|
THE AIMS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CRAFT
In August 1938 the Grand
Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland each agreed upon and issued a
statement identical in terms except that the name of the issuing Grand Lodge
appeared throughout. This statement, which was entitled "Aims and
Relationships of the Craft", was in the following terms:- 1.
From
time to time the Grand Lodge of Scotland has deemed it desirable to set forth
in precise form the aims of Freemasonry as consistently practised under its
jurisdiction since it came into being as an organised body in 1736, and also
to define the principles governing its relations with those other Grand
Lodges with which it is in fraternal accord. 2.
In
view of representations which have been received, and of statements recently
issued which have distorted or obscured the true objects of Freemasonry, it
is once again considered necessary to emphasise certain fundamental
principles of the Order. 3.
The
first condition of admission into, and membership
of, the Order is a belief in the Supreme Being. This is essential and admits
of no compromise. 4.
The
Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always
open in the Lodges. Every candidate is required to take his obligation on
that Book, or on the Volume which is held by his particular Creed to impart
sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it. 5.
Everyone
who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance
any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of
society, he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he
resides or which may afford him protection, and he must never be remiss in
the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land. 6.
While
Scottish Freemasonry inculcates in each of its members the duties of loyalty
and citizenship, it reserves to the individual the right to hold his own
opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in any Lodge nor at any
time in his capacity as a Freemason is he permitted to discuss or to advance
his views on theological or political questions. 7.
The
Grand Lodge has a1ways consistently refused to express any opinion on
questions of foreign or domestic state policy either at home or abroad, and
it will not allow its name to be associated with an action however
humanitarian it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable policy of
standing aloof from every question affecting the relations between one
Government and another, or between political parties, or questions as to
rival theories of Government. 8.
The
Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist bodies
styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles, and
while that attitude exists the Grand Lodge of Scotland refuses absolutely to
have any relations with such bodies or to regard them as Freemasons. 9.
The
Grand Lodge of Scotland is a sovereign and independent body practising
Freemasonry only within the three Degrees and only within the limits defined
in its Constitution. It does not recognise or admit the existence of any
superior Masonic authority however styled. 10.
On
more than one occasion the Grand Lodge has refused, and it will continue to
refuse, to participate in conferences with so-called International
Associations claiming to represent Freemasonry, which admit to membership
bodies failing to conform strictly to the principles upon which the Grand
Lodge of Scotland is founded. The Grand Lodge does not admit any such claim,
nor can its views be represented by any such Association. 11. There is no secret with regard to any of the basic principles of Freemasonry, some of which have been stated above. The Grand Lodge will always consider the recognition of those Grand Lodges which profess and practise and can show that they have consistently professed and practised, those established and unaltered principles, but in no circumstances will it enter into discussion with a view to any new or varied interpretation of them. They must be accepted and practised wholeheartedly and in their entirety by those who desire to be recognised as Freemasons by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. This page has been reproduced from the pages of the website of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. |
|
Copyright © 1996-2012 |