Appendix V
(Reproduced from the evidence submitted by the United Grand Lodge)
AIMS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CRAFT
On 5 August 1920, at the direction of the Grand Master, the Grand Secretary wrote as follows to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph:
Sir,
As a great deal of misapprehension appears to be entertained in some quarters concerning the aims and relationships of the United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of England, I have been desired by the Grand Master to make the following statement regarding them.
The Grand Lodge of England — of which H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught has been for twenty years Grand Master, in succession to the late King Edward VII, himself Grand Master as Prince of Wales, from 1875 to 1901 — has held strictly aloof throughout its history, which dates from 1717, from participation in public or political affairs, either national or international, considering itself precluded from taking any share in discussions on state policy. While thus standing aside from party divisions it has always inculcated patriotism in the citizen, and loyalty in the individual. It had not long been established when it publicly gave assurance of this to one of His Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State. The assurance thus given in the reign of George I is emphasised in a special degree in that of George V. Everyone who comes into Freemasonry is strictly enjoined at the outset not to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society, to pay a due obedience to the law of any State in which he resides, and never to be remiss in the allegiance due to his Sovereign.
No secret is attaching to these duties, which are of the essence of Masonry as practised under the Jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England, as well as by the Sister Grand Lodges of Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and, I have reason to believe, of the remainder of the English-speaking world.
Every English Lodge at its consecration is dedicated to God and to His Service; no one can become a Mason until he has declared his faith in the Supreme Being. As a consequence, men of every shade of political opinion and ministers of all religious denominations are members of and office-bearers in our organisation, and Masonry thus provides a platform on which men of all conditions, classes, and creeds can work together for the common welfare. In Masonic Lodges all discussions on topics of a political or theological nature are strictly forbidden.
Because of its determination to preserve the position it has upheld for over two centuries, the Grand Lodge of England never takes part in any Masonic or quasi-Masonic gathering in which the fundamental Antient Landmarks of Freemasonry — which have been indicated above — are allowed to be regarded as open questions.
Yours faithfully,
P. COLVILLE SMITH, Grand Secretary.
The letter was published on 7August 1920 (with editorial comment), and reported to Grand Lodge at its next quarterly communication on 1 September 1920.
In August, 1938, the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland each agreed upon and issued a statement identical in terms except that the name of the issuing Grand Lodge appeared throughout. This statement was in the following terms:
AIMS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CRAFT
This statement was reported in the Daily Telegraph on 29 August1938 (and was the subject of editorial comment). It was reported to Grand Lodge at its next quarterly communication on 7 September 1938. It was ordered to be read in every Lodge, and a copy was ordered to be given to every Mason of the English Constitution. Attention was again drawn to the statement at the quarterly communication of Grand Lodge on 7 June 1944.
At the quarterly communication on 7 September1949, Grand Lodge approved the following addition to the declaration of 1938.
The Grand Lodge of England has been asked if it still stands by this declaration, particularly in regard to paragraph 7. The Grand Lodge of England replied that it stood by every word of the declaration, and has since asked for the opinion of the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland. A conference has been held between the three Grand Lodges, and all unhesitatingly reaffirm the statement that was pronounced in 1938: nothing in present-day affairs has been found that could cause them to recede from that attitude.
If Freemasonry once deviated from its course by expressing an opinion on political or theological questions, it would be called upon not only publicly to approve or denounce any movement which might arise in the future, but would sow the seeds of discord among its own members.
The three Grand Lodges are convinced that it is only by this rigid adherence to this policy that Freemasonry has survived the constantly changing, doctrines of the outside world, and are compelled to place on record their complete disapproval of any action which may tend to permit the slightest departure from the basic principles of Freemasonry. They are strongly of opinion that if any of the three Grand Lodges does so, it cannot maintain a claim to be following the Antient Landmarks of the Order, and must ultimately face disintegration.