Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

LANDMARKS
LANDMARKS 423
the Grand Lodge . Such, however, is not the meet again at other times and other places,
case . The office is indebted for its existence according to the necessity of circumstances .
to a landmark of the Order . Grand Masters, But Warrants of Constitution, by-laws, permanent
officers, and annual arrears are mod-
or persons performing the functions under a
different but equivalent title, are to be found ern innovations wholly outside the landmarks,
in the records of the Institution long before and dependent entirely on the special enactments
of a comparatively recent period .
Grand Lodges were established ; and if the
present system of legislative government by 10 . The government of the Craft, when so
Grand Lodges were to be abolished, a Grand congregated in a Lodge, by a Master and two
Master would still be necessary .
Wardens, is also a landmark . A congregation
of Masons meeting together under any
5 . The prerogative of the Grand Master to
preside over every assembly of the Craft, other government, as that, for instance, of a
wheresoever and whensoever held, is a fifth president and vice-president, or a chairman
landmark . It is in consequence of this law, and subchairman, would not be recognized as
derived from ancient usage, and not from any a Lodge. The presence of a Master and two
special enactment, that the Grand Master assumes
the chair, or as it is called in England, tion of a Lodge as a Warrant of constitution
Wardens is as essential to the valid organiza-
"the throne," at every communication of the is at the present day . The names, of course,
Grand Lodge ; and that he is also entitled to vary in different languages ; but the officers,
preside at the communication of every subordinate
Lodge, where he may happen to be everywhere identical .
their number, prerogatives, and duties are
present .
11 . The necessity that every Lodge, when
6 . The prerogative of the Grand Master to congregated should be duly tiled, is an important
landmark of the Institution which is
grant dispensations for conferring degrees at
irregular times, is another and a very important
landmark . The statutory law of Masonry arises from the esoteric character of Masonry .
never neglected . The necessity of this law
requires a month, or other determinate period, The duty of guarding the door, and keeping
to elapse between the presentation of a petition
and the election of a candidate . But the one, which therefore constitutes a landmark.
off cowans and eavesdroppers, is an ancient
Grand Master has the power to set aside or 12 . The right of every Mason to be represented
in all general meetings of the Craft, and
dispense with this probation, and to allow a
candidate to be initiated at once . This prerogative
he possessed before the enactment of landmark . Formerly, these general meetings,
to instruct his representatives, is a twelfth
the law requiring a probation, and as no statute
can impair his prerogative, he still retains called "General Assemblies," and all the Fra-
which were usually held once a year, were
the power.
ternity, even to the youngest Entered Apprentice,
were permitted to be present . Now
7 . The prerogative of the Grand Master to
give dispensations for opening and holding they are called "Grand Lodges," and only the
Lodges is another landmark . He may grant, Masters and Wardens of the subordinate
in virtue of this, to a sufficient number of Lodges are summoned . But this is simply as
Masons, the privilege of meeting together and the representatives of their members . Originally,
each Mason represented himself ; now
conferring degrees. The Lodges thus established
are called "Lodges under dispensation ." he is represented by his officers . (See Representatives
of Lodges .)
(See Lodges.)
8 . The prerogative of the Grand Master to 13 . The right of every Mason to appeal
make Masons at sight is a landmark which from the decision of his brethren, in Lodge
is closely connected with the preceding one . convened, to the Grand Lodge or General
There has been much misapprehension in relation
to this landmark, which misapprehensential
to the preservation of justice, and the
Assembly of Masons, is a landmark highly ession
has sometimes led to a denial of its existence
in jurisdictions where the Grand Master Grand Lodges, in adopting a regulation that
prevention of oppression . A few modern
was, perhaps, at the very time substantially the decision of subordinate Lodges, in cases of
exercising the prerogative, without the slightest
remark or opposition. (See Sight, Making appeal, have violated this unquestioned land-
expulsion, cannot be wholly set aside upon an
Masons at .)
mark, as well as the principles of just government
.
9 . The necessity for Masons to congregate
in Lodges is another landmark . It is not to be 14. The right of every Mason to visit and
understood by this that any ancient landmark sit in every regular Lodge is an unquestionable
landmark of the Order . This is called
has directed that permanent organization of
subordinate Lodges which constitutes one of "the right of visitation ." This light of visitation
has always been recognize as an in-
the features of the Masonic system as it now
prevails . But the landmarks of the Order always
prescribed that Masons should, from travels through the world . And this is beherent
right which inures to every Mason as be
time to time, congregate together for the purpose
of either Operative or Speculative labor, divisions for convenience of the universal
cause Lodges are justly considered as only
and that these congregations should be called Masonic family. This right may, of course,
Lodges. Formerly, these were extemporary be impaired or forfeited on special occasions
meetings called together for special purposes, by various circumstances ; but when admission
is refused to a Mason in good and then dissolved, the brethren departing to
standing,