Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents ! but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .

ASHTON MARK LODGE AND THE GRAND LODGE OF M . M . M . OF ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The formidable indictment brought against me by Bro . Dr . Fore , man in last week's Freemason reminding one forciblv of Zola ' s cplphraterl

f ' accuse , if it were not a case of abuse your opponent ' s lawyer ought to make me hide my head for ever under a bushel , and particularly from the censorious eyes of all self-respecting Masons of whatever degree . With one fell swoop Bro . Dr . Foreman would destroy any little reputation I may have acquired during a Masonic career of considerably over a quarter of a century , in which my leisure has been largely devoted to Masonic pursuits , and all because I have had the temerity to fill a vacant evening' in the " loDna" Mark Lod ? e bv reading a DaDer

on the early history and ancestry of the lodge . This paper proved of sufficient interest to the members that it was ordered to be printed and distributed at the expense of the lodge . The Grand Secretary , Bro . C . F . Matier , an hon . member of the lodge of some 30 years' standing , naturally received one , nor was Bro . Foreman forgotten , for a copy was at the same time sent to him . Yet , it has taken the latter brother a year and a half to discover and " prove thcToirthlcssness and unreliable character of the production "

The one quotation Bro . Dr . Foreman takes from the pamphlet he misquotes , it really reads : " The Duckinfield Lodge has always and still meets quarterly on a Sunday afternoon , under the Warrant of some Cheshire or East Lancashire Craft Lodge , that most frequently favoured being Lodge ' Endeavour , ' No . 8 30 , Duckinfield . The Craft Lodge is first opened in the three Craft Degrees , when

the Mark Master enters and takes the chair . The Candidates are balloted for in the Master Mason ' s Degree , the Mark Lodge is then opened , and the ceremony of advancement worked . The lodge has at different times been called the * Duckinfield' Lodge , the 'Cheshire Mark' Lodge , and the ' Travelling Mark ' Lodge , and is now called the Honourable United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the Ashton-undf r-Lyne District . "

In the above extract there is no suggestion that the title " Grand " is of recent assumption . Indeed ! it Bro . Foreman cannot fix the date of its assumption , the maligned pamphlet will do it for him , since it gives in full a copy of the resolution forwarded by the Duckinfield Lodge , as it was called in 1856 , to the "Joppa" Lodge , intimating that a resolution had been pissed at their last meeting , held on the iQth of October . i 8 s 6 . to the following effect : " That a fnmmlttpe

be appointed to consider the present position of the Mark Degree and report as to the desirability of forming from the Union a Grand Mark Masons' Lodge . . . . and inviting the co-operation of the 'Joppa' Lodge , to which the' Joppa' replied by ' offering our hearty co-operation . '" At the March meeting of the " Joppa " in 18 W " A communication from the Duckinfield Lodire WAS mil rpcn » i ; n » tv . D

proposed organisation of a Grand Mark Lodge . " These extracts , found in the pamphlet and taken from the minutes of the "Joppa , " prove that the title " Grand " was assumed by the Ashton Body some little time after March , 1857 , and , therefore , after the Institution of the Grand Lod ge of Mark Master Masons , now presided over by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the first meeting of which was held in June , 1856 .

Not having visited the Ashton Body , I am quite prepared to admit that I may be wrong as to their exact modus operandi , but to justify myself in some measure for the " worthless , misleading , and inaccurate" pamphlet I have ventured to write—allow me to quote my authorities . Bro . John Yarker , who was a member of the lodge in the early fifties , wrote , January , 18 9 8 : " The Body was termed the Cheshire Mark Lodge , or Travelling Mark Lodge , it met quarterly on a Sunday afternoon under the Warrant of some Cheshire Lodge at the various places at which it decided to hold its meetings . "

From the minutes of an installation meeting of the " Joppa " Lodge , held at Birkenhead , 27 th of June , 1856 , we find that :

" The Mark Lodge was opened in the Master ' s Degree in due form bv Bro H . Gee , W . M . ; Shaw , S . W . j Bell , J . W . ; I . Gee , I . G . "The minutes of the last lodge were then read and confirmed . " Bros . Dixon , Wilson , Davies , and Histsen were then balloted for , and unanimously elected ) the lodge opened in the Mark Masters' Degree , when they were severally introduced and inducted . "

The brethren mentioned as officers on this occasion were all members of the Duckinfield Lodge , who had been specially invited to do the work , their expenses beinj , ' paid as per resolution of the " Joppa " at the May meeting in 1856 . This was 12 months before the *' Joppa" received its Scottish warrant , and we may reasonably suppose that the visiting brethren expounded the old Cheshire system of working in all its purity for the guidance and improvement of the Birkenhead brethren .

From Bro . Dr . Foreman ' s report of a meeting of the Ashton body , published in the February ( 1898 ) Masonic Journal , we gather that "The Honorable United Grand Lod ge of Mark Master Masons of the Ashton-under-Lyne District held its quarterly meeting , which was the orrasion

of the annual installation of Grand Master , on Sunday , the iCth of January , under the auspices of the Craft Lodge of Endeavour , No . 8 jo , at the Oueen ' s Arms Hotel , Duckinfield , when Bro . Edward Davies , W . M . of the Endeanonr Lodge , attended with all his officers , and opened the lod ^ c through the three Symbolic Degrcts .

"The chair was taken by the Grand Mirk Master ( B .-o . Dr . Foreman , P . J . G . W . Lanes . ) , who opened the Grand Mark Lodge in accordance with ancient custom . " The following brethren were proposed , approved of , duly presented , and advanced to the degree of M . M . M . in strict conformity with the ancient us ' aees by the W . M . " B

I he ancient usage of the Ashton body , as per the "Joppa" minutes , wa « to ballot for the candidates in the Masler ' s Degree ; the modern usage seems to place the ballot in the Mark Degree . 1 have already trespassed too much upon your space , and , therefore , refrain from criticising the endearing terms Bro . Dr . Foreman has applied to both myself and my poor pamphlet ; it is , to say the least of it , refreshing after the usual adulation to which one is subject on serving up anything just a little out of the common .

We , of the Joppa , No . n , and likewise of the Fidelity , No . 31 , are distinctly proud of ourancestor , and , in mentioning her present name four times only , I feel that I have not done justice to that filial affection so interesting a parent inspires and deserves . 1 had no idea until I read Bro . Dr . Foreman ' s letter that I had become so prominent in matters Masonic ; that a trifle from my pen should attract the

Correspondence.

attention not only of the General Boards of both Craft and Mark Grand Lodge , but is likely to lead , at no distant day , to the only irregular body of Mark Masons in England placing themselves in a regular manner under the banner of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours ,

JOHN ARMSTRONG , P . M . of Nos . 11 and 31 Oriel Chambers , Water-street , Liverpool , October 3 rd .

MARK MASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall esteem it a great favour if you will allow me , through your columns , to again remind those of your readers who are Mark Master Masons , that the Star Mark Lod ? e of Instruction . No . ADO . still meets at the Six Bells

Hotel , Queen-street , Hammersmith , the next meeting being on Wednesday evening , the nth inst ., at 8 p . m ., when all Mark Master Masons are cordially invited to be present . Since the formation of this lodge , it has been the means , under its able Preceptors , of affording instruction in this beautiful Degree to many who would not otherwise have obtained it , and I feel sure that it only wants to be more penerallv known , esDeciallv at this time of the vear . to Drove a boon

to those Mark Master Masons who are working up to the Worshipful Master ' s chair . —I am , Sir , yours fraternally , W . T . RIDGWAY , Secretary . 2 , Brooklyn-road , Shepherd ' s-bush , W ., October 2 nd .

Original By-Laws Of "Ancient" Lodge, No. 69, Now No. 2 On The Pennsylvania Register.

ORIGINAL BY-LAWS OF " ANCIENT" LODGE , No . 69 , NOW No . 2 ON THE PENNSYLVANIA REGISTER .

The following are the By-Laws , for which we are indebted to the Philadelphia Keystone of the 9 th September , as communicated to our contemporary by Bro . Ramborger , Secretary cf No . 2 : The By-Laws of Lodge No . 1 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in the City of Philadelphia and Province af Pennsylvania . By virtue of a Special Warrant to Bror George Brooks , Master , Brother Joseph Croker and John McCanly Senr & Junr Wardens and their Successors being duly

congregated for ever by the Grand Lodge of Ancients in England . The Right Honorable and Right Worshipful William Stewart , Earl of Blesington , Grand Master , William Holford , Esq ' re , Deputy Grand Master , Mr . Robert Goodman , S . G . W ., Mr . William Osborne , J . G . W ., with ye consent of 47 York Regular Lodges of Free and Accepted Ancient Masons bearing date ye Seventh of June in ye year of our Lord 175 S and in ye year of Masonry 5758 and bourne of ye Grand Lodge Books as 69 Lawe Derrmott , G Sec ' y

IMPRIMIS . That the Regular and Stated Meeting of this Lodge shall be on the Second Tuesday of every month 1 . The Lodge shall be opened in half an hour after the time of Meeting and ye list of the Brethern names called over by the Secretary or the Brother that officates for him . 2 . That the officers of this Lodge shall serve for one whole year except in case of misconductbut if anv Brother shall refuse when chosen bv a maioritv ( when nrnnerlv

congregated ) in his turn shall pay a fine of ten shillings to the Chanty Fund . 3 . That if any ! person well recommended ( who desire to have the degrees of Masonry as exhibited in this Lodge ) and of a fair character he shall first apply to ye Secretary to make out his petition for which he shall pay two shillings & sixpence and then be balloted for as usual , and if accepted must pay for entrance Twenty shillings to the Box and seven shillings and six pence to Cloathe ye Lodge . Twenty shillings at Passing and Twenty shillings at Reasing and if he becomes a Stated Member shall pay seven shillings & six pence which shall likewise absolate go to ye Box .

4 . That any Brother not made in this lodge , an Ancient Mason and of a fair character and is desirous of becoming a member of this Society shall on his being admitted , pay to the Charity Fund , one pound for the benefit of the Lodge and two & six pence to ye Secretary for his inrolment in the Books & c . 5 . That no Brother be allowed to pass his word or his or their assumption taken for anyone to be entered in this Lodge , or Brother to be pissed or Raised nor shall pass the second or third degree until he has passed the Necessary Experiences and is ready to discharge any further costs arising as specified in the Third and Fourth Articles above & c .

C . That no brother come to ye Lodge without the necessary Expenses of the night . Each member paying into ye Secretary ( or any other Person that shall be appointed ) one shi ling & six pence which ye Expences of ye Lodge in Lodge hours is not to exceed , and to be collected just as ye Lodge is going to be cbs : d , but if any of ye cash is left unexpended ye Secretary or ye person appointed , after paying of ye house shall be accountable for ye overplus , and a minute made of it in ye transactions of ye night and ve monev disDOScd of as ve officers of the Lodce and a maioritv of the Brethern in ooen

Lodge shall think fit , provided it be not on an Extra Lodge . 7 . That as soon as ye Lodge is opened and the Brethern names called over , every Brother not appearing , and coming to ye Lodge ye night while it is open shall pay Three pence as a fine for his non appearance in proper time , according to ye summons , any member who shall absent himself from a monthly meeting when duly summoned , saving sickness or on a journey , shall pay for every such neglect one shilling and sixrjence . to whole to ve Charitv Fund .

S . That no Brother be introduced as a visitor in Lodge hours , till he is first tryed and aproven of by the Report given to ye Chair or well known to be an Ancient Mason by two or more of the Brethren then present . 9 . That no visiting Brother shall be admited at the Entering , pissing or Raising , of any in this Lodge Except he be admitted as in the foregoing Article , and not then , if two or more of ve Brethren have anv doubts & cannot rat them snlverl .

10 . That when ye Master or his Deputy taken ye Chair and calls to order , then ye Brethren shall take their seats also , and on ye third stroke of ye Masters Hammer there shall be profound silence , and whoever Breaks it without leave from ye Chair shall be publickly repremanded , nither shall any hold privat conferences in Lodge hours or move about from their seats except ye Master , Deputy or Wardens who have the care of the Lodge more immediately .

11 . That but one of ye Brethren is to spake at ye same time & but once to ye same affair , unless to expliin himself or when called upon by ye Ctiair , & c . 12 . That every Brother that speaks shall rise & keep standing addressing himself to ye Chair nor shall any presume to interrupt under the Penalty atsd unless ye Master finding him wandering from the point in hand shall think fitt to reduce him to order & c

then he may proceed again . 13 . That whoever shall be so rude as hiss at a Brother or at what he shall say or has said or make divertion at him in ye way of an affront ( and it shall be so judged ol by a Majority of the Lodge ) he shall forthwith be solemnly excludid ye communicatioi & declared incapable of ever being a member of this Lodge for the future , till he publickly owns his fault and grace be granted also paying a fine of five shillings & c .