Basic Principles of Grand Lodge Recognition
This article treats the Basic Principles of Grand Lodge Recognition (also Basic Principles ) as a framework law of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLoE) Masonic Grand Lodge . The Grand Lodge of Scotland has guidelines with the same title but different content.
These basic principles were issued on September 4, 1929 and are now in the 1989 version. They determine whether a Masonic Association is recognized as " regular " by the UGLoE . If these criteria do not apply to a grand lodge, the UGLoE will consider them to be masonic irregular.
content
The following points must be fulfilled by a grand lodge in order to meet the requirements of the UGLoE:
- It must be used by an already recognized grand lodge or at least three lodges of a recognized grand lodge (GL).
- It must be autonomous in the Masonic sense and have undisputed authority over the three basic degrees of Freemasonry (apprentice, journeyman and master).
- The members of the grand lodge must be men and must not have mason contact with lodges that accept women.
- Its members must believe in a supreme being ("supreme being": can also be translated as the highest being).
- The Grand Lodge Freemasons must lay off their obligations on or in full view of the Book of the Holy Law .
- The Three Great Lights of Freemasonry ( Book of the Holy Law [usually the Bible; however not because of the "record of human history" or "expression of divine revelation", but as a "symbol for the totality of moral norms and values"], angle and Circles) must be in place when the grand lodge or one of its lodges is working.
- Discussions about (daily) politics and religion must be prohibited.
- The grand lodge and its lodges must follow the principles, doctrines (so-called old landmarks ) and customs of the craft.
literature
- Lennhoff, Posner, Binder: Internationales Freemaurer Lexikon , FA Herbig Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7766-2161-3
Web links
- Summary of the Antient Charges and Regulations The basic principles of recognition for another Grand Lodge by the United Grand Lodge of England (PDF; 383 kB, English)