Landmarken 1809-2013

Kurztitel: Landmarken 1809-2013

Freimaurerische Landmarken

Die Freimaurer haben in 200 Jahren über 500 Landmarken in über 50 Gruppen formuliert

Eine kleine Übersicht von 1809-2013
mit deutschen Übersetzungen, soweit vorhanden

Literatur

George Oliver: The Historical Landmarks and ohter Evidences of Free Masonry, Explained. London: Spencer 1848.

Robert Macoy: General history, cyclopedia, and dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Masonic Publishing Company 1869; Nachdruck u. d. T.: A Dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Bell 1989; Random House 1990: Landmarks, 216-227.

Silas H. Shepherd [manchmal auch: Shepard]: The Landmarks of Masonry. Washington, D. C.: The Masonic Service Association oft he United States 1924; Little Masonic Library Kingsport, Tenn.: Southern Publishers 1946; Neuausgabe Richmond: Macoy 1977.

Eugen Lennhoff, Oskar Posner: Internationales Freimaurer-Lexikon. 1932, Kapitel: „Die Alten Landmarken“, 26-30 (bringt nur die Listen von Evans, Findel und Pound).

Charles Clyde Hunt: The Landmarks of Freemasonry. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1943.

Elbert Bede: The Landmarks of Freemasonry. Richmod, Virigiona/ New York: Macoy 1954.

Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, 1995: Landmarks, 358-370

Thomas Richert: Was sind die alten Landmarken? Tau – Forschungsloge Quatuor Coronati Nr. 808, Or. Bayreuth, I/2010, 79-82.

Die Landmarken in den 50 US-Bundesstaaten

Anhand von verschiedenen und unterschiedlichen Quellen:

13 bis 20 US-Bundesstaaten haben eigene „Ancient Landmarks“ entwickelt, von 3 bis 54;
andere brauchen die „Old Charges“ [1723] und Mackeys 25 „Ancient Landmarks“ [1858]

Eine Übersicht:
Ancient landmarks of freemasonry, as adopted, followed, or undecided by the fifty grand lodges of the United States. Silver Spring, Md. : Masonic Service Association, 5. Aufl. 1983 (1. Aufl. 1932 mit nur 39 Staaten)

Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia. 1995, 365.

The results in 1983 showed that:

Sixteen Grand Lodges had no list of Ancient Landmarks,
Arizona [8 items called „Principles of Recognition“], Arkansas, Colorado (Coil: Macke’y list), Idaho, Indiana [8 „Principles of Recognition“], Iowa, Montana (Coil: Mackey’s list), Nebraska (Coil: list of 8 tests as standard for recognizing other Grand Lodge as regular). New York, North Carolina [8 items of „Fraternal recognition“], Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia [6 items (Coil: 8) for „fraternal recognition“]. Washington, and Alaska.

[laut Paul Bessel haben keine Landmarken:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia [siehe jedoch 1953], Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York [(Coil: no action) siehe jedoch 1854 und 1856-1869], North Carolina [siehe jedoch 1991 und 1996], Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia [siehe jedoch 1935 und 2006], Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.]

Four used the "Old Charges", Alabama (Coil: since 1893), Louisiana [ (Coil: no action) siehe 1989: 24 eigene Landmarken], Missouri. (Coil: since 1850) and Texas [(Coil: no action) 5 „Recognition Criteria“].

[siehe auch Wyoming:
That it adheres in principle to the Ancient Landmarks, traditions, customs and usages of the Craft as set forth and adopted by the Grand Lodge of England in 1723, which involves:
1. The belief in the existence of one God, the Father of all men.
2. The belief in Immortality.
3. The presence of the Three Great Lights of Masonry in the lodges while at work, which must include the Sacred Book of the Divine Law.
4. The division of Symbolic Masonry into three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason.
5. Belief in secrecy.]

Ten adopted Mackey's list of 25 Ancient Landmarks,
Delaware [Bessel: not clear], District of Columbia [7 Basic Principles for Grand Lodge Recognition], Kansas, Maine [Bessel: „it does not appear“ (Coil: and Charges and Greneral Regulations of 1723)], Maryland [Bessel: unclear], North Dakota [Bessel: unclear], Oklahoma, Oregon (Coil: and the Charges of a Free-Mason and General Regulations of 1723), South Carolina [Bessel: Ahiman Rezon of Brother Mackey govern], and South Dakota.

Seven used Mackey's list by custom.
California [(Coil: and the Charges and General Regulations of 1723) states that other Grand Lodges are recognized as “regular,” if they “confine their authority ... to the three degrees of Craft or Symbolic Masonry” and “recognize and support the Ancient Landmarks which include, particularly, the Three Great Lights and belief in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul.”],
Georgia [Bessel: unclear], Illinois, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin [Bessel: has never officially adopted any landmarks ----- 9 Rules for „Recognition of Other Grand Lodges“], and Wyoming [5 items for „Fraternal recognition“].

Thirteen developed their own list of Ancient Landmarks, and they are:
Connecticut, and it has 19 landmarks [(Coil: pblished in Lockwood’s Masonic Law and Practice) siehe 1990].
Florida [Coil: no action) has 10 Landmarks. 7 fundamental principles of Masonry. and also recognizes Anderson‘s Constitutions. the General Regulations of 39 articles, and the Charges of a Free Mason - so far as they are not in conflict with the Constitulions and Laws of this Grand Lodge.
Kentucky has 54 Ancient Landmarks [siehe 1889; Bessel: not clear if tis still in effect].
Massachusetts has 7 Landmarks [siehe 1918].
Michigan (Coil: Charges of a Free-Mason and General Regulations of 1723) has 3 [siehe 1970].
Minnesota has 26 [siehe 1856].
Mississippi has 19 (Coil: adopted in 1934, which superseded list of 1903, which superseded Mackey’s list).
Nevada has 39 (Coil: adopted 1872).

New Hampshire (Coil: no action) has 8:
(1) monotheism,
(2) Volume oft he Sacred Law,
(3) secrecy,
(4) symbolism of operative art,
(5) 3 degrees,
(6) legend of 3rd degree,
(7) men only,
(8) non-sectarian and non-political.

New Jersey has 10 [(Coil: since 1903) laut Bessel: “it does not appear“, laut Thomas Richert, 2010, sind es 25 Punkte].
Tennessee has 15 [Bessel: it is not clear].
Vermont (Coil: Mackey’s list used) has 7 [siehe 1953].
West Virginia has 8 [siehe 1928].

Einzelne Gruppen von Landmarken

1809-1810: Lodge of Promulgation

Über die gemeinsamen Bemühung der Vertreter der „Ancients“ und „Moderns“ um die Landmarken:
Charles Clyde Hunt: The Landmarks of Freemasonry. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1943, 26-30.

4 Landmarks

1. The form of the Lodge.
2. Its. Officers and their Duties.
3. The Ritualistic Ceremonies.
4. The Installation Ceremony.

1823: Wigan Grand Lodge

(tried to revive the Ancients)
15 Landmarks
Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia. 1995, 688-689.

1. The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons have from time immemorial been governed upon a principle peculiar to themselves in which the perfect representative power is universally acknowledged.
2. The interests of the Fraternity are managed by a general representation of all Lodges on record with the present and past Grand officers and the Grand Master at their head.
3. The Grand Lodge cannot make any law or regulation final and binding without the expressed consent of the majority of Lodges.
4. The majority of the Lodges cannot destroy the inherent privileges of the Craft, consequently they cannot delegate the government of the Fraternity to any Board, Committee or individual.
5. The Grand Master must be elected to rule over the Fraternity - neither the Lodges nor their representatives are authorized to give him despotic power, nor empower him to appoint others to use it.
6. The whole Fraternity are bound in Masonic allegiance to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge while they continue to act according to these Ancient Landmarks, Customs, and Usages.
7. The unanimous determination of the Grand Lodge cannot alter the Ancient Landmarks of Masonry.
8. The Grand Lodge cannot compel obedience to any system of working in Masonry which was unknown to, or practiced by the Ancient Masons previous to the union of 1813.
9. The Grand Lodge cannot demand general contributions from the Fraternity for any purpose than to defray the necessary expenses of its establishment.
10. The whole Fraternity cannot do that which is forbidden to be done by the Grand Lodge.
11. Every Master when installed shall pledge himself to observe all the old established usages and customs and to preserve the Ancient Landmarks of the Order, and to enforce them within his own Lodge.
12. Every Lodge has an inherent right to regulate its own proceedings, provided they are not inconsistent with the preceding Landmark.
13. The majority of every lodge have the privilege of giving instructions to their Master and Wardens previous to tho meeting of the Grand Lodge.
14. No petition, complaint or remonstrance shall be withheld from Grand Lodge.
15. No brother can be censored, suspended or expelled until he is convicted after a full and impartial investigation of his offence; and if a brother prefer a charge against another, and cannot support his charge to conviction, he shall forfeit the same penalty which the accused might have forfeited if convicted.

1846 publizierte George Oliver eine Serie von Vorlesungen

„The Historical Landmarks and other Evidences of Freemasonry explained“

1863 erschienen 52 Vorlesungen von Oliver mit dem Titel „Freemason’s Treasury“.
Möglichweise bezog sich Nathan A. Shoff, 2007, darauf, als er 8 Landmarken von George Oliver (1782-1867) zusammenstellte.

Der vollständige Text bei:
Robert Macoy: General history, cyclopedia, and dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Masonic Publishing Company 1869; Nachdruck u. d. T.: A Dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Bell 1989; Random House 1990: Landmarks, 221-224..

Manchmal trifft man auf fragwürdige Angaben wie:
1863: John Oliver
„twelve distinct classes“; oder:
1863: George Oliver „Freemason’s Treasury“
40 Landmarks

1. The Lodge must be opened and closed with all the specific ceremonies and rituals, such as properly tiling the Lodge, making the invocation to the Great Architect of the Universe, and having the proper number of officers.
2. Masons meet on the Level and part on the Square; meaning that Masons are equal to one another only while in Lodge.
3. A Mason must never invite his friend to petition to become a Mason, and all candidates must declare that they were not solicited by their friends, or by any mercenary or unworthy motive.
4. A candidate must be freeborn, of good morals and have full and proper use of his limbs. To ensure these qualifications are met, the candidate must be strictly researched, with inquiry made of his friends and neighbors, before the ballot is taken.
5. Before a candidate can be initiated, he must be proposed in open Lodge, with a notice of the proposal sent to each brother of the Lodge. The ballot for the candidate cannot be taken sooner than the next regular Lodge meeting after the proposal.
6. The preparation of the candidate and initiation ceremonies, which teach scientific beauties and moral truths.
7. The white apron as a mark of innocence and badge of a Mason.
8. The tests of industry of the candidate in the First Degree, which are intended to convey some preliminary insight into the allegorical system of Masonry

1850: Grand Lodge of Missouri

Adopted the „Old Charges“ as „Landmarks“

1854 (?): Joseph D. Evans

(„approved by J. F. Newton“)

[laut Lennhoff/ Posner, 1932, 27, im Gesetzbuch der Grossloge von New York abgedruckt – aber: siehe 1856;
S. Brent Morris behauptet 1991, dass Joseph D. Evans, Past Grand Master, New York, im Jahre 1923 nicht einverstanden gewsen sei mit Mackeys Landmarken.
Thomas Richert, 2010, behauptet die 9 Landmarken stammten „aus der Zeit nach 1900“.]

1. Die Landmarken sind jene ausgezeichneten Punkte in den esoterischen Mysterien der Freimaurer, die deutlich im Rituale niedergelegt sind, unter ihnen Zeichen, Worte und Griffe und die Legende des dritten Grades.
2. Jeder, der sich um Zulassung zu den Vorrechten der Freimaurerei bewirbt, muß vor seiner Aufnahme den Glauben an einen ewigen und wahrhaftigen Gott, den Schöpfer und Lenker des Weltalls und an die Unsterblichkeit der Seele bekunden.
3. Jeder Kandidat für die Ehren der Freimaurerei muß sein ein Mann, freigeboren, von reifem und besonnenem Alter, kein Eunuch, kein Weib, kein unmoralischer oder ärgerniserregender Mann, sondern von gutem Rufe, ohne Fehler an Leib und Seele, die ihn untauglich machen könnten, die Kunst zu lernen und auszuüben.
4. Kein Kandidat darf nach seiner religiösen Überzeugung oder politischen Meinung gefragt werden, noch dürfen Erörterungen über diese Fragen in irgendeiner Versammlung der Bruderschaft erörtert werden.
5. Das Recht der Loge, selbst darüber zu entscheiden, wer aufgenommen oder einverbrüdert werden soll, ist ein der Loge inharentes und unbestreitbares und ist keinerlei Dispensrecht oder gesetzgeberischen Maßregel von irgendeiner Seite und welcher Quelle immer unterworfen.
6. Die Kugelung über Kandidaten ist geheim und unverletzlich.
7. Hat der Meister einer Loge eine Frage entschieden, so gibt es keinerlei Berufung dagegen an die Loge.
8. Die Loge kann den Meister nicht verhören (Das heißt, sie kann den Meister nicht vor ihr eigenes Gericht stellen, wohl aber vor das Großlogengericht!)
9. Es ist das Vorrecht des Großmeisters, bei jeder Art von Arbeit der Bruderschaft seiner Großloge den Vorsitz zu führen, sei es nun in der Großloge oder einer Loge, und die Exekutive der Großloge in den Pausen zwischen ihren Versammlungen auszuüben.

1. The distinctive ritual points: the signs, tokens, words, and the Hiramic Legend.
2. That every candidate must declare his belief in one God and the immortality of the soul.
3. That every candidate must be a man, free born, of mature age, of good repute, and having no physical or mental defect.
4. That every Mason must obey the civil authorities and the Masonic regulations of his jurisdiction.
5. That no specific religious sect or political opinion can be required of a Mason, and that sectarian religious or political discussion is banned in Craft assemblies.
6.That an individual Lodge has the final authority to determine who is initiated or affiliated therein.
7. That the ballot for candidates must always remain secret.
8. That a Master’s final decision cannot be appealed to the Lodge.
9. That a Lodge cannot try its Master.
10. It is the Grand Master’s prerogative to preside over any Masonic assembly in his jurisdiction, and to exercise the executive powers even while Grand Lodge is in recess.

1856: Grand Lodge of Minnesota

26 Landmarks

1. That belief in the Supreme Being, ‘The Great Architect of the Universe,’ who will punish vice and reward virtue, is an indispensable prerequisite to admission to Masonry.
2. That the moral law which inculcates charity and probity, industry and sobriety, and obedience to law and civil government, is the rule and guide of every Mason, and to which strict conformity is required.
3. That obedience to the Masonic law and authority being voluntarily assumed, is of perpetual obligation.
4. That the rites and ceremonies (which include the unwritten language) of the true system of the Ancient York Rite, and which constitute a part of the body of Masonry, are immutable, and that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovations therein.
5. The contentions and lawsuits between brethren are contrary to the laws and regulations of Masonry.
6. That charity is the right of a Mason, his widow and orphans, when poor and destitute, to demand, and the duty of his prosperous brother to bestow.
7. That Masonic instruction is like charity, a reciprocal right and duty of Masons.
8. That the right to visit Masonically is an absolute right, and the duty of Masons.
[nach 1900 geändert in: That to visit Masonically is an inherent right of Masons. but no visitor shall be reieved inlo a Lodge if any member present objects.]
9. That men made Masons, must be of mature age, free-born, of good report, hale and sound, not deformed or dismembered, and no eunuch.
[nach 1900 geändert in: That a candidale for Masonry musI be a man of mature age. free born. of good report. hale and sound. havingno maim or defect in his body that may render him incapable of learning lhe art and physically able lo conform subslanlially to what the several degrees of Masonry respectively require of him. If a candidale is unable to so comply wilh lhe physical requirements, he shall nevertheless be eligible to receive the degrees of Masonry. if, after favorable action by lhe Subordinate Lodge. his petition for degrees, accompanied by a detailed report of the nature and extent of his disabilities. is approved by the Grand Master.]
10. That the Grand Master may make Masons at sight, and may grant a dispensation to a Lodge for the same purpose, but in all other cases a candidate must be proposed in open Lodge, at a stated meeting, and can only be accepted at the stated meeting following, by the scrutiny of secret ballot, and an unanimous vote, and must pay a fixed price before admission.
11. It is the duty of every Mason to be a contributing member to some Lodge.
12. That a Mason who is not a member of any Lodge is still subject to the disciplinary power of Masonry.
13. That the Master and Wardens of every Warranted Lodge, are of right and inalienable representatives in, and members of, the Grand Lodge.
14. That no one can be elected Master of a Warranted Lodge (except at its first election), but a Master Mason who shall have served as a Warden.
15. That every Mason must be tried by his peers, hence the Master cannot be tried by his Lodge.
16. That no appeal to the Lodge be taken from the decision of the Master, or the Wardens occupying the chair in his absence.
17. That Masonic intercourse with a clandestine or expelled Mason, is a breach of duty and an offense against Masonic law.
18. That a restoration to the privileges of Masonry by the Grand Lodge does not restore the membership in the Subordinate Lodge.
19. That a failure to meet by a Lodge for one year, is cause for forfeiture of its Warrant.
20. That it is the duty as well as the right of every Warranted Lodge to be represented in Grand Lodge at its Communications.
21. That a Grand Lodge has supreme and exclusive jurisdiction within its territorial limits, over all maters of Ancient Craft Masonry.
22. That no appeal lies from the decision of the Grand Master in the chair, or his deputy, or Warden, occupying the chair in his absence.
23. That the office of Grand Master is always elective and should be filled annually by the Grand Lodge.
24. That a Grand Lodge composed of it Officers and Representatives, must meet at least once in every year, to consult and act concerning the interest of the Fraternity in its jurisdiction.
25. That all officers of Grand or Subordinate Lodges must be Master Masons.
26. That no subjects of sectarian or political character can be discussed in a Lodge, and any Mason proposing such a interest, renders himself liable to the disciplinary action of the Lodge.

1856-1869: Old Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of New York

31 Landmarks [siehe oben 1854]

Der vollständige Text bei:
Robert Macoy: General history, cyclopedia, and dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Masonic Publishing Company 1869; Nachdruck u. d. T.: A Dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Bell 1989; Random House 1990: Landmarks, 225-..

1. All candidates must believe in the Supreme Architect of the Universe.
2. That all Masons must conform to the moral law, as the rule and guide of every Mason.
3. That all Masons must obey Masonic law and authority.
4. That the rites and ceremonies of the degrees, including the Ancient York Rite, are immutable and no man can make innovations in them.
5. That contention and lawsuits between Masons are contrary to Masonic law and regulations.
6. That charity to a poor brother, his widow and orphans, is a right of him to demand, and the duty of his brothers to provide.
7. That Masonic instruction is the right of every brother to receive, and duty of every brother to bestow.
8. That Masons have the right to visit other Lodges, but said right may be forfeited or limited by particular regulations.
9- Candidates for Masonry must be a man, at least 21 years old, free-born, of good report, hale and sound, and not deformed or dismembered.
10. A man can only be made a Mason in a regular Lodge, except when made at sight by the Grand Master.
11. That the Grand Master may make Masons at sight, and grant dispensations to do the same, but otherwise a candidate must be voted in unanimously.
12. The ballot for candidates or for membership is strictly and inviolably secret.
13. A petition for membership, once presented and referred to committee, cannot be withdrawn.
14. When demanded, a candidate has the right to be balloted for each degree separately.
15. A man must raised a Master Mason and sign the By-Laws before he is considered a member of the Lodge.
16. That it is the duty of every Master Mason to be a contributing member of a Lodge.
17. A Lodge under dispensation is only a temporary body, and thus cannot be represented in Grand Lodge.
18. The Master and Wardens of a Lodge are elected once a year, and, if selected, cannot resign during their term, and are, of right, the representatives in Grand Lodge unless they decide to send a proxy.
19. No Mason may be elected Master of a Lodge unless he is a Master Mason who has served as Warden.
20. No appeal of the Master’s (or Warden’s acting as Master) final decision may be made to the Lodge membership.
21. That every Mason must be tried by his peers; and hence the Master cannot be tried by his Lodge.
22. That a Mason must not have contact with a clandestine or expelled Mason.
23. That, even if Grand Lodge restores a man to membership, it does not automatically restore his membership to a subordinate Lodge.
24. Even a Mason unaffiliated to a particular Lodge is still subject to the disciplinary power of Masonry.
25. A Mason must be admonished by the Master or Wardens three times before he can be tried for a breach of the moral law.
26. That a failure of a Lodge to meet for one full year is cause for the forfeiture of the Warrant.
27. That it is the right, as well as the duty, of every subordinate Lodge to be represented at Grand Lodge at its annual assembly.
28. That a Grand Lodge has supreme and exclusive jurisdiction over Ancient Craft Masonry within its territorial limits.
29. That no appeal lies from a final decision of the Grand Master (or Deputy or Warden occupying the chair of Grand Master in his absence).
30. That the office of Grand Master must be annually elected by the Grand Lodge.
31. That the Grand Lodge must meet at least once each year.

1856: 17 Landmarks of Rob Morris in „Code of Masonic Law“

[leicht veränderte Version bei Nathan A. Shoff, 2007;
A. Gerald Gibbs, 1980, behauptet, es seien 27 Landmarks]

1. The Masonic Landmarks are unchangeable and imperative.
2. Masonry is a system, teaching, symbolically, piety, morality, science, charity and self-discipline.
3. The Law of God is the rule and limit of Masonry.
4. The civil law, so far as it accords with the Divine, is obligatory upon Masons.
5. The Masonic Lodge and the Masonic Institutions are one and indivisible.
6. Masonic Qualification regards the mental, moral and physical nature of man.
7. Personal worth and merit are the basis of official worth and merit.
8. The official duties of Masonry are esoteric.
9. The selection of Masonic material and the general labors of the Masonic Craft are exoteric.
10. The honors of Masonry are the gratitude of the Craft and the approval of God.
11. Masonic promotion, both private and official, is by grades.
12. The Grand Master may have a Deputy.
13. The head of the Lodge is the Master, duly elected by the Craft.
14. The medium of communication between the head and the body of the Lodge is the Wardens, duly elected by the Craft.
15. Obedience to the Master and Wardens is obligatory upon the members.
16. Secrecy is an indispensable element of Masonry.
17. The Grand Lodge is supreme in its sphere of jurisdiction, and individual Masons, but always subject to the Ancient Landmarks.

1858: 25 Landmarks of Albert G. Mackey

(compiled 1856, published 1958 and then 1859: „A Text Book on Masonic Jurisprudence“)
adopted, in either full or part, of all Prince Hall Grand Lodges

[Theodor Vogel, 1948: „Die alten Landmarken, veröffentlicht im Jahre 1806 von unserem Br. John Mackay“
Dieter Binder, 1998, 234-236: „in einer weit verbreiteten Fassung“ – er bringt die Übersetzung von Rolf Appel „Die grossen Leitideen der Freimaurerei“, 1986, 7-16 – Rolf Appel kommentierte jede einzelne Landmarke, zum Teil sehr ausführlich, meist mit Hinweis auf die „Alten Pflichten“ und die Gesetze und Ordnungen der GL A. F: u. A. M. v. D. von 1974)
Kurze Zusammenfassung bei Alec Mellor, 1985, 63-64.
Stark verfälscht bei Heinz-Günter Deiters: Die Freimaurer. 1963. 119-111.

W. B. Ralph Hulquist, 1991:
Albert Pike. another noted Masonic writer. authority, and contemporary of Albert Mackey commenting on Mackey‘s Landmarks, stated that only three were landmarks;
number 9. the necessity for Masons to congregate in lodges;
number 10, government of every lodge by Masters and Wardens; and
number 11, the necessity that a lodge should be tiled.]

1. Die Erkennungszeichen sind die echtesten und wichtigsten aller Landmarken. Nicht die geringste Äderung ist zulässig.
2. Die symbolische Maurerei unterteilt sich in drei Grade. Andere Grade als die des Lehrlings, Gesellen und Meisters sind unzulässig.
3. Die Grundzüge des III. Grade, der Hirams-Legende, müssen erhalten bleiben.
4. Die Bruderschaft muss von einem von ihr erwählten Großmeister gefüghrt werden. Der Großmeister bleibt auch dann im Amt, wenn keine Großloge mehr besteht.
5. Es ist das Vorrecht des Großmeisters, alle Sitzungen der Großloge zu leiten, sowie in jeder ihr unterstehenden Loge den Hammer zu führen.
6. Es ist das Vorrecht des Großmeisters, vorzeitig die Erlaubnis zu geben, Grade zu erteilen und somit alle üübrigen Erfordernisse für eine Einweihung außer Kraft zu setzen.
7. Es ist das Vorrecht des Großmeisters, die Erlaubnis für die Gründung und Weiterführung von Logen zu geben.
8. Es ist das Vorrecht des Großmeisters, aufgrund eigenen Entscheids in einer hierfür einberufenen Gelegenheitsloge mit sechs Meistern und ohne vorherige Prüfung Maurer zu weihen und dem für würdig Befundenen Grade zu verleihen. Hiernach wird die Loge aufgelöst und die Brüder entlassen.
9. Um sich den Arbeiten zu widmen, müssen sich die Maurer in Logen zusammenschliessen.
10. Die in Logen zusammengeschlossenen Mauer müssen von einem Meister vom Stuhl und zwei Aufsehern geführt werden.
11. Die Arbeiten der Loge müssen ‚gedeckt‘ sein.
12. Jeder Bruder, selbst der Lehrling, hat das Recht zu eigener Vertretung in der hauptversammlung der Bruderschaft.
13. Jeder Bruder hat das Recht der Berufung an die Großloge wegen Entscheidungen, die von seinen Brüdern getroffen werden, um Gerechtigkeit zu erhalten und Unterdrückungen vorzubeugen.
14. Jeder Bruder hat das Recht, auf Reisen in der ganzen Welt Logen zu besuchen und an ihren Arbeiten teilzunehmen.
15. Jeder unbekannte Bruder ist verpfkichtet, seine Eigenschaft als Maurer durch Ausweis und Prüfung unter bewis zu stellen.Ist er jedoch einem Bruder bekannt, so kann dieser die Verantwortung für ihn übernehmen. In diesem Fall kann von einer Prüfung Abstand genommen werden.
16. Keine Loge hat das Recht, sich in die angelegenheiten einer anderen einzumischen, noch jendes, Grade an Brüder anderer Logen zu erteilen.
17. Die Bruderschaft unterteilt sich in Jurisdiktionen (Sprengel). Jeeder Maurer ist den Gesetzen und Vorschriften des Sprengels unterworfen, in welchem er seinen Wonsitz hat, selbst dann, wenn er verübergehend keiner Loge angehört. Wer sich einer Loge nicht anschließt, begeht eine maurerische Unterlaßungssünde.
18. Die Anwärter für die Aufnahme müssen Männer sei, ohne körperliche Mängel oder Verstümmelungen, frei von Geburt, grossjährig und von gutem Leumund, Frauen, Krüppel und Sklaven können nicht beitreten.
19. Der Anwärter für die Aufnahme muss sich zum Glauben an den Urquell der Schöpfung bekennen, vom Bund mit A. B. a. W. bezeichnet.
20. Im Verein mit jenem Glauben wird der Glaube an ein künftiges Leben gefordert. 21. Auf dem Altar muss das Buch des Gesetzes liegen.
22. Alle Maurer sind innerhlab der Loge vollkommen gliech, ohne Ansehen irgendwelcher weltlicher Rechte oder Vorrechte, die die bürgerliche Gesellschaft verleiht. Die Freimaurerei schafft in ihren Versammlungen eine Ebene für alle Brüder.
23. Alle durch Einweihung erworbenen Kenntnisse, wie Brauchtum, Legenden, Überlieferungen und Erkennungszeichen müssen geheimgehalten werden und dürfen nur Brüdern mitgeteilt werden.
24. Es ist die Pflicht, eine sinnvoll erdachte Wissenschaft auf den Bräuchen der Werkmaurerei und mit Hilfe von Symbolen aufzubauen. Die Erklärung betreffend Arbeitsweisen und der darin gebrauchten Ausdrücke soll zum Zweck der moralischen Belehrung geschehen.
25. Alle aufgeführten Landmarken sind unveränderlich. Nichts kann hinzugefügt nocht etwas hinweggenommen werden. So, wie wir sie von unseren Vorfahren ererbeten, sollen wir sie unseren Nachfahren hinterlassen.

engl, abgekürzt nach dem Originaltext:

1. The Modes of Recognition.
2. The Division of Symbolic Masonry into Three Degrees.
3. The Legend of the Third Degree.
4. The Government of the Fraternity by a presiding officer called a Grand Master.
5. The Prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every Assembly of the Craft.
6. The Prerogative of the Grand Master to grant Dispensations for Conferring Degrees at Irregular Times.
7. The Prerogative of the Grand Master to grant Dispensations for Opening and Holding Lodges.
8. The Prerogative of the Grand Master to Make Masons at Sight.
9. The Necessity for Masons to congregate in Lodges.
10. The Government of the Craft when so congregated in a Lodge by a Master and two Wardens.
11. The necessity that every Lodge, when congregated, should be duly Tiled.
12. The right of every Mason to be represented in all General Meetings of the Craft and to Instruct his Representatives.
13. The Right of every Mason to appeal from the decision of his brethren in Lodge convened, to the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons.
14. The Right of every Mason to visit and sit in every regular Lodge.
15. No Visitor, unknown tot he brethren present,or to some one of them as Mason, can enter a Lodge without first passing an Examination according to Ancient Usage.
16. No Lodge can interfere in the business of another Lodge, nor give degrees to brethren who are members of other Lodges.
17. Every Freemason is amenable to the Laws and Regulations of the Masonic Jurisdiction in which he resides and this although he may not be a Member of any Lodge.
18. Certain qualifications of candidates for initiation are derived from a Landmark of the Order. These qualifications are that he shall be a man - shall be unmultilated, free born, and of mature age. That is to say, a woman, a cripple, or a slave, or one born in slavery, is disqualified for initiation into the rites of Masonry.
19. A Believe in the existence of God as the Grand Architect of the Universe.
20. Subsidiary to this belief in God, as a Landmark of the Order, is the Belief in a resurrection to a future life.
21. A ‚Book of the Law‘ shall constitute an indispensable part of the Furniture of every Lodge.
22. The Equality of all Masons.
23. The Secrecy oft eh Institution.
24. The Foundation of a Speculative Science upon an Operative Art and the symbolic use and explanation of the terms of that art, for purposes of religious or moral teaching.
25. These Landmarks can never be changed. Nothing can be subtracted from them - nothing can be added to them - not the slightest modification can be made in them. As they were received from our predecessors, we are bound by the most solemn obligations of duty to transmit them to our successors. Not one jot or one tittle of these unwritten laws can be repealed.

1864: John W. Simons: „A Familiar Treatise on the Principles and Practice of Masonic Jurisprudence“

15 Landmarks or essential Masonic Principles

Der vollständige Text bei:
Robert Macoy: General history, cyclopedia, and dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Masonic Publishing Company 1869; Nachdruck u. d. T.: A Dictionary of Freemasonry. New York: Bell 1989; Random House 1990: Landmarks, 24..

1. Masons must believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul.
2. The moral law is the rule and guide of every Mason.
3. Masons must respect and obey the civil law and Masonic regulations of his country and jurisdiction in which he resides.
4. That “new-made Masons” must be free-born, of lawful age, and “hale and sound at the time of making.”
5. The modes of recognition (due guard, signs, grips, and words) and the ceremonies of the three degrees.
6. That the Master’s final decision (or the Warden’s in the Master’s absence) cannot be appealed to the Lodge.
7. That a Mason cannot be made a Master of a Lodge until he has served at least one year as Warden.
8. That every Mason has a right to visit every regular Lodge, unless, in doing so, it would disturb the harmony or working of the Lodge he wishes to visit.
9. The Grand Master has the prerogative to preside over every assembly in his jurisdiction; to make Masons at sight; and to grant dispensations for the formation of new Lodges.
10. That a candidate cannot be made a Mason without submitting a petition and being accepted by unanimous ballot of a regular Lodge, unless he is made a Mason “at sight” by the Grand Master.
11. That the ballot for candidates is strictly and inviolably secret.
12. That a Lodge cannot try its Master.
13. A Mason must be amenable to the laws of the jurisdiction in which he resides, even if he is a member of a Lodge in a different jurisdiction.
14. A Mason has the right to be represented in Grand Lodge, and to instruct his representatives.
15. The general aim and form of the society must be preserved inviolate and transmitted to our successors.

1867: Luke A. Lockwood: „Masonic Law and Practice“

19 Landmarks

1. Belief in the existence of a Supreme Being, in some revelation of his will, in the resurrection of the body and in the immortality of the soul.
2. The obligations and modes of recognition, and the legend oft he tird degree.
3. The inculcation of the moral virtues, of benevolence and of the doctrines of natural religion, by means of symbols derived from the Temple of King Solomon and ist tradition, and from the usages and customs observed, and from the implements and materials used in ist construciton.
4. That Masons must obey the moral law and the government of the country in which they live.
5. That the Grand Master is the head of the Craft.
6. That the Master is head of the Lodge.
7. That the Grand Lodge is the supreme governing body within its territorial jurisdiction.
8. That every Lodge has an inherent right to be represented in Grand Lodge by its first three officers, or their proxies.
9. That every Lodge has power to make Masons, and to administer their own private affairs.
10. That every candidate must be a man, of lawful age, born of free parents, under no restraint of liberty, and hale and sound, as a man ought to be.
11. That no candidate can be received except by unanimous ballot, after due notice of his application and due inquiry as to his qualifications.
12. That the ballot is inviolably secret.
13. That all Masons, as such, are peers.
14. That all Lodges are peers.
15. That all Grand Lodges are peers.
16. That no person can be installed Master of a Lodge unless he be a Past Warden, except by dispensation of the Grand Master.
17. That the obligations, means of recognition, and the forms and ceremonies observed in conferring degrees are secret.
18. That no innovation can be made upon the body of Masonry.
19. That the Ancient Landmarks are the Supreme Law, and cannot be changed or abrogated

1871: Joseph Gabriel Findel: „The Antient Landmarks“

[Thomas Richert datiert den Katalog von 9 Punkten auf 1869 - als in der „Illustrierten Freimaurerzeitung“ „Die Bauhütte“, 12. Jahrgang, ein Aufsatz Findels über die alten Landmarken erschien.]

1. Die Verpflichtung auf die allgemeine Religion, in der alle Menschen übereinstimmen.
2. Die Aufhebung der Schranken der Geburt, der Rasse, Nationalität, Hautfarbe und der politischen Partei.
3. Die Angehörigkeit jedes Aufgenommenen zum ganzen Bunde, daher das Besuchsrecht, Gastrecht und Recht der Annahme.
4. Die Bedingungen für die Aufnahmefähigkeit: geistige Freiheit, Das nötige Maß von Bildung, reifes Alter, sittliche Grundsätze, tadelloser Lebenswandel und guter Ruf.
5. Der Grundsatz, daß jeder Vorrang unter Maurern sich nur auf den wahren inneren Wert und selbsteigenes Verdienst zu gründen habe sowie die Anerkennung der vollen Gleichheit unter Maurern.
6. Die Verpflichtung, alle Streitigkeiten zwischen Personen innerhalb des Bundes auszutragen.
7. Das Gebot der Eintracht, der Brüderliebe sowie Das Verbot Privatstreitigkeiten, insbesondere aber politische und religiöse Streitfragen in die Loge hineinzutragen.
8. Die Verschwiegenheitspflicht, die Geheimhaltung der Erkennungszeichen und des Gebrauchtums.
9. Das Recht jedes Maurers, an der maurerischen Gesetzgebung teilzunehmen, das Wahlrecht und das Recht, in der Großloge vertreten zu sein.

1872: Grand Lodge of Nevada

39 Landmarks

1878: A. F. A. Woodford: Masonic Encyclopedia

18 Landmarks

1889 und 1893: H. B. Grant

54 Landmarks (adopted by Kentucky)

[Bei Alec Mellor, 1985, 63: von „Henry B. Brant, in seinem ‚Book of Constitutions‘ von 1910“]

1897: W. J. Chetwode Crawley: „The Craft and Its Orphans in the Eighteenth Century“

Fatherhood of God;
Brotherhood of Man;
The Life to Come.

1903: Grand Lodge of New Jersey

10 Landmarks

[laut Bessel: fraglich; laut Thomas Richert, 2010, sind es 25 Punkte]

1908: J. W. Horsley (Kanada)

1. Belief in a Personal God.
2. Belief in a Future Life.
3. The volume of the Sacred Law.
4. Secrecy.
5. The Mode of Recognition.

1914 oder 1915: Joseph Fort Newton „The Builders“

The Fatherhood of God,
the Brotherhood of Man,
the Moral Law,
the Golden Rule,
and the Hope of aLife Everlasting.

1914: A. S. McBride

12 Landmarks

1918: Alexander S. Bacon

3 Landmarks

1918: Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Monotheism, the sole dogma of Freemasonry;
belief in immortality, the ultimate lesson of Masonic philosophy;
the Volume of Sacred Law, an indispensible part of the furniture of the Lodge;
the Legend of the Third Degree;
Secrecy;
the Symbolism of the Operative Art;
a Mason must be a freeborn male adult.
The above list of Landmarks is not declared to be exclusive.

1919 oder 1925: Roscoe Pound: „Masonic Jurisprudence“

1. Der Glaube an Gott.
2. Glaube an die Fortdauer der Persönlichkeit.
3. Das Buch der Gesetze als unentbehrliches Einrichtungsstück der Freimaurerloge.
4. Die Legende des dritten Grades.
5. Das Geheimnis.
6. Der Symbolismus geschöpft aus dem Bauhüttengebrauche.
7. Erfordernis des männlichen Geschlechtes, freier Geburt und des gehörigen Alters.

1. Belief in God
2. Belief in the persistence of personality -- the immortality of the soul
3. A "book of the law" as an indispensable part of the lodge
4 Legend of the 3rd degree
5. Secrecy
6. Symbolism of the operative art
7. A Mason must be a man, free born, and of age

8. Government of a lodge by a Master and Wardens
9. Right of a Mason to visit

Version Daniel Doron, 2002/2004:
1. Belief in TGAOTU.
2. Belief in resurrection and life hereafter.
3. Obligation to have an open VSL [Volume oft he Sacred Law] in lodge when at work.
4. The legend of the third degree.
5. Obligatory secrecy. (Modes of Recognition)
6. The foundation of our speculative art and its' symbolic use for the purposes of religious and moral teaching.
7. A candidate must be male, free of birth and of age.

Version Nathan A. Shoff, 2007.
1 The Belief in The Great Architect of the Universe.
2. The Belief in the persistence of personality (immortality of the soul).
3. The Volume of Sacred Law is an indispensable part of the Lodge furniture.
4. The Hiramic Legend of the third degree.
5. The obligation of secrecy and modes of recognition.
6. The symbolism of the operative art as used for the purposes of moral and religious teachings.
7. A candidate must be a man, freeborn, and of age.

1928: Grand Lodge of West Virginia

In 1928 this Grand Lodge adopted a list of 8 landmarks:

(1) belief in God,
(2) belief in immortality of the soul,
(3) Book of the Law indispensable in Lodge,
(4) government by a Grand Master,
(5) secrecy of modes of recognition, certain symbols, ballot, obligations, forms of initiation,
(6) legend of 3rd degree,
(7) Ancient Craft Masonry includes only EA, FC, MM [Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason],
(8) must be a man, free born, of mature age

1934: Grand Lodge of Mississippi

19 Landmarks

1935: Grand Lodge of Virginia

[siehe auch 2006]

Fraternal recognition … if iit appears to its satisfaction:

The foreign Grand Lodge in question represents a substantial unity of the Freemasons of the territory over which it assumes jurisdiction: i.e., the country, province or state, or else shares such territorial jurisdiction with another Grand Lodge by mutual consent.

It has been lawfully organized by three or more regular Lodges or that it has been legalized by a Grand Lodge recognized by this Grand Lodge.

It is an independent, self-governing organization, having sovereign Masonic authority within its jurisdiction.

Its ritual is fundamentally in accord with the Ancient Landmarks, customs, and usages of the Craft. This involves:
(a) Monotheism;
(b) The Volume of the Sacred Law, a part of the furniture of the Lodge;
(c) Secrecy;
(d) The symbolism of the operative art;
(e) The division of Symbolic Masonry into the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason;
(f) The legend of the Third Degree.

It makes Masons of men only.

It is non-sectarian and non-political: i.e., that its dominant purposes are charitable, benevolent, educational, and moral.

1946: „Landmarks of 1946“

In Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia, 1995, 368-369, steht:

This term is appropriate for a number of vaguely presented propositions scattered at random throughout volume III of Mackey’s Encyclopedia published in 1946. These are so inadequately, indirectly, or inferentially presented or suggested that the numerous quotations, with explanations would occupy a prohibitive amount of space. Therefore, merely citations will be given with a recapitulation of their provisions, as follows:

... Of these,
(a) the following are substantially repetitions of items proposed by others:

Right to form and assemble in lodges.
Freemasons work in bodies governed by officers.
Grand Lodges.
Grand Masters.
Universality of Freemasonry.
Each candidate to be treated on his merits as a man.
No woman to be admitted.

(b) The author of that work doubts or qualifies two standard and well-supported propositions:

The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons at sight.
Belief in God.

(c) He asserts 8 novel propositions as follows:

Freemasonry is nowhere at work, except in lodges.
Equal payment of expenses by lodge members.
Lodge funds to be expended only for lodge purposes.
Degrees or grades of officers.
Jurisdictional system of rites, territory, districts, and lodges, which is said to have the value of a landmark.
Peace and harmony.
Quarrels as Masons not to be taken into court.
Junior Warden presides over craft during refresh.

1953: Grand Lodge of Vermont

Paul Bessel: In 1953 this Grand Lodge rescinded all votes that had adopted the 25 landmarks listed in Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, and instead adopted a list of 7 landmarks for this jurisdiction:
(1) belief in one God,
(2) belief in immortality,
(3) VSL [Volume of the Sacred Law] on altar,
(4) legend of the 3rd degree,
(5) secrecy,
(6) symbolism of operative art,
(7) must be free man, of lawful age, and well recommended.

1956: The Commission on Information for Recognition

of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America
upheld three "ancient Landmarks"

Monotheism — An unalterable and continuing belief in God.
The Volume oft he Sacred Law — an essential part of the furniture of the Lodge.
Prohibition of the discussion of Religion and Politics (within the lodge).

1970: Grand Lodge of Michigan

In 1970, this Grand Lodge adopted 3 items as being the Ancient Landmarks of Masonry:

A belief in Supreme Being,
A belief in immortality of the soul,
A Volume of the Sacred Law indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge.

1976: Harry Carr: „The Freemasons at Work“

1. Professed belief in the existence of a Supreme Being
2. The Volume of the Sacred Law is an essential and indispensable part of the Lodge, and must be open when the Lodge is at work
3. A Mason must be a man, free by birth, and of mature age
4. A Mason owes allegiance to the Sovereign and to the Craft
5. Professed belief in the immortality of the soul.

1980: A. Gerald Gibbs

1. A belief in a Supreme Being
2. A belief in the Fatherhood of God (and ist corollary The Brotherhood of Man
3 .A belief in the Immortality of the Soul.

Landmark decisions:

That a Volume of the Sacred Law be present, opened on an altar when the Lodge is at labour
The observance of secrecy and that
The petitioner must be a man, freeborn and of mature age.

[im Original:
1. That a Volume of the Sacred Law be present, opened on an altar when the Lodge is at labour;
2. Secrecy - This implies the modes of recognition and the business of Masons transacted within the Lodge;
3. The system of morality which is mainly taught in our Lodges be precept, example, and exhortation, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols;
4. The petitioner must be a man, freeborn and of mature age;
5. Those objects of furniture, clothing, etc., specified in the Constitution of Grand Lodge.

1989: Grand Lodge of Louisiana

On Feb. 14, 1989, this Grand Lodge adopted 24 landmarks.

1990: Grand Lodge of Connecticut

Code Section 1003 lists 15 landmarks. This list of landmarks was changed by the Grand Lodge in 1990 (see Proceedings, pages 141-142).

[siehe ganz oben: 19 Landmarks – gemäss Liste von 1983; laut Coil: pblished in Lockwood’s Masonic Law and Practice, 1867]

1991: North Carolina Masonic Ceremonies

17 Landmarks

1. Belief in the existence of God
2. Secrecy
3. The modes of recognition – signs, grips and words
4. Must congregate in regular lodges
5. Lodges must be tiled
6. Lodges must have a Book of the Law
7. Qualifications of Candidates: must be Sound, mentally and physically;Freeborn, of Lawful Age and well recommended
8. Secret Ballot
9. Division into three degrees: E. A., F. C., and M. M. [Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mson]
10 Legend of the Third Degree
11. General government by a Grand Master
12. Government of Lodges by a Master and two Wardens
13. Right of appeal
14. Right of representatives in Grand Lodge
15. Visitors must be vouched for, or examined.
16. Prerogatives of Grand Master to preside over any Assembly of the craft, and to grant dispensations.
17. That Masonic instruction is a right and a duty of a Mason

1996: William Henry Simpson, Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina

1. A belief in the Supreme Being
2. Brotherhood of Man
3. Future Life
4. Volume of Sacred Law
5. Must be a freeman of adult age according to the law at the time, amenable to the moral law
6. Secrecy of Ritual Signs and Passes
7. Legend of the Third Degree
8. Symbolism of Operative Masonry
9. Lodge must be tiled.

2003/ 2008: Athena Stafyla (München)

7 Landmarks

1.
Freemasonic degrees, initiation and the administrative proceedings of the Craft are secret.
The freemasonic institution uses the well-established rules of recognition.
The office of Tiler ensures that the profane are kept outside the entrances of the Lodge.

2.
The belief in a Supreme Being and the immortality of souls is an unalterable and incontestable theosophical cornerstone of the Craft, therefore it cannot be abolished.
A Book of Divine Law must be open in the lodge when it is at work.

3.
The ritual of the Third Degree in unalterable and it must be accomplished in three elementary psychological steps of initiation, two of an introductory and preparatory nature and a third during which the rite of rebirth must be performed.

4.
In all Masonic degrees a speculative science can be founded upon the operative art and coexist with it.
The ritualistic character of Freemasonry must be inviolable.

5.
The lodge as an institution must be governed according to the ancient accepted rules and traditions of the Craft, according to which a Grand Master is ultimately responsible for the government of the fraternity.
His prerogatives to make freemasons at sight, to grant dispensations for conferring degrees, to establish „Lodges under dispensation“ and to preside over every assembly of the Craft, are inviolable.
The equality between the brothers is an unalterable principle.

6.
Freemasonry is based on a dogma of altruistic and humanistic philosophy founded on the respect of human rights and a philanthropic moralistic dogma.

7.
These rules cannot be changed.

2006: Grand Lodge of Virgina

10 core values [siehe auch 1935]

1. A Mason believes in a Supreme Being.
2. A Mason has an understanding of moral values.
3. A Mason exemplifies honor and integrity.
4. A Mason believes in the brotherhood of man.
5. A Mason is moved to fulfill his Masonic Obligations.
6. A Mason practices Charity in his daily living.
7. A Mason exercises Brotherly Love.
8. A Mason is committed to Family.
9. A Mason demonstrates Patriotism.
10. A Mason supports Widows and Orphans.

2007: Lodge of Education (USA)

The requirements to join Freemasons, are:

You must be a man of good repute.
In most U.S. states, you must be over the age of 21. Some states vary, so you will need to ask.
You must believe in a Supreme Being. (This is a requirement in the majority of jurisdictions around the world.)
You must be able to support yourself and your family. 
You must live a moral and ethical life.
You must have a strong desire to want to make a difference in the world. By your actions, you want to make yourself a better man, and make your community and the world a better place to live.

2007: Nathan A. Shoff

7 Landmarks

1. That all Masons must believe in an Supreme Deity.
2. That all Masons must believe in the persistence oft he personality after death, as illustrated by the Hiramic Legend oft he Third Degree.
3. That membership on Freemasonry is limited to adult men, who are found to be moral and capable of understanding ist teachings.
4. That all Masons, in meeting on the Level, are equal to one another as brothers.
5. That Freemasonry teaches the speculative science of Moraility, Natural Philosophy, and Mystic Spirituality through symbolic and allegorical unse oft he history, legends, and tools oft he operative art of Free stone Masons.

2009: Terence Sachell

9 Landmarks

1. The modes of recognition
2. The division of symbolic Masonry into three degrees including the legend of the third degree.
3. Masonry's membership is composed exclusively of men of lawful age and of good report.
4. The belief in a Supreme Being (the nature of Deity being left to the determination of the individual Brother)
5. A belief in a persistence of personality (the nature of the persistence of personality being left to the determination of the individual Brother)
6. A Volume of Sacred Law is an indispensable part of the lodge's furniture (the Volume(s) of Sacred Law constituting the lodge's furniture may reflect the faith of the individual Brethren)
7. The equality of all Freemasons
8. The secrecy of the institution
9. The foundation of a speculative science on an operative art

2013: A. D. Matthews

6 Landmarks

1. A belief in the existence of a Supreme Being
2. Must be of mature age, sound judgement and strict morals
3. Pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, viz. those of the Entered Apprentice, The Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch
4.The Grand Principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth
5. Freemasonry is a peculiar system of morality, portrayed by allegory and illustrated by symbols
6 .A need for secrecy.