                                               Mickey Ander, DDGM

        REGULARITY, RECOGNITION, and FRATERNAL RELATIONS

This written report covers a blend of items discussed during
refreshment, after meetings of the A.D. Smith, Jr., Lodge of
Research #1949, in Northern Virginia, on the general topic of
"Recognition".  

The compiled views, together with an index of source materials
will hopefully form the basis for inquiry, research, and further
profitable, friendly discussion.

Time was spent in our early discussions to focus on the meaning
of certain key words, phrases, and terms.  The group commonly
accepted the following as the basis for our debates on
Recognition and Fraternal Relations.  We felt that It didn't
matter whether the terms are subsequently modified (so long as
all parties to a particular discussion start from the same Zero-
point).


I  DEFINITIONS:

Accepted Masons.    In early days (before Speculative Masonry),
                    members who did not necessarily earn their
                    livelihood by the building trades, but were
                    accepted into the guilds.

A.F.& A.M.          Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  There is
                    no appreciable difference between F.& A.M. or
                    F.A.A.M. (Free and Accepted Masons) or A.F.M.
                    (Ancient Free Masons).  Some Grand Lodges use
                    the first designation, others use the second. 
                    The Grand Lodge of Florida, for example, is
                    known by F.& A.M., while South Carolina uses
                    the latter.

                    Some say, the difference is traceable to the
                    great schism when there were two Grand Lodges
                    in England, the "Antients" and the "Moderns".

Ambulatory Warrant. One which permitted the members of a Lodge
                    (usually a military one) to carry the Warrant
                    with them and act under it at any place they
                    might be stationed.

Amity (comity).     Cooperation, friendliness, courtesy,
                    politeness.  Grand Lodges, while independent
                    are in external comity with other Grand
                    Lodges that they recognize.  Subordinate
                    Lodges which cooperate with other Lodges (in
                    their own Grand Lodge) are in internal comity
                    with them.  All Grand Lodges and regular
                    Lodges work together in amity to achieve
                    harmony and peace.
Ancient Landmarks.  Fundamental laws, principles, and teachings. 
                    The Grand Lodge of Virginia has not adopted
                    any particular "set".

Arrest of Charter.  The work of a Lodge is suspended and it is
                    prevented from holding its usual
                    communications by action of the Grand Master. 
                    It is a temporary order until the next
                    meeting of Grand Lodge which is the only body
                    which can approve, revise, or make null the
                    Grand Master's action.
Chartered 
Lodge.              One which has received authority from a Grand
                    Lodge and is entitled to representation in
                    that Grand Lodge.
Clandestine 
Masonic Lodge.      A group of persons uniting into a body termed
                    a Masonic Lodge and purporting to be Masonic,
                    but without consent of a G.L.  Different from
                    Irregular Lodge.

Dormant Lodges.     Lodges that are not active, but which have
                    not surrendered their charters.
Exclusive 
Territorial         A principle that each Grand Lodge is supreme
Jurisdiction.       and sovereign within its own jurisdiction. 
                    It is many times (disdainfully) called the
                    "American Doctrine".  

                    Some feel that the concept might have been
                    born along with the Articles of Confederation
                    in the 1780s.  It has the signature feel of
                    strong States Rights of our early (and
                    present day) government.

Extinct Lodge.      One which has ceased to exist and work and
                    whose Charter has been revoked or forfeited.

Inchoate Lodge.     A Lodge working under a Dispensation.  The
                    word stems from the Latin inchoatus meaning
                    "incomplete".
Irregular 
Masonic Lodge.      A Lodge created legally, but continuing to
                    work after its Charter has been revoked. 
                    Distinguished from clandestine lodge, and
                    spurious lodge.

Landmarks.          Ancient and universal customs of the Order
                    which gradually grew into operation as rules
                    of action.
Legally 
Constituted.        A Lodge working under proper authority and
                    Charter from a Grand Lodge.

Patent.             A granted privilege evidenced by a letter,
                    certificate, or diploma.
Profane.            A non-Mason.  The word comes from the Latin
                    pro meaning "before" and fanum meaning "a
                    temple".  In Masonry it means those who have
                    not been in the Temple, that is, initiated.

Regular Lodge.      One working under a charter or warrant from a
                    legal Masonic authority.

Spurious Masonry.   Not genuine; counterfeit; false with
                    knowledge that it is false.  Distinguished
                    from Irregular Masonry and from Clandestine
                    Masonry.
Striking from 
the Roll.           A punishment inflicted by a subordinate Lodge
                    for non-payment of dues.

U.D.                Under Dispensation;  a charter not yet having
                    been granted; probationary.

Warrant.            A commission giving authority.


II  BIBLIOGRAPHY:

     Coil, Henry W.:  Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia.  Macoy
     Publishing & Masonic Supply  Co., Inc.  1961

     Grand Lodges Recognized by the Grand Lodges of the United
     States.  Silver Spring, MD (Masonic Service Assn) 1993

     Grand Lodges Recognized by the Grand Lodge of Canada. 
     Silver Spring, MD (Masonic Service Assn) 1992

     Haffner, Christopher: Regularity of Origin (a study of
     Masonic precedents), Libra Press, Hong Kong 1986

     List of Lodges, Masonic 1993.  Bloomington, Ill (Pantagraph)
     
     Mackey, Albert G.: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.  New York
     (Macoy) 1966

     Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Various years

     Voorhis, Harold V.B.: Facts for Freemasons.  Macoy
     Publishing

     Waite, Arthur E.:  A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry.
     Weathervane Books, a Division of Imprint Society, Inc.


III  DISCUSSION:

     If you have ever travelled overseas and attended a 
Communication in a country such as Italy, or France, you might
have heard members of that Lodge referring to a Grand Orient. 
The term is generally synonymous with the expression Grand Lodge. 
However, Grand Orients often demand more extensive conformity
(submission) than Grand Lodges, frequently exercising a rigid
jurisdiction over the highest degrees, which American and English
Grand Lodges refrain from doing.  For example, the Grand Orient
of France seems to exercise jurisdiction not only over the seven
degrees of its own Rite, but also over the 33 degrees of the
Ancient and Accepted Rite and over all other Rites which are
practiced in France.  The Grand Orient of Italy exercises
similar, wide-ranging power.  You will find it interesting to
note that in these two examples, the Grand Lodge of Virginia is
in amity with one but does not (as yet?) recognize the other.

     Some of our Brethren seem to be mildly confused by the terms
"profane" and "clandestine".  They are not synonyms and have two
entirely different meanings.  In the Constitutions of Masonry and
the Methodical Digest we find the term profane.  The term was
used in the 19th century to refer to all men outside the
Fraternity.  Many Masons today consider the word singularly
arrogant and presumptuous (they call it "politically incorrect"). 
Some Grand Lodges haven't used the term for a long time.  For
example, the Grand Lodge of the Philippines publicly opposes the
use of the idiom.  Many of our colleagues refrain from using the
term in their discussions and would rather that our Brethren use
an expression such as "uninitiated" or "non-Masons", when
referring to persons who are not Masons.

     The term "clandestine" was first used in the Constitutions
of 1784 issued by the Grand Lodge of England.  It meant secret,
hidden, private, or concealed which can be said of many Masonic
bodies.  It also means underhanded, stealthy, furtive, and sly. 
But, many so called clandestine bodies are open, aggressive,
ambitious, and eager to defend themselves.  The name is usually
applied to a Masonic body that fails to secure and hold a
warrant, charter, or other authority to exist issued by some
superior Masonic body having the authority to grant it. 

     Prior to the Grand Lodge era, 1717, the word clandestine was
unknown in Freemasonry.  Any five or six Freemasons could form
either a temporary or permanent Lodge, make Masons and do what
other Lodges could do, under the doctrine of Immemorial Right. 
Thus, any Lodge that was opened was just and perfect.  After
1723, Lodges affiliated with the Grand Lodge could be formed only
after receiving a warrant from the Grand Master.  This is usually
considered the primary legal ground by which a Lodge could be
considered clandestine.

     From a doctrinal standpoint a Lodge could be considered
clandestine if it was unmindful of true Masonic creed
(teachings), practice, or character.   There are Lodges that do
not profess a belief in Deity, or do not display a Volume of
Sacred Law on the altar and may even go so far as to become
exclusively Christian or even claim to be Masonic by using
various names, insignia, or Craft symbols strictly as a money
making scheme.

     We see that people can be called profane where Lodges are
considered irregular or clandestine when they haven't received a
warrant from a recognized Grand Jurisdiction.  Please, don't be
mislead; just because our Grand Lodge doesn't recognize another
Grand jurisdiction doesn't automatically make them clandestine or
irregular.  It just might mean that we do not yet recognize them. 
We cannot invite their members to sit in our Lodges (or we sit in
theirs) because our Grand Lodges are not in amity.  

     A term used in a previous discussion, that a some might not
be acquainted with is, "Immemorial Right".  Most have heard of
Time Immemorial -- that point to which the memory of man, on a
particular subject, runs not to the contrary (begins).  Since it
was the privilege of Masons (in the early days) to meet and form
Lodges almost without restriction, the right to do so was an
Immemorial right, that is the right which existed before the time
of written records or human memory.  The necessary distinction,
therefore, is between a thing which has existed from Immemorial
times and a new thing arising by virtue of a right which has
existed from Immemorial Times.

     Men have always considered themselves to have certain
inalienable rights, which have existed from time immemorial, such
as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Our forefathers
formed a nation based on that precept and it has worked with
extraordinary success for over 200 years.



Please note:  An early version of this paper was informally
provided to all District Educational Officers (DEOs) and Lodge
Education Officers (LEOs) in Northern Virginia to serve as a
possible catalyst for instruction/discussion.  Their candid
comments and views were invited, as are yours.

                                   Fraternally,

                                   Mickey


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