Editing Freemasonry (section)

===Origins of the concept===
[[File:Microcosm of London Plate 038 - Freemasons' Hall (tone).jpg|thumb|alt=First Freemason's Hall, 1809|Conservative Freemasons' Hall in London, c. 1809]]
The concept of "regularity" originated before the divide between Conservative and Liberal Freemasonry existed, first appearing in Payne's regulations as printed in [[Anderson's Constitutions|Anderson's ''Constitutions'']]. In regulation VIII we find:

{{quote|If any Set or Number of Masons shall take upon themselves to form a Lodge without the Grand-Master's Warrant, the ''regular'' Lodges are not to countenance them, or own them as fair Brethren and duly form'd, nor approve of their Acts and Deeds; but must treat them as Rebels, until they humble themselves, as the Grand-Master shall in his Prudence direct, and until he approve of them by his Warrant, which must be signify'd to the other Lodges, as the Custom is when a new Lodge is to be register'd in the List of Lodges.}}<ref>[http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libraryscience/25/ Anderson's Constitutions] Franklin's reprint, p 62 retrieved 10 June 2013</ref>

This early recognition system was used to determine if a Lodge was trustworthy and not fraudulent, rather than to enforce doctrinal conformity.