Brotherly Love

For many years Freemasons have followed three great principles:

Brotherly Love - Every true Freemason will show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.

Relief - Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.

Truth - Freemasons strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and aiming to achieve them in their own lives.

Freemasons believe that these principles represent a way of achieving higher standards in life.

It can be seen from the Grand Lodge’s own web site that the Principle of brotherly love cannot mean preferential or special treatment that one freemason must give to another.

Otherwise it would not state ‘tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures but would state tolerance and respect for the opinions of only its own members and behave with kindness and understanding to only fellow members.

This is further reinforced by the following statement from Grand Lodge:

Q. Are Freemasons expected to prefer fellow Masons at the expense of others in giving jobs, promotions, contracts and the like?

A.  Absolutely not. That would be a misuse of membership and subject to Masonic discipline. On his entry into Freemasonry each candidate states unequivocally that he expects no material gain from his membership. At various stages during the three ceremonies of his admission and when he is presented with a certificate from Grand Lodge that the admission ceremonies have been completed, he is forcefully reminded that attempts to gain preferment or material gain for himself or others is a misuse of membership which will not be tolerated. The Book of Constitutions, which every candidate receives, contains strict rules governing abuse of membership which can result in penalties varying from temporary suspension to expulsion.

Q. Isn't it true that Freemasons only look after each other?

A. No. From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been involved in charitable activities. Since its inception, Freemasonry has provided support not only for widows and orphans of Freemasons but also for many others within the community. Whilst some Masonic charities cater specifically but not exclusively for Masons or their dependents, others make significant grants to non-Masonic organisations. On a local level, lodges give substantial support to local causes.

Surely, it cannot be that we should give each other special treatment because we are brothers of the fraternity? In this regards, I reproduce another page from the web-page of Grand Lodge:

The principles of Freemasonry do not in any way conflict with its members' duties as citizens, whether at work or at home or in public life, but on the contrary should strengthen them in fulfilling their public and private responsibilities. Thus there is no conflict of interest between a Freemason's obligation and his public duty.

If an actual or potential conflict of duties or interests is known to exist or is foreseen, a declaration to that effect should be made.

It may on occasions be prudent to disclose membership to avoid what others mistakenly imagine to be a potential conflict or bias, but this must be a matter for individual judgement.

A Freemason must not use his membership to promote his own or anyone else's business, professional or personal interests. This is made clear directly or by inference several times during a Freemason's early career so that no Freemason can pretend to be ignorant of it. A Freemason who transgresses this rule may be suspended from Masonic activities or even expelled.

Therefore, ‘BROTHERLY LOVE’ cannot mean that we should forgive a brother who has acted wrongly if in the same circumstances, we would not forgive a non-brother nor does it mean we should give a business deal to a brother where in the same circumstances, we would not have given it to a non-bother, i.e., NO PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

WHAT DOES ‘BROTHERLY LOVE’ MEAN?

The word ‘BROTHERLY’ is defined:

‘Characteristic of or befitting brother; fraternal’

So taken in context, the phrase ‘BROTHERLY LOVE’ would mean the love of the ‘characteristic of or befitting brother’. This ‘characteristic of or befitting brother’ only arises by virtue of Freemasonry which creates the brotherhood or the fraternity.

This is supported by the ceremony of initiation when the candidate is told that the fraternity is honourable, brethren should respect, honour and obey the fraternity, brethren should place the interests of the fraternity above those of himself.

Taken in this context, the meaning of ‘BROTHERLY LOVE’ means, that we are taught to love ‘Freemasonry’ which has as its precepts moral and social virtues.

Freemasons are taught as one of the Grand Principles to love all moral and social virtues which include

‘show tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behave with kindness and understanding to his fellow creatures.’

Which is why during his initiation he is asked;

Does the candidate has a ‘favourable opinion pre-conceived of the Institution? (BROTHERLY LOVE)

Does the candidate have a general desire of knowledge? (TRUTH)

Does the candidate have a sincere wish to render service to fellow creatures? (RELIEF).

  ------------------------------------   Source: Excerpts from a Paper Presented in Lodge St. Michael No. 2933

by W Bro Christopher Bridges,
P.M. Lodge St. Patrick No. 765 I.C.
Junior Warden The Lodge St. Michael No. 2933