{"id":7672,"date":"2021-02-23T12:53:37","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T12:53:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glsp.pt\/about-the-freemasonry\/"},"modified":"2026-08-23T18:16:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T18:16:57","slug":"about-the-freemasonry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/glsp.pt\/en\/about-the-freemasonry\/","title":{"rendered":"About Freemasonry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/163007.jpg&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;317px||13px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;85%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#BA8231&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;54px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Freemasonry<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<script type=\"application\/ld+json\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->{<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"mainEntity\": [<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What is Freemasonry?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Freemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world. It is founded on the biblical allegory of the building of Solomon's temple as an image of humanity itself, to which a Mason and builder contributes as a living stone of human society. It is a universal society whose members cultivate the principles of liberty, democracy, equality, fraternity and intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What is a Freemason?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"He is a man born free and of good character, equally a friend to the rich and to the poor, provided they are people of integrity. Individual worth is to be judged by moral qualities. Esteem should be measured by the constancy and the energy a man devotes to the practice of good.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What are the basic characteristics of Freemasonry?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"There are six basic and fundamental characteristics: Freemasonry is an initiatory, ritualistic, universal and fraternal, philosophical and progressive order. All these principles rest on free thought and tolerance, allowing the improvement of man, the building of a just and egalitarian society and the progress of humanity through moral and spiritual elevation.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"Is Freemasonry a secret society?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Certainly not. Its meeting places are publicly known and, as a rule, open to visitors. Even so, Masons acknowledge that theirs is a private order. Rites and meetings are not open to the public, and only members are acquainted with certain practices and knowledge.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"Do Freemasons believe in God?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"They believe in a great architect of the world - whose representation is for each Mason to understand in his own way. For Catholic Masons, it will be God. For a Muslim Mason, it may be Allah. Other Masons do not believe in a revealed entity. The term used to embrace every different form of belief is the 'Great Architect Of The Universe'.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What are the duties of a Freemason?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"To shun vice and practise virtue. He must place justice and truth above all else.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  ]<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Libre Franklin||||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; width=&#8221;61%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;71%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;71%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Freemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;62px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_blurb url=&#8221;#info&#8221; use_icon=&#8221;on&#8221; font_icon=&#8221;&#x33;||divi||400&#8243; icon_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; image_icon_width=&#8221;46px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; animation_style=&#8221;slide&#8221; animation_direction=&#8221;top&#8221; animation_intensity_slide=&#8221;17%&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;#info&#8221; icon_font_size=&#8221;46px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; module_id=&#8221;info&#8221; module_class=&#8221;section-1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||81px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text module_class=&#8221;text-qa&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#515151&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|108px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; text_orientation_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_orientation_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?<\/h4>\n<p>Freemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world. It is founded on the biblical allegory of the building of Solomon&#8217;s temple as an image of humanity itself, to which a Mason and builder contributes as a living stone of human society. It is, furthermore, a universal society whose members cultivate the principles of liberty, democracy, equality, fraternity and intellectual, moral and spiritual improvement.<\/p>\n<h4>WHAT IS A FREEMASON ?<\/h4>\n<p>He is a man born free and of good character, equally a friend to the rich and to the poor, provided they are people of integrity. Individual worth is to be judged by moral qualities. Esteem should be measured by the constancy and the energy a man devotes to the practice of good.<\/p>\n<h4>WHAT ARE THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF FREEMASONRY?<\/h4>\n<p>There are six basic and fundamental characteristics: Freemasonry is an initiatory order (because only those who undergo a ceremony of initiation may enter), ritualistic (because it rests on rites and symbolism), universal and fraternal (its ultimate aim being the establishment of a universal brotherhood), philosophical (because it seeks to answer the deepest questions of the human being) and progressive (because it works towards the progress of humanity). All these principles rest on free thought and tolerance, allowing the improvement of man, the building of a just and egalitarian society and the progress of humanity through moral and spiritual elevation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/0732468366bd25166e2f36a8502e8358.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;0732468366bd25166e2f36a8502e8358&#8243; align=&#8221;center&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;24px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-8px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=&#8221;text-qa&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#515151&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|108px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; text_orientation_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; text_orientation_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_orientation_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>IS FREEMASONRY A SECRET SOCIETY?<\/h4>\n<p>Certainly not. Its meeting places are publicly known and, as a rule, open to visitors. Even so, Masons acknowledge that theirs is a private order. Rites and meetings are not open to the public, and only members are acquainted with certain practices and knowledge.<\/p>\n<h4>DO FREEMASONS BELIEVE IN GOD?<\/h4>\n<p>They believe in a great architect of the world &#8211; whose representation is for each Mason to understand in his own way. For Catholic Masons, it will be God. For a Muslim Mason, it may be Allah. Other Masons do not believe in a revealed entity. The term used to embrace every different form of belief is the \u201cGreat Architect Of The Universe\u201d.<\/p>\n<h4>WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A FREEMASON?<\/h4>\n<p>To shun vice and practise virtue. He must place justice and truth above all else.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/0732468366bd25166e2f36a8502e8358.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;0732468366bd25166e2f36a8502e8358&#8243; align=&#8221;center&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;24px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-8px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5iSvJuq5ZYY.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;5iSvJuq5ZYY&#8221; align_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; align_phone=&#8221;center&#8221; align_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;24px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-8px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/358418_1-1.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;208px||208px||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;102px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; header_2_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#0f0a0a&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;0.8em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Masonic Values<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;85%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;none&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/photomania-d3f35430e268455a3b540f2bc5a58b05.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;photomania-d3f35430e268455a3b540f2bc5a58b05&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;62%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;21px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-4px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(43,33,18,0.3)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#515151&#8243; header_4_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;75%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Liberty<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We love liberty because it is the cornerstone of our existence and the antithesis of all tyranny. We hold that a man is only truly free when he follows the voice of his conscience and of his heart, doing good and courageously overcoming selfishness, ignorance and prejudice.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/photomania-9429bfd35f8c043e6e9e14d7ec1e29e3.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;photomania-9429bfd35f8c043e6e9e14d7ec1e29e3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;62%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;40px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;21px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-4px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(43,33,18,0.3)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#515151&#8243; header_4_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;75%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Equality<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We uphold equality as a fundamental value, so that all men may recognise one another as brothers. We hold that only full harmony between rights and duties, in complete respect for the human person, allows the building of a fairer and more equitable society.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/glsp.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/photomania-1e58bd6444587204c0f404e0bff980e1.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;photomania-1e58bd6444587204c0f404e0bff980e1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;62%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;40px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|7px|7px|7px|7px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;21px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-4px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(43,33,18,0.3)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#515151&#8243; header_4_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;75%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Fraternity<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">We cultivate true fraternity, built on foundations of peace, wisdom and friendship. Honouring work and virtue, and practising effective solidarity, we walk among brothers in the building of our inner temple and in the ceaseless pursuit of moral and spiritual improvement.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; use_background_color_gradient=&#8221;on&#8221; background_color_gradient_stops=&#8221;#262626 0%|#0a0202 100%&#8221; background_color_gradient_start=&#8221;#262626&#8243; background_color_gradient_end=&#8221;#0a0202&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;102px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#f7f7f7&#8243; header_2_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; header_2_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#f7f7f7&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>The 12 Rules of Regular Freemasonry<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=&#8221;landmarks&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;55%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#f7f7f7&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;15px&#8221; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;100%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;left&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>All Masons are bound to respect and faithfully observe the following twelve Masonic rules of Universal Regularity:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li> Freemasonry is an initiatory fraternity whose traditional foundation is faith in God, Great Architect of the Universe.<\/li>\n<li>Freemasonry refers to the &#8220;Ancient Charges&#8221; and the &#8220;Landmarks&#8221; of the Fraternity, in the light of absolute respect for the specific traditions of the Masonic Order, essential to the regularity of the jurisdiction.<\/li>\n<li>Freemasonry is an Order to which only free men of good character may belong, men who undertake to put an ideal of peace into practice.<\/li>\n<li>Freemasonry also aims at the moral elevation of the whole of Humanity, through the moral improvement of its members.<\/li>\n<li>Freemasonry requires of its members the exact and scrupulous practice of the rites and of symbolism, the means of access to knowledge by the spiritual and initiatory paths that are proper to it.<\/li>\n<li>Freemasonry requires of all its members respect for the opinions and beliefs of each. It forbids within its walls all political or religious discussion or controversy. It is a permanent centre of fraternal union, where tolerant and fruitful harmony reigns among men who, without it, would be strangers to one another.<\/li>\n<li>Masons take their oaths upon the Volume of the Sacred Law, in order to give them the solemn and sacred character indispensable to their permanence.<\/li>\n<li>Masons meet, away from the profane world, in Lodges where the three great lights of the Order are always displayed: the Volume of the Sacred Law, a Square and a Compass, there to work according to the ritual of the rite, with zeal and diligence and in accordance with the principles and rules laid down by the Constitution and the general regulations of the Obedience.<\/li>\n<li>Masons must admit into their Lodges only men of honour, of full age, of good repute, loyal and discreet, worthy of being good brothers and able to recognise the limits of man&#8217;s domain and the infinite power of the Eternal.<\/li>\n<li>Masons cultivate in their Lodges the love of their Country, submission to the law and respect for constituted Authority. They regard work as the primary duty of the human being and honour it in all its forms.<\/li>\n<li>Masons contribute, by the active example of their manly, dignified and wholesome conduct, to the radiance of the Order, in respect of the Masonic secret.<\/li>\n<li>Masons owe one another fraternal help and protection, even at the end of their lives. They practise the art of preserving in all circumstances the calm and balance indispensable to perfect self-control.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FreemasonryFreemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world.WHAT IS FREEMASONRY? Freemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world. It is founded on the biblical allegory of the building of Solomon&#8217;s temple as an image of humanity itself, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7672","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>About Freemasonry - SOBERANA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/glsp.pt\/en\/about-the-freemasonry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"About Freemasonry - SOBERANA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FreemasonryFreemasonry is one of the largest and oldest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and philanthropic organisations in the world.WHAT IS FREEMASONRY? 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