The Twenty-Five Landmarks of Freemasonry

I. The modes of recognition.

II. The Division of Symbolic Masonry into three degrees.

III. The legend of the Third Degree.

IV. The government of the fraternity by a presiding officer called a

Grand Master, who is elected from the body of the Craft.

V. The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every

assembly of the Craft, wheresoever and whensoever held.

VI. The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for

conferring degrees at irregular times.

VII. The prerogative of the Grand Master to grand dispensations

for opening and holding Lodges.

VIII. The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons at sight.

IX. The necessity of Masons to congregate in Lodges.

X. The government of every Lodge by a Master and two

Wardens.

XI. The necessity that every Lodge, when congregated, should be

duly tiled.

XII. The right of every Mason to be represented in all general

meetings of the Craft, and to instruct his representatives.

XIII. 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.

XIV. The right of every Mason to visit and sit in every regular

Lodge.

XV. That no visitor, not known to some brother as a Mason, can

enter a Lodge without undergoing an examination.

XVI. That no Lodge can interfere in the business or labor of

another Lodge.

XVII. That every Freemason is amenable to the Laws and

regulations of the Masonic jurisdiction in which he resides.

XVIII. That every candidate for initiation must be a man, free born

and of lawful age.

XIX. That every Mason must believe in the existence of God as the

Grand Architect of the Universe.

XX. That every Mason must believe in a resurrection to a future

life.

XXI. That a book of the law of God must constitute an

indisputable part of the furniture of the Lodge.

XXII. That all men in the sight of God are equal, and meet in the

Lodge on one common level.

XXIII. That Freemasonry is a secret society, in possession of

secrets that cannot be divulged.

XXIV. That Freemasonry consists of a speculative science founded

on an operative art.

The Declaration of Principles

Freemasonry Is a charitable, benevolent, educational and religious society, adhering to its own Landmarks. Its  principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. It's only secrets are in its methods of recognition and of symbolic instruction.

It is charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of its income inures to the benefit of any individual, but all is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of mankind.

It is benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a duty.

It is educational in that it teaches by prescribed ceremonials a system of morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.

It is religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Volume of the Sacred Law is open upon its Alters whenever a Lodge is in session, reverence for God is ever present in its ceremonial, and to its brethren are constantly addressed lessons of morality; yet it is not sectarian or theological.

It is a social organization only so far as it furnishes additional inducement that men may foregather in numbers, thereby providing more material for it primary work of education, of worship, and of charity.

Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the community. Thus it impresses upon its members the principles of personal righteousness and personal responsibility; enlightens them as to those things the feeling of charity, or good will, toward all mankind which will move them to translate principles and conviction into action.

Masonry abhors Communism as being repugnant to its conception of the dignity of the individual personality, destructive of the basic rights which are the Divine heritage of all men and inimical to the fundamental Masonic tenet of Faith in God.