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

plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor
to
behave himself undutifully to inferior magistrates. He is cheerfully to
conform to every lawful authority; to uphold on every occasion the
interest of the community, and zealously promote the prosperity of his
own
country."
Such being the characteristics of a true Mason, the candidate who
desires
to obtain that title, must show his claim to the possession of these
virtues; and hence the same charges declare, in reference to these
moral
qualifications, that "The persons made Masons, or admitted members of a
lodge, must be good and true men--no immoral or scandalous men, but of
good report."
Section II.
_Of the Physical Qualifications of Candidates._
The physical qualifications of a candidate refer to his sex, his age,
and
the condition of his limbs.
The first and most important requisite of a candidate is, that he shall
be
"_a man_." No woman can be made a Mason. This landmark is so
indisputable,
that it would be wholly superfluous to adduce any arguments or
authority
in its support.
As to age, the old charges prescribe the rule, that the candidate must
be
"of mature and discreet age." But what is the precise period when one
is
supposed to have arrived at this maturity and discretion, cannot be
inferred from any uniform practice of the craft in different countries.
The provisions of the civil law, which make twenty-one the age of
maturity, have, however, been generally followed. In this country the
regulation is general, that the candidate must be twenty-one years of
age.
Such, too, was the regulation adopted by the General Assembly, which
met
on the 27th Dec., 1663, and which prescribed that "no person shall be
accepted unless he be twenty-one years old or more."[55] In Prussia,
the
candidate is required to be twenty-five; in England, twenty-one,[56]
"unless by dispensation from the Grand Master, or Provincial Grand
Master;" in Ireland, twenty-one, except "by dispensation from the Grand
Master, or the Grand Lodge;" in France, twenty-one, unless the
candidate
be the son of a Mason who has rendered important service to the craft,