Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

The half-yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , & c , was held at Freemasons ' Tavern , on Tuesday , and was very numerously attended ..

The Grand Master , the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., presided , and among the other brethren present were : Bros . J . C . Parkinson , G . J . W . ; Magnus Ohren , G . M . O . ; J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas . ; Frederick Binckes ,

G . Sec . ; Eugene Cronin , G . S . D . ; Morton Edwards , GJ . D . ; William Hudson , G . Asst . Dir . of Cers . ; H . R . Trigg , G . Swordbearer ; I . J . Wilkinson , G . Standard-bearer ; Rev . C . R . Davy , William S . Webster , P .

W . Koch , and R . J . Spiers , G . Stewards ; W . E . Gumbleton , P . G . S . W . ; Wm . Mann , P . G . Reg . ; Thomas Meggy , P . G . M . O . ; James Stevens , P . G . J . O . ; Revds . T . F . Ravenshaw , D . Shaboe , and W . B . Church , P . G . Chaps . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . D . ; S .

Rosenthal , P . G . D . C . ; H . C . Levander , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; T . J . Sabine , P . G . Asst . Dir . of Cers . ; R . Spencer , P . G . Sword-bearer ; A . D . Loewenstark and J . H . Wynne . P . G . I . G . ' s ; S . M . Lazarus and John Read , P . G . Org . ' s ; C . Hammerton , H . Massey , and M . A .

Loewenstark , P . G . Stewards ; Geo . Barlow , Prov . G . J . W . Middlesex and Surrey ; G . John Smallpiece , P . G . Treas . Middlesex and Surrev ; W . O . Walker , P . G . M . O . Lancashire ; Thomas Birchall , P . G . J . W .

Lancashire ; Thomas Hargreaves , P . P . G . J . D . Lancashire ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec . Lancashire ; J . C . Duncombe . P . G . J . D . Leicestershire and Rutland ; R . C . Else , P . G . Asst . Dir . of Cers . Somerset ; and a

large number of Masters , Past Masters , and Overseers of private lodges . Grand Lodge having been formally opened , the Grand Secretary ( Bro . Fredk . Binckes ) read the minutes of last Grand Lodge of 6 th June .

Bro . Joshua Nunn desired to know a little more about the treaty , proposed by these minutes to be confirmed , between this Grand Lodge and the supreme bodies , the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , the

Knights Temp l ar , and the 33 rd Degree ; because , he thought , the Jewish brethren might object to it . This jurisdiction should keep itself aloof from all other jurisdictions , and as there were nviny Jewish brethren

in Masonry who might feel themselves debarred from joining the Mark Degree if it was at all connected with Christian bodies , they should learn all the particulars of these treaties before they were adopted

by this Grand Lodge . In deference to the objections ofthe Jewish brethren , he would like to see this matter a little more

ventilated before it was passed , and he would therefore move that thc ^ e minutes , excepting the portion which referred to the treaties , be confirmed . Bro . A . D . Loewenstark seconded the

motion . Although , on a former occasion , he had advocated the treaties on the ground of freedom , he now thought that Jewish brethren could not join any degree in Masonry that was not honestly and truly

Masonry univc'sil . Although there wcic not many Jewish brethren present , there were , he was sure , many conscientious Masons , who would take th .-. * matter into consideration , and not vote for thc adoption

of these treaties until they thoroughly understood what was meant by it . If the adoption were carried , it would be a great

drawback to Mark Masonry , which had worked well for a great number of years . Let them go on in that way , without any innovation : if not , there would come a

Grand Mark Lodge.

time when they would regret the step they proposed to take . Bro . H . C . Levander was astonished that a misunderstanding on such a point could take place . The treaty between the

contracting parties was not in opposition to either , and did not interfere with the ritual of Mark Masonry . If the treaties in any way interfered with the universality of

Mark Masonry , he , for one , would be the last to vote for them . He moved , as an amendment , that the minutes be confirmed . Bro . Gumbleton havinp-heard the treaties

fully read over at the time they were entered into , agreed with Bro . Levander , that they did not interfere with the Mark Degree , and seconded the amendment . The Grand Secretary thought it would

be hardly respectful to Bro . Nunn if he did not explain that , whether a brother be a Jewish or a Christian brother , if he was a member ofthe Mark Degree , and was not a member of the A . and A . Rite , Knights

Templar , or Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , he was no more affected by these treaties than if they did not exist . Such brother was only a member of the Mark Degree . Therefore , there could be no

possible objection that the universality of the degree could be jeopardised , or its interests prejudiced , to the smallest possible extent . The Grand Master had imagined that this subject had been , on former occasions ,

worked thoroughly threadbare . Bro . Lazarus ( whom he was glad to see present ) then explained that the treaty could make no difference to the Hebrew brethren . It

did not affect the ritual or universality of Mark Masonry in any way . All it did was to bind the parties to be on friendly terms with each other , and Earl Percy told . the brethren that it no more affected the

Judaism of the Jews than a treaty between England and Turkey would affect the Christianity of England . The treaties had been of die greatest service to this Degree ,

and had been the means of obtaining support from distinguished brethren on critical oc : asions in lhe provinces , which , but for those treaties , it would not have had .

Bro , Joshua Nunn having replied , the amendment of Bro . Levander was put and carried , and the minutes were confirmed .

The Grand Master said he had great pleasure in announcing that he had received official communication to the effect that this Grand Mark Lodge had been recognised by the Grand Chapters of Iowa and

Pennsylvania , and that these Grand Bodies were willing to receive , and grant grand rank to , representatives of Grand Mark Lodge , on that body agreeing to receive , and grant grand rank to , representatives

from them . Thc time had now come , therefore , to settle the footing on which this lodge would receive such representatives .

He need not point out thc enormous strength the recognition gave thc Mark Degree in this country , and he thought it would be advisable tbat thc Grand Master

confer on the representatives of the Grand Chapters of Iowa and Pennsylvania thc rank of Senior Grand Warder , and also to give them a distinguishing jewel ; and he propoied that if these foreign bodies

appointed brethren as their representatives who had filled thc highest posts in Canada and the United States—for instance , if they appointed a Past Gr . ind Principal—he would rank in Grand Mark Lod ' . re next to

the last Grand Masters ; but if thc foreign chapters should appoint a member of this Grand Lodge as our representative at its assemblies , he should have the rank of Past Grand Senior Warden , or immediately after the S . W . © f the year . The representatives

Grand Mark Lodge.

here of foreign Grand Chapters should rank after our S . G . Wardens . There was one other point . He wished to ask for power —as numerous brethren who belonged to our lodges in the colonies could not be

rewarded by the G . Master giving them office in Grand Lodge , although they might have distinguished themselves by hard work in the colonies—to reward such brethren by granting them rank as Past Grand

ofheers . At present , the Grand Master had no power to do so . He believed it would strengthen the position of this body in the

colonies , and he therefore proposed to ask Grand Lodge to grant him that power . The M . W . G . M . concluded by moving a resolution in terms of his address .

Bro . Walker , Prov . G . M . O . Lancashire , seconded the motion . Bro . J . R . Stebbing asked whether it would not be better if the rank proposed to be conferred were not exceeding Past Senior

Grand Warden ? It would be very inconvenient to be obliged always to give the highest rank , and he would rather trust to

the Grand Masters discretion in conferring the rank . They might always give Past Senior Grand Warden ' s rank ; but it would be as well not to be compelled to do so .

The Grand Master thought the suggestion a good one , and the motion , as amended , was put and carried nem . ecu . Bro . T . J . Sabine ( Brighton ) , on rising-to nominate the new Grand Master , said :

The period having arrived when , under the Constitutions that govern this Order , it is necessary to nominate some distinguished and skilful brother who has done good suit andservice on behalf of the Order to occupy

the place which , during the past two years and a half , you , Most Worshipful Grand Master have so worthily filled , I rise for the purpose of naming an experienced and skilful brother as the future Grand Master

of this Mark Degree . I am sure I have need to make mention only ofthe name of the brother proposed , for him to receive at your hands hearty and unanimous approval . I refer , then , to our present Deputy Grand

Master , our noble brother , the Earl Percy . I am quite sure , Most Worshipful Grand Master , that if there is any brother connected with this flourishing and prosperous Degree who deserves such a distinguished

recognition at our hands , that brother is E irl Percy . In every phase of Masonic life , in every moment of necessity , at every period of the history of this G . M . Lodge since he has been connected with it , he has

always been prepared and ready in every possible way to promote , to support , and to increase its authority , its members and the area of ground over which it extends . During the past eighteen month- * , our noble

brother has held the distinguished position of Deputy Grand Master of the Order ; and I believe that by preferring him to tlie higher office we shall be giving a tone and

satisfaction to the whole Order wherever it may be spread , throughout this or throughout distant countries : and I am quite sure that when his term of office shall have

expired , when it will be found n < cessary in order to comply with lhe constitutions of the degree to supersede him for some other

brother , this Grand Lodge will not regret in having nominated and their hiving ' elected Bro . Earl Percy to the position to which I now nominate him . ( Cheers . )

The Report of the General Board and the accounts were then read by the Grand Secretary , from which it was clearly shewn

that tin ' s Degree was in a most flourishing state , that brethren were everywhere joining the Order , and that the funds in the hands of the Grand Treasurer were most