Ronald D. Martin
Registered User
Quality is a term that should be indistinguishable from every Mason. Just as two twins can be indistinguishable one from the other so should Masonry and Quality. When we think of a Mason we should simultaneously be thinking ‘Quality.’ Quality is “a distinguishing characteristic [character], property, or attribute†[1]. Arguably attributes are ascribed while properties are possessed [2]. Character is the “combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another. Moral or ethical strength†[1]. The latter depicts “conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles†which is a definition of virtue [3].
Character that reflects the features of Moral Conduct, Ethical Principles, Virtuous Living = Quality, and Quality should be the necessary key to gain access to enter through the West Gate of any lodge. Masons = Quality.
Masonry teaches us that to gain admission through the west gate that the man should already be of good character. Freemasonry is not a place to rehabilitate men but a place for Quality men to further improve themselves. Quality men come from all walks and stations in life. Whether the man is a farmer, a military man, a postman, or a politician each man is capable of being identified with Quality if his life conforms to and reflects the aforementioned attributes and properties. These attributes and properties associated with Quality are not prescribed to a belief in one religion, one philosophy, or one political system but as the ancients pointed out these are the things that are found in men’s hearts and minds around the world, a nation without walls.
These men dress differently one from the other, they go to different houses of worship, they belong to different political parties, they come from greatly varying socio-economic conditions, they have differing food preferences, and their outward appearances might vary dramatically; however, it is the qualification of Quality that allows them to become a citizen of this great nation without walls.
Not all men are capable of understanding this concept, as the ancients pointed out, thus even some men who might be identified with Quality may not be suited to understanding our teachings and the nature of our Society and this subsequent nation without physical boundaries. For Freemasonry to live up to its purpose and intent we must not only remember these concepts but take action to insure their continued promulgation. Let us not ever divert our resources to building walls but instead focus on feeding the hearts and minds of those men that have a hunger for knowledge, the truth, and who subsequently make the world a better place due to being a member of this nation without walls which is commonly known as Freemasonry.
Freemasonry ~ Quality.
References
1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company
2. Cargile, J. (1995). qualities. in Honderich, T. (Ed.) (2005). The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (2nd ed.). Oxford
3. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/virtue
Character that reflects the features of Moral Conduct, Ethical Principles, Virtuous Living = Quality, and Quality should be the necessary key to gain access to enter through the West Gate of any lodge. Masons = Quality.
Masonry teaches us that to gain admission through the west gate that the man should already be of good character. Freemasonry is not a place to rehabilitate men but a place for Quality men to further improve themselves. Quality men come from all walks and stations in life. Whether the man is a farmer, a military man, a postman, or a politician each man is capable of being identified with Quality if his life conforms to and reflects the aforementioned attributes and properties. These attributes and properties associated with Quality are not prescribed to a belief in one religion, one philosophy, or one political system but as the ancients pointed out these are the things that are found in men’s hearts and minds around the world, a nation without walls.
These men dress differently one from the other, they go to different houses of worship, they belong to different political parties, they come from greatly varying socio-economic conditions, they have differing food preferences, and their outward appearances might vary dramatically; however, it is the qualification of Quality that allows them to become a citizen of this great nation without walls.
Not all men are capable of understanding this concept, as the ancients pointed out, thus even some men who might be identified with Quality may not be suited to understanding our teachings and the nature of our Society and this subsequent nation without physical boundaries. For Freemasonry to live up to its purpose and intent we must not only remember these concepts but take action to insure their continued promulgation. Let us not ever divert our resources to building walls but instead focus on feeding the hearts and minds of those men that have a hunger for knowledge, the truth, and who subsequently make the world a better place due to being a member of this nation without walls which is commonly known as Freemasonry.
Freemasonry ~ Quality.
References
1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company
2. Cargile, J. (1995). qualities. in Honderich, T. (Ed.) (2005). The Oxford Companion to Philosophy (2nd ed.). Oxford
3. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/virtue