Is “making good men better” a cliché?
true, as much as because they are repated. Or to put it in the context of a question about what the Masonic requirement of “toleration” means: Tolerance or toleration is the minimum expected in our society. Most of the Ten Commandments are the minimum expected–no murdering, no stealing, etc. Hillel phrased the Golden Rule in the negative form (as do most religions other than Christianity): Do _not_ do unto others that which is hateful to you. The minimum is what is expected of good men. Masonry is about making good men better; therefore, a man who has improved himself in Masonry will go beyond the minimum of refraining from ill behavior, such as bigotry and dishonesty, to positive ethical action. From simple tolerance, the better man will go on to encourage and defend religious liberty and diversity of thought. From simple abstention from criminal behavior, the better man will go on to promote justice and eradicate the ignorance and darkness that leads others to a life of crime. Good
