The Landmarks Of Freemasonry.

To enable me to do this I haA'e found it necessary to refer to A-arious authors , from whom I have culled , Avith the greatest attention and care , such information as will , I hope , in some measure be instructive to you all . It may , perhaps , be as well for me here to obserA'e that from certain hints which I haA'e received I am

led to believe that there are brethren present who imagine that I shall indulge in some strong animadversions on the so-called "higher grades ; " I beg , therefore , to state to those brethren , if any there be , that I have not the slightest intention of doing so , nor shall I even allude to the adoptive or androgynous

degrees , but shall , on the present occasion , confine my observations solely to pure Craft Masomy , as it was designated and recognised at the Union . Having made these preliminary observations , I should have been happy to proceed with the essay , but finding that my throat is in a very relaxed state

, and having recently undergone an operation , I am under the necessity of claiming your indulgence , and requesting that you will allow me to call on Brother Dollman to read the notes Avhich I have jotted doAvn , and which I hope will prove as pleasing and edifying as they Avould have been had I delivered them to you

myself . Nothing is more offensive to the true Freemason than any innovations on the ancient usages and customs of the order . It is in consequence of this conservative principle that Freemasonry , notwithstanding that many attempts have been made to alter , or as it was supposed , to amend it , is still essentially unchanged , and remains the same as it has always been from time immemorial .

In antient times it was the custom to mark the boundaries of land by means of stone pillars , the removal of which Avould have occasioned much confusion , men having no other guide than those pillars , by which to distinguish the limits of their property . To remoA'e them therefore Avas considered a heinous crime .

" Thou shalt not" says the JeAvish Law ( as Ave find in the 19 th Chapter of the fifth Book of Moses , called Deuteronomy , and the 14 th verse ) " Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour ' s landmark Avhich they of old have set up in their inheritance . " Hence , those peculiar marks of distinction , by which Ave are separated from the popular world , and by which Ave are enabled to designate our inheritance as Freemasons , are called landmarks of the order .

The universal language and the universal laws of Freemasonry are landmarks . The Masonic laws are of two kinds , local and universal . The local laAvs are those enacted by the Grancl and subordinate lodges for the government of their members ; these of course , may be altered or annulled , at the pleasure of the bodies who originally framed them .

JL'he universal laws , are those handed down by universal consent from time immemorial , and Avhich govern the fraternity throughout the world;—these are irrevocable , for they constitute a part of the ancient landmarks . I will give an example or two of each kind . The rule regulating the amount of the fee to be paid on the admission of candidates into the order , and the contributions of the several members to a

The Landmarks Of Freemasonry.

lodge , is a local law , and A-aries , not onl y in every country , but also in many lodges under the same constitution ? But the law which declares that no woman can be admitted into the order , is universal , and controls every lodge on the face of the globe . There aremoreovercertain forms and regulations

, , Avhich , although not constituting landmarks , are nevertheless so protected by the venerable claim of antiquity that they should be guarded by every good Freemason Avith relig ious care from alteration . Every Master elect , previous to his installation , pledges himself to submit to and support the ancient charges and

regulations , and further , that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innoA'ations in the body of Masonry . To attempt , therefore , to remove the sacred landmarks of our order , or to alter those forms and regulations by which Ave examine and prove a brother ' s claims to share in our rights and privileges , is one of the most heinous offences thafc a Freemason can :

commit . Ancient Craft Masonry consists of three degrees , viz ., Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason . Each degree of Freemasonry contains a course of instruction , in which the ceremonies , traditions , and moral purposes appertaining to the degree are set

forth . This arrangement is called a lecture . Each lecture , for the sake of convenience , and for the purpose of conforming to certain divisions in the ceremonies , is divided into sections , the number of which has varied at different periods , although the substance remains the same .

There does not , however , seem to have been any established system of lectures , such as now exists , previous to the revival of Freemasonry in the beginning of the eighteenth century . In 1720 Bros-Desaguliers and Anderson , tlie compilers of the Booh of Constitutions , arranged the lectures for the first time in a catechetical formfrom the old charges and

, other Masonic documents that Avere then extant . Of this system , Bro . George Oliver informs us that " the first lecture extended to the greatest length , but the answers Avere circumscribed Avithin a very narroAV compass ; the second lecture was shorter , and the thirdcalled 'The Master Mason ' s part' contained

, , only seven questions , besides the explanations and examinations . " The imperfection of these lectures loudly called for a revision of them , which Avas accordingly accomplished in 1732 by Bro . Martin Clare , a man of talent , and afterwards a Deputy Grand Master . Bro . Clare ' s emendationshoAveveramounted

, , to little more than the addition of a feAv moral and scriptural admonitions , and the insertion of a simple allusion to the human senses , and to the theological ladder . Subsequently Bro . Thomas Dunkerley , Avho was considered the most intelligent Freemason of the day ,

extended and improved the lectures , and amongst other things , first gave the theological ladder its three most important rounds . The lectures thus continued until 1763 , when Bro . Hutchinson gave them an improved form , AAdiich Avas still further extended in 1772 by Bro . Preston , whose system remained for a long time the standard . ( These lectures have lately been very ably set forth by Bro . Henry George Warren . ) According to Bro . Preston ,