Brethren,
Every generation of Masons inherits the same timeless tools — not of steel and stone, but of character, discipline, and moral purpose. The virtues represented in our teachings are not ornamental philosophy. They are working tools, meant to be lifted, handled, and applied to the rough ashlar of our own lives.
The image many of you have seen circulating recently captures ten virtues that sit at the heart of our Craft. As simple as they appear on paper, each one represents a lifetime’s discipline, and together they remind us what it truly means to live as a Mason.
1. Believe in God
Freemasonry does not dictate worship; it asks only that each Brother recognizes a higher moral order — a Supreme Architect whose presence gives weight to our obligations and meaning to our labor.
2. Practice Brotherly Love
This is the heart of our fraternity. It’s more than camaraderie — it’s a conscious commitment to kindness, patience, and compassion toward all. In an age of division, this virtue is more radical than it appears.
3. Relieve the Distressed
Charity is not a seasonal act for a Mason. It is a posture. A readiness to lift burdens where we can and to answer the quiet needs that others overlook.
4. Search for Truth
Truth is not found in a single lesson. It is uncovered, layer by layer, through study, reflection, and the honest examination of oneself. The Craft gives us symbols and allegories — it is on us to draw meaning from them.
5. Be an Exemplary Citizen
A Mason strengthens his community. He stands for integrity, steadiness, and sound judgment. Our society doesn’t need perfect men — it needs principled ones.
6. Be Pure in Life and Conduct
Purity is not perfection. It is the daily effort to align our actions with our values. It is integrity practiced quietly, even when no eye but our own is watching.
7. Be Temperate
Moderation protects us from excesses that cloud judgment. A temperate Mason acts with balance and chooses restraint when passion alone would steer him wrong.
8. Be Courageous
Courage is not the absence of fear — it is the strength to do what is right despite it. In our families, our communities, and our lodges, this virtue often makes the difference between stagnation and progress.
9. Be Prudent
Prudence is wisdom in action. It is careful thought before commitment, and the ability to see consequences clearly. The prudent Brother safeguards the reputation of the Craft through sound decision-making.
10. Be Just
Justice gives each man his due, without prejudice and without favoritism. In practicing justice, we honor both our obligations and the dignity of all we meet.
Brethren, these virtues are not new. They are ancient stones, passed down through centuries. What is new is the world in which we apply them — a world that often asks for quick reactions over steady principles, noise over reflection, and division over fraternity.
But a Mason answers the world differently.
Every day we choose to build, refine, and elevate ourselves so that we may elevate others. Let this list be a reminder of the Work we have taken on: not the building of cathedrals, but the shaping of character… our own first, and our community’s through our example.
May we continue to labor faithfully in the Quarry of Life, guided by these ten pillars and strengthened by the Brotherhood we share.
Stand true, stay square,
~ Brother Adcox
