THE LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY

The Landmarks of Freemasonry are unwritten laws that form the basis of every Grand and subordinate Lodge constitution. The Landmarks are the foundation on which Freemasonry stands. Every Grand Lodge adopts all or a portion of the Landmarks listed below. An extensive discussion of these masonic principals can be found in Jurisprudence of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey.

LANDMARK FIRST

The modes of RECOGNITION are, of all the Landmarks, the most legitimate and

unquestioned. They admit of no variation; and if ever they have suffered alteration

or addition, the evil of such a violation of the ancient law has always made itself

subsequently manifest. An admission of this is to be found in the proceedings of the

Masonic Congress at Paris, where a proposition was presented to render these modes

of recognition once more universal - a proposition which never would have been

necessary, if the integrity of this important Landmark had been rigorously preserved.

LANDMARK SECOND

THE DIVISION OF SYMBOLIC MASONRY INTO THREE DEGREES is a Landmark that

has been better preserved than almost any other, although even here the mischievous

spirit of innovation hag left its traces, and by the disruption of its concluding portion

from the Third Degree, a want of uniformity has been created in respect to the final

teaching of the Master's order, and the Royal Arch of England, Scotland, Ireland, and

America, and the "high degrees" of France and Germany, are all made to differ in the

mode in which they lead the neophyte to the great consummation of all symbolic

masonry.

In 1813, the Grand Lodge of England vindicated the ancient Landmark, by solemnly

enacting that ancient craft Masonry consisted of the three degrees: Entered

Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, including the Holy Royal Arch; but the

disruption has never been healed, and the Landmark, although acknowledged in its

integrity by all, still continues to be violated.

LANDMARK THIRD

The Legend of the THIRD DEGREE is an important Landmark, the integrity of which

has been well preserved. There is no rite of Masonry, practiced in any country or

language, in which the essential elements of this legend are not taught. The lectures

may vary, and indeed are constantly changing, but the legend has ever remained

substantially the same; and it is necessary that it should be so, for the legend of the

Temple Builder constitutes the very essence and identity of Masonry; any rite which

should exclude it, or materially alter it, would at once, by that exclusion or alteration,

cease to be a Masonic rite.

LANDMARK FOURTH

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRATERNITY BY A PRESIDING OFFICER called a Grand

Master, who is elected from the body of the craft, is a Fourth Landmark of the Order.

Many persons ignorantly suppose that the election of the Grand Master is held in

consequence of a law or regulation of the Grand Lodge. Such, however, is not the

case. The office is indebted for its existence to a Landmark of the Order. Grand

Masters are to be found in the records of the institution long before Grand Lodges

were established; and if the present system of legislative government by Grand

Lodges were to be abolished, a Grand Master would be necessary. In fact, although

there has been a period within the records of history, and indeed of very recent date,

when a Grand Lodge was unknown, there never has been a time when the craft did

not have their Grand Master.

LANDMARK FIFTH

The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft,

wheresoever and whensoever held, is a fifth Landmark. It is in consequence of this

law, derived from ancient usage, and not from any special enactment, that the Grand

Master assumes the chair, or as it is called in England, "the throne," at every

communication of the Grand Lodge; and that he is also entitled to preside at the

communication of every Subordinate Lodge, where he may happen to be present.

LANDMARK SIXTH

The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant Dispensations for conferring degrees at

irregular times, is another and a very important Landmark. The statutory law of

Masonry requires a month, or other determinate period, to elapse between the

presentation of a petition and the election of a candidate. But the Grand Master has

the power to set aside or dispense with this probation, and allow a candidate to be

initiated at once. This prerogative he possessed in common with all Masters, before

the enactment of the law requiring a probation, and as no statute can impair his

prerogative, he still retains the power, although the Masters of Lodges no longer

possess it.

LANDMARK SEVENTH

The prerogative of the Grand Master to give dispensations for opening and holding

Lodges is another Landmark. He may grant, in virtue of this, to a sufficient number

of Masons, the privilege of meeting together and conferring degrees. The Lodges

thus established are called "Lodges under Dispensation." They are strictly creatures

of the Grand Master, created by his authority, existing only during his will and

pleasure, and liable at any moment to be dissolved at his command. They may he

continued for a day, a month, or six months; but whatever be the period of their

existence, they are indebted for that existence solely to the grace of the Grand

Master.

LANDMARK EIGHTH

The prerogative of the Grand Master to make masons at sight, is a Landmark which

is closely connected with the preceding one. There has been much misapprehension

in relation to this Landmark, which misapprehension has sometimes led to a denial of

its existence in jurisdictions where the Grand Master was perhaps at the very time

substantially exercising the prerogative, without the slightest remark or opposition.

It is not to be supposed that the Grand Master can retire with a profane into a private

room, and there, without assistance, confer the degrees of Freemasonry upon him.

No such prerogative exists, and yet many believe that this is the so much talked of

right of "making Masons at sight". The real mode and the only mode of exercising

the prerogative is this: The Grand Master summons to his assistance not less than six

other masons, convenes a Lodge, and without any previous probation, but on sight

of the candidate, confers the degrees upon him. after which he dissolves the Lodge.

and dismisses the brethren. Lodges thus convened for special purposes are called

occasional lodges," This is the only way in which any Grand Master within the

records of the institution has ever been known to "make a Mason at sight". The

prerogative is dependent upon that of granting dispensations to open and hold

Lodges. If the Grand Master has the power of granting to any other Mason the

privilege of presiding over Lodges working by his dispensation, he may assume this

privilege of presiding to himself; and as no one can deny his right to revoke his

dispensation granted to a number of brethren at a distance, and to dissolve the Lodge

at his pleasure, it will scarcely be contended that he may not revoke his dispensation

for a Lodge over which he himself has been presiding, within a day, and dissolve the

Lodge as soon as the business for which he had assembled it is accomplished. The

making of Masons at sight is only the conferring of the degrees by the Grand Master,

at once, in an occasional Lodge, constituted by his dispensing power for the purpose,

and over which he presides in person.

LANDMARK NINTH

The necessity of masons to congregate in lodges is another Landmark. It is not to be

understood by this that any ancient Landmark has directed that permanent

organization of subordinate Lodges which constitutes one of the features of the

Masonic system as it now prevails, but the landmarks of the Order always prescribed

that Masons should from time to time congregate together, for the purpose of either

operative or speculative labor, and that these congregations should be called Lodges.

Formerly these were extemporary meetings called together for special purposes, and

then dissolved, the brethren departing to meet again at other times and other places,

according to the necessity of circumstances. But warrants of constitution, by-laws,

permanent officers and annual arrears, are modern innovations wholly outside of the

Landmarks, and dependent entirely on the special enactments of a comparatively

recent period.

LANDMARK TENTH

The government of the craft, when so congregated in a Lodge by a Master and two

Wardens, is also a Landmark. To show the influence of this ancient law, it may be

observed by the way, that a congregation of Masons meeting together under any

other government, as that for instance of a president and vice-president, or a

chairman and subchairman, would not be recognized as a Lodge, The presence of a

Master and two Wardens is as essential to the valid organization of a Lodge as a

warrant of constitution is at the present day. The names, of course, vary in different

languages, the Master, for instance, being called "Venerable" in French Masonry, and

the Wardens "Surveillants," but the officers, their number, prerogatives and duties,

are everywhere identical.

LANDMARK ELEVENTH

The necessity that every lodge, when congregated, should be duly tiled, is an

important Landmark of the institution, which is never neglected. The necessity of this

law arises from the esoteric character of Masonry. As a secret institution, its portals

must of course be guarded from the intrusion of the profane, and such a law must

therefore always have been in force from the very beginning of the Order. It is

therefore properly classed among the most ancient Landmarks. The office of Tiler is

wholly independent of any special enactment of Grand or Subordinate Lodges,

although these may and do prescribe for him additional duties, which vary in different

jurisdictions. But the duty of guarding the door, and keeping off cowans and

eavesdroppers, is an ancient one, which constitutes a Landmark for the government.

LANDMARK TWELFTH

The right of every mason to be represented in all general meetings of the craft and

to instruct his representatives, is a twelfth Landmark. Formerly, these general

meetings, which were usually held once a year, were called "General Assemblies,"

and all the fraternity, even to the youngest Entered Apprentice, were permitted to be

present. Now they are called "Grand Lodges," and only the Masters and Wardens of

the Subordinate Lodges are summoned. But this is simply as the representatives of

their members. Originally, each Mason represented himself; now he is represented

by his officers. was a concession granted by the fraternity about 1717, and of

course does not affect the integrity of the Landmark, for the principle of

representation is still preserved. The concession was only made for purposes of

convenience.

LANDMARK THIRTEEN

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, is a Landmark highly

essential to the preservation of justice, and the prevention of oppression. A few

modern Grand Lodges, in adopting a regulation that the decision of Subordinate

Lodges, in cases of expulsion, cannot be wholly set aside upon an appeal, have

violated this unquestioned Landmark, as well as the principles of just government

LANDMARK FOURTEENTH

THE RIGHT OF EVERY MASON TO VISIT and sit in every regular Lodge is

an unquestionable Landmark of the Order." This is called "the right of visitation."

This right of visitation has always been recognized as an inherent right, which

inures to every Mason as he travels through the world. And this is because

Lodges are justly considered as only divisions for convenience of the universal

Masonic family. It is right may, of course be impaired or forfeited on special

occasions by various circumstances; but when admission is refused to a Mason in

good standing, who knocks at the door of a Lodge as a visitor, it is to be expected

that some good and sufficient reason shall be furnished for this violation, of what

is in general a Masonic right, founded on the Landmarks of the Order.

LANDMARK FIFTEENTH

It is a Landmark of the Order, that no visitor, unknown to the brethren present,

or to some one of them as a Mason, can enter a Lodge without first passing an

examination according to ancient usage. Of course, if the visitor is known to any

brother present to be a Mason in good standing, and if that brother will vouch for

his qualifications, the examination may be dispensed with, as the Landmark refers

only to the cases of strangers, who are not to be recognized unless after strict trial,

due examination, or lawful information.

LANDMARK SIXTEENTH

No Lodge can interfere in the business of another Lodge, nor give degrees to

brethren who are members of other Lodges, This is undoubtedly an ancient

Landmark, founded on the great principles of courtesy and fraternal kindness,

which are at the very foundation of our institution. It has been repeatedly

recognized by subsequent statutory enactments of all Grand Lodges.

LANDMARK SEVENTEENTH

It is a Landmark that every freemason is Amenable to the Laws and Regulations

of the masonic jurisdiction in which he resides, and this although he may not be

a member of any Lodge. Non-affiliation, which is, in fact in itself a Masonic

offense, does not exempt a Mason from Masonic Jurisdiction.

LANDMARK EIGHTEENTH

Certain qualifications of candidates for initiation are derived from a Landmark of

the Order. These qualifications are that he shall be a man, shall be unmultilated,

free born, and of mature age. That is to say, a woman, a cripple, or a slave, or

one born in slavery, is disqualified for initiation into the rites of Masonry.

Statutes, it is true, have from time to time been enacted, enforcing or explaining

these principles; but the qualifications really arise from the very nature of the

Masonic institution, and from its symbolic teachings, and have always existed as

landmarks.

LANDMARK NINETEENTH

A belief in the existence of God as the GRAND ARCHITECT of the universe, is

one of the most important Landmarks of the Order. It has been always deemed

essential that a denial of the existence of a Supreme and Superintending Power, is

an absolute disqualification for initiation. The annals of the Order never yet have

furnished or could furnish an instance in which an avowed atheist was ever made

a Mason. The very Initiatory ceremonies of the first degree forbid and prevent the

possibility of so monstrous an occurrence.

LANDMARK TWENTIETH

Subsidiary to this belief in God, as a Landmark of the Order, is the belief in a

resurrection to a future life. This Landmark is not so positively impressed on the

candidate by exact words as the preceding; but die doctrine is taught by very plain

implication, and runs through the whole symbolism of the Order. To believe in

Masonry, and not to believe in a resurrection, would be an absurd anomaly, which

could only be excused by the reflection, that he who thus confounded his belief and

his skepticism, was so ignorant of the meaning of both theories as to have no

rational foundation for his knowledge of either.

LANDMARK TWENTY-FIRST

It is a Landmark, that a "Book of the Law" shall constitute an indispensable part

of the furniture of every Lodge. I say advisedly, a Book of the Law, because it

is not absolutely required that everywhere the Old and New Testaments shall be

used. The "Book of the Law" is that volume which, by the religion of the country,

is believed to contain the revealed will of the Grand Architect of the universe.

Hence, in all Lodges in Christian countries, the Book of the Law is composed of

the Old and New Testaments; in a country where Judaism was the prevailing faith,

the Old Testament alone would be sufficient; and in Mohammedan countries, and

among Mohammedan Masons the Koran might be substituted. Masonry does not

attempt to interfere with the peculiar religious faith of its disciples, except so far

as relates to the belief in the existence of God, and what necessarily results from

that belief." The Book of the Law is to the speculative Mason his spiritual Trestle-

board; without this he cannot labor; whatever he believes to be the revealed will

of the Grand Architect constitutes for him this spiritual Trestleboard, and must

ever be before him in his hours of speculative labor, to be the rule and guide of

his conduct The Landmark, therefore, requires that a Book of the Law, a religious

code of some kind, purporting to be an exemplar of the revealed will of God, shall

form in essential part of the furniture of every Lodge.

LANDMARK TWENTY-SECOND

THE EQUALITY OF ALL MASONS is another Landmark of the Order. This

equality has no reference to any subversion of those gradations of rank which have

been instituted by the usages of society. The monarch, the nobleman or the

gentleman is entitled to all the influence, and receives all the respect which rightly

belong to his exalted position. But the doctrine of Masonic equality implies that,

as children of one great Father, we meet in the Lodge upon the level-that on that

level we are all traveling to one predestined goal, that in the Lodge genuine merit

shall receive more respect than boundless wealth, and that virtue and knowledge

alone should be the basis of all Masonic honors, and be rewarded with preferment

When the labors of the Lodge are over, and the brethren have retired from their

peaceful retreat, to mingle once more with the world, each will then again resume

that social position, and exercise the privileges of that rank, to which the customs

of society entitle him.

LANDMARK TWENTY-THIRD

The secrecy of the institution is another and a most important Landmark. There is

some difficulty in precisely defining what is meant by a "secret society," If the

term refers, as perhaps in strictly logical language it should, to those associations

whose designs are concealed from the public eye, and whose members are

unknowing which produce their results in darkness, and whose operations are

carefully hidden from the public gaze - a definition which will be appropriate to

many political clubs and revolutionary combinations in despotic countries, where

reform, if it is at all to be effected, must be effected by stealth - then clearly

Freemasonry is not a secret society. Its design is not only publicly proclaimed. but

is vaunted by its disciples as something to be venerated; its disciples are known,

for its membership is considered an honor to be coveted; it works for a result of

which it boasts, the civilization, and reformation of his manners. But if by a

Secret society is meant, and this is the most popular understanding of the term, a

society in which there is a certain amount of knowledge, whether it be of methods

of recognition, or of legendary and traditional learning, which is imported to those

only who have passed through an established form of initiation, the form itself

being also concealed or esoteric, then in this sense is Freemasonry undoubtedly a

secret society. Now this form of secrecy is a form inherent in it, existing with It

from its very foundation, and secured to it by its ancient Landmarks. If divested

of its secret character, it would lose its identity, and would cease to be

Freemasonry. whatever objections may, therefore, be made to the institution, on

account of its secrecy, and however much some unskillful brethren have been

willing in times of trial, for the sake of expediency, to divest it of its secret

character, it will be ever impossible to do so, even were die Landmark not

standing before us as an insurmountable obstacle; because such change of its

character would be social suicide, and the death of the Order would follow its

legalized exposure. Freemasonry, as a secret association, has lived unchanged for

centuries an open society it would not last for as many years.

LANDMARK TWENTY-FOURTH

The foundation of a Speculative Science upon an Operative Art, and the symbolic

use and explanation of the terms of that art, for purposes of religious or moral

teaching, constitute another Landmark of the Order. The Temple of Solomon was

the cradle of the institution," and, therefore, the reference to the operative

Masonry, which constructed that magnificent edifice, to the materials and

implements which were employed in its construction, and to the artists who were

engaged in the building, are all component and essential parts of the body of

Freemasonry, which could not be subtracted from it without an entire destruction

of the whole identity of the Order. Hence, all the comparatively modern rites of

Masonry, however they may differ in other respects, religiously preserve this

temple history and these operative elements, as the substratum of all their

modifications of the Masonic system.

LANDMARK TWENTY-FIFTH

The last and crowning Landmark of all is, that these Landmarks can never be

changed. Nothing can be subtracted from them-nothing can be added to them-not

the slightest modification can be made in them. As they were received from our

predecessors, we are bound by the most solemn obligations of duty to transmit

them to our successors. Not one jot or one title of these unwritten laws can be

repealed; for in respect to them, we are not only willing but compelled to adopt the

language of the sturdy old barons of England - "Nolumus legen mutari."

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