What are Landmarks?

Landmarks are universal customs and regulations – both written or unwritten – originally established at a time so remote that no account of their origins is to be found, yet they have generally grown into permanent rules or understandings and are considered essential to the preservation and integrity of the Order. A grand lodge that violates the Landmarks of the Order would cease to be a true expression of regular Freemasonry.

The Grand Lodge of Ohio Constitution says only that the landmarks must “be held inviolate.” Although not identified as such, a general expression of what Ohio considers landmarks appears in its By-Laws defining the requirements for recognition of foreign grand lodges.