(Adopted February 14, 1989)
Government of Masonry
I - The Grand Lodge is the supreme governing
body within its territorial jurisdiction. The powers
of the Grand Lodge are derived from the Ancient Landmarks,
usages and customs of Masonry. It has original and
exclusive jurisdiction to enact and enforce all laws
and regulations for the government of the Craft.
2. That it is the prerogative of the
Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the
craft in his jurisdiction, whether grand or subordinate,
and to exercise the executive functions of the Grand
Lodge during its recess.
3 . 'Me Necessity of Masons to congregate
in Lodges, to have a Master and two Wardens.
4. No one can be elected Master of a
chartered Lodge but a Master Mason who shall have
served as a Warden.
5 . That no appeal can be taken to the
Lodge from the decision of the Master or Warden occupying
the chair in his absence. A Lodge can not try its
Master.
6. No Lodge can interfere with the business
of another Lodge.
7. The equality of all Masons.
8. The right of every Mason to appeal
to the Grand Lodge from any decision affecting his
status as a Mason.
9. Membership in the Fraternity:
The Grand Lodge recognizes the physical,
mental, moral, and spiritual qualifications of a candidate
for membership in the Masonic Fraternity, as derived
from the Ancient Landmarks. The candidate must receive
a clear ballot to qualify for membership. Reference:
General Regulations of 1721
"No man can be entered a brother
in any particular Lodge, or admitted a member thereof,
without the unanimous consent of all the members of
the Lodge then present when the candidate is proposed,
and their consent is formally asked by the Master."
Anderson's Constitutions
This Landmark applies to candidates
applying for membership in the fraternity and those
asking to be "accepted" from other Masonic
Lodges.
10. The Masonic Insignia
During the latter part of the eighteenth
century, the Square and Compasses, were united in
a certain manner to form the recognized insignia of
Masonry. The Grand Lodge of Louisiana recognizes this
as a Landmark of Masonry. The Square and Compasses,
as they appear in the Master Mason Degree, shall be
the official insignia of Louisiana Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge recognizes that the
letter "G' has been added to the insignia in
recent years, not by official action, but by individuals
as an expression of love for the Deity. The Grand
Lodge would permit this addition to continue, but
will not permit other innovations, deletions, or additions
without permission of the Grand Lodge with the exception
of present officers jewels.
11. "The Book of the Law,"
square and compasses are the Great Light i n Freemasonry,
and their presence in an open Lodge is indispensable.
12. The white Lambskin apron is the
badge of a Mason.
13. The legend of the Third Degree.
14. The covenants of a Mason do not
conflict with his duty to God, his country, Ms family,
Ms neighbor, or himself, but are binding upon his
conscience and actions.
15. Penalties described in Masonry are
Ancient Symbolic Penalties.
16. Masons must obey the moral law and
government of the country in which they reside.
17. Secrecy applies to the modes of
recognition, certain symbols, the ballot, obligations,
signs, pass words, and the forms of initiation.
18. A belief in the existence of God,
in the immortality of the Soul and a resurrection
thereof to future life,
19. The volume of the Sacred Law, open
upon the altar, is an indispensable furnishing of
every Lodge while at labor.
20. The symbolism of the Operative Art.
21. The prerogative of the Grand Master
to grant dispensations for conferring degrees at irregular
times and for opening and holding Lodges (Lodge under
dispensation).
22. That no visitor, unknown to the
Brethren present, or to some one of them as a Freemason,
can enter a Lodge without first passing an examination
according to ancient usage.
23. Every Master, before closing his
Lodge, may give, or cause to be given, a lecture on
Masonry, or a part thereof.
24. FREEMASON
Healing Day - June 24,1813.
Modems and Ancients had separated and
formed separate Grand Lodges over one question.
The religion belief of a candidate.
They agreed - June 24, 1813 on this
statement:
"Let a man's religion or mode
of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from
the order, provided he believes in the Glorious Architect
of Heaven and Earth and practices the sacred duties
of Morality."
(Copied from
pages IVa, IVb and, IVC of the Louisiana Handbook
of Masonic Law.)
