The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 8 - Categorization of Rituals
Wearing the insignia of a popular order can influence business opportunities,
as has been shown in Section 3.3 on Prince Hall Masonry: "[...] [M]embership
was acquired through balloting after investigation and determination of moral
worth. And hence the badge in the buttonhole meant, 'I am a gentleman patented
after investigation and probation and guaranteed by my membership.' Again, this
meant, in business life above all, tested credit worthiness." 1603
8.1 Charity
Take for example the argument that secret societies are to be justified
because of their charities. It is true that a provision for sick and death
benefits is part of the bait which most lodges of our day throw to those
whose oaths, influence and money they wish to obtain. It is also true
that some of these orders pay out large sums to their members annually
in pursuance of these agreements. And these payments are said to be
charitable! [...].
And yet all persons who choose to be informed know that accident
and insurance companies are doing the same thing every day, call it
business, not charity, and thank people for allowing them to transact the
business for them. If the insurance companies should pose as benevolent
organizations they would be laughed at, yet lodge men call their orders
charitable institutions. 1604
The previous sections have explained that Freemasonry is not intended to be
a religious institution, and it is not conceived to be a charitable institution per se,
either. In the ritualistic chapters, it was shown that three tenets of Craft Masonry
are "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity." These tenets are personalized in many early
paintings and on certificates of the order, often being illustrated as three angles
descending Jacob's Ladder which rests on the Bible (cf. Section 4.6.2). They are
guide-lines of Masonry as a moral and social institution.
1603 Cited from Weber in Schmidt, p. 45.
1604 Blanchard, p. 47/48.