The Mark Degree In England.

somewhat of congratulation that he is not himself responsible for the aggressive invasion by the Grand Chapter of Scotland , as I must respectfully call ifc , of the jurisdiction of England . I must also congratulate myself on having no connection with what was done at the time by the Bon Accord Lodge . But the Grand Chapter of Scotland , as we contend , had no business

whatever to invade the jurisdiction of England or to grant warrants in England for a Degree which had already an independent existence here . Of course , if the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter of England had either of them recognised the Mark Degree , they were the bodies to grant warrants . But as ifc tvas , any Brethren wishing to take the Mark Degree should have referred

to those time-immemorial Lodges which worked it . I will merely remind Bro . Mackersy that Sfc . John's Mark Lodge , at Bolton , dates from 1797 , which is prior to the date of Grand Chapter of Scotland itself . With regard to the establishment of fche Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , the question of dates is not of importance , s hold it to be Masonically true that any seven Masons ,

failing a supreme jurisdiction to take oontrol over their Degree , are in point of fact a lawful and legitimate Lodge . Ifc is well known to fche learned Masons present ; that such is the case . Before warrants were granted any seven Masons make a Lodge , I am prepared then to maintain that seven , or any number of Mark Masters receiving the Degree in Scotland , and finding themselves

here without a supreme governing jurisdiction , had a perfect rig ht ; to meet as a Lodge ; and that this warrant , as it has been called , from the Bon Accord , of Aberdeen , was merely a certificate that the Brethren named had received the Degree in Scotland . Then , as to the date I do nofc think that that ; signified ; for the reason thafc the very first year that any of the old English or immemorial Lodges joined in the election of a new Grand Master over themselves , they in fact constituted a new

Grand Lodge ; and that any irregularity , if any had formerly existed , was entirely sunk . Now , the fact remains thafc there are no less than ten time-immemorial Lodges in England , besides six holding warrants from the Grand Chapter of Scotland , which acknowledge the Grand Mark Lodge , and annually take part in fche election of Grand Mark Master ; and 1 am bound to maintain thafc on all Masonic principles those are

sufficient to constitute from year to year a Grand Mark Lodge . Bro . Mann : Those time-immemorial Lodges must have been Master Mason Lodges . Bro . Portal : They have always existed as independent Lodges . Bro . Mann : Not Mark Lodges .

Bro , Portal : Yes . Bro . Mann : Is nofc there a Craft Lodge called Northumberland and Berwick ? Bro . Binckes : No ; but afc Bath there is a " Cumber land " Craft , as well as a " Cumberland Mark , " Lodge . Bro . Maun : Do not they practise the Degree of Entered Apprentice ?

Bro . Binckes : No ; nofc fche Mark Lodges so named . Bro . Mann : Whom do they make Masters ? Bro . Portal : That is our point . Bro . Binckes : There is only one we prove thafc took a warrant of constitution from us , and they did work the Degree while they were a Craft Lodge . Bro . Mackersy : Had they no charter or warrant ?

Bro . Binckes : No . Bro . Mackersy : They generally get some sort of warrant . Bro . Entwisle : They got ifc from the Ancient Masons , prior to 1813 . After the Union when they were not allowed to work the Mark Degree in Lodge , they commenced to work it out , and they called themselves a Mark Lodge . They must then have begun afc the Mark

Degree . Prior to 1813 they worked ifc under their Craffc Warrants . Bro . Kerr : That proves the position that the Mark was originally a portion of the Fellow Craffc . Bro . Entwisle : Ifc was nofc the same as ib is in Scotland , that a man must have the Mark Degree before the Royal Arch ; but they gave ifc under their

own Craft Warrants to all Master Masons . Bro . Binckes : I believe there are some Mark Lodges in the North that have documents to show that they worked upwards of a hundred years ago . The Minerva Lodge afc Hull , has worked the Mark Degree , if I am rightly informed , almost—if nofc quite—from its formation in 1782 . I believe thafc

the records will show that the Degree was conferred after that of Master Mason . But from this it must not be inferred that fche Mark Degree were given in a Master Mason ' s Lodge , or thafc there was any unconstitutional mixing up of fche two Degrees . Thafc Lodge applied to us for , and received a warrant of confirmation . Bro . Mackersy : They worked under Craft Warrants

prior to 1813 . Bro . Entwisle : After 1813 they were not allowed to work . Bro . Mann : Did these time-immemorial Lodges take a warrant or charter P Bro . Binckes : Yes ; confirmatory . Bro . Mann-: What did they confirm ?

Bro . Binckes : The powers they previously possessed . They gave us iuconfcrovertible proofs that ; they were entitled to work the Mark Degree , and they took a warrant from us confirming their right to do so . Bro . Kerr : On the part of the Grand Lodge of Scotland I should like it to be distinctly understood that we came here , not from any hostile views towards the Grand Lodge of England . Our only desire is in connection with the Mark Master Masons of England , to endeavour to secure uniformity of

working . The matter has been fully gone into by Bro . Mackersy showing the advantage of an ultimate fraternal arrangement ' and I beg to confirm his statement ; but I would like to read a minute I have here in connection with the subject which he has passed over , and which explains our position . * In continuation of what is stated in these minutes I wish to show the position in which the Grand Lodge of Scotland stood with reference to the Lodges practising the Mark Degree , aud the manner in which

the present arrangement was arrived at . It was stated thatthe Lodge of Glasgow St . John , had conferred the Degree of Mark Master , as a section of the Second Degree , in a regular working Lodge . This was called in tpiestion and disposed of in the way which has been stated by Bro . Mackersy , because it was in accordance with their ancient working , and tbe Supreme Chapter of Scotland arranged to have all the candidates for the Royal Arch Degree initiated as Mark Masters before they took

that Degree . Previous to coming to a decision on the subject , the Grand Lodgo of Scotland appointed a Committee of Investigation , who conferred with the Lodge of St . John , which is No . 3 lis on tbe Roll of Grand Lodge . This Lodge holds a charter from Malcolm Canmore , against which some objections have been stated ; but they have another of AA'illiam the Lion , which is indisputable , dated 1174 . They also state that , as representing the ancient builders of Glasgow Cathedralthey

, only now practise the traditional Masonry received at that ear ; y period ; aud on consulting their oldest members , they found that the ritual which they were practising in 1860 , was stated to be exactly the same es those old men , seventy or eighty years of age , had practised when young . This statement was confirmed by their books , which were brought forward . It was then shown from various sources that some of the old Lodges in Scotland had existed from a very early period—for examplethe

, Lodge of Edinburgh , Mb . 1 , Mary ' s Chapel , —went so far back in her history as to say that the Lodge was originally brought to this country by David the First , and as a travelling Lodge erected the Chapel of Holyrood in 1128 ; also Melrose Abbey , and various other buildings , and came back and settled in Edinburgh . They were a Lodge of operative Masons , ancl continued