THE LETTER OF THE Master of the Lodge

LET'S RECOGNIZE.

Dearest Brother,
surely the news of the day is the recognition that the United Grand Lodge of England has once again granted to the Grand Orient of Italy, while continuing to recognize the R.G.L.I. I am not interested here in speculating about this event, the actual consequences of which we will only see over time.
In my opinion, however, it is useful to take up that part of our Constitutions, which translate the English Constitutions literally, where they specify the requirements for the recognition of a Grand Lodge:
1. That the origins are regular, i.e. each Grand Lodge must have been founded by a recognized Grand Lodge or by three or more regular Lodges.
2. That belief in the Grand Architect of the Universe and in his revealed will is an essential qualification for membership in Freemasonry.
3. That all initiates assume their obligations upon the opened Volume of the Sacred Law, thus meaning that the revelation from Above is binding on the consciousness of the one being initiated.
4. That the Grand Lodge or individual Lodges are made up exclusively of men and that the Grand Lodge has no Masonic relationship of any kind with mixed Lodges or Bodies which admit women.
5. That the Grand Lodge has sovereign jurisdiction over the Lodges to its obedience, i.e. that it is a responsible, independent, self-governing organization with exclusive and undisputed authority over the Grades of the Order (Entry Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason) and shall in no way share such authority with any other Masonic Power claiming any control or supervision over such Degrees.
6. That the Three Great Lights (the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square and the Compass) are always displayed when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate lodges are at work.
7. That discussion of religion and politics in the Lodge be strictly prohibited.
8. That the principles of the ancient Landmarks, customs and uses of the Order are rigorously observed.
Some food for thought: to be recognized it is necessary to be regular, but can one be regular despite not being recognized? Obviously yes, otherwise no obedience would be recognized, if not already of regular origin. So what is recognition for? Is it an honor, a guarantee or something else? The observance of the Landmarks is required which, as we know, have never been clearly defined, so how to consider this requirement? In an initiatory order there is a difference between organization and initiatory work: does recognition pertain only to the organizational part, or does it also have effects on the initiatory part, really influencing the path of the brothers? How important is this recognition and the fact that it is no longer exclusive to you?

See you soon!

S&F

W.M. M.B. Master of Lodge