by  Right Worshipful Brother Eric H. Wightman, Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master

Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, – like the Antient Landmarks, Brethren hear these principles repeated in Lodge at Labour, and accept them without question, without asking what they mean to Freemasonry.

Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are the primary tenents of Freemasonry. The Oxford Dictionary defines “tenants” as doctrine or principles: that is, something which is so obvious, so universally accepted – we believe it and take it for granted without question. For example, we take it for granted that a principled person is more dependable than an unprincipled liar; that honesty is the best policy – though many a man, and some brethren, for that matter, have sadly come to the conclusion that dishonesty is frequently, the more universally adopted policy.

So, our fraternity takes Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth to be teachings so fundamentally true, in the sense that no man can question them. But we are faced with an interesting fact: how many of us have always considered and accepted Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth as self evident, noble truths?

Is it not a common truth for man to believe, to consider, that Brotherly Love, for example, though being desirable, is not really practical? – that it is a vision to be dreamt about but never possessed?

Freemasonry, however, throws us the challenge: our Order tells us that its’ tenants are not only true, but are plainly, obviously and necessarily true; that the teachings of Freemasonry are realities and not just visionary ideals.

Freemasonry does not tell us that Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth ought to be true, it tells us that they are true, and that they are tremendous realities in human life. Unless we grasp this fact, unless we can see for ourselves that these Masonic teachings are indeed realities – self evident realities and not just visionary ideals – we will not understand the principles of Freemasonry. The ultimate question is not whether we believe in the tenants or not but rather: what are we going to do about them?

Let us now reflect a while on the three tenants starting with Brotherly Love. By love, we mean the highest possible value or opinion with which we regard another person: be that person a man’s mother or father, his wife and children, his relatives and/or intimate friends – he values these people for themselves, not for any advantage he may gain from any of them nor for their usefulness to him : but rather for each one, in his or her own person and for their own sake. We work for the good of such people, we make sacrifices for such people and we delight in the company of these people.

What of Brotherly Love? Visibly and manifestly, it means we place on another man the highest possible valuation as a friend, companion, associate or neighbour. Merely to be with that person, to spend time in his company or to work in his company is all we ask. We do not expect from this relationship that we will make profit, further our business interests or realize some other form of selfish gain. Our mutual relationship is its’ own excuse for being – its’ own justification – its’ own reward. Without this brotherly love, life is a lonely and unhappy existence. Freemasonry builds on this fact, takes it for granted, provides opportunities for us to foster such fellowships, encourages us to understand and practice it, to make it a cornerstone of our moral code of conduct.

Relief : relief is one of the forms of action taken by and under the general principle of Charity. However, we must distinguish Relief from Charity; especially in the manner in which Charity is often considered and interpreted. When we think of or talk about Charity, we often associate it with pauperism or of chance poverty: a man is crippled or chronically ill, a victim of a wave of unemployment or he is addicted to some vice, resulting in his dependants being left in want. Care for such people is usually deemed the responsibility of the State and paid for from public funds.

The concept of Masonic Relief is decidedly different. The qualifications demanded of a petitioner for Relief exclude the type of man who, through indolence or vice, lapses into pauperism or chronic poverty. Such cases are the exception rather than the rule, and are not what Masonic Relief is all about.

Now and again some Brother, through misfortune and though no fault of his own, is unable to support himself or his family. In such circumstances, he may be cared for and supported through his Lodge and/or Masonic Charities. Masonic Relief accepts that any man, no matter how industrious, may, through no fault of his own, find himself temporarily in need of a helping hand. To extend to him that helping hand is both the natural and inevitable act of Brotherhood. The concept of brotherhood must include a willingness to render help and assistance to a deserving brother.

Truth, the third tenant, means more than the search for truth in the intellectual sense, although the intellectual search is included in the Masonic phrase “Let there be Light”. In Masonic terms, Truth means that, to have a meaningful Brotherhood, the members of that Brotherhood must be truthful in character and habit, dependable, men of honour and honesty, men on whom we can rely to be faithful fellows and loyal friends. Truth is essential if a Brotherhood is to survive.

As I close, I appeal to you to give thought to the teachings of Freemasonry as self evident realities and not visionary ideals: for, if you do not see them as such, you will never be able to fully understand Masonic teachings.

I would, in closing, recall this greeting, taken from a brochure compiled by a Masonic Lodge in Ontario, Canada:

“See a Brother you don’t know,
Just walk up and say “Hello”,
“Hello and how d’you do,
How’s the World a using you.”
Walk right up and wade right in,
Greet him with a cheerful grin,
Don’t hang back and wait awhile,
You should be the first to smile;
Give your hand and give your heart,
That’s the way to make a start.”

Rt. Wor. Bro. Eric H. Wightman, Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Province of Zambia