Lodge Perla del Oriente No. 1034, S.C.

REGULARITY, RECOGNITION AND FRATERNAL RELATIONS

by M. Mickey Ander, WM A.D.Smith Lodge of Research

Posted By:

Brother Rhadyno P. Cayman

@

lpdo1034@yahoogroups.com

This report covers a blend of items discussed during periods of refreshment, after meetings of the A. D. Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research #1949, in Northern Virginia, on the general topic of "Recognition", during calendar year 1994. The compiled views, together with the attachments and an index of source materials will hopefully form the foundation to foster further inquiry, research, and profitable, friendly discussion.

Time was spent in our early discussions to focus on the meaning of certain key words, phrases, and terms.  The group commonly accepted the following core meanings to form the basis for our spirited debates on Recognition and Fraternal Relations.  We felt that It didn't matter whether the terms are subsequently modified (so long as all parties to a particular discussion start from the same baseline or zero-point).

I DEFINITIONS:

Accepted Masons.

In early days (before Speculative Masonry), members who did not necessarily earn their livelihood by the building trades, but were accepted into the guilds.

A. F. & A. M.

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons - There is no appreciable difference between F.& A.M. or F.A.A.M. (Free and Accepted Masons) or A.F.M. (Ancient Free Masons). Some Grand Lodges use the first designation, others use the second. The Grand Lodge of Florida, for example, is known by F.& A.M., while South Carolina uses the latter. Some say, the difference is traceable to the great schism when there were two Grand Lodges in England, the "Antients" and the "Moderns". Ambulatory Warrant. One which permitted the members of a Lodge (usually a military one) to carry the Warrant with them and act under it at any place they might be stationed.

Amity - (comity). Cooperation, friendliness, courtesy, manners, politeness. Grand Lodges, while independent are in external comity with other Grand Lodges that they recognize. Subordinate Lodges which cooperate with other Lodges (in their own Grand Lodge) are in internal comity with them. All Grand Lodges and regular Lodges work together in amity to achieve harmony and peace.

Ancient Landmarks - Fundamental laws, principles, and teachings. The Grand Lodge of Virginia has not adopted any particular "set".

Arrest of Charter - The work of a Lodge is suspended and it is prevented from holding its communications by action of the Grand Master. It is a temporary order until the next meeting of Grand Lodge which is the only body which can approve, revise, or nullify a Grand Master's action.

Chartered Lodge - One which has received authority from a Grand Lodge and is entitled to representation in that Grand Lodge.

Clandestine Masonic Lodge - A group of persons uniting into a body termed a Masonic Lodge and purporting to be Masonic, but without consent of a G.L. Different from an Irregular Lodge.

Dormant Lodges - Lodges that are not active, but which have not surrendered their charters. Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction A principle that each Grand Lodge is supreme and sovereign within its own geographic area. The concept is many times (disdainfully) called the "American Doctrine".

Extinct Lodge - One which has ceased to exist and work and whose Charter has been revoked or forfeited.

Inchoate Lodge - A Lodge working under a Dispensation. The word stems from the Latin inchoatus meaning "incomplete".

Irregular Masonic Lodge - A Lodge created legally, but continuing to work after its Charter has been revoked. Distinguished from clandestine lodge, and spurious lodge.

Landmarks - Ancient and universal customs of the Order which gradually grew into operation as rules of action.

Legally Constituted - A Lodge working under proper authority and Charter from a Grand Lodge.

Patent - A granted privilege evidenced by a letter, certificate, or diploma.

Profane - A non-Mason. The word comes from the Latin pro meaning "before" and fanum meaning "a temple". In Masonry it means those who have not been in the Temple, that is, initiated.

Regular Lodge - One working under a charter or warrant from a legal Masonic authority.

Spurious Masonry - Not genuine; counterfeit; false with knowledge that it is false. Distinguished from Irregular Masonry and from Clandestine Masonry.

Striking from the Roll - A punishment inflicted by a subordinate Lodge for nonpayment of dues.

U.D. Under Dispensation - a charter not yet having been granted; probationary.

Warrant - A commission giving authority.

II BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1/ Coil, Henry W.: Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia. Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc. 1961

2/ Grand Lodges Recognized by the Grand Lodges of the United States. Silver Spring, MD (Masonic Service Assn) 1993

3/ Haffner, Christopher: Regularity of Origin (a study of Masonic precedents), Libra Press, Hong Kong 1986

4/ Mackey, Albert G.: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. New York (Macoy) 1966

5/ Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Various years

6/ Waite, Arthur E.: A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. Weathervane Books, a Division of Imprint Society, Inc.

7/ 1993 Year Book of the Grand Lodge Scotland, A.F.& A.M., Edinburgh 1993, pp.50-51

III DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1.  Can Masons Be Clandestine? The term "clandestine" was first used in the Constitutions of 1784 issued by the Grand Lodge of England. It meant secret, hidden, private, or concealed which can be said of many Masonic bodies. It also means underhanded, stealthy, furtive, and sly. Please note that many so called clandestine bodies are open, aggressive, ambitious, and eager to defend themselves.

Prior to the Grand Lodge era, 1717, the expression clandestine was unknown in Freemasonry. Any five or six Freemasons could form either a temporary or permanent Lodge, make Masons and do what other Lodges could do, under the doctrine of Immemorial Right. Thus, any Lodge that was opened was just and perfect.

After 1723, Lodges affiliated with the Grand Lodge could be formed only after receiving a warrant from the Grand Master. This is usually considered the primary legal ground by which a Lodge could be considered clandestine. The word is usually applied to a Masonic body that fails to secure and hold a warrant, charter, or other authority to exist issued by some superior Masonic body having the authority to grant it.

From a doctrinal standpoint a Lodge could be considered clandestine if it was unmindful of true Masonic creed (teachings), practice, or character. There are Lodges that do not profess a belief in Deity, or do not display a Volume of Sacred Law on the altar and may even go so far as to become exclusively Christian or even claim to be Masonic by using various names, insignia, or Craft symbols strictly as a money making scheme.

From the previous discussions we can conclude that individuals can be called profane where Lodges are considered irregular or clandestine when they haven't received a warrant from a recognized Grand Jurisdiction. Please, don't be mislead; just because our Grand Lodge doesn't recognize another Grand jurisdiction doesn't automatically make them clandestine or irregular.

It just might mean that we do not yet recognize them. We cannot invite their members to sit in our Lodges (or we sit in theirs) because our Grand Lodges are not in amity.

2.  What Is Time Immemorial and Immemorial Right? Masons call the dawn of history; Time Immemorial -- that point to which the memory of man, on a particular subject, runneth not to the contrary (begins). It's another quaint, charming way of saying, always. (As in; We've always done it that way!) Even before history was recorded, most men considered themselves to unquestionably possess the inalienable personal rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our forebears conceived and formed a new nation based on that precept and it has worked with extraordinary success for over 200 years. Since it was the prerogative of Masons (in the early days) to meet and form Lodges almost without restriction, the power to do so was an Immemorial Right; that is, a special license which existed before the time of written records or human memory.

The distinction, therefore, is between something that has existed from Immemorial times and a new thing arising by virtue of a right which has existed from Immemorial Times.

3.  Grand Orients Compared and Contrasted With Grand Lodges:

If you have ever traveled abroad and attended a Masonic Communication in a country such as Italy, or France, you might have heard members of that Lodge referring to a Grand Orient. The term is generally synonymous with the expression Grand Lodge. However, Grand Orients often demand more extensive conformity (submission) than Grand Lodges, frequently exercising a rigid jurisdiction over the highest degrees, which American and English Grand Lodges refrain from doing.

The Grand Orient of France, for example, seems to exercise jurisdiction not only over the seven degrees of its own Rite, but also over the 33 degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite and over all other Rites which are practiced in France. The Grand Orient of Italy exercises similar, wide-ranging power.

You will find it interesting to note that in these two examples, the Grand Lodge of Virginia is in amity with one but does not recognize the other.

4.  Has the Term "Profane" Outlived its Usefulness? Some of our Brethren seem to be mildly confused by the terms "profane" and "clandestine". They are not synonyms and have two entirely different meanings. We find the expression profane in the Constitutions of Masonry and the Methodical Digest. The term was used in the 19th century to refer to all men outside the Fraternity.

Many Masons today consider the word "politically incorrect". Others call it singularly arrogant and presumptuous. Some Grand Lodges haven't used the term for a long time. The Grand Lodge of the Philippines publicly opposes the use of the idiom. Many of our colleagues refrain from using the word in their discussions. They consider it derisive and would prefer that our Brethren use an expression such as "uninitiated" or "non-Masons", when referring to persons who are not Masons.

5.  Published Aims In August 1938 the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland each agreed upon and issued a statement which included an identical set of eleven terms (except that the name of the issuing Grand Lodge appeared throughout). The statement was called, "Aims and Relationships of the Craft" (please see attachment #1).

Another conference was held in June 1949 between the same Grand Lodges and all reaffirmed the statement that was originally pronounced in 1938. We carefully monitor its present-day affairs, and find that they haven't retreated from the original posture.

The three Grand Lodges are convinced that it is only by rigid adherence to the published policy that Freemasonry has survived the constantly changing doctrines of the outside world, and are compelled to place on record their disapproval of any action which may tend to permit the slightest departure from the basic principles of Freemasonry.

They strongly believe that if any Grand Lodge departs from the published doctrine, it cannot maintain a claim to be following the Ancient Landmarks of the Order, and must ultimately face disintegration.  It is these same eleven yardsticks that are used by them to gauge whether a Grand Lodge that requests formal recognition and an exchange of delegates, measures up to standard.

6.  Exclusive Territoriality The concept of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction (the so called American Doctrine) was born before the publication of the Articles of Confederation, in the early 1780s. The practice was a powerful signature of a strong States Rights doctrine and reflects a fundamental organizing principle of our early government.

The notion was never practiced in Europe or South America. And, some American jurisdictions departed from the convention when it proved inconvenient. The Commission on Information for Recognition of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America. In their 1959 report declared: "Exclusive jurisdiction does not mean absolute exclusive territorial jurisdiction.

That more than one Grand Lodge may have jurisdiction within a political domain is not intrinsically repugnant to Freemasonry, for there are too many places on the globe where such a condition exists, and with complete harmony. Exclusive jurisdiction as an absolute condition applies only to the exclusive rule of a Grand Lodge over its members and Lodges and does not share that authority with any other Masonic authority."

AIMS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CRAFT

From the Year Book of the Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Scotland, Edinburgh 1993, pp.50-51

In August 1938 the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland each agreed upon and issued a statement identical in terms except that the name of the issuing Grand Lodge appeared throughout.  This statement which was entitled "Aims and Relationships of the Craft" was in the following terms.

1.  From time to time the Grand Lodge of Scotland has deemed it desirable to set forth in precise form the aims of Freemasonry as consistently practiced under its jurisdiction since it came into being as an organized body in 1736, and also to define the principles governing its relations with those under other Grand Lodges with which it is in fraternal accord.

2.  In view of representations which have been received, and of statements recently issued which have distorted or obscured the true objects of Freemasonry,  it is once again considered necessary to emphasize certain fundamental principles of the order.

3.  The first condition of admission into, and membership of, the Order is a belief in the Supreme Being. This is essential and admits of no compromise.

4.  The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open in the Lodges. Every candidate is required to take his obligation on that Book, or on the Volume, which is held by his particular Creed to impart sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it.

5.  Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society, he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he resides or which may afford him protection, and he must never remiss in the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land.

6.  While Scottish Freemasonry thus inculcates in each of its members the duties of loyalty and citizenship, it reserves to the individual the right to hold his own opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in the Lodge nor at any time in his capacity as a Freemason is he permitted to discuss or to advance his views on theological or political questions.

7.  The Grand Lodge has always consistently refused to express any opinion on questions of foreign or domestic state policy either at home or abroad, and will not allow its name to be associated with any action, however humanitarian it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable policy of standing aloof from every question affecting the relations between one Government and another, or between political parties, or questions as to rival theories of Government.

8.  The Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist bodies styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere tothese principles, and while that attitude exists the Grand Lodge of Scotland refuses absolutely to have any relations with such bodies or to regard them a Freemasons.

9.  The Grand Lodge of Scotland is a sovereign and independent body practicing Freemasonry only within the three degrees and only within the limits defined in its Constitution. It does not recognize or admit the existence of any superior Masonic authority however styled.

10.  On more than one occasion the Grand Lodge hasrefused, and will continue to refuse, to participate in conferences with so-called International Associations claiming to represent Freemasonry, which admit to membership bodies failing to conform strictly to the principles upon which the Grand Lodge of Scotland is founded. The Grand Lodge does not admit such claim, nor can its views be represented by such Association.

11.  There is no secret with regard to any of the basic principles of Freemasonry, some of which have been stated above. The Grand Lodge will always consider the recognition of those Grand Lodges which profess and practice, and can show that they have consistently professed and practiced, those established and unaltered principles, but in no circumstances will it enter into discussion with a view to any new or varied interpretation of them. They must be accepted and practiced wholeheartedly and in their entirety by those who desire to be recognized by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.