This Statement was subsequently endorsed and confirmed, particularly

in regard to paragraph (7), by UNITED GRAND LODGE of ENGLAND on 7th

September 1949

The only differences in the Statements issued by the Grand Lodges were

the name and details of the individual Grand Lodge appearing within

the text of the Statement. In this case, the version issued United

Grand Lodge of England is quoted.

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1. From time to time the Uniteg 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 come 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 Order

is a belief in a Supreme Being. This is essential and admits of 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 English Freemasonry 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, nor 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 has always consistently refused to express any

opinion on questions of foreign or domestic 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 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 England refuses

absolutely to have any relations with such Bodies, or to regard them

as Freemasons.

9. The Grand Lodge of England is a Sovereign and independent Body

practising Freemasonry only within the three Degrees and only within

the limits defined in its Constitution as 'pure Antient Masonry'. It

does not recognize or admit the existence of any superior Masonic

authority, however styled.

10. On more than one occasion the Grand Lodge has refused, 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 of England is founded. The

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

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 discussion 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