all kinds of creeds. No; the religion of a man is that which
he practically believes, lays to heart, acts upon, and thereby knows
concerning this mysterious universe and his duty and destiny in it.
That is in all cases the primary thing in him, and creatively
determines all the rest; that is his religion. It is, then, of vital
importance what faith, what vision, what conception of life a man lays
to heart, and acts upon.

At bottom, a man is what his thinking is, thoughts being the artists
who give color to our days. Optimists and pessimists live in the same
world, walk under the same sky, and observe the same facts. Sceptics
and believers look up at the same great stars--the stars that shone in
Eden and will flash again in Paradise. Clearly the difference between
them is a difference not of fact, but of faith--of insight, outlook,
and point of view--a difference of inner attitude and habit of thought
with regard to the worth and use of life. By the same token, any
influence which reaches and alters that inner habit and bias of mind,
and changes it from doubt to faith, from fear to courage, from despair
to sunburst hope, has wrought the most benign ministry which a mortal
may enjoy. Every man has a train of thought on which he rides when he
is alone; and the worth of his life to himself and others, as well as
its happiness, depend upon the direction in which that train is going,
the baggage it carries, and the country through which it travels. If,
then, Masonry can put that inner train of thought on the right track,
freight it with precious treasure, and start it on the way to the City
of God, what other or higher ministry can it render to a man? And that
is what it does for any man who will listen to it, love it, and lay
its truth to heart.

High, fine, ineffably rich and beautiful are the faith and vision
which Masonry gives to those who foregather at its altar, bringing to
them in picture, parable, and symbol the lofty and pure truth wrought
out through ages of experience, tested by time, and found to be valid
for the conduct of life. By such teaching, if they have the heart to
heed it, men become wise, learning how to be both brave and gentle,
faithful and free; how to renounce superstition and yet retain faith;
how to keep a fine poise of reason between the falsehood of extremes;
how to accept the joys of life with glee, and endure its ills with
patient valor; how to look upon the folly of man and not forget his