Landmarks Of Freemasonry*

LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY *

In order to ascertain what is the real tendency and end of Freemasonry , ifc will be necessary to clear the way by a brief examination of the Landmarks , which denote certain standard principles in the general laws , usages , customs , and language of tbe Order , and were originally established by our ancient brethren to preserve

its identity , and prevent innovation . It has ever been considered essential to the integrity of Masonry that they should remain intact , because , if its leading tenets were subject to periodical changes at the will -and p leasure of the Fraternity in every successive generation , its distinctive character , in process of time , might perchance be destroyed ; in which case tbe institution

would be denuded of all its fixed and determinate principles . It was fenced round with Landmarks , therefore , to preserve its integrity , and prevent the introduction of unauthorised novelties , which would affect its peculiar claims to consideration in the eye of the world . In a disquisition on the rise and progress of Freemasonry , ifc is usual to trace ib by means of certain

presumed Landmarks through tho dark ages , including the patriarchal ancl Mosaic dispensations , particularising the era of the Dionysiacs , who built the Temple of Solomon , and the Collegia ? Fabiorum , both of which were strictly operative ; and after noticing tho establishment ; of a Speculative Grand Lodge at York in the tenth century , the theorists proceed to the presumed

institution of what is termed on the Continent of Europe the Rite of Ecossais , or the Order of H . B / . D . M ., the origin of , which , from tolerably correct evidence , is assigned to King Robert Bruce , as the consummation of the battle of Bannock Burn , which was fought on St . John ' s Day , 1314 . In the course of this inquiry the fable of Osiris and other practices of the heathen mysteries are

incidentally mentioned , together with tho traditional period when religions rites were first introduced as a speculative feature in the operative Craft . Tbe genuine Landmarks of Masonry , however , are of a different character , ancl are susceptible of division into twelve distinct classes , which may be arranged under the following beads : —1 . Elementary ; as in the opening

aud closing , tho preparation and admission of a candidate , the ballofc , & c . 2 . Inductive ; as in tho badge , meeting and parting , tbo qualification questions , & c . 3 . Ritual ; as in the floor and covering of the lodgo , the when ancl where , the ornaments , furniture , and jewels , labour and refreshment , the porch , dormer , ancl stone pavement ot the Temple , & c . 4 . Personal ; as the signs , words , and

tokens , the principal point , hele and conceal , of , at , and on , the working tools , & c . 5 . Landmarks connected with the Cardinal Points ; as the form , extent , and situation of the lodge , the pillars , tbe lesser lights , the deiseal , hailing from Jerusalem , & c . 0 . Scientific ; as in Masonic labour and refreshment , Geometry , numbers , the visica piscistbe universal languageworldly possessions & c .

, , , 7 , Historical ; as the alliance of Solomon and Hiram , the building of the Temple , Jacob ' s vision , the deliverance from Egyptian bondage , passing the Red Sea , wandering in the wilderness , crossing " the Jordan , & c . 8 . Typical ; as tho legend of the third Degree , darkness visible , the Shekinah , tho Chembins , & c . ' 9 . Doctrinal ; as the qualifications of the WM ., oral communication ,

& c . 10 . Practical ; as in the powers of a Grand Lodge , the O . B ., moral duties , & c . II . Obsolete ; as free by birth , Abraham and Hagar , illegitimacy , the fixed lights , age of candidate , the ori ginal parallels ( according to fche English system ) , II . XII . & c . ; ancl 12 . Spurious '' ; as the facultie of Abrac , the Preadarnifces , the cost of the Temple , the amount of wages paid to the workmen , the

precious stones in the foundation , & c . Under such , a classification a Landmark maybe recognised with tolerableaccuracy . The strict inviolability of a Landmark is somewhat problematical . There are certain obsolete particulars in Masonry which were formerly esteemed to be Landmarks , but have undergone alterations in a greater or lesser

degree . It follows , therefore , that if the old Landmarks cannot , by any possibility , be removed , then we incur the unavoidable conclusion that these never had a claim to any such distinction . In all existing constitutions , however , there is a prohibitory clause , which pronounces the Landmarks , like the laws of the Modes and Persians , to ' be unchangeable ;* but Ave shall find that in practice , if

has been occasionally violated , and therefore inapplicable to all the contingencies that may arise in practice . To persist , then , in asserting that the Landmark cannot be altered , with an array of positive facts against the hypothesis , is indefensible ancl absurd , because ifc places the society in a false position . It is well known , that whenever it has been found expedient to expunge a

Landmark , tbe means of accomplishment were never wanting . The letter of the law is stern , but the spirit is feeble . Practice is more than a match for it , and beats it on its . own ground . Salus populi supremo , est lex . Now , before I proceed ifc must be distinctly understood ! that I neither justify nor condemn the practice of modifying a Landmark to meet a new condition of society ; ray intention is merely to record historical truth . The question resolves itself into a matter of expediency , of

which however the policy is somewhat doubtful ; because if that be a sufficient pretext for the renunciation of a single Landmark , who knows but our successors in the . course of a very few ages may witness the abolition of them all on a similar plea ? The restrictive law of Landmark bears some resemblance to the fiction that the Pope has no authority or jurisdiction in these realmswhich :,

, dejure , is correct enough ; but yet everybody knows that he regularly exercises both with , perfect impunity , by the appointment of cardinals , legates , and bishops ; ancl in effect he allows no important ecclesiastical affairs to be , transacted in the United Kingdom , without his approbation and consent . The true state of the case is , that in the actual business

of Freemasonry , as it is now understood and practised , by the whole Masonic community in all parts of the world , progress is the text , aud improvement the commentary . The Grand Lodgo , like the British Parliament ,, is all powerful ; for ifc is a representative institution in . which every brother is present by delegates elected b y himself , and there is consequently no appeal against its

decisions , even if a majority were to agree on a general ' sweep from tho system of every existing Landmark , whether of ancient or modern imposition . Other Masonic communities might protest against the innovation , but tbe English Fraternity would be utterly powerless either to prevent it or to apply a remedy . Ifc is true such , a comprehensive measure is very unlikely to occur : yet ifc cannot be denied that the Landmarks appear to be considered merely as a series of arbitrary boundary lines , which , when they obstruct the overflowing current of "