THE TWENTY-FIVE LAND MARKS OF FREEMASONRY* I. The modes of recognition. II. The division of Symbolic Masonry into three degrees. III. The legend of the third degree. IV. The government of the fraternity by a presiding officer called a Grand Master, who is elected from the body of the craft. V. The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft, wheresoever and whensoever held. VI. The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for conferring degrees at irregular times. VII. The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for opening and holding Lodges. VIII. The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons at sight. *See Mackey's Text-Book of Masonic Jurisprudence, pp. 17-39, for commentary on and explanation of these Landmarks. The Landmarks constitute the highest source of Masonic law. Drummond, a deeply learned writer, says, Masonic TextBook, p. 175: "Various attempts have been made to enumerate the Landmarks, but as no two authors agree in their enumeration, it is safe to conclude that no one of the attempts is a success.' Nevertheless, it is deemed advisable to insert them in this manual, and Mackey, whose enumeration of the Landmarks (see his Masonic Ritualist, p. 241) is here followed, is probably as high authority on this subject as can be found. Compare Lockwood's Masonic Law, p. 14; Look's Masonic Trials, p. 254. IX. The necessity for Masons to congregate in Lodges. X. The government of every Lodge by a Master and two Wardens. XI. The necessity that every Lodge, when congregated, should be duly tiled. XII. The right of every Mason to be represented in all general meetings of the craft, and to instruct his representative. XIII. The right of every Mason to appeal from the decision of his brethren in Lodge convened to the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons. XIV. The right of every Mason to visit and sit in every regular Lodge. XV. That no visitor, not known to some brother present as a Mason, can enter a Lodge without undergoing an examination. XVI. That no Lodge can interfere in the business or labor of another Lodge. XVII. That every Freemason is amenable to the laws and regulations of the Masonic jurisdiction in which he resides. XVIII. That every candidate for initiation must be a man, free born, and of lawful age. XIX. That every Mason must believe in the existence of God as the Grand Architect of the Universe. XX. That every Mason must believe in a resurrection to a future life. XXI. That a Book of the Law of God must constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge. XXII. That all men in the sight of God are equal, and meet in the Lodge on one common level. XXIII. That Freemasonry is a secret so ciety in possession of secrets that can not be divulged. XXIV. That Freemasonry consists of a speculative science founded on an operative art. XXV. That the Landmarks of Masonry can never be changed. These constitute the Landmarks, or, as they have sometimes been called, "The Body of Masonry," in which it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make the least innovation. THE ANCIENT CHARGES* I. CONCERNING GOD AND RELIGION A Mason is obliged, by his tenure, to obey the moral law; and if he rightly understands the art, he will never be a stupid atheist, nor an irreligious libertine. But though in ancient times Masons were charged in every country to be of the religion of that country or nation, whatever it was, it is now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to themselves; that It These are copied from Anderson's Constitutions, first printed in 1723. They were adopted by the Grand Lodge of England on March 25, 1722, and are considered as next in Masonic authority to the Twenty-five Landmarks, and the Charges and Landmarks together sufficiently express the common law of Masonry. Anderson published a second edition of his Constitutions in 1738 containing a modification of these Ancient Charges. The Grand Lodge did not sanction these modified charges, however, and the "Ancient Charges" are still accepted as the true and original version. is, therefore, thought unnecessary to insert these modified charges. The Grand Lodge of England. when it adopted the "Ancient Charges," adopted at the same time what was generally known as "The Old Regulations," and which were published in the first edition of Anderson's book. Being, however, distinctly recognized as amendable or repealable by that Grand Lodge (and consequently by every other Grand Lodge deriving its existence therefrom), their insertion here it not deemed necessary. These Charges and Landmarks are still of force. is, to be good men and true, or men of honor and honesty, by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguished, whereby Masonry becomes the center of union, and the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distance. II. OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE, SUPREME AND SUBORDINATE A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he resides or works, and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor to behave himself undutifully to inferior Magistrates; for as Masonry has always abjured war, bloodshed, and confusion, so ancient kings and princes have been much disposed to encourage the craftsmen, because of their peaceableness and loyalty, whereby they practically answer the cavils of their adversaries, and prompted the honor of the fraternity, who ever flourished in times of peace. So if a brother should be a rebel against the State, he is not to be countenanced in his rebellion, however he may be pitied as an unhappy man; and, if convicted of no other crime, though the loyal brotherhood must and ought to disown his rebellion, and give no umbrage or ground of political jealousy to the Government for the time being, they can not expel him from the Lodge, and his relation to it remains indefeasible. III. OF LODGES A Lodge is a place where Masons assemble and work; hence the assembly, or duly or |