XXXIX. Every Annual Grand Lodge has an inherent

power and authority to make new Regulations,* or to alter these, for the real benefit of this ancient Fraternity : pro- vided always that the old Landmarks be carefully preserved, and that such alterations and new Regulations be proposed and agreed to at the third Quarterly Communication preced- ing the annual grand feast ; and that they be offered also to the perusal of all the brethren before dinner, in writing, even of the 3roungest Apprentice ; the approbation and consent of the majority of all the brethren present being absolutely necessary to make the same binding and obligatory ; which must, after dinner, and after the new Grand Master is in- stalled, be solemnly desired ; as it was desired and obtained for these Regulations, when proposed by the Grand Lodge, to about 150 brethren, on St. John Baptist's day, 1721.
The Constitutions, Charges and Regulations here presented to the reader, and which were adopted at various periods, from 926 to 1722, constitute the Written Law of Masonry, and they were at one time co-extensive in authority with the Landmarks of the Order. From these, however, they differ in this respect, that the Landmarks being unrepealable, must ever continue in force j but the .Written Law, having been adopted by the supreme legislative au- thority of the Order at the time, may be altered, amended, or altogether repealed by the same su-
* See note on page 65.
80 THE WRITTEN" LAW.
preme authority — a doctrine which is explicitly set forth in the Thirty-ninth General Regulation. Accordingly, portions of this Written Law have, from time to time, been materially modified by dif- ferent Grand Lodges, as will be evident upon in- spection of these laws with the modern Constitutions of any jurisdiction.
It may, however, be considered as an axiom of Masonic law, that in every Masonic jurisdiction, where any one of these Regulations has not been formally or implicitly repealed by a subsequent en- actment of a new law, the old Regulation will continue in force, and the Craft must be governed by its provisions.
So in all doubtful questions of Masonic law, re- course must be had, in forming an opinion, first to the Landmarks, and then to this code of Written Laws ; and out of these two authorities, the legal dictum is to be established, because all the principles of law are embraced in these two authorities, the Ancient Landmarks and the Ancient Written Law ; and hence they have been necessarily incorporated into this volume, as a fitting introduction, under the appropriate title of the Foundations of Masonic Law.