Modern masons accept 25 principles, which they term “landmarks”, as signifying the boundaries of Freemasonry. The term “landmarks” is attributed to Deuteronomy 19:14:
“You shall not move your neighbor’s landmarks erected by your forefathers in the heritage you receive in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you to occupy.”
These boundaries are said to be the unalterable limits that all Freemasons are expected to confine themselves. Chief amongst the principles given by Albert Mackey, author of the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, are: the method of recognition by secret signs, words, grips, and steps; the three degrees of Freemasonry including the Royal Arch Degree; the Hiram legend given in the third degree; the proper tiling of the lodge against “raining” and “snowing” (against male and female “cowans”, eavesdroppers or profane intruders); the right of every regular Mason to visit every regular lodge in the world; a belief in the existence of God (a Supreme Being) and in future life; the Volume of the Sacred Law (the Bible); equality of Masons in the lodge; secrecy; symbolical method of teaching; and the inviolability of landmarks.
Many of the landmarks can be traced back to the “Old Charges” found in Anderson’s “Constitutions”. They are said to be the unchangeable laws and are contained in the “Book of Constitution” of every Grand Lodge.Two of the characteristics that are considered to be essential to Freemasonry are:
- A Freemason must obey the moral law and is forbidden from being an atheist.
- A Freemason must not fight with another Freemason within the Masonic Lodge.
Some version of masonic history suggest that Freemasonry originates in a Christian secret society, that concealed an esoteric doctrine, while others claim that Freemasonry is not a Christian institution, due to the fact that it acknowledges various pre-Christian models and teachers. The Grand Orient of France went as far as declaring that “Freemasonry, an essentially philanthropic, philosophic (naturalist, adogmatic) and progressive institution, has for its object the search after truth, the study of universal morality, of the sciences and arts and the practice of beneficence. It has for its principles absolute liberty of conscience and human solidarity. It excludes none on account of his belief. Its device is Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” This removed all obligations of being a Christian, or even a believer in literal a Supreme Being, including the Grand Architect, and even references to the Bible. As an Atheist-inspired lodge, the Grand Orient of France is not accepted by most English and American jurisdictions.
In 1889, American Grand Orator Zabriskie declared that “individual members may believe in many gods, if their conscience and judgment so dictate”. This is in line with the constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England since 1815 that dictate that “a Mason therefore is particularly bound never to act against the dictates of his conscience.” This is summed up as two principles, those of “liberty of conscience and tolerance.” These two principles were proclaimed to be the foundation of Masonry.
The Grand Architect of the Universe and the Bible are still considered to be of the highest importance to most Freemasons. In 1909, Italian Masonic journal Rivista states that “the formula of the Grand Architect … is the most large-minded and righteous affirmation of the immense principle of existence and may represent as well the (revolutionary) God of Mazzini as the Satan of Giosue Carducci (in his celebrated hymn to Satan); God, as the fountain of love, not of hatred; Satan, as the genius of the good, not of the bad.” This particular stance has undoubtedly given fuel to anti-Masonry writers who suggest that Freemasonry ultimately worships Satan, rather than deriving its principles from Christian tradition.
