When King Solomon lectured on wisdom, craftsmen from many parts of the kingdom would attend. At one of these lectures, a craftsman was caught stealing. The crime was reported to Solomon with the request that the offender be banished from the Craft. Solomon did nothing.
The craftsman was then caught stealing again, and Solomon still seemed to ignore the situation. The other craftsmen were furious, and they wrote a petition demanding that the thief to be banished, stating that otherwise they would withdraw from the Craft.
When Solomon had read the petition he called the lodge to order. "You brothers are wise," he said. "You know the difference between right and wrong, but this poor brother apparently does not. Who will teach him if we do not? My ruling is that he remains even if all the rest of you leave."
At those words, tears poured forth from the face of the brother who had stolen, washing away all his desires to steal.