The Mark Degree In England.

very much regretted , and explained that though he had bee requested by tho D . G . M . of Ireland to represent him at thi Conference , the D . G . M . had not informed him of the day on which the Conference would meet . As representative in this country to its Grand Lodge of tho Grand Lodge of Ireland , 'he felt bound to attend to the business of the Lodge which accredited him . Before going on with the proceedings of the day he wished the Conference to understand that ho attended merely

as a representative of Ireland to hear what took place , and that nothing he or the Conference might say or do was to bo taken as binding Grand Lodge or Chapter of Ireland . These bodies would decide for themselves after hearing the conclusion the Conference had arrived at . The Grand Master was anxious that

there should be a kindly feeling between the Supreme Bodies of both countries , and that each should carry out the views of the order , as far as possible . Bro . Mann stated that it was quite understood that no bodywas bound by what took place . Tho members of the Conference merely came to converse for the purpose of ascertaining the views of tho different parties and to report to the bodies they represented what was done .

The Chairman said No ; but Grand Chapter of Ireland wished it particularly to be understood that they were not bound by anything that was done at the Conference . The Chairman further said that Bro . Binckes had been kind enough to wait upon him last night in consequence of his absence , which he so much regretted , and explained all that took place at the meeting of yesterday , Bro . Portal thought the most important portion of them was

Bro . Kerr ' s statement which contained some highly interesting archaiological information concerning the Mark Degree . The Chairman : The Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland gave the Mark Masons Degree under the Boyal Arch Warrant . Thcyhave no Mark Warrant . The degree is given to Master Maaons and Royal Arch Masons . It is worked under the Royal Arch Chapter , and that Chapter , from what they have seen in different publications , are rather inclined to be jealous of some of the Orders that are now worked in England . Bro . Hay : The Mark Degree is also worked under the Royal Avc . U iu Scotland .

Tho Chairman : We acknowledge the certificates of other Mark Lodges , only the governing body in Ireland is the Royal Arch Chapter . Bro . Kerr hero road the minutes read b y him yesterday The Chairman : That is very much in accordance with tho working in Ireland . They have not the power to work it unless they have a Royal Arch Chapter warrant . Bro . Portal : Now , shall 1 say a few words as to what was

left open from yesterday as to the origin of this Grand Lodge . These papers concerning it are exceedingly fragmentary . I cannot make out from them by what process this Mark Grand Lodge iu 1 S 56 came into existence . All that I can find in relation to that is the minutes of the first meeting , which simply contain a list of the officers appointed at that first meeting . In 1 S 57 definite action seem to ' nave been taken . In that year Lord Leigh , by advertisement in the " Times " summoned all

, Mark Masters in England to come to London to a Meeting , and he takes the chair , and a very interesting debate takes place upon the Mark Degree in tho course of which he proposes to appoint a committee which should settle under what future government the Mark Degree in this country should bo in consequence of the Grand Lodge of England having refused to take the Mark Degree under its jurisdiction . Bro . Havers ( everybody who knows anything about Grand Craft Lodge knows the great

influence he had there ) makes a long speech on the subject , in which he "objects to Lord Leigh , a Provincial Grand Master , taking the chair at the meeting ; tells him that it is a . breach of his Masonic obligation , disputes the antiquity of the Degree altogether ; and denies that it had ever been under tho jurisdiction of Grand Lodge;—( well , that is just our contention that it never was)—and desired that tho Brethren should not be misledbut should

, understand the fact that the Degree was a recent and mordern innovation , and never formed part of Ancient Freemasonry . Asserted that a heavy responsibility rested with Lord Leigh and with the meeting , if they lightly forgot the 0 . B . taken by every Master of a Lodge on being installed , and the memorable declaration of their ancestors in 1813 . Contended that , mindful of his oath , he must resist any innovation upon the ancient plan of Freemasonry , and that Masonry consisted solely of Three

Degrees , including the Royal Arch . That our Brethren of the ' Lodge of Reconciliation , ' in 1 S 13 , did not make anything new , they only declared what the pure landmarks had been . That the Scotch , Irish , and American Masons who practiced the Mark Degree , took their Masonry from England , and their adopting this Degree proved that they had not kept to the purit y of English Masonry . " Lord Leigh , in spite of that , got a committee appointed , and that committee made a Report . The report

of that Committee was this : — " That they bear in mind that the object of its appointment was to ascertain by a fair representation of tho different sections of Mark Masters at present disunited the views of those different sections as to the means to be adopted tn promote unity and uniformity in the Craft . After careful consideration , the Committee recommend as follows : — 1 st . That all bodies of Freemasons in England and AVales which have heretofore actually met and worked as Lodges of Mark

Masters , whether under a warrant of Constitution or immemorial custom , or otherwise , should form a union . 2 nd . That this union of Lodges should be represented by an assembly of their Masters , Past Masters and Wardens , and be governed by such regulations as this representative assembly shall approve and b y no other . 3 rd . That every Mark Master who shall give proof of having served the office of Master of a Lodge of Mark Masters , or of having conferred the Degree upon two or more Brethren

previously to the Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England in June , 1 S 56 , shall be deemed to be a Past Master of a Lodge of Mark Masters , and form part of this Assembly , provided that he join , or be . recognised as a member by , any such uniting Lodge . " The next thing that happens is that a circular is issued by Lodges holding warrants from Grand Chapter of Scotland in 1 S 5 S , previously referred to by Bro . Binckes .- —( Appendix C . )—From that time Lodges dropped in

year by year to this union . At the present time we . are acting under the authorit y given us by time-immemorial Lodges which have placed their previous independent authority iu our hands as is the case with all Grand Lodges . A Grand Lodge is nothing more than a Union of several Lodges which vest in one tbe power which each formerly had separately . The Lodges that gave in their adherence conferred the Degree before independentl y . They are these : —

Northumberland and Berwick . . . Newcastle-on-Tyne . Royal Cumberland Bath . Kent London . Prince Edward near Halifax Friendship Devonport . Minerva Hull ' ¦ ¦ ' Benevolent Stockport . "Portsmouth Portsmouth

Roberts Rochdale . Knights of Malta Hinckley . Of the Lodges ori g inally holding charters from Scotland , there are : — Bon Accord London . Thistle London . Cheltenham and Keystone .... Cheltenham .

West Lancashire Liverpool . Southwark London . St . Mark ' s London . Langlcy Cardiff . We have now upwards of 130 Lodges under our control . The Grand Masters have been Lord Leigh , Lord Carnarvon , Lord HolmestUle , Br . \ Beach and myself . That is the position of

matters as regards Mark Lodge . I do not know that it matters how it came into being , because whatever Haws there may have been in the beginning , they have been done away with and amended by the adhesion of all these lawful Lodges which have placed their authority in our hands , which is the authority we now exercise . Bro . Entwiste : I agree witli what Bro . Portal has said , that it is of no importance whatever , except that in taking this

character of a governing body , our true position should be defined . The Chairman : The Grand Lod ge of Ireland is anxious that this Grand Lodge should be recognised . Now this Grand Lodge is not recognised by Grand Craft Lodge of England , and before Grand Chapter of Ireland do anything they would lite to have it recognised b y Grand Lodge of England . The Duke of Leinster is the Grand Master , of all bodies purporting to be Masonic in Ireland . Every order there , from the 33 ° to