Maine Masonic Text Book 1923

Maine Masonic Text Book 1923.


MASONRY. ITS ORGANIZATIONS. HISTORY
The Institution of Masonry, or Freemasonry (for these terms are used indiscriminately), is founded
upon the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man: it. therefore, necessarily teaches
Morality, Brotherly Love, and Charity: its method of teaching is chiefly by symbols: it has many
forms and ceremonies, but these are all intended to teach and impress upon the mind the great
principles of the Institution: its votaries are seeking after Truth, symbolized by Light.
A Provincial Grand Lodge was formed in Massachusetts under the authority of the Grand Lodge of
England, in 1733; and another, under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Scotand, in 1769: during
the revolution, these Bodies declared themselves independent of their Mother Grand Lodges, and,
in 1792, both united as the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The first lodge in Maine PORTLAND)
was chartered by the English Provincial Grand Lodge; the second (WARREN) by the Scottish
Provincial Grand Lodge; and the third (LINCOLN) by the United Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
When Maine became an independent State in 1820, the Lodges, thirtyone in number, formed the
Grand Lodge of Maine, in accordance with the wellsettled principle of masonic law, that the
lodges in every independent State are of right entitled to form a Grand Lodge for that State. The
Grand Lodge of Maine exercises exclusive masonic jurisdiction in this State, and any lodge,
organized by any other authority, is illegal and clandestine, with which, or with whose members,
no masonic intercourse can be held.




Maine Masonic Text Book
FOR USE OF LODGES ORIGINALLY DRUMMOND'S MONITOR SIXTEENTH
EDITION
COPYRIGHTED 1923 Maine Printing Exchange, Inc. 1997 PREFACE TO THE 16TH
EDITION
The Maine Masonic Text Book compiled by P.G.M. Josiah . Drummond was originally
published by the Grand Lodge of Maine in 1877 for the purpose of assisting the lodges in
resolving the questions which continually arise, and as a monitor of the various ceremonies.
The sixteenth edition has been printed without the "Digest of Decisions." It is important to
publish the "Digest of Decisions in a format which can be readily updated. In past formats,
each Grand Master's Decisions have had to remain unprinted until the supply of text books
ran out, and a new edition was printed. Not having the Digest of Decisions printed in the
Text Book allows the book to remain current.
The "Digest of Decisions" can be purchased separately or with the Constitution and
Standing Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Maine.
John E. Anagnostis Grand Secretary