R. W. Bro. Don Hamilton London Masonic Conference November 9, 2013 The aspect of congresses and such meetings generally to which I attach the greatest importance is the discussion. That is why people assemble: to hear different opinions, rather than to pass resolutions. Fredrik Bajer Don Hamilton is a Member and Past Master of Trillium Lodge No. 724 A.F. & A.M. in Guelph, Ontario. Master 1989-90, and Junior Warden (2013). Founding Member & Past Master of Royal City Daylight Lodge No. 742, Guelph, 2003. Member of Heritage Lodge No.730. District Deputy Grand Master, Wellington District 2006 Past TPGM, Royal City Lodge of Perfection, Guelph Valley 2000; Past MWS, Guelph Chapter Rose Croix, Guelph Valley, 2004, 2012; Honourary Inspector-General 33˚, 2009. Past Member of Grand Lodge Committee on Lodge Resources and the Committee on Masonic Education. 2 THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS TALK I intend to explore THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS. Often mentioned, alluded to and reverenCed; but almost never described or quoted except in the most abstract terms. Before we Can get to tHat material, I need to define the word REGULAR, whiCH sHows up in tHe appliCation of, and definition of the ancient landmarks. In the Entered Apprentice degree a lodge is defined as being JUST, PERFECT AND REGULAR. THat combination of words in this definition is unchanging, they are always presented together. Just, perfect and regular; forms a definition of a MasoniC Lodge operating aCCording to all tHe aCCepted traditions. The first reference is of course, in tHe EA Obligation. The next, is one of the questions in EX. B. P. That is, of course, Examination Before Passing. 3 Where were you made a Mason? In the body of a lodge, just, perfect, and regular. That phrase has been with us since William Preston’s time, about 1775. Before tHat, from say 1696, tHe answer to tHe same question was eitHer: “In a true and perfeCt lodge”, or “a just and perfeCt lodge”. The change to our present text came about during the creation of the United Grand Lodge in England. What makes a lodge just? In archaic usage, the word just is a reference to justice, and to the laws. No laws are more important than God’s laws, so the reference is to tHe Holy Book. The Sacred Law unfolded. BeCause it is understood to Contain tHe diCtates of an unerring Being; it must tHerefore be Considered tHe standard of trutH and justiCe. What makes a lodge perfect? The number seven. THis oblique reference is to explain the liberal arts and sciences...."tHree form a lodge, five hold a lodge, and seven of more make it perfeCt". This reference is to our interest in extending our learning beyond what is merely required for our job. A Mason is directed to explore the liberal 4 arts and sCiences. The well-rounded mind is encouraged. What makes a lodge regular? The Charter, Warrant and Constitution. These elements reflect our participation in Masonic Lodges supported by and supporting the system of Grand Lodge, Lodges, and the rules of conduct of Lodges and Grand Lodges. If you get nothing else from this address: understand this – these three little words form the guidelines for our conduct in life; also the proper formation and operation of a Masonic Lodge and the guidance we are given to make ourselves well- rounded individuals who are educated in all the arts and sciences; and also the form and structure not only of lodges but Grand Lodges as well. And now for the work of the address. This talk concerns a principle first introduced in the Fellowcraft degree, and while you were tHen cautioned not to try to discover any of the secrets of a superior degree, this material does not Constitute any part of the seCrets of the Fellowcraft degree and in this setting, it is quite proper that 5 you should now and hereafter try to discover the secrets of Masonry. It is a very curious tHing, but wHile forming tHe foundation of tHe entire craft throughout every recognized Grand Lodge in every country, these founding principles are very poorly communicated and rarely presented. This new concept, first communicated in the Fellowcraft degree, is the contained within, and linked to the word landmark. This word is contained in the last paragraphs of the final charge. An experienced master will guard the landmarks against encroachment. Page 168. We migHt look at the secular definition of landmark. Noun: Definition 1. An objeCt or feature of a landscape or town tHat enables someone to establish their location. Synonym – milestone. THis definition Could be desCribed as a prominent or well-known objeCt in or feature of a partiCular landsCape. This definition presents and contributes to the definition of a landmark as having physical presence. 6 Fair enough. In the modern sense, most of us don’t live in the This definition presents and contributes to the definition of a landmark as having physical presence. Fair enough. In the modern sense, most of us don’t live in the countryside where a landmark might be a corner-post at the boundary of our farm and tHe neighbors. We may not live near a mountain, or some other uncHanging natural feature. It must be obvious to you that a landmark must be permanent. No point in telling your friend to find your house by looking for a ligHt in tHe window. Too many variables in tHat one. Interesting qualification, landmarks must be unchanging. Definition 2. An event, discovery, or change marking an important stage or turning point in sometHing. This definition would support tHe understanding tHat tHis is an important or unique deCision, event, fact, disCovery, etc. This definition presents the consideration of landmarks in an intellectual sense. 7 In a physiCal sense then, or perhaps even in an intelleCtual sense, a landmark can define a boundary. So now we think of landmarks as identifiers of a place, as guideposts for our travels and even limitations or boundaries. The traditional use of landmarks is then, to be a limitation in a physiCal sense. You Could Certainly walk beyond the landmark defining the limit of your property, but you would understand that you are not on the land that is yours. In a sporting sense, you could be out-of-bounds. Your land or your playing-field may Have Corner-posts. Landmarks can be defined in an educational sense. The Romans did not Have tHe 0 tHat we understand a being 1 less than 1. The concept of 0 was first understood by the Indian Brahmagupta, around 650 AD, and was furtHer refined by Fibonacci, Descartes, Newton and Leibniz. For a time, use of the 0 in calculations was illegal. In that matHematiCal and liberal sense, the discovery of 0 must be a landmark. 8 Since education is primarily a cognitive exercise, there must be a cerebral component to the creation and recognition of those landmarks. That cerebral exercise invites the creation of a list of what constitutes a landmark. I have shown you that the word landmark appears in our rituals and tHereby, tHe Book of tHe Work. The new Worshipful Master also promises in tHe Ceremony of Installation to abide by, and never change the ancient landmarks. Most of tHe ritual found in tHe Book of tHe Work is governed by the rubrics, those little italic comments found as you read the work. THere are a Couple of referenCes in tHe Constitution providing rules for the Conduct of the work; such as the place in tHe work for a second candidate to be brought in if two candidates are doing the same degree together. Generally, the Book of the Work and the Constitution are quite separate. Even more removed from the conduct of the Work, and the normal operation of lodges, is the publiCation - Proceedings of Grand Lodge. 9 I shall now tie them all together. In a Masonic sense, notwithstanding the foregoing, tHere is no definition of what a landmark might be, nor a list of what we consider or are allowed to consider to be MasoniC landmarks in tHe Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. However, should you break a landmark, expect to hear about it very soon. Landmarks are not defined in the Book of Constitution. They are referred to in The Work, and Landmarks are frequently referred to in Grand Lodge proceedings, reports, and manuals. One migHt be wondering what appliCation tHere is for tHe ideas and principles Contained in the Ancient Landmarks. From the Proceedings of The Grand Lodge of Canada, we clearly see that these principles, although unspeCified and undoCumented; represent our most fundamental values. The Grand Lodge Committee on Fraternal Relations receives requests for Recognition of Grand Lodges. THese requests are 10 considered and recommendations made, based on three criteria. They are: 1. Legitimacy of Origin 2. Territorial Sovereignty 3. AdHerence to The Ancient Landmarks The recommendation from the committee is generally acCepted by Grand Lodge, and will lead to formal reCognition being granted or withheld for any new Grand Lodge that has been Created. It is generally agreed that The Ancient Landmarks must have existed since time immemorial. That is like forever. In EnglisH law and its derivatives, time immemorial means the same as time out of mind, "a time before legal history and beyond legal memory." In 1275, by the first Statute of Westminster, tHe time of memory was limited to tHe reign of RiCHard I (Richard the Lionheart), beginning 6 July 1189, the date of the King's accession. In 1832, time immemorial was re-defined as "Time whereof the Memory of Man runneth not to the contrary." M.