THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

odies, and certain powers, in the exercise of which they are
restricted.
These will next engage our attention.
The first great duty, not only of every lodge, but of every Mason, is
to
see that the landmarks of the Order shall never be impaired. The
General
Regulations of Masonry--to which every Master, at his installation, is
bound to acknowledge his submission--declare that "it is not in the
power
of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of
Masonry."
And, hence, no lodge, without violating all the implied and express
obligations into which it has entered, can, in any manner, alter or
amend
the work, lectures, and ceremonies of the institution. As its members
have received the ritual from their predecessors, so are they bound to
transmit it, unchanged, in the slightest degree, to their successors.
In
the Grand Lodge, alone, resides the power of enacting new regulations;
but, even _it_ must be careful that, in every such regulation, the
landmarks are preserved. When, therefore, we hear young and
inexperienced
Masters speak of making improvements (as they arrogantly call them)
upon
the old lectures or ceremonies, we may be sure that such Masters either
know nothing of the duties they owe to the craft, or are willfully
forgetful of the solemn obligation which they have contracted. Some may
suppose that the ancient ritual of the Order is imperfect, and requires
amendment. One may think that the ceremonies are too simple, and wish
to
increase them; another, that they are too complicated, and desire to
simplify them; one may be displeased with the antiquated language;
another, with the character of the traditions; a third, with something
else. But, the rule is imperative and absolute, that no change can or
must
be made to gratify individual taste. As the Barons of England, once,
with
unanimous voice, exclaimed, "Nolumus leges Angliæ mutare!" so do all
good
Masons respond to every attempt at innovation, "We are unwilling to
alter
the customs of Freemasonry."
In relation to the election of officers, a subordinate lodge is allowed
to
exercise no discretion. The names and duties of these officers are
prescribed, partly by the landmarks or the ancient constitutions, and
partly by the regulations of various Grand Lodges. While the landmarks
are
preserved, a Grand Lodge may add to the list of officers as it pleases;
and whatever may be its regulation, the subordinate lodges are bound to
obey it; nor can any such lodge create new offices nor abolish old ones
without the consent of the Grand Lodge.
Lodges are also bound to elect their officers at a time which is always