The edition adopted at the annual Assembly of the Grand Lodge Of Russia June'16-17 6001 A:. L:.
THE FRATERNITY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
§ 1. The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons is a universal traditional initiative Order.
§ 2. The Fraternity is an assembly of free people of all races, nationalities, social groups and religious denominations, whose co-operative labours are aimed to the cognition of the universal principles of existence and the development of the higher, spiritual aspect of Man.
§ 3. Only mature man, free and of good report may be admitted into the Order, whose worth has been attested by the Brethren.
§ 4. All the relations among the members of the Order are based on the principles of tolerance, brotherly love and co-operation.
SPIRITUAL BASICS OF THE ORDER
§ 5. Freemasons believe in the Supreme Power – the first cause of all Being, Which they call The Grand Architect of the Universe, as well as in the beauty and harmony of the world by Him created. They are assured as to the fact, that all the imperfection of our world, the sufferings of Man, and all evil existing within him are the products of ignorance, and the way of salvation from them is through self-perfection and the search for Truth, Good and Beauty.
§ 6. The spiritual influence of the Order on its members is based on the possession of the true Knowledge veiled in the symbolic forms of the Royal Art. This Knowledge is supposed to be passed on along the unbreakable initiative chain and preserved by strict following the ancient rituals and traditions.
§ 7. The purity of this Knowledge is guarded by the Masonic oath of secrecy, which is supposed to be strictly observed by all the Brethren.
MORAL BASICS OF THE ORDER
§ 8. The basic commandments of Freemasons are: “Know thyself” and “Love thy neighbour as thyself”.
§ 9. Freemasons strictly follow the Laws of Humanity: “Do to thy neighbour what thou wilst to be done to thyself” and “Do not do to thy neighbour what thou dost not will to be done to thyself”, - both within the Temple walls, and outside, in the profane world.
§ 10. Freemasons recognise, that all people, notwithstanding the inequality of either their social status or personal talents, are born with equal rights and duties to the society.
§ 11. Freemasons consider it their duty, to be loyal to their native country, to strictly follow the laws adopted by the society and to obey lawful authorities wherever in the world they happen to reside. The Order condemns any and every action leading to breach of peace and order in the society.
§ 12. To the same extent, as the Order prescribes to its members loyalty, it leaves for them to possess a position in social life of their own. However, never, in no Lodge, under no circumstances whatsoever, during their Masonic activity, should they attempt to either discuss or propagate their political or religious views, so that perfect harmony of thought reigned in the centre of the Brotherly union.
§ 13. Freemasons reject any spiritual or physical violence.
§ 14. The Order requires from its members absolute tolerance, that is, full esteem towards the views, ideas and beliefs of others. Views and actions aimed at other Brethren’s freedom of thought are supposed to be strictly prohibited in Brotherly communication.
§ 15. Freemasons highly esteem Labour as a noble deed and view all its forms as a right and a duty of Man.
AIMS OF THE ORDER
§ 16. The Order aims only towards the good and happiness of all people, and no its action may be aimed towards the profit of separate people or groups of people.
§ 17. The Order considers its aim personal spiritual perfection of every man, viewing it as a way to the perfection of humanity as a whole.
§ 18. The ideas of Freemasons are proclaimed, proved, and spread by way of education and charity. Education reveals and explains the Truth, thus helping people to act consciously and realising their responsibilities. Charity teaches unselfishness and reveals the worthiness of Brethren, which is the product of the Order’s teaching.
COMPOSITION OF THE ORDER
§ 19. The Order is composed hierarchically and requires its members, who on their own free will and accord take their obligations, to strictly obey the regulations of the Order, to be loyal to the ancient and traditional principles of Freemasonry, to obey lawful Masonic authorities.
§ 20. Freemasons call each other Brethren. Gathering at special meeting places (Temples), they compose Lodges, where there reigns the Harmony of Reason and Senses. Meetings of any and every Lodge are conducted ritually to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe, according to the Regulations accepted by this Lodge. A Lodge is ruled and governed by its president – the Worshipful Master elected out of its members and by its members.
§ 21. Any and every Freemason is obliged to belong to some Lodge or other, to obey its regulations and execute – time and place notwithstanding, - the duties listed below, they being stated by the ancient customs and regulations of the Order.
§ 22. All the Lodges are united in the indivisible Masonic organism – the Grand Lodge of Russia. The Grand Lodge of Russia is a sovereign and independent organisation having its Masonic jurisdiction throughout the territory of Russia and recognising no other Masonic authorities as superior to itself. The Grand Lodge of Russia is ruled and governed by the Grand Master, its elected higher spiritual and administrative president.
LAWS OF THE ORDER
§ 23. The Grand Lodge of Russia prescribes to Lodges subordinate to it to conduct works according to the three degrees of the Ancient Craft Freemasonry (the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, the Master Mason) according to the ritual of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite adopted by the Grand Lodge. Use of other rituals may take place only at the resolution of the Grand Lodge of Russia.
§ 24. The Grand Lodge of Russia requires all Lodges subordinate to it to strictly follow the Ancient Charges and Landmarks, customs and traditions of Freemasons, the Constitution and the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Russia.
DUTIES OF FREEMASONS
§ 25. Freemasons are obliged to:
- worship the Grand Architect of the Universe;- love and protect their native country, obey its laws, or the laws of the country that had rendered protection to them, obey the lawful authorities and never refrain from the execution of their civil duty;
- obey the Ancient Charges and landmarks, customs and traditions of the Order, the Constitution and the General Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Russia, and the Regulations of the Lodge they belong to;
- strictly obey the resolutions of the Grand Lodge, its organs and officials, which are connected with their labours within the Fraternity of Freemasons, provided that it would not interfere with their either civil or family duties.
§ 26. Freemasons take solemn obligation to keep absolute silence as to the labours at Lodges, never to reveal these mysteries of the Order to anyone, except true and lawful Freemasons or at Lodges regularly constituted.
§ 27. Freemasons are obliged to support and maintain the feeling of Brotherly love in themselves and in one another, to help and Brotherly protect each other even at the risk to their own life.
§ 28. Freemasons are obliged under any circumstances to be friendly and tolerant towards their neighbours, keep calm and contained, serve as examples of wise, manly and honourable behaviour.
§ 29. The behaviour of Brethren at any Masonic assembly must not break Brotherly harmony; the passions of the profane world are to be kept out of it.
§ 30. No Brother is permitted to appear anywhere wearing his Masonic regalia and clothing, except the cases he is authorised for that by the Grand Master.
§ 31. No Brother is permitted to spread, publish, or propagate, both among Masons and profanes, views, which are contrary to the principles of the Order or this Brother’s duties towards the Order or its separate members and/or which are able to cause harm to the Order or the honour of its separate members.
§ 32. No Brother is permitted to participate in closed for general public meetings, assemblies or labours of any Masonic organisation not recognised by the Grand Lodge of Russia. Every Brother is obliged to estimate the sovereignty of regular and recognised national Grand Lodges.
REGULARITY
§ 33. The Grand Lodge of Russia, caring for the Brotherly communication with other branches of the Universal Fraternity of Freemasons, recognises outside the territory of the Russian Federation all the Grand Lodges, the activity of which is based on the same principles of regularity that are shared by itself.
§ 34. A Grand Lodge is considered regular, if it answers to the following requirements:
(i) A Grand Lodge must be lawfully established by a regular Grand Lodge or not less than three regularly constituted Lodges.
(ii) The belief in the Grand Architect of the Universe and His Revelation must be a requirement for members of a Grand Lodge.
(iii) The Three Great Lights of Freemasonry (the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses) must be present in the Temple during the labours of the Grand Lodge and any and every Lodge subordinate to it. The main of them is the Volume of the Sacred Law, it being the Book of Revelation recognised as such by the Brethren according to their beliefs. The Volume of the Sacred Law must be always open during the labours of any and every Lodge, and all obligations are taken on it.
(iv) A Grand Lodge and all Lodges subordinate to it must be composed only of men. A Grand Lodge must have no Masonic communication with Lodges of mixed composition or any Masonic organisations, which accept women.
(v) A Grand Lodge must be responsible, independent, self-governed organisation possessing exceptional and unquestioned authority over the subordinate Lodges of the Ancient Craft degrees (the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, the Master Mason). It must never be subordinate to or share its authority with the Supreme Council or any other Masonic authority expressing the wish to somehow control the labours in these degrees.
(vi) The discussion of religious and political matters at Lodges must be strictly prohibited.
(vii) The principles of the Ancient Charges and Landmarks,
customs and traditions of the
Royal Art must be strictly observed.
Grand Master [name, signature]
Grand Secretary [name, signature]