DAGOHOY MONITOR235
Ryan B. Tirol, PM
You can be a mason and be Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist or any
other God-believing religion, but never an atheist.
Freemasons are required to profess and continue in a belief in a Supreme Being. Our
ceremonies include prayers, which are not in any way a substitute for religion. We have
no theological doctrines, we offer no sacraments, and we do not claim to lead to
salvation. By having prayers at our meetings Freemasonry is no more in competition
with religion than, say, having a meal where grace is said.
Freemasons are not allowed to discuss religion or politics at meetings. Freemasonry’s
aim is to encourage its members to discover what people from all different backgrounds
have in common. As is all too well known, debate about religion and politics can lead to
heated discussion rather than enlightenment.
A Freemason is thus basically encouraged to do his duty first to his God, and then to his
family and those who are dependent on him. He is to help his neighbors through charity
and service.None of these ideas is exclusive to Freemasonry, but all should be
universally acceptable and Freemasons are expected to follow them.