Editing Freemasonry (section)

===Liberal landmarks and philosophical foundations===
Liberal Freemasonry approaches regularity through a fundamentally different lens, tracing its philosophical foundations to earlier Masonic documents such as the Constitution of the Freemasons of Strasbourg in 1459,<ref>http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/strasb.html {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2025}}</ref> which predates Anderson's Constitutions by over 250 years. Rather than viewing landmarks as fixed and immutable, Liberal Masonry sees them as principles open to democratic debate and evolutionary interpretation.

The [[Grand Orient de France]] (GOdF), established in 1723 renamed in 1773, serves as the gold standard in Liberal Masonic recognition. Recognition by the GOdF represents a significant achievement for any Grand Orient or Grand Lodge within the Liberal Masonic community, affirming their commitment to the principles of freedom of conscience and universal brotherhood. The GOdF maintains recognition agreements with numerous Masonic bodies worldwide based on shared philosophical principles rather than adherence to particular core principles or landmarks.

By contrast, Liberal Masonic bodies typically employ recognition criteria centred on:<ref>https://godf.org/qui-sommes-nous/nos-valeurs/#:~:text=Elle%20a%20pour%20principe%20la,la%20libert%C3%A9%20absolue%20de%20conscience. {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2025}}</ref><ref>https://www.freemasonryformenandwomen.org/founding-principles.html {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2025}}</ref>

*Adherence to the principle of freedom of conscience (''liberté de conscience''), a core value established in the GOdF's landmark 1877 constitutional reform<ref>https://shs.cairn.info/revue-la-chaine-d-union-2017-3-page-38?lang=fr {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2025}}</ref>
*Commitment to the advancement of humanity through reason, justice, and fraternity
*Independence from religious dogma or political control
*Open examination of philosophical, social, and ethical questions
*Recognition of the equality and autonomy of all Masonic bodies
*Respect for the diversity of Masonic traditions and practices
*Democratic governance with regular assemblies where policy is determined by vote

These principles reflect the Enlightenment values that informed early Freemasonry, emphasising human reason, freethought, progressive social engagement, and intellectual liberty.

Furthermore, the Grand Orient de France famously describes what Freemasonry is in the first article of its constitution, deviation from these principles could lead a Grand Lodge to become un-recognised by the GOdF : 

{{quote|Freemasonry, an essentially philanthropic, philosophical and progressive institution, has for its object the search for truth, the study of morality and the practice of solidarity; it works for the material and moral improvement, the intellectual and social perfection of humanity. Its principles are mutual tolerance, respect for others and for oneself, and absolute freedom of conscience. Considering metaphysical conceptions as being exclusively within the domain of individual judgment of its members, it refuses all dogmatic affirmation. It attaches fundamental importance to secularism. Its motto is: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.<ref>https://godf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/charte-valeurs-GODF-2023.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}</ref>}}