Our Nation of Fisherman ...
United States of America

"Remember" ... we can always share the greatest gift to man, the Son Christ Jesus

No clearer statement of the intimate interworking of the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and especially of the Spirit’s powerful role can be found in the Old Testament than in Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1–9). The passage summarizes the redeeming work of all three Persons of the Trinity in the salvation of the lost. Thus it ties together in remarkable harmony both the Old Testament and New Testament understandings of God’s grace. It also sheds light on our understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Some Bible readers assume that the Spirit’s activity in Scripture is limited to the New Testament. But actually He is just as active in the Old Testament:

1. The Spirit participated in creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Is. 32:15).
2. The Spirit gives life to humanity and the other creatures (Ps. 104:29, 30). It is interesting that when Genesis says God endows people with life by breathing Into their nostrils the “breath of life” (Gen. 2:7), the word for “breath” is the same word translated elsewhere as “spirit.”
3. The Spirit strives with sinners (Gen. 6:3), which is perhaps related to His work in convicting people of sin (John 16:8–11).
4. The Spirit came upon certain judges, warriors, and prophets in a way that gave them extraordinary power: for example, Joshua (Num. 27:18), Othniel (Judg. 3:10), Gideon (6:34), Samson (13:25; 14:6), and Saul (1 Sam. 10:9, 10). However, the Spirit later departed from Saul because of his disobedience (16:14).
5. The Spirit played a prominent role in the long span of Old Testament prophecy. David declared that “the Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). Likewise, Ezekiel reported that “the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” (Ezek. 2:2).
6. The Spirit inspired holiness in Old Testament believers (Ps. 143:10). And Scripture promised that someday God would put His Spirit in His people in a way that would cause them to live according to His statutes (Ezek. 36:27).
7. The Spirit was crucial in helping God’s people anticipate the ministry of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 11:1–5 is a trinitarian preview of the working of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son, who is the Branch of Jesse. Looking forward to the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to prophesy: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him” (Is. 11:2), inspiring God’s Chosen One with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, righteousness, and faithfulness. Thus we come full cycle to the New Testament, where Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of this prophecy (Is. 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18, 19).

The Modern Appeal of Our Steadfast Faith

The initial appeal of the Ancient Faith is as strong to-day as it has ever been. Faith attracts as good men now as in the past. But in the absence of a dedicated effort to teach quickly what in a more leisurely age could be spread over many years, the Faith of our ancestors often fails to hold the interest of the new brother and sister against the many attractions of modern life. Habits of attendance and interest in the Faith should be created while the first enthusiasm is high; moreover, every seeker has an inherent right to understand the reality, the meaning of our mysteries, the truth of our tenets, and the significance of our symbols.

Faith is a sacred bond extending throughout the world, and never are the faithful truly alone, fitting our minds as "living stones"for that spiritual building, during our travels to that undiscovered country, that house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. One who is dedicated, recognizing a need for justice, truth, charity, freedom, and true moral integrity to his Living God and with all aspects of mankind more especially a family trusting of Christ Jesus.

To define our Faith, a well found truth..."we admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of Faith."

But why? Why should I let God redefine me? Why should I release every last part of my will to this process? What will God do in my life if I say yes? If you are not asking these kinds of questions, you should.

Jesus . . . looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Christ Jesus, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:1-5 NIV)

The Mysteries

Mysteries were formerly taught, we are told, "on the highest hills and in the lowest vales," which is  for saying, first, that they have been taught in circumstances of the greatest seclusion and secrecy, and secondly, that these have been taught in both advanced and simple forms according to the understanding of the Faiths disciples. This is common knowledge that great secret systems of the Mysteries  as "noble orders of architecture," of soul-building  amongst the Hebrews.

Understanding as the Great Master of Truth enjoined, until it be risen from the grave in our hearts we are to tell the vision of faith to all man whilst following the same instruction, Faith directs us to guard our secrets in the heart’s safe and sacred repository of a faithful breast.

Yet what has been said may perhaps suffice to indicate something of the valuable light and wisdom trusted without doubt within our rule and guide of a well found faith.

Since there is nothing hid which shall not be revealed in due course and to the properly prepared, we may regard the increasing anxiety of so many Brethren to-day to realise more fully the true content and purpose of our Order, as a sign that at last, after a long period of darkness and perversity, the Light of the Center is gradually breaking over the Faith and restoring, to at least the more faithful and zealous of its members, the knowledge of the lost but genuine understanding of their being.

Real hope for this life and beyond...

This scripture has a direct bearing on our future, not only in this life, but also beyond this temporary, physical existence. As the apostle Paul declared, “13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ” (Romans 15:13). Proverbs 14:32 states, “When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.""

As Job said: “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands” (Job 14:14-15). Job understood that death is not final, but that in some future time he would be in the presence of his Creator. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last [in the latter day] on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26).

The apostle Paul also referred to this “change” in 1 Corinthians 15:51: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed”. He was clearly referring to the resurrection of the dead and the transformation of living Christians at Christ’s return (verses 53-54). These and many other verses explain that man is not some evolutionary accident. There is a reason God has placed us on the earth.

Principles and Moral Obligation

Faith, a moral and ethical conduct which imparts virtues and fosters a sacred bond of brotherly love, relief, and truth. Many a masons tenets have endured since man turned the first pages of civilization at the garden. Our Faith embodies the understanding by which man can transcend ordinary experience and build “a house not made with hands” in harmony with our Creator, the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

Strength of Faith being a sacred fraternal brotherhood encourages a good man pointing him towards a way to ask, seek, and knock at the door, internally as well as externally, a steadfast citizen of his community and country, a loving husband and father to his children, a sincere friend, brother, and co-worker to all he spends time with.