Masonry and The Sacred Law;

The Holy Writings.

The Holy Writings occupy the central place in our lodges. At installation, the installing Officer admonishes the newly appointed Chaplain as follows:

“That Holy Book which adorns our sacred altar is the great light in Masonry and forever sheds its benignant rays upon every lawful assemblage of Free and Accepted Masons.”

So you are charged to regard the Volume of the Sacred Law as the great light in your profession, to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice; and to regulate your actions by the divine precepts it contains.

Constant reference is made to this theme of man governed by the laws of his Creator just as our lodges are governed in homage, to the Deity, by the virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.

These virtues point out an ideal, which leads us to welcome as applicants, men of every sect and creed which glorifies the Great Architect of the Universe. Thus, the divisions, which might otherwise separate man from man, are done away with in Masonry. The Word of God may come through the New or Old Testament, the Talmud, the Koran, and each, in particular areas of the world, is used as the Great Light. In the United States, the Old and New Testaments are used together, and are the required volume in California.

As the atheist is ineligible to be received as a Candidate, so a lodge or Grand Lodge which dispenses with the Holy Writings is deemed irregular and unlawful, and no recognition may be extended to it.

To you, therefore, we must impart that respect and toleration which we feel for all religions and out undying resistance to any force, either clerical or political, which would destroy our religious freedom and substitute the tyranny of dogma, either of the Church or the State.

Excerpted from “Handbook for Candidate’s Coaches”

By The Committee on Ritual and Donald G. Campbell, Past Grand Lecturer.

Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of California.