Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad01200
Midland Grand Hotel , LONDON , N . W Venetian Rooms now available for Masonic Dinners , etc . Other Midland Railway Hotels at Liverpool , Leeds , Bradford , Derby , Morecombe , and Heysham . Chief Office : W . TOWLE , Midland Grand Hotel , Manager . London , N . W . M . Ft . Hotels , etc .
Ad01201
PERRIER = JOUET & Co 's . CHAMPAGNES . FINEST VINTAGE RESERVE-CUVEES . THE FAVOURITE MASONIC BRAND . Agent—A . BOURSOT , 9 , Hart Street , Hark Lane , London .
Ad01203
•^ itttf . teTtfitsanc ( IIUSTRATEP .
The Ancient Landmarks.
The Ancient landmarks .
NO subject is wont to excite more speedy attention , or inspire more legitimate curiosity , among the more thoughtful of our neophytes , than the opt-repeated phrase , " The Ancient Landmarks of our Order . " All institutions , moral or material , built up by man since the experience of the race began to be recordedhave had fields
, of action marked off by limits , well-defined in proportion to the success of the institutions . Otherwise , the initial energy has been dissipated , and failure foredoomed . Commonly , then , as soon as the Newly Admitted Brother brings intelligence to bear on the doctrines and methods of our
Society , he begins by asking , " What are the Landmarks of Freemasonry ? " It is little to the purpose that the question should remain unanswered . " The Ancient Landmarks "
have been set before him as of the last importance . The very phrase confirms it . " Thou shalt not , " says the HebreAV lawgiver , " remove thy neighbour ' s Landmark , Avhich they of old time have set in thine inheritance . " Whatever the Landmarks are , they are meant to define our Craft for all time .
The recognised authorities . and leaders of the Englishspeaking Craft , both in this country and in America , haA'e tried their hands at framing a reply , but without agreement among themselves or satisfaction to their folloAA'ers . In an oft-quoted passage in the Dictionary of Symbolic Masonry ,
published half a century ago , the Rev . George Oliver , D . D ., thus sums up the conflicting opinions of his predecessors . " Some restrict the Landmarks to the O . B ., signs , tokens and Avoids . Others include the ceremonies of Initiation , Passing , and Raising : and the form , dimensions and support ; the ground , situation and covering ; the ornaments , furniture and
jeAvels of a Lodge ; or their characteristic symbols . Some think that the Order has no Landmarks beyond its peculiar secrets . " Ten years later , Dr . 01 iA ; er , in a less known work , The Freemasons' Treasury , resumed the discussion , taking up ground totally inconsistent with the character of Immutability usually held essential in the case of Landmarks . He
divided "the genuine Landmarks of Freemasonry , " as he was careful to call them into no less than " twelve distinct classes , which may be arranged under the following heads " :
i . ELEMENTARY . 2 . INDUCTIVE . 3 . RITUAL . 4 . PERSONAL . 5 . THE CARDINAL POINTS . 6 . SCIENTIFIC . 7 . HISTORICAL . 8 . TYPICAL . 9 . DOCTRINAL . 10 . PRACTICAL . 11 . OBSOLETE . 12 . SPURIOUS .
The odd nature of the last two categories , in a list of " genuine Landmarks , " needs no comment . Dr . OliA-er Avas never conspicuous for critical acumen , and he included in his shifting Landmarks most of the details and incidents that could befall a Mason between the cradle and the grave .
Much about the same time , a list of Masonic Landmarks Avas drawn up by an American Brother , equal in learning and superior in judgment to our good Bro . Oliver—Dr . Albert G . Mackey . His List , first published in 18 58 , comprised twenty-five heads , each of which he regarded as
an unalterable characteristic of the Order . Though some of Dr . Mackey ' s separate items might be aggregated under a more general head , and others may be thought to haA-e acquired undue prominence through the special circumstances of the great Masonic Jurisdiction for which he was writing ,
yet the List will always remain a monument of the laborious research , in which he equalled , and the sane judgment , in which he surpassed , the best of his contemporaries . The time seems to have come when some common effort should be made to ascertain the Landmarks of the Order .
Certain Grand Lodges and Grand Orients that claim fraternal recognition differ widely from us in their views of the functions of Freemasonry . Have they shifted the Landmarks ? Or have Ave ?
Let us , therefore , see Avhat constitutes a Landmark . It must be some great principle , of such a character , that , if it be removed , the organization ceases to be Freemasonry . The removal may result in an organization as good as , or better , than Freemasonry . But it is a different organization . It folloAvs , that it must be a principle universally recognised
as an integral part of the Order ; and that , from Time Immemorial . If it has been only laid down by authority since the organization AA'as completed it comes under a different heading , that of LaAvs and Regulations . If it has only been silently adopted , or has , in a manner , grown up , since the
organization was completed , it conies under yet another heading , that of Established Usages . When the Landmarks have been thus identified , Ave must make sure that they are adequate to delimitate the entire field of Freemasonry . First , they must account for our
reverent dependence on the Great Architect of the Universe , for the constant presence of the Three Great Lights , and for all the Symbolism therewith connected . Secondly , they must account for the universality of our mutual goodwill , for the maintenance of modes of recognition above and beyond
the limits of any one nationality or speech , and the complicated Ritual thereby necessitated . Thirdly , they- must account for the esoteric doctrine , for the high tone of morality , and for the emblems and allegories whereby Ave are taught to look forward , ever forward .
When tested by these modes of measurement , 0111 Ancient Landmarks gain in simplicity and endurance what they lose in number and variety . They stand before us just three in number , by solidity and importance the most conspicuous and lasting that have marked the bounds of any human institution . They
are—First , the Fatherhood of God ; Second , the Brotherhood of Man ; and Third , the Life to come .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad01200
Midland Grand Hotel , LONDON , N . W Venetian Rooms now available for Masonic Dinners , etc . Other Midland Railway Hotels at Liverpool , Leeds , Bradford , Derby , Morecombe , and Heysham . Chief Office : W . TOWLE , Midland Grand Hotel , Manager . London , N . W . M . Ft . Hotels , etc .
Ad01201
PERRIER = JOUET & Co 's . CHAMPAGNES . FINEST VINTAGE RESERVE-CUVEES . THE FAVOURITE MASONIC BRAND . Agent—A . BOURSOT , 9 , Hart Street , Hark Lane , London .
Ad01203
•^ itttf . teTtfitsanc ( IIUSTRATEP .
The Ancient Landmarks.
The Ancient landmarks .
NO subject is wont to excite more speedy attention , or inspire more legitimate curiosity , among the more thoughtful of our neophytes , than the opt-repeated phrase , " The Ancient Landmarks of our Order . " All institutions , moral or material , built up by man since the experience of the race began to be recordedhave had fields
, of action marked off by limits , well-defined in proportion to the success of the institutions . Otherwise , the initial energy has been dissipated , and failure foredoomed . Commonly , then , as soon as the Newly Admitted Brother brings intelligence to bear on the doctrines and methods of our
Society , he begins by asking , " What are the Landmarks of Freemasonry ? " It is little to the purpose that the question should remain unanswered . " The Ancient Landmarks "
have been set before him as of the last importance . The very phrase confirms it . " Thou shalt not , " says the HebreAV lawgiver , " remove thy neighbour ' s Landmark , Avhich they of old time have set in thine inheritance . " Whatever the Landmarks are , they are meant to define our Craft for all time .
The recognised authorities . and leaders of the Englishspeaking Craft , both in this country and in America , haA'e tried their hands at framing a reply , but without agreement among themselves or satisfaction to their folloAA'ers . In an oft-quoted passage in the Dictionary of Symbolic Masonry ,
published half a century ago , the Rev . George Oliver , D . D ., thus sums up the conflicting opinions of his predecessors . " Some restrict the Landmarks to the O . B ., signs , tokens and Avoids . Others include the ceremonies of Initiation , Passing , and Raising : and the form , dimensions and support ; the ground , situation and covering ; the ornaments , furniture and
jeAvels of a Lodge ; or their characteristic symbols . Some think that the Order has no Landmarks beyond its peculiar secrets . " Ten years later , Dr . 01 iA ; er , in a less known work , The Freemasons' Treasury , resumed the discussion , taking up ground totally inconsistent with the character of Immutability usually held essential in the case of Landmarks . He
divided "the genuine Landmarks of Freemasonry , " as he was careful to call them into no less than " twelve distinct classes , which may be arranged under the following heads " :
i . ELEMENTARY . 2 . INDUCTIVE . 3 . RITUAL . 4 . PERSONAL . 5 . THE CARDINAL POINTS . 6 . SCIENTIFIC . 7 . HISTORICAL . 8 . TYPICAL . 9 . DOCTRINAL . 10 . PRACTICAL . 11 . OBSOLETE . 12 . SPURIOUS .
The odd nature of the last two categories , in a list of " genuine Landmarks , " needs no comment . Dr . OliA-er Avas never conspicuous for critical acumen , and he included in his shifting Landmarks most of the details and incidents that could befall a Mason between the cradle and the grave .
Much about the same time , a list of Masonic Landmarks Avas drawn up by an American Brother , equal in learning and superior in judgment to our good Bro . Oliver—Dr . Albert G . Mackey . His List , first published in 18 58 , comprised twenty-five heads , each of which he regarded as
an unalterable characteristic of the Order . Though some of Dr . Mackey ' s separate items might be aggregated under a more general head , and others may be thought to haA-e acquired undue prominence through the special circumstances of the great Masonic Jurisdiction for which he was writing ,
yet the List will always remain a monument of the laborious research , in which he equalled , and the sane judgment , in which he surpassed , the best of his contemporaries . The time seems to have come when some common effort should be made to ascertain the Landmarks of the Order .
Certain Grand Lodges and Grand Orients that claim fraternal recognition differ widely from us in their views of the functions of Freemasonry . Have they shifted the Landmarks ? Or have Ave ?
Let us , therefore , see Avhat constitutes a Landmark . It must be some great principle , of such a character , that , if it be removed , the organization ceases to be Freemasonry . The removal may result in an organization as good as , or better , than Freemasonry . But it is a different organization . It folloAvs , that it must be a principle universally recognised
as an integral part of the Order ; and that , from Time Immemorial . If it has been only laid down by authority since the organization AA'as completed it comes under a different heading , that of LaAvs and Regulations . If it has only been silently adopted , or has , in a manner , grown up , since the
organization was completed , it conies under yet another heading , that of Established Usages . When the Landmarks have been thus identified , Ave must make sure that they are adequate to delimitate the entire field of Freemasonry . First , they must account for our
reverent dependence on the Great Architect of the Universe , for the constant presence of the Three Great Lights , and for all the Symbolism therewith connected . Secondly , they must account for the universality of our mutual goodwill , for the maintenance of modes of recognition above and beyond
the limits of any one nationality or speech , and the complicated Ritual thereby necessitated . Thirdly , they- must account for the esoteric doctrine , for the high tone of morality , and for the emblems and allegories whereby Ave are taught to look forward , ever forward .
When tested by these modes of measurement , 0111 Ancient Landmarks gain in simplicity and endurance what they lose in number and variety . They stand before us just three in number , by solidity and importance the most conspicuous and lasting that have marked the bounds of any human institution . They
are—First , the Fatherhood of God ; Second , the Brotherhood of Man ; and Third , the Life to come .