The Mark Degree In England.

and to assume tho management of ifc ; while on the other hand Avere recognition awarded to a body such as fche one now craving ifc ( which exists in no other country except England ) , and were ifc insisting on abiding by the recognition so given . The Supreme Chapter did nofc feel disposed fco undertake fche responsibility of entering into any negotiations unless the Grand Lodges and Chapters

of England , Ireland , and Scotland were parties to ifc . " This Avas communicated to Bro . Binckes , and he having a great difficulty in the matter in so far as relates to fche Grand Lodge and Chapter of England , asked a Conference with the Committee of the Grand Chapter of Scotland . As AVO were ahvays glad to see our friend Bro . Binckes , AVO agreed to meet ; him , and

the meeting took place on fche 14 fch October , 1870 , in Edinburgh . The minute of thafc meeting Avas as follows : — " This meeting being convened principally afc the request of Brother Binckes , London , the Committee heard thafc Brother fully on the subject of the last minute of Supreme Chapter . After a long discussionifc was ultimately agreed to recom

, mend the Supreme Chapter so far to modify thafc minute to fche effect thafc if the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England Avere formally invited to send Delegates to the proposed Conference being held . " This came before the rand Chapter on the 22 nd of December last when the recommendation of the Committee was adoptedand ifc Avas agreed so far to modify the previous

, resolutions , thafc if the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England were formally invited to the Conference , absenceof Delegates from either or both of these bodies should be no bar to its being held . Ib was agreed to send Delegates , and the Grand Chapter indicated an opinion who the Delegates should be . Then on the 14 th of February , in consequence of some doubt

being expressed as to the attendance of the Grand Chapter of Ireland , ifc was resolved to delay appointing Delegates until Ireland had returned an answer , and I also wrote Bro . Binckes explaining our vieAvs on that point ; bufc having received a letter from Bro . Binckes thafc nofc only Ireland had appointed Delegates , bufc thafc the Grand Lodge of England , although not recognising fche

Mark Degree , Avould still have brethren connected with thafc body present at our Conference in order to report anything that might occur to the Grand Lodge . On the 1 st of March of this year the Grand Chapter remitted to the Committee to appoint the Delegates to Conference in terms of the previous resolution fco thafc effect , and this was done by the Committee upon the 6 th March , 1871 ,

appointing the Delegates "fco the Conference to be held in London , on the subject of the Mark Degree in England . " And I produce to the meeting an official extract from the Minutes of our appointment to represent the Grand Chapter of Scotland . * Having now briefly stated the position which fche Grand Chapter holds in this matter , what has taken place from first to last with

respect to the Mark Degree . I Avould just say in conclusion , if wc cau by this Conference do anything toAvards bringing about a uniform system of working in fche three countries , we shall feel that our labours have not been in vain . Ifc is very unfortunate thafc there should be any dissension between ns , and if these can be settled and uniformity of Avorikng established , the advantages to

Masonry in general will be very great . For myself , personally , I think that the first thing Ave should do is to lay before the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter of England , our vieAvs upon the position which the Mark Degree ought to hold . The Grand Lodge of Scotland had a strong feeling , and a stronger feeling probably than the Grand Lodge of England has , as to the Mark Degree nofc being a Degree falling under their Constitutions .

The Grand Lodge of Scotland holds ^ tbreo Degrees only , tho Entered Apprentice , the FCIIOAV Craft , ancl the Master Mason . But they Avere compelled to admit , though against their OAVU inclinations , that Avhat is UOAV called tho Mark Master ' s Degree is only a part ancl portion of the FCIIOAV Craft . The grounds upon AA'hich they came to that conclusion I need not enter upon , as Bro . Kero , one of the Delegates from tho Grand Lodge of Scotland , will explain them fully to you , and after hearing him

you AA'ill see why I think our course ought to be to lay before the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England , the reasons Avhich induced the Grand Loclge of Scotland to admit that this Mark Degree is a part and portion of the FelloAv Craft Degree , and also that AVO should lay afull report of the proceedingsbefore the Grand Lodge ancl Cliapter of Ireland . If these Grand Bodies take the same viev that AA'as taken in Scotland all difficulty is for ever removedbecause if these Degrees are taken bSt

, up y . John ' s Masonry , alien you put the Grand Lodgo and the Grand Chapter of Scotland in a position to make a proper arrange , rnent . I believe Avere the Degree acknOAvledged to be a part of tho Felloiv Craft Degree the Grand Chapter Avould cheerfully give up all connection with it as a Degree , AA'hich has never hacl anything to do with Capitular Masonry , and Avas only taken up because the Grand Loclge hacl taken no charge of

the Avorking of it , and is IIOAV only retained because many Lodges holding under Scotland clo not work it . Although tolerated ifc is not enforced . But if an arrangement could be come to by which it ivould be admitted that this is not a separate Degree in Freemasonry in any country , but a portion of the Second Degree , Ave should establish a point that Avould overcome great difficulties . In this Avay if a Master Masou came up Avishing to be exalted to the Koyal Arch Degree who Avas not in possession of the Mark Degree Ave should

immediately send him back to bis Lodge to get ifc in tbe same Avay as if a Fellow Craft came up , to be made a Royal Arch Mason ivho had nofc taken the Master Mason's Degree . Therefore , I think it is of great importance that Ave should lay before the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland the Avhole history of this Mark Degree , the position it holds , and the arguments and the evidence Avhich induced the Grand Lodgo of Scotland to adopt ifc as a part of tbe FelloAv Craft Degree . Although we

sent the Memorial to Avhich I have referred , Ave did not enter into the question of the evidence . But if , having all this evidence and all these facts before them , tbe Grand Lodge and Chapter of England should decide that they will neA'er iu all time coming recognise tbe Mark Degree or anybody presiding over Mark Masons , then I think the time is not far distant Avhen . Bro . Binckes may realise Avhat he calls one of the dreams of his life and

bring about a recognition of this Grand Mark Loclge by Scotland and Ireland . If England Avere out of the field we might easily come to an arrangement , but I should like in the first instance that Ave brought it before Grand Loclge and Chapter of England . If they recognise you our labours are ended . If they decide that they will not , ' then AVO are at at liberty to arrange Avith Ireland , and I do not think there can be doubt to Avhat

any as Ave Avill clo . That is the first point . You ivill IIOAV have au opportunity of hearing the facts concerning Mark Masonry from Bro . Kerr , but in order to fill up a , blank in my statement , Bro . Enfcwisle , who was intimately acquainted with the matter at the time of the formation of the Grand Mark Lodge , and AVUS Right AVorshipful Maiter of one of the Mark Lodges iu England , Avill UOAV address you ,- aud from these various statements AVO shall probably derive sufficient information to enable us to come to a sound decision as to the action Avhich is to be taken .

Bro . Eutivistle : What I have to say is merely to give a slight narrative of the facts , and I do not know that they bear on the present questions further than they will enable the members of the Conference to ascertain the exact position of the different bodies claiming to exercise jurisdiction over tbe Mark Degree in England . I have been acquainted Avith Mark Masonry UOAV since its commencement in Englnnn , under the Bon Accord Chapter some fifteen years . The first petition from six

ago members of the Bon Accord Chapter praying that Chapter for a warrant to enable them to establish a Mark Master ' s Lodge in London Avas on the llth September , 1851 . Ou the 27 th June , 18 S 4 , the Avarrant had been granted , and Lord Leigh Avas installed ( by dispensation ) Master of the Bon Accord Lodge in London . In November of the same year , at a Quarterly Convocation of the English Grand Chapter , a Committee v * as »