Editorials

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Editorials

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GEORGE WASHINGTON — Soldier, Statesman, Mason Napoleon Bonaparte in paving homage to Washington said. “This great man fought against tyranny; he established the liberty of his country. His memory will always be dear to the French people, as it will be to all freemen of two worlds." We are quoting hereunder MAXIMS of Washington which we be lieve may help relieve us in our present day problems, either political, social, moral or religious. To Comte de Mouslier, Washington said, “ . . . The aggregate happiness of the society, which is best promoted by the practice of a virtuous policy, is or ought to be. the end of all governments . . " And to Gouverneour Morris he wrote "... In a govern ment as free as ours where (he people are at liberty, and will express their sentiments, oftentimes imprudently, and for want of information sometimes unjustly, allowances must be made for occasional efferves cences; but after (he declaration which I have here made of my political creed, you can run no hazard in asserting, that the Executive branch of this government never hus, nor will suffer, while I preside, any improper conduct of its officers to escape with impunity; or will give its sanctions to any disorderly proceedings of its citizens." On personal friendship and political disagreement, Washington wrote to Bryan Fairfax, “ . . . The friendship I ever professed, and felt for you. met with no diminuilion from the difference in our political Sentinments. I know the rectitude of my own intentions, and believing in the sincerely of yours, lamented, though I did not condemn, your renunciation of the creed I had adpoted. Nor do I think any person, or power, ought to do it, whilst your conduct is not opposed to the general Interest of the people and the measures they are pursuing; the latter, that is our actions, depending upon ourselves, may be controlled, while the powers of thinking originating in higher causes, cannot always lie moulded to our wishes.” On Morality and Civil Government. Washington said in his farewell address. ”....Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” On bro therly love, he wrote to the Clergy of Different Denominations residing in and near the City of Philadelphia in this wise: ”... Believing, as I February, 1958 275 do, that Religion and Morality are the essential pillars of Civil society, 1 view, with unspeakable pleasure, that harmony and brotherly love which characterizes the Clergy of diffirent denominations, as well in thia, as in other places of the United States; exhibiting to the world a new and interesting spectacle, at once the pride of our Country and the surest basis of universal Harmony.” And on Religious liberty, he wrote the General Committee of the Uniled Baptist Churches in Vir ginia thus: have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.” In our quoting the above MAXIMS of Washington, we are only re minding our readers a few of the sterling qualities of the valiant soldier and statesman, George Washington, the Mason; that they may serve to refresh our minds to improve our efforts for our government, our so cial attachments and our moral and religious inclinations. May the leaders that be be imbued with forces that helped made Washington great. — Jose E. Racela, Editor. LET’S REMOVE THAT APATHY IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS The matter of politics is taboo in the lodge room. It is unmasonie to bring political matters before a lodge meeting. And, truly, the bulk of the Craft is taking this to mean that it has an excuse to sit on the side line and not bother what would become to any phase of govern ment affairs. This altitude of apathy is worse than becoming a dor mant Mason, for a dormant Mason, according to a well placed brother is just like a soldier in the reserve. Our Masonic heroes fought and died for the liberties we now en joy—freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of speech and of the press and freedom of conscience. There are sinister signs to dininish. if not to kill, these liberties. One of such signs is the move to >ring back the state and church together. Some members of our lawnaking body are aiming at repealing certain laws to satisfy a particu lar religion. The voice of the minorities no matter how forceful and intelligent it might be is stifled by plain plurality. Masons should be on the front line when there are things to be corrected or atheistic doctrines to fight. We have a duty to perform in the diligent participation therein. “No good Mason is too busy, too 276 THE CABLETOW disinterested cr too sanctified Io engage in the political life of this country . Lei then take stock with the changing world. Kemember the furor caused by a court conviction of an Italian bishop on slander charge? Our apathy in government affairs will hasten uur losing what our fore bears hare bequeathed to us and which we must transmit to generations following us. — Jose E. Bacela. THE GRAND MASTER'S . . (Continued from fronl-inside cover) milarly fought and died. To keep alive the spirit of Washington here, we are also honoring our Masonic heroes w ho have penshed tn the darkness of the night that wc may enjoy democratic principles for which they labored so much at the cost of their own lives. Such ce lebrations keep forever aglow the determination to safeguard cur de mocratic way of life and fight to the bitter end ar.y attempt to curtail It. February, 1958 277

Date

1958

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

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