AID AND ASSISTANCE
by
William R. Fischer
The duty of "Aid and Assistance" is
an important obligation, imposed upon every brother of the order. "To aid
and assist all worthy distressed Master Masons, their widows and orphans."
This is according to human nature that will
always prefer a friend to a stranger.
Expressed in the language of "Long Tom
Coffin":
A messmate before a shipmate.
A shipmate before a stranger.
A stranger before a dog.
As we have the opportunity, let us do well
for all men, especially to those of the same house.
We must be ready to aid those who need our
help, brothers or strangers.
If those we could have helped and don't, are
lost, we lose even more.
For these poor people only lose what they
have, but we lose them, our dignity, and our own self worth.
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