Posted Sept= ember, 1997
By Rev. Joseph Fort Newton
When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon wit= h a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet = have faith, hope, and courage-which is the root of ev= ery virtue.
When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgiv= e, and to love his fellowman.
When he knows how to sympathize with men in their so= rrows, yea, even in their sins-knowing that each man fights a hard fight against m= any odds.
When he has learned how to make friends and to keep = them, and above all how to keep friends with himself.
When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thril= l of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child.
When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life.
When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subd= ue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead.
When no voice of distress reaches his ears i= vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response.
When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divi= ne things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith = may be.
When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the fce of the most forlorn fellow mortal = and see something beyond sin.
When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.=
When he has kept faith with himself, with hs fellowman, and with his God; in his hands a sword for evil, in his heart a = bit of a song-glad to live, but not afraid to die!
Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which = it is trying to give to all the world.