Wisdom: Education, Government, and Justice

Freemasonry always championed education, government institutions, and the rule of law as the basis for a free and harmonious society. The University of Georgia was conceived and realized by freemasons like legislator Abraham Baldwin, governor Samuel Elbert, and first Board of Trustees member John Habersham. Schools and colleges were critical to producing informed citizens who would vote and fill government positions. Given its respectability and longevity, freemasonry became the model for campus organizations. Greek life fraternities and sororities adopted the bonding, secret initiations, and grips from Masonry, while other associations—Phi Beta Kappa, Sphinx Club, Square and Compass Club—with some secret aspects, centered on the philosophical, aspirational, or networking aspects of the masonic model.  

Following their historic constitutions and local by-laws, masonic lodges, chapters, and consistories operated according to those regulations: to keep records with transparency, to hold elections, to hear and rule on complaints. At a time when most people could not vote, Master Masons elected their members and officers, and conducted hearings on unmasonic conduct within the lodge, which became a training ground for representative government and justice.