BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR GRAND LODGE RECOGNITION

(b)

1. Regularity of origin, i.e., each Grand Lodge, shall have been established by a duly recognized Grand Lodge or by three or more regularly constituted Lodges.

2. That a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe and His revealed will shall be an essential qualification for membership.

3. That all initiates shall take their Obligation on or in full view of the open Volume of the Sacred Law, by which is meant the revelation from above, which is binding on the conscience of the particular individual who is being initiated.

4. That the membership of the Grand Lodge and individual Lodges shall be composed exclusively of men; and that each Grand Lodge shall have no Masonic intercourse of any kind with mixed Lodges or bodies which admit women to membership.

The establishment by a Grand Lodge of female Lodges either separately or in connection with Lodges for men would be unmasonic, illegal, null and void and would subject that Grand Lodge to severance of fraternal relations.

5. That the Grand Lodge shall have sovereign jurisdiction over the Lodges under its control; i.e., that it shall be responsible, independent, self-governing organization, with sole and undisputed authority over the Craft or Symbolic Degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason) within its own jurisdiction; and shall not in any way be subject to or divide such authority with a Supreme Council or other Power claiming any control or supervision over those degrees.

6. That the three Great Lights of Freemasonry (namely, the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square of the Compasses) shall always be exhibited when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are at work, the chief of this being the Volume of the Sacred Law.

7. That the principles of the Ancient Landmarks, customs and usage of the Craft shall be strictly observed.

(The above Standards of Recognition, which are those used by the United Grand Lodge of England, were adopted by our Grand Lodge on January 27, 1932)