Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

^[182] 7. Another principle is never to injure the confidence of your brother by revealing his secrets; for perhaps, that were to rob him of the guard which protects his property or life. The tongue of a Mystic Mason must be void of offense and without guile towards a brother, speaking truth with discretion and keeping itself within the rule of judgment, maintaining a heart void of uncharitableness, locking up secrets and communing in charity and love.

8.So much is required of the Mystic Mason in his gifts as discretion shall limit; charity begins at home, but like a fruitful olive tree planted by the side of a fountain whose boughs overshoot the wall, so is charity; it spreads its arms abroad from the strength and opulence of its station and bendeth its shade for the repose and relief of those who are gathered under its branches. Charity, when given with imprudence, is no longer a virtue; but when flowing from abundance, it is glorious as the beams of morning, in whose beauty thousands rejoice. When, donations, extorted by pity, are detrimental to a man's family, they become sacrifices to superstition, and like incense to idols are disapproved by heaven.

9.In the intercourse with the world, we must carefully guard ourselves against depreciating any brother ^[183] of the Order, no matter what his faults may be. We must not let any words of ill-will fall from our lips relating to the members of our Fraternity. If, from motives of jealousy at our success and progress, they choose to be antagonistic to us, let all the aggressive acts be on the other side; for if Mystic Masons disagree among themselves, and make their dissensions matters of public notoriety, what opinion of us can we expect from the outer world, and how can it believe in our profession of Brotherly Love, Friendship and the Universal Brotherhood of Man?

10.As the Ancient Mystic Oriental Masons of the Universe consider the Blue Lodge or Ancient Craft Masonry the foundation and fundamental basis of our Institution, to which the Masonic allegiance of all its members is due, and from which there can be no deviation,- therefore, no Mason can be allowed to join the Ancient Mystic Oriental Rite of the Universe unless he is a member of some Ancient Free and Accepted Masonic Body.

11.Initiates of Mystic and Oriental Masonry are ordered to fraternize with the members of all other Rites. l * Tolerance " is not only written at the head of all its Sacred Laws, but is an absolute and unbreakable rule. There is but one exception to this rule. ^[184] No Mystic Mason can, under any circumstances, recognize the member of any Masonic Body in which the "G" does not hold a prominent place. In such cases Masonic rule is broken and in this respect Albert G. Mackey, the Highest Masonic authority on the Continent of America, in his Masonic Jurisprudence, says: "Within the past few years an attempt has been made by some Grand Lodges to add to these simple, moral, and religious qualifications, another, which requires a belief in the Divine authenticity of the Scriptures. It is much to be regretted that Masons will sometimes forget the fundamental law of their Institution, and endeavor to add to or to detract from the perfect integrity of the building, as it was left to them by their predecessors. Whenever this is done, the beauty of our temple must suffer. " The Landmarks of Masonry are so perfect that they neither need nor will permit of the slightest amendment."