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To understand CHARITY fully we must
examine the symbolic ladder that links the chequered
pavement to the 'G' in the centre on the TB of the first
degree. The pavement represents our physical life on
this earth. 'G' represents heaven. The ladder links
the Earth with Heaven. The ladder has three principal
staves representing the three virtues - faith, hope
and charity placed in the ascending order. Charity is
given the highest of status for it is nearest to God.
In the antient Tracing Board of the
first degree, the three virtues were represented by
three women. A women with a cup, a woman with an anchor
and a woman with three children.
The symbols used in our own Tracing
Board are more explicit. Faith is represented by cross,
hope by an anchor and charity by a cup. The cup represents
the chalice which contains the blood of Christ symbolizing
sacrifice of ones life to save mankind as the greatest
act of charity. Such supreme acts are the res1J.1t of
divine inspiration or divine love in our hearts. This
is again implied in the NE charge where we are told,
"charity blesses him that gives as well as him
who receives." The use of the word "blesses"
implies the influence of a divine inspiratiQI1.
Every good act is charity. Your smiling
at a brother is charity, an exhortation of brethren
to virtuous deeds is equivalent to alms giving; your
putting a wanderer to the right road is charity; your
assisting the blind is charity; your removing stones
and thorns and other obstructions from the road is charity;
your giving water to the thirsty is charity. A man's
true worth hereafter, is the good he does in the world
to his fellow man. When he dies people will say, "What
property has he left behind him?" However, the
Angels will ask, "what good deeds has he sent before
him".
Charity therefore is the most important
concept in Freemasonry and two new dimensions have been
added to this in the form of Dhanya Dhan and Gyan Dhan,
which will help create awareness about freemasonry to
the wider number of people in our society. Already there
is awareness through many projects in health, education,
relief of suffering throughout India and globally.
Freemasonry is synonymous with charity. When hope fails,
as it does at sometimes, we must try charity, which
is love in action.
Brethren we learn all this through
our Ritual, We just have to practice what we learn in
the Temple in the outside world.
By W.Bro.Hardip Sikund Courtesy: Lodge
Sivalik Durga Prasad No.2
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