Recognition

GRAND LODGE OF BC & YUKON

Masonic recognition

The reports of the Committee on Fraternal Relations to the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge for 2000, 2001 and 2002 state that their recommendations are based on the following Standards of Recognition:

1. Legitimacy of Origin.

2. Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction, except by mutual consent and/or treaty.

3. Adherence to the Ancient Landmarks (specifically a Belief in a Supreme Being, the Volume of the Sacred Law being an indispensable part of the Furniture of the Lodge and the prohibition of the discussion of politics and religion).

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

To the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Officers and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia.

June 20th, 1946.

Your Committee on jurisprudence report as follows:

In accordance with a resolution adopted by Grand Lodge at its 1945 Annual Communication whereby the Committee on Jurisprudence was instructed to prepare a Standard of Recognition for the guidance of Grand Lodge before any Foreign Jurisdictions are recognized, your Committee herewith submit the following:

BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR GRAND LODGE RECOGNITION

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

2. That there be no debarment from membership because of nationality, of race, of colour, of sectarian or political belief; that a belief in the G.A.O.T.U. 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 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.

5. That the Grand Lodge shall have sovereign jurisdiction over the Lodges under its control, i.e., that it shall be a responsible, independent, self-governing organization with sole and undisputed authority over the Craft or Symbolic Degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason) within its 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 Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses) shall always be exhibited when the Grand Lodge or its constituent Lodges are at work, the chief of these being the Volume of Sacred Law.

7 That the discussion of religion and politics within the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited.

8. That the principles of the Ancient Charges, Customs, and Usages of the Craft shall be strictly observed.

Moved by M.W. Bro. Burd and seconded that, the portion of the report dealing with the Basic Principles for Grand Lodge recognition be considered clause by clause. Carried,

Each of the 8 clauses were read separately, duly considered and agreed to.

On motion of M.W. Bro. F. J. Burd, seconded by W. Bro. W. Coates Taylor it was

Resolved: That the report as a whole be received and adopted.

Carried.

© 1871-2023 Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon A.F. & A.M. Updated: March 16, 2001
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