What is the purpose of Freemasonry?
The purpose of Freemasonry is multifaceted, aiming to promote moral and ethical development among its members and to foster a sense of brotherhood and charity. According to Albert Pike in *Morals and Dogma*, the practical object of Masonry is the 'physical and moral amelioration and the intellectual and spiritual improvement of individuals and society.' It seeks to enlighten men's minds, warm their hearts with love for the good, and inspire them with the principle of human fraternity. Freemasonry teaches that its members should control their passions, abhor vice, and strive for moral perfection, emphasizing that 'the noblest purpose of life and the highest duty of a man are to strive incessantly and vigorously to win the mastery of everything of that which in him is spiritual and divine over that which is material and sensual'.
Furthermore, Freemasonry is dedicated to the principles of 'Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth,' which encapsulate its core values. It encourages members to assist one another and to engage in charitable acts, thereby contributing to the welfare of humanity as a whole.