of his Masonic journey by learning the value of service to his Lodge as an
officer. He must demonstrate even further his commitment to the Order in his
obedience to his superior officers; it is his duty to learn and understand the value of
humility. Traveling onward through the years, the time may eventually arrive when he
shall be elected as Junior Warden, and charged with the supervision of the Craft at
refreshment. His duty to be the master of himself is both essential and critical if he to
demand of others self-control and restraint.
From the South, the Mason may pass on to the West, taking upon himself the
duties of the Senior Warden. Now, he is charged with assisting the Worshipful Master
in the governing of his Lodge. As he has grown in knowledge of the Craft, so it
becomes his duty to in passing on knowledge to those less informed. His leadership
role increases and duties expand in his leadership of the Craft. The duty of supervising
the Craft during their labors is his, and he must see that the labors reflect the designs
upon the trestle boards of the Worshipful Master of the Lodge and the Grand Architect
of the Universe.
By the trust of the Lodge in his ability to rightly govern, the Mason rises to the
East, assuming the mantle of leadership as the Master of the Lodge. No greater duty,
within the work of the Lodge, can be assigned than that of having to design labor for the
Craft and provide them with good and wholesome instruction. He now carries the duty
to be the symbol of God’s wisdom, and affect the leadership that will govern the Lodge
in accordance with Masonic Law. The position as Worshipful Master is a great and
terrible duty, for he must be prepared to decisions that will affect the operation of his
Lodge. The Mason, however, should not fear such duties. If he has carefully studies
the lessons taught by Nature and those of Geometry, as is every Mason’s duty, he will
be firmly established in his abilities to employ the wisdom expected of his station.
In a day and age when the souls of men seemed to be marred by the selfish
behavior, there is one contemporary man who has made public his thoughts that are
contrary to modern ideas. Ben Stein, known for his roles in movies and commercials,
as well as his roles in politics, stated to E! Online, “I came to realize that life lived to help
other is the only one that matters and that it is my duty. This is my highest and best use
as a human.” Is this statement not a reflection of the very heart and soul of Masonry?
What greater duty do Masons have than to assist others in whatever need may be
troubling their mind? In this age, when everything seems to be self-serving, Stein
expresses the most ancient duty of all men, but more especially Masons.
However, not all famous men have expressed the notion that we should be
zealously attached to our sense of duty. Friedrich Neitzche, a 19th Century German
philosopher, was very critical of the notions of duty and man’s attachment to them. In
Neitzche’s work Der Antichrist (The Antichrist or The Anti-Christian)1, he writes, “What
destroys a man more quickly than to work, think, and feel without inner necessity,
without any deep personal desire, without pleasure- as a mere automaton of ‘duty’?”
Neitzche’s quote appears to disregard the existence of a divine spirit in man,
suggesting that only the wants of the flesh, the animal side of man, should be fulfilled.
The need of a man, especially a Mason, to exercise his spiritual essence destroys
nothing but the control of the flesh over the body; to think, whereby we ask questions
leading to the discovery of knowledge and truth; recognizing our inner necessity to
approach divinity as nearly as we can; savoring the joy and happiness in the knowledge
that we are performing those duties which bring us closer to our Great Creator; not
through any automaton act, but by sincere desire to rise above brutal nature of the
flesh.
The Three Great Duties charged to a Mason, to God, his neighbor, and himself,
form the base on which he can incorporate his Masonic duties into his everyday life.
1
The title was not meant to suggest Neitzche was the antichrist of the Bible or to promote him, but that
his philosophies were contrary to the Western Christian philosophies of the 19th century.
With our duty to God, we sense the emotions of pity and mercy from our benevolent
Creator and are compelled to act for the relief of others suffering from hunger and want
of basic necessities. By putting ourselves on the level with the Supreme Being, our
spirit communicates with Him, and knowing His mercy, we put ourselves on the level
with those who suffer pain and sorrow, aiming to assist in bringing them some comfort.
Even in the realm of public service, elected or appointed, a Mason can still perform his
duties to God by seeing that justice is never restrained, the freedoms granted us by God
are not infringed, and liberty is allowed to thrive so that all may speak and worship as
they sit fit.
All Masons have the sublime duty of squaring their actions by morality and virtue,
and, in doing so, they are able to establish relationships that are firmly rooted in
honesty. With our neighbor, in the exercise of the most excellent Golden Rule, we
establish a calm and peaceful co-existence. A simple greeting to a stranger, completely
unknown to us, might bring warmth to a soul in need of knowing that kindness is still
alive in a world drowning in hate and anger. Noble and wholesome behavior with co-
workers is expected of every Mason as a reflection of his duties of temperance and
prudence in order to maintain proper working relationships.
A Mason’s duty to his family is perhaps the single, greatest duty he can perform.
As the Supreme Deity is the head of the family and brotherhood of men, so must the
Mason reflect this image in the manner he governs his family. The needs of his family
must dictate his every action. The labors he engages to support his home should
always be tended to with every working tool at his disposal, physical and mental.
Imitating the love that our Adoring Creator has for his children is the best safeguard
against the trappings of the flesh and the evils of this world. The stern virtue of fortitude
protects him from the temptations of self-serving lusts and wants, enabling the Mason to
keep a firm grip on himself, becoming the master of his own body and mind.
The duties of a Mason are not for those who might be easily swayed from the path
of Truth and Knowledge. Courage is required of all who seek to find the light that
dispels the darkness of ignorance and hate. The deepest commitment is necessary to
the fulfillment of his Masonic obligations, and he is bound to those duties by the scared
bound of his word. Masonic duty is not like the seasons of the world, lasting but a short
while and then gone a while till the cycle repeats; it is an everyday event, a constant
action; and very willful and deliberate act.
Bibliography
Stein, Ben. E! Online, December 12, 2003.
Neitzche, Friedrich (1885). Der Antichrist. Published in Germany.
