Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of England And Wales And The Colonies And Dependencies Of The British Crown.

ofthe MarkdegreeeitherinScotlandorEngland . It does not recognise the High Grades or the Knight Templars any more than the Mark , though the fact that of the Past Grand Mark Master Masons , one , the Earl of Carnarvon , is now Deputy Grand Master of England , and that Lord Leigh , Viscount Holmesdale . and Mr .

Beach are all Provincial Grand Masters of the Craft , proves that no antagonistic feeling exists between the members of the two bodies . " 6 . It is also urged that the recognition of a supreme jurisdiction over the Mark degree would be an anomaly . It is scarcely more so than the

recognition of a supreme jurisdiction over the Eoyal Arch degree , which is declared by the Grand Lodge of England to be only half a degree , making one in eonjunction with that of the Master Mason , and being confessedly of modern origin compared Avith that of Mark Master . "Whilehoweverfully admitting the

, , right of Mark Master Masons elsewhere to place themselves under any jurisdiction , Eoyal Arch or other , that they may think fit , the Grand Mark Master Mason of England has simply to vindicate the immemorial independence of English Mark Lodges , and

to maintain their right to organise themselves in a Grand Lodge , and also to protest against the unwarrantable aggressions which , for the last fifteen years , have been made by the Grand Chapter of Scotland upon English Mark Masonry . The Grand Mark Master Mason desires to express his earnest hope that the remaining Scottish Mark Masters in England

willbe-, fore long , follow the example of the seven lodges which have transferred their allegiance to the Mark Grand Lodge . Should any trifling difference in ritual stand in the way of this most desirable union , he will at all times be happy to meet their wishes to the utmost . Till such time arrive , howeverwhile sincerely

, anxious that brotherly friendshi p and Masonic good feeling should subsist between Scotch and English Mark Masters as individuals , the Grand Mark Master Mason can in no way recognise the warrants or certificates issued b y the Grand Chapter of Scotland . "I amsir and brother , yours faithfully and

fra-, ternally , '' EEEDEHICK BINCKES * " Grand Sec . " To the Grand Scribe , " G . E . A . Chapter , Scotland . "

Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

MASONIC SAYINGS AND DOINGS ABROAD .

A Council of Eoyal Select Masters has been formed in St . John ' s , New Brunswick , 27 th June , 1870 , b y E . P . Comp . J . Conway Brown , 18 ° , Insp . Gen . for Nova Scotia , under authority of the M . P . Gr . Council , E . and S . M ., of New Brunswick . This council is

to be named Chebucto , and the three first named in the warrant are M . E . Comp . S . E . Sircom , as T . I . Master , E . E . Comp . George T . Smithers as E . I . M ., and E . E . Comp . James Gossip as I . M ., Avith nine others as members . A warrant has also been applied for a Council of Eoyal and Select Masters in Halifax , with Bro .

Sircom at its head , and we also hear that some Canadian brethren are likely to apply . These are purely American degrees , and although interesting enough when properly worked , they are not of the same value to Eoyal Arch Masons exalted under the English or Scotch ritual , as they are to those exalted under the

American , in which ritual the main portion of the degree is left out , and a great object , in a measure , lost to sight .

An especial communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada was held atDrumbo , Out ., on St . John ' s-day , for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new Episcopal Church , which is about to be erected in that village . M . W " . Bro . W . M . Wilson , P . G . M ., acting as Grand Master , assisted by a large number

of brethren , performed the ceremony . Upon arriving at the site , portions of Scripture were read by the Eev . H . Cooper , of Eastwood , and prayers said by the Rev . A . ToAvnley , D . D ., of Paris . Bro . Wilson delivered an appropriate address . Bro . the Eev . H . Bartlett , incumbent of Princeton , acting Grand

Chaplain , after having offered up a prayer , read a document containing the particulars of the erection ofthe church , which he then placed in a cavity in the stone , together with some coins , & c . A handsome silver trowel was then presented to Bro . Wilson , and the usual Masonic ceremonies were performed . At the close of the

proceedings the Eev . H . Bartlett made a few remarks , in the course of which he stated that two-thirds of the ¦ whole amount of subscriptions he had received had been contributed by the Craft . Before leaving , the visiting brethren were very hospitably entertained by the members of Blenheim Lodge .

EESTOEINO CHABTEES . —It is a bad practice to restore a charter to a revived lodge . It makes the most knotty and complicated question known to Masonry . If the charter be restored , does it establish all the members of the old lodge as members of the new ? Does it require the members to adopt the old

by-laws ? Does it enforce npon the members to pay the liabilities and close up the unsettled business of the old lodge ? Does it entitle the members to the property and uncollected claims of the old lodge ? No ; it does none of these things ; and , among other evils it opens up the A'exed question of numerical

precedence , so jealously recognised . Better , far , file away the old charter in the archives of the Grand Lodge , aud issue a new one . —Voice of Masonry .

Masonic dignity is best maintained , and more likely to command the respect of those outside the order , by the quiet observance of the principles of the order , ancl the avoidance of personal controversy .