By: VW Florencio B. Maghinay, PM, GLI, PDGL (Maguindanao Lodge No. 40)
In our masonic conversations, whether during meetings, in fellowships or even in ordinary interactions, we can always hear a praise “a worthy brother”. The praise sometimes has become a popular hyperbole, and one that some brethren use as rhetorical fodder to excuse or to increase a brother’s ego, particularly as it pertains to a brother’s personality or trait. But the truth of the matter is that sometimes we could not fully grasp its true meaning.
What is really the meaning of the praise “a worthy brother”? We should know its meaning because of the reason that sometimes our brethren when ask about this are often stopped in their answers, then they smile or look away or stare blankly or shake their heads or all of the above and start making ironies and excuses. As I have made a research on the Bible, the best suited explanation is Philippians 4:8 which it states as follows: “Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Think of these things.” The verse could be expounded as follows: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” There are other corollary interpretations to this verse:
- New American Standard Bible
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
- King James Bible
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Holman Christian Standard Bible
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise–dwell on these things.
It seems that we are now getting a clearer picture of the meaning of this praise. It can not be denied that a brother is worthy when he possesses the virtues as revealed in Philippians 4:8 –“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things”.
So, this is one of the requirements that a brother should possess before entering our Fraternity.
Let us review a little of our ritual in the raising of a brother. A candidate, who has received the two preceding degrees, and wishes to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, is conducted from the preparation room to the door, where he gives three distinct knocks, then the Senior Deacon rises and says, “Worshipful Master, there is an alarm at the door of the preparation room.”
The Master to the Senior Deacon, “Brother Senior Deacon, ascertain the cause of the alarm.”
The Senior Deacon then steps to the door and answers the three knocks that have been given, and asks, “Who comes here? Who comes here? Who comes here?”
The Senior Steward answers, “Brother AB who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft, and now seeks for further light in Masonry by being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.”
Senior Deacon to candidate, “Is this of your own free will and accord?
Candidate answers: “It is.”
Senior Deacon to Senior Steward, “Is he duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified? “
Senior Steward Answers. “He is.”
The question being asked by the Senior Deacon to the Senior Steward (“Is he duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified) is also being asked in the First and Second Degrees. The question is being directed to one of the stewards because they are the ones preparing the candidate based on the interrogation propounded by the Marshal including its requirements.
What are the meanings of the following:
- Duly and truly prepared -The preparation of the candidate is also symbolical of that equality of all men which is one of the fundamental doctrines of our society. He is stripped of every thing that would indicate any difference in fashion, station or wealth; all things in themselves evidences of artificial distinctions are obliterated. The onlooker could not tell whether the candidate who is duly and truly prepared is prince or pauper–a millionaire or a beggar. On the other hand, the candidate is not deprived of any of these adornments of heart, mind or character which mark the only real superiority of one man over another, and which have favorably recommended him as acceptable to the Craft.
- Worthy -deserving effort, attention, or respect due to the reason that he possessed the virtues as prescribed in Philippians 4:8 and dwell on these virtues.
- Well qualified – more than adequately qualified having good or excellent qualifications, “a well qualified” means meeting the proper standards and requirements for the position.
How do we know that a brother dwell on these virtues in Philippians 4:8? How do we know that a brother practice the principal tenets of Freemasonry, the Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth? However, there are questions that we could profound to test whether a Brother Mason is really practicing these virtues:
- Is he turning his back on his obligations?
- Is his enthusiasm burning out or tapering out?
- Is he a Mason who forgets that a Mason of good standing means more than paying one’s annual dues?
- Is he a Mason who forgets the fact that what they came here to do is to learn to subdue his passions and to improve himself in Masonry and to practice his Masonry outside of the Lodge hall?
- Is he a Brother who reads a lot of Masonic Educational Materials?
- Is he a brother who is proficient in the rituals?
- Is he a brother who regularly attends meetings?
- Is he a brother who is able to provide for himself and his family?
- Is he a brother who brings credit to the Fraternity because of his accomplishments?
- Is he a brother who puts into practice the Masonic principle of soothing the unhappy, sympathizing with their misfortunes, compassionating their miseries and restoring peace to their troubled minds?
If you saw your neighbor’s home on fire and thought he was asleep, would you see that as a private matter or would you find a way to get your neighbor’s attention? If you had good news that could help change another person in a most positive way in this life and possibly for eternity, would you want to share it?
This is something of the struggle many of us feel about sharing Freemasonry with our friends and acquaintances. We know Freemasonry is good and can change everything about the life of those good men who are receptive to its message. Yet we are hesitant or shy or maybe we just want to honor the other person’s privacy and choice. What do we do? We must learn to be comfortable using our good deeds and words to point men toward the Craft. We must not put the spotlight on ourselves and speak only about our Masonic achievements. No one wants to hear our war stories. We must always put the spotlight on Freemasonry. We must become worthy brethren. We shall live by the tenets of the Fraternity in all aspects of our lives and also being able to effectively verbalize the principles of the Fraternity when the situation presents itself. We must study and become conversant about Freemasonry so we will be ready to speak up and courteously tell anyone who asks who and what we are as Freemasons.
As Freemasons, what are we trained for? Simply stated, we are trained and expected to act as the dictates of reason prompt us to live in Brotherly Love always mindful that Charity, the brightest gem that can adorn our Masonic profession, is one of the masonic pillars upon which our fraternity was founded. To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent upon every man, but more particularly upon Freemasons. We are lined together by one indivisible chain of sincere affection and requires us to endeavor to sooth the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and restore peace to their troubled minds.
Lastly, if all Masons, are determined to give meaning and substance to the theme “By Our Acts Shall Masonry Be Judged”; if we consistently show to the world that by our actions, that shapes the life of every one of us into a temple of character, into a fortress of manhood, into a stronghold of justice and related virtues, then we would have something to say to the Masonic world that we are worthy brethren of Masonry.
Finally, I could imagine that it is sometimes very easy to say than being done. However, I believe in the competence for each of us.
A Worthy Brother is a Mason with virtues and actions.