MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION
Student Outline
The Landmarks of Freemasonry
1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
a. Enabling Learning Objectives
(1) With the aid of references, list in writing the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry in accordance with
Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry, Macoy Publications, Inc.
b. Terminal Learning Objective
(1) Without the aid of references, list elements of the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry in accordance
with Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry, Macoy Publications, Inc.
OUTLINE
2. FOUNDATION OF MASONIC LAW: The Foundation of Masonic Law are to be found in the
Landmarks, or Unwritten Law, and in the Ancient Constitutions, or the Written Law. Please refer to your
reading assignment for more detail.
a. Landmarks of Freemasonry (25) or Unwritten Law. The landmarks are ancient, unchangeable and
unrepealable.
Law, Definition: A rule of action and is applied to all kinds of actions, whether animate or inanime, rational
or irrational.
Freemasonry is governed by its laws or rules of order which is either:
1. Come out of its organization and are based upon its long established customs and usages.
2. Are derived from the enactment of its governing bodies.
Types of Masonic Laws – Written and Unwritten
Unwritten Law:
The unwritten laws and customs of Masonry constitute its Landmarks.
Landmark
Landmarks of Freemasonry
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The first requisite of a landmark is that it must have existed from “Time whereof the memory of man runneth
not to the contrary.” A Landmark may not be repealed.
What are the following 3 key Landmarks? Hint: See “The Landmarks of Masonry (25)” below…
19.
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20.
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25.
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The Landmarks of Masonry (25)
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Modes of recognition.
Division of Symbolic Masonry into three degrees.
The Legend of the Third Degree.
The government of the Fraternity by the Grand Master.
The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the Craft.
The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for the conferring of the degrees.
The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for opening and holding Lodges.
The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for making Masons at sight.
The necessity for Masons to congregate into Lodges.
The government of the Craft, when congregated into a Lodge, by a Master and two Wardens.
The necessity that every Lodge, when congregrated, should be duly tyled.
The right of every mason to be represented in all general meetings of the Craft and to instruct his
representatives.
The right, of every mason to appeal the decisions of his brethren in Lodge convened to the Grand
Lodge.
The right of every mason to visit and set in every regular Lodge.
Than no visitor, unknown to the brethren present of to some of them, as a Mason, can enter a Lodge
without first passing an examination according to the ancient usage.
Than no Lodge can interfere in the business of another.
Every Freemason is amendable to the laws and regulations of the Masonic jurisdiction in which he
resides.
Certain qualifications of a candidate for initiation. *
A belief in the existence of God as the Grand Architect of the Universe.
The belief in the resurrection to a future life.
That the “Book of the Laws” shall constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of the Lodge.
The equality of all Masons.
The secrecy of the institution.
The foundation of a “Speculative Science” upon an Operative Art.
That these Landmarks can never change.
b. Ancient Constitutions or Written Law,
Written or statutory law are those regulation enacted, from time to time, by General Assemblies, Grand
Lodges, or other supreme authorities of the order. They are either General or Local.
Landmarks of Freemasonry
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General Regulations:
General regulations are those that were enacted by such bodies as had at time universal jurisdiction over the
Craft. The regulation adopted prior to 1721 are considered general in nature. The code of General
Regulations or the universal written law of Masonry, together with the Landmarks, constitute the foundation
on which the superstructure of Masonry is erected. Documents that contain the General Regulations;
The Old York Constitution of 926
The Constitution of Edward III
Regulations of 1663
The Ancient Installation Charges
The Ancient Charge of Making
The Regulations of 1703
The Regulations of 1717
The Regulations of 1720
The Charges Approved in 1722
General Regulations of 1721
Local Regulations:
Local regulations are all of those laws which have been enacted by a Grand Lodge and of authority only in
the Jurisdiction of that Grand Lodge.
Landmarks of Freemasonry
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