Abhandlung über die allgemeine Zusammenkunft der Freymaurer, bei den Gesundbrunnen in Wilhelmsbad

If, furthermore, three or four persons from this society had discovered knowledge or secrets Geheimnisse hidden teachings or mysteries, and if these secret insights were of the kind that would promote the happiness of the remaining members of the association, and if sharing them caused those discoverers neither loss nor harm, (z) would they in this case be allowed to keep their knowledge as a secret from those who have been fully initiated? Would they not rather be obligated to teach it to their fellow members, since it is a sign of a good association (*) that the members contribute everything within their power to the collective comfort, advantage, and happiness of all? (a)

(z) Whatever can be granted without loss should be shared even with a stranger. original: "Quidquid sine detrimento possit commodari, id tribuatur vel ignoto." From Cicero, On Duties (De Officiis), Book I, chapter 16.

(*) Provided that this knowledge has always belonged to the general main purpose Hauptzwecke primary goals of the association, and had not perhaps been granted to individual members from the outside, under the seal of secrecy, as a private advantage (even if it might have a coincidental relationship to the association); for otherwise it would follow that all useful knowledge must be common to the initiated, because indeed all good things can be of use to them. R. v. S. stands for Ritter von Sonnenborn, the author's Masonic name.

(a) Something should always be contributed to the common utility. original: "Semper aliquid ad communem utilitatem afferendum." From Cicero, On Duties, Book I, chapter 17.

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We have said that a well-ordered society Gesellschaft organized group or fraternity should be supported by principles of wisdom and regularity, and should have good laws. (b) These laws must, however, also be observed by every individual member of the society. (c) It is against order that a member of the society should demand to be exempted from obedience to the law. For insofar as every law is just, one would release a man from the practice of justice if one excused him from following the law.

To whom does it belong to be a lawmaker? Without doubt, to the one who is the master. Therefore, if in a monarchical state the king gives laws, then in a state where all members are equal, such as in a republic, this right must belong to the whole nation. If, however, in such a free state Freystaat republic some persons were particularly wise and permeated by the duties of legislators, if they perfectly understood what is just and honest

(b) For he who rejects wisdom and discipline is wretched. original: "Sapientiam enim et disciplinam qui abjicit, infelix est." From the Wisdom of Solomon, chapter 3, verse 11.

(c) Laws were devised to speak to everyone with one and the same voice at all times. original: "Leges sunt inventae, quae cum omnibus semper una atque eadem voce loquerentur." From Cicero, On Duties, Book II, chapter 12, and Plato, Republic, Book II, 3.