AIMS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF DENMARK
The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark is a rather new Grand Lodge, formed on 3rd November 2007. The Grand Lodge has already obtained fraternal relationship with other Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge was formed with the objective of preserving and protecting pure, antient Freemasonry in Denmark.
The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark recognizes all Grand Lodges, recognized by The United Grand Lodge of England. Internally via regular masonic work and externally via an outstretched hand, the new Grand Lodge is engaged in obtaining recognition from the international, masonic society. This is expected to happen in the not too distant future, owing to the fact that the Grand Lodge fulfils all 8 principles in force. Until such a recognition is a reality, Brethren from recognized masonic organisations are not allowed to pay visits to Lodges of The Grand Lodge, and likewise Brethren of The Grand Lodge are not allowed to visit Lodges belonging to recognized Grand Lodges.
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.
The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark, declares to fully agree to this statement and therefore accepts it – with the necessary linguistic and other corrections – as its own statement, with the headline “Aims and Relationships of The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark ”, expressed as follows:
1. From time to time the United Grand Lodge of England has deemed it desirable to set forth in precise form the aims of Freemasonry as consistently practised under its jurisdiction since it came into being as an organized body in 1717, and also to define the principles governing its relations with those other Grand Lodges with which it is in fraternal accord.
2. In view of representations which have been received, and of statements recently issued which have distorted or obscured the true objects of Freemasonry, it is once again considered necessary to emphasize certain fundamental principles of the Order.
3. The first condition of admission into, and membership of, the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark is a belief in the Supreme Being, i.e. a belief in the existence of a God. This is essential and admits to no compromise.
4. The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open in the Lodges. Every candidate is required to take his obligation on that book or on the volume which is held by his particular creed to impart sanctity to an oath or promise taken upon it.
5. Everyone who enters Freemasonry is, at the outset, strictly forbidden to countenance any act which may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society; he must pay due obedience to the law of any state in which he resides or which may afford him protection, and he must never be remiss in the allegiance due to the Sovereign of his native land.
6. While the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark thus inculcates in each of its members the duties of loyalty and citizenship, it reserves to the individual the right to hold his own opinion with regard to public affairs. But neither in any Lodge, not at any time in his capacity as a Freemason, is he permitted to discuss or to advance his views on theological or political questions.
7. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark will always consistently refuse to express any opinion on questions of foreign or domestic state policy either at home or abroad, and it will not allow its name to be associated with any action, however humanitarian it may appear to be, which infringes its unalterable policy of standing aloof from every question affecting the relations between one government and another, or between political parties, or questions as to rival theories of government.
8. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark is aware that there do exist Bodies, styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles, and while that attitude exists the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark refuses absolutely to have any relations with such Bodies, or to regard them as Freemasons.
9. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark is in religious questions an independent Body practising Freemasonry only within the three Degrees and only within the limits defined in its Constitution as “pure Ancient Masonry”. It does not recognize any superior Masonic authority, however styled.
10. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark refuses and will continue to refuse, to participate in Conferences with so-called International Associations claiming to represent Freemasonry, which admit to membership Bodies failing to conform strictly to the principles upon which the Grand Lodge is founded. The Danish Grand Lodge does not admit any such claim, nor can its views be represented by any such Association.
11. There is no secret with regard to any of the basic principles of Freemasonry, some of which have been stated above. The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark will always consider the recognition of those Grand Lodges which profess and practise, and can show that they have consistently professed and practised, those established and unaltered principles, but in no circumstances will it enter into discussions with a view to any new or varied interpretation of them. They must be accepted and practised wholeheartedly and in their entirety by those who desire to be recognized as Freemasons by the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Denmark.
**************
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 reaffirms 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.
