Freemasonry is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious fraternity.
Its principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only secrets are in
its methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.

It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income
inures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of
the welfare and happiness of mankind. It is benevolent in that it teaches and
exemplifies altruism as a duty. It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed
ceremonials a system of morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.

It is religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is
open upon its Altars whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever
present in its ceremonial, and to its Brethren are constantly addressed lessons
of morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological.

It is a social organization in that it brings good men together in numbers to
teach and practice the art of Freemasonry. Through the art of Freemasonry,
the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man,
Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its
members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility,
enlightens them as to those things which make for human welfare, and inspires
them with that feeling of charity, or good will, toward all mankind which will
move them to translate principle and conviction into action.

To that end, it teaches and stands for the reverence of God; truth and
justice; fraternity and philanthropy; and enlightenment and orderly liberty -
civil, religious and intellectual. It charges each of its members to be true and
loyal to the government of the country to which he owes allegiance and to be
obedient to the law of any State in which he may be.

Masonry abhors Tyranny as being repugnant to its concept of the dignity of
the individual personality, destructive of the basic human rights which are the
Divine heritage of all men, and contrary to the fundamental Masonic tenets of
faith in God and the free exercise of religion.

It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best accomplished by
laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of every race, country, sect
and opinion may unite. Believing these things, this Grand Lodge affirms its
continued adherence to that ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which
forbids the discussion in Masonic meetings of creeds, politics or other topics
likely to excite personal
animosities.

It further affirms its conviction that it is contrary to the fundamental principles
of Freemasonry and dangerous to its unity, strength, usefulness and welfare,
for Masonic bodies to take action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence
for or against any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the election
or appointment of government officials, or to influence them, whether or not
members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their official duties. The true
Freemason acts in civil life according to his individual judgment and the
dictates of his conscience.