Why should I? It’s immaterial.
It’s a commentary - nothing more. Morals and Dogma is not an officially sanctioned text for freemasonry. I did not receive the book but I understand it was usually given out after the so-called 14th degree of Scottish Rite, which I’m not a member of.
That’s an appendent body - it is not blue lodge masonry. Morals and Dogma is simply extra-curricular.
It’s immaterial.Not according to over 100 years of Masonic history in the United States. Why do you have trouble acknowledging what Masonry teaches? Here is an excerpt, does it fit with what you would want brother Mason's to believe?
From Chapter One:
Masonry has its decalogue, which is a law to its Initiates. These are its Ten Commandments: I. God is the Eternal, Omnipotent, Immutable WISDOM and Supreme INTELLIGENCE and Exhaustless Love. Thou shalt adore, revere, and love Him ! Thou shalt honour Him by practising the virtues! II. Thy religion shall be, to do good because it is a pleasure to thee, and not merely because it is a duty. That thou mayest become the friend of the wise man, thou shalt obey his precepts ! Thy soul is immortal ! Thou shalt do nothing to degrade it ! III. Thou shalt unceasingly war against vice! Thou shalt not do unto others that which thou wouldst not wish them to do unto thee ! Thou shalt be submissive to thy fortunes, and keep burning the light of wisdom ! IV. Thou shalt honour thy parents ! Thou shalt pay respect and homage to the aged! Thou shalt instruct the young! Thou shalt protect and defend infancy and innocence ! V. Thou shalt cherish thy wife and thy children! Thou shalt love thy country, and obey its laws! VI. Thy friend shall be to thee a second self ! Misfortune shall not estrange thee from him ! Thou shalt do for his memory whatever thou wouldst do for him, if he were living! VII. Thou shalt avoid and flee from insincere friendships ! Thou shalt in everything refrain from excess. Thou shalt fear to be the cause of a stain on thy memory! VIII. Thou shalt allow no passions to become thy master ! Thou shalt make the passions of others profitable lessons to thyself! Thou shalt be indulgent to error ! IX. Thou shalt hear much: Thou shalt speak little: Thou shalt act well ! Thou shalt forget injuries! Thou shalt render good for evil ! Thou shalt not misuse either thy strength or thy superiority ! X. Thou shalt study to know men; that thereby thou mayest learn to know thyself ! Thou shalt ever seek after virtue ! Thou shalt be just! Thou shalt avoid idleness !
A copy of Morals and Dogma was given to every new member of the Southern Jurisdiction until 1974, when it was deemed "too advanced to be helpful to the new Scottish Rite member."[citation needed] It was initially replaced by Clausen's Commentaries on Morals and Dogma, written by Henry C. Clausen, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, and later by A Bridge To Light, by Rex Hutchens, 33°, G.'.C.', which is the book a new initiate into the Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction receives today. The book was never used in the Northern Jurisdiction.Fred, have you ever heard of Clausen's Commentaries or "A Bridge to Light"?