How to subdue our passions?

based on the book "The Moral Teaching of Freemasonry by W:.Bro:. J.S.M. Ward

FREEMASONRY AND PASSIONS• Freemasonry is wider than

a school of purely moral instruction

• "A system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols“

• "Freemasonry is an organized society of men, symbolically applying the principles of Operative Masonry and architecture to the science and art of character building"

WHAT DO YOU COME HERE TO DO??• "To learn to rule and subdue my passions, and make a further progress in Freemasonry"

WHAT'S PASSION??• Passion (from the Greek verb πασχω

meaning to suffer) is a very strong feeling about a person or thing.

• Passion is an intense emotion, a compelling enthusiasm or desire for something. Passion may be a friendly or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, discovery, or activity or love – to a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion, a positive affinity or love, towards a subject.

• It is particularly used in the context of romance or sexual desire though it generally implies a deeper or more encompassing emotion than that implied by the term lust.

WHAT'S PASSION??• Denis Diderot describes passions as "penchants,

inclinations, desires and aversions carried to a certain degree of intensity, combined with an indistinct sensation of pleasure or pain, occasioned or accompanied by some irregular movement of the blood and animal spirits, are what we call passions. They can be so strong as to inhibit all practice of personal freedom, a state in which the soul is in some sense rendered passive; whence the name passions. This inclination or so-called disposition of the soul, is born of the opinion we hold that a great good or a great evil is contained in an object which in and of itself arouses passion" He further breaks down pleasure and pain, which are the guiding principles of passion into four major categories:

• Pleasures and pains of the senses • Pleasures of the mind or of the imagination • Our perfection or our imperfection of virtues or vices • Pleasures and pains in the happiness or misfortunes

of others

• CHARITY

• BROTHERLY LOVE

• UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE

SEVEN DEADLY SINS• WRATH• GREED• SLOTH• PRIDE• LUST• ENVY• GLUTTONY

PROVERBS (6:16-19)Among the verses traditionally associated with King Solomon, it states that the Lord specifically regards "six things the Lord hateth, and seven that are an abomination unto Him", namely:• A proud look • A lying tongue • Hands that shed innocent blood • A heart that devises wicked

plots • Feet that are swift to run into

mischief • A deceitful witness that

uttereth lies • Him that soweth discord among

brethren

SEVEN VIRTUES• FAITH• HOPE• CHARITY

• PRUDENCE• TEMPERANCE• FORTITUDE• JUSTICE

ROSSLYN CHAPEL

SEVEN VIRTUES SEVEN DEADLY SINS

FOREFATHER BROTHERS

FRANKLIN'S QUEST FOR MORAL PERFECTION

• "TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”

• “SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”

• “ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”

• “RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

• “FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”

• “INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”

• “SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”

• “JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”

FRANKLIN'S QUEST FOR MORAL PERFECTION

• “MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”

• “CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.” “TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”

• “CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”

• “HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”

FRANKLIN'S QUEST FOR MORAL PERFECTION