Freemasonry > Free-masons pocket-companion

A FREE MASON. 14I
There are three general heads of duty which
mafons ought always to inculcate, viz. to God,
our neighbours, and ourfelves. To God, in never
mentioning his name but with that reverential awe
which becomes a creature to bear to his Creator,
and to look upon him always as the furnmum bomm
which we came into the world to enjoy ; and ac¬
cording to that view to regulate all our purfuits.
To our neighbours, in afting upon thefquare, or
doing as we would be done by. To ourfelves,
in avoiding all intemperances and excefles, where¬
by we may be rendered incapable of following our
work, or led into a behaviour unbecoming our laud¬
able profeflion ; and in always keeping within
due bounds, and free from all pollution.
In the Rate, a mafon is to behave as a peace¬
able and dutiful fubjett, conforming cheerfully to
the government under which he lives : herfs to pay
a due deference to his fuperiors, and from his in¬
feriors he is rather to receive ’honour with fome
reluftance, than to extort it: he is to be a man
of benevolence and charity, not fitting down con¬
tented while his fellow-creatures (but much more
his brethren) are in want, and it is in his power,
without prejudicing himfelf or family, to relieve
them. In the lodge he is to behave with all due
decorum, left the beauty and harmony thereof
fhould be difturbed and broke. He is to be obe¬
dient to the mafter and prefiding officers, and to
apply himfelf clofely to the bufmefs of maibnry,
that