I first learned about Freemasonry around 2013 via a program on the National Geographic channel. That started the curiosity as they were explaining that Freemasonry is a secret society. Following the program, I decided to research about Freemasonry, which is when I came across the website of the Grand Lodge of South Africa.
There I learned about the history of Freemasonry in South Africa and its principles. While reading, I felt a strong urge that this where I belong. Joining the Fraternity has changed my life for the better, and surely my wife can attest to this.
Freemasonry has made me less cynical, more patient, and a huge believer of Brotherly love, Relief and Truth. If you make Freemasonry a part of your life and follow the Principles of the Fraternity, it enriches your life and therefore changes your life.
Adam Makowski says: “It is good to know you can meet many like-minded people from across a broad selection of society knowing that you can trust them as though they are part of your family”.
I am very proud to be part of being a Freemason — a fraternity which does not have any religious or political bias.
To me, Freemasonry is a:
- Place where men can learn Moral and Spiritual growth.
- Place where Moral virtues are taught.
- Place where you can learn Thy Self.
- Place where men are taught to help the less fortunate.
- Place where you Learn to be just at all times and do good for humankind.
As I conclude, I wish to share with you, the following by Albert Pike, author of Morals and Dogma:
- God is the Eternal, Omnipotent, Immutable WISDOM and Supreme INTELLIGENCE and Exhaustless Love. Thou shalt honour Him by practising the virtues!
- Thy religion shall be, to do good because it is a pleasure to thee, and not merely because it is a duty. Thou mayest become the friend of the wise man, thou shalt obey his precepts!
- Thy soul is immortal! Thou shalt do nothing to degrade it!
- Thou shalt unceasingly war against vice!
- Thou shalt not do unto others that which thou wouldest not wish them to do unto thee!
- Thou shalt be submissive to thy fortunes, and keep burning the light of wisdom!
- Thou shalt honor thy parents!
- Thou shalt pay respect and homage to the aged!
- Thou shalt instruct the young!
- Thou shalt protect and defend infancy and innocence!
- Thou shalt cherish thy wife and thy children!
- Thou shalt love thy country, and obey its laws!
- Thy friend shall be to thee a second self! Misfortune shall not estrange thee from him! Thou shalt do for his memory whatever thou wouldest do for him, if he were living!
- Thou shalt avoid and flee from insincere friendships!
- Thou shalt in everything refrain from excess!
- Thou shalt fear to be the cause of a stain on thy memory!
- Thou shalt allow no passions to become thy master!
- Thou shalt make the passions of others profitable lessons to thyself!
- Thou shalt be indulgent to error!
- Thou shalt hear much: Thou shalt speak little: Thou shalt act well!
- Thou shalt not misuse either thy strength or thy superiority!
- Thou shalt study to know men; that thereby thou mayest learn to know thyself!
- Thou shalt ever seek after virtue!
- Thou shalt be just!
- Thou shalt avoid idleness!
Fraternally
Bro Senzo Mnyango