Masonic Admonition

According to the ethics of Freemasonry, it is made a duty obligatory upon every member of the Order to conceal the faults of a Brother; that is, not to blazon forth his errors and infirmities, to let them be learned by the world from some other tongue than his, and to admonish him of them in private. So there is another but a like duty or obligation, which instincts him to whisper good counsel in his Brother's ear and to warn him of approaching danger. This refers not more to the danger that is without and around him than to that which is within him; not more to the peril that springs from the concealed foe who would waylay him and covertly injure him, than to that deeper peril of those faults and infirmities which lie within his own heart, and which, if not timely crushed by good and earnest resolution of amendment, will, like the ungrateful serpent in the fable, become warm with life only to sting the bosom that has nourished them.

Admonition of a Brother's fault is, then, the duty of every Freemason, and no true one will, for either fear or favor, neglect its performance. But as the duty is Masonic, so is there a Masonic way in which that duty should be discharged. We must admonish not with self-sufficient pride in our own reputed goodness - not in imperious tones, as though we looked down in scorn upon the degree offender ---not in language that, by its hardness, will wound rather than win, will irritate more than it will reform; but with that persuasive gentleness that gains the heart- with the all-subduing influences of  "mercy unrestrained"-with the magic' might of love --- with the language and the accents of affection, which mingle grave displeasure for the offense with grief and pity for the offender.

This, and this alone is Masonic admonition. I am not to rebuke my Brother in anger, for I, too, have my faults, and I dare not draw around me the folds of my garment lest they should be polluted by my neighbor's touch; but I am to admonish in private, not before the world, for that would degrade him; and I am to warn him, perhaps from my own example, how vice ever should be followed by sorrow, for that goodly sorrow leads to repentance, and repentance to amendment, and amendment to joy.

From Mackey's Encylopedia of Freemasonry


http://encyclopediaoffreemasonry.com/a/admonition/

A Mason

"A Mason is a man whose conduct should be squared by strict rectitude and justice towards his fellow-creatures [and NOT only towards his brethren & their 'widows & orphans' in Masonry!]; his demeanour should be marked by the level of courtesy and kindness; while uprightness of heart and integrity of action, symbolized by the plumb, should be his distinguishing characteristic; and thus guided by the moveable jewels of Masonry, he may descend the vale of life with joy, in the hope of being accepted by the Most High, as a successful candidate for admission into the Grand Lodge above."

"It is useless to profess a knowledge of Freemasonry, if we do not frame our lives according to it. It is not enough to be acquainted with its doctrines and precepts, if we fail to reduce them to practice. In such a case, our knowledge will rather tend to our dishonour in this world, and will certainly be an additional article of accusation against us in the next. It would be very unreasonable to doubt the beneficial effects of our masonic precepts; but to admit them to be true, and yet act as if they were false, would be unwise in the highest degree."

p578 & p580, Robert McCoy's Dictionary of Freemasonry

The Intolerance of "Intolerance" By W. Bro. C Shawn Oak

"If brotherly love, relief, and truth are the foundation stones of Freemasonry, tolerance is the cement that unites them. Yet, in a world that has recorded and/or witnessed increasing tolerance, we as Freemasons are intolerant of much. In many ways, the unacceptable level of intolerance within our lodges makes sense when we observe the efforts to maintain the current status quo. "

This is just one of the many articles and essays at Masonic Dictionary web site. I managed to stumble across this site because I was looking for Masonic meanings and specifically, the meaning of "conversing Masonically". What does it really mean? If you know or have an idea, please share it with me.

To read above full article, please click main title. To read all the other articles and essays on this site, please click on Masonic Dictionary or here.

While the contents of the essays I've read are very good, I can't verify the rest of the articles. So, as always, please read, understand and differentiate or discriminate. Take only what you feel and believe is true.

Happy reading!