1. Freemasonry for Non-Masons

The Greeks had a word, charisma, meaning a gift, and a number of words from the same root, variously suggesting rejoicing, gladness. Latin had a similar word, carus, meaning dear, possibly connected with amor, signifying love. From these roots came "grace", meaning a free, unbought gift, as in the theological phrase, "the grace of God", and "charity".

Strictly speaking, charity is an act done freely, and spontaneously out of friendship, not as a civic duty and grudgingly, as is sometimes the case in public charity. The Masonic use of the word is much nearer this original sense, for a Mason extends relief to a needy brother not as a duty but out of friendship.

Tolerance for the beliefs and opinions of others.

Charity is extended to those in the community in which the freemason lives.

Honesty and integrity in personal, business, and public life.

The Tyler stands at the front door of the lodge with a sword in hand, symbolizing the need for members to be 'ever watchful and guarded in our words and actions, particularly when before the enemies of Masonry, ever bearing in remembrance those truly Masonic virtues, silence and circumspection'. 

In Latin tegere (from which came "thatch") meant cover, roof; regulate were the tiles, pieces, slabs, used roof coverings. A tiler, therefore, is one who makes, or fastens on, tiles. 

In speculative Masonry the Tyler is a workman who closed the building in, and hid its interior from outside view. The guardian of the entrance to the lodge was figuratively called by this name.

An officer of a symbolic lodge, whose duty is to guard the door of the lodge, and to permit no one to pass in who is not duly qualified, and who has not the permission of the Master. A necessary qualification of a Tyler is, therefore, that he should be a Master Mason. Although the lodge may be opened in an inferior degree, no one who has not advanced to the third degree can fulfil of the Tyler.

As the Tyler may be compensated for his services he is considered, in some sense, a servant of the lodge. It is, therefore, his duty to prepare the lodge for its meetings, to arrange the furniture in its proper place, and to make all other arrangements for the convenience of the lodge.

This is a very important office, and, like that of the Master and Wardens, owes its existence, not to any conventional regulations, but to the very landmarks of the order; for, from the peculiar nature, it is evident that there never could have been a meeting of Freemasons for masonic purposes, unless a Tyler had been present to guard the lodge from intrusion. The title is derived from the operative art; for as in operative masonry the tiler, when the edifice is erected, finishes and covers it with the roof of tiles, so in speculative masonry, when the lodge is duly organized, the Tyler closes the door and covers the sacred precincts from all intrusion.