Cabletow 4th issue - GM Ebdane - Grand Lodge of the Philippines

The Cabletow
· Masonry, as a “quality product,” sells itself. But we can help our ancient and
honorable Fraternity sell itself by conducting ourselves in daily life in such a
way as to merit our membership in it. This is, decidedly, the kind of silent
sales that each of us can and must do for Masonry.
· To preserve unsullied the reputation of the Fraternity ought to be the constant
care of every one of us. Hence, it becomes the province of every one of us
to caution the inexperienced against any breach of fidelity. We are to
zealously inculcate universal benevolence, and by the regularity of our
conduct we must endeavor to remove every aspersion against our venerable
Institution.
The man, as well as his companions, seemed to be all ears to what we were
telling them about the Craft. So, we gave them more doses of Masonic information.
Said the circulation manager: “Masonry aims at helping us, its members, to
develop ourselves into men of sterling character – men who are truthful, just and
industrious; men who are regarded by others as honorable, virtuous and charitable;
men who are faithful to every trust, constantly support the dignity of their Masonic
character, and strenuously enforce, by precept and example, a steady obedience to
the precepts of Masonry.”
Added the editor-in-chief: “Masonry requires us to observe probationary discipline
by undergoing its three degrees, the various forms and ceremonies of which are
fraught with symbolic meanings. As we undergo each degree, we are made to
realize that the real value of each degree to us depends upon our capacity to
understand it and upon the amount of study and the degree of reflection we have
bestowed upon it. Besides, we are urged to strive after higher and higher ethical
standards, so that we will exert beneficent influence over other men and help build
a better society.”
On my part, I quoted this statement from Morals and Dogma: “Essentially
philanthropic, philosophical, and progressive, Masonry has for the basis of its dogma
a firm belief in the existence of God and His providence, and in the immortality of
the soul; for its object, the dissemination of moral, political, philosophical, and
religious truth, and the practice of all virtues” (p. 220).
Thinking we had told the visitors enough about Masonry, we gave them copies
of old issues of The Cabletow.
Stated the editor-in-chief: “By reading these, you can learn more about Masonry.”
“By the way,” I said, “Masonry is not a secret society but a revealer of secrets.
The great truths of ancient man were, in their time, also great secrets, and few
were admitted into the sanctuaries where these great truths were taught, and
31 Cabletow