From The Historian – December 2010
Brethren,
As promised, here is one final contribution from Jerry Estruth from his lodge in Bogotá, Columbia.
The following paper was originally published in Spanish by Colombian Lodge Bogotá #1 in September, 1968. I’ve done my best to translate it accurately.
A:. L:. G:. D:. G:. A:. D:. U:.
Respectable Lodge: Propagators of the Light #1, under the East of Bogotá.
September 18, 1968
MASONIC CODE
1) God is the eternal wisdom, all powerful and unchangeable. You will worship and honor him by practicing a life of virtue.
2) Love your neighbor.
3) Always do good and let men speak their piece.
4) The true worship of God consists in maintaining good customs and the practice of all virtue.
5) Do good because of love of good itself. To remove yourself from a good deed is to declare yourself incapable of doing it.
6) Keep your soul pure so that, at any moment, you may present yourself before
God without reproach. The soul is immortal; do nothing to besmirch it or
degrade it.
7) Don’t do anything to your neighbor that you wouldn’t want them to do to you. Do unto others what you’d like them to do unto you.
8) Love good people, have mercy on the weak, run from the bad guys and don’t hate anyone.
9) Love and dedicate yourself to your labors; because work will lift you up and dignify you and sustain your morality.
10) Fight against ignorance and error, fanaticism, intolerance, superstition, all vices, indifference and hypocrisy.
11) Speak respectfully to the powerful,prudently to your peers, sincerely to your friends and with tenderness to the poor.
12) Never afflict the heart of the suffering person. Never deny succor to those who suffer. Be the savior of the poor. Each breathe from a hardened heart will be accurse upon you.
13) Always listen to the voice of your conscience
14) Never flatter your brother because it is a betrayal. If he flatters you, be afraid that it will corrupt you.
15) Respect the stranger and the traveler because your position makes them sacred for you.
16) Avoid disputes, prevent insults, and put reason above anger.
17) Respect women, never abuse their being or nature and die before dishonoring them.,
18) If the G:. A:. O:. T:. U:. gives you a son, give him thanks but fear for the gift of confidence he has given you because from there forward you will be the image of the Devine for him. For the first ten years, make him obey you. For the next ten years, make him love you and until death, respect you. For the first ten years, be his teacher and until 20 years, his father and until death, his friend.
I was unable to find any interesting tidbits from past December this month, as not a lot typically happens in December, other than the installations of officers. I hope to have more to report on next month.
Fraternally,
Joe Martinez, PM 2005, Lodge Historian
