The Mark Degree.

" anomalous are the Grand Conclave of K . T . and the Supreme Grand Council 33 ° , because who is to say that at some future date the United Grand Lodge of England may not , in its wisdom , think proper to acknowledge , recognise , and

incorporate into its system , the whole of the degrees under their jurisdictions . In these days , be it remembered , articles of union are not held to be altogether sacred and inviolable . "But , ' says " Reitam , " " I should like to hear Bro . Binckes '

reply to this question—What is to become of the soi- ' isant Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , should the United Grand Lodge acknowledges the Mark degree ? " To this I answer , I would rather patiently wait the eventuality before being called

upon to state what course I think would be pursued under such circumstances , but I do not hesitate to state that the Grand Mark Lodge would be found very well able to take care of its interests and of those of its members . Further , that the

same question may be asked of those supreme jurisdictions of whom mention has previously been made , with equal , and with no greater , force . Does " Reitam " forget , or does he wilfully ignore the fact , that the members of the Mark degree

are all members of the United Grand Lodge , of England , and that amongst those who have taken , and now take , the most active interest in its affairs , are many of the most influential members of that body .

To the reasons assigned by " Reitam " for the refusal of recognition by the Grand Lodges , or Chapters , of Scotland or Ireland , I attach no importance ; nor to the opinions expressed as to the result thereof , nor to the conclusions drawn at the

end of your correspondent ' s remarks . To treat of them properly would demand more space than I dare ask for , and more time than I can just now afford . " Reitam " and others may rest assured of this , that the Grand Mark Lodge ( I speak

collectively ) , has entire faith in its legitimacy and validity , confidence in its self-sustaining powers , ancl intense gratification at the success which has attended its efforts to uphold the genuine landmarks of our ancient Order .

The Empress Eugenie has founded an annual prize of £ 400 to be awarded by the Geographical Society of France to any Frenchman , for the discovery , work , or enterprise which shall be judged to be the most useful to progress , to the science of geography , or to the external commercial relations of France .

Burgh Records.—No. 5.

BURGH RECORDS . —No . 5 .

BX W . P . BuCHA-K . { ffontinuei from page 68 . ) { From Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen . —Spalding Club . Instituted A . D . 1839 . ) 21 st April , 1497 .

" The said day , it was statut and ordanit be the alderman and consale for the eschevin of the infirmitey cumm out of Franche and Strang partis , that all licht weman be chargit and ordanit to decist fra thar vicis and syne of venerie , and al thair buthis and houssis skalitand thai to pas

, and wirk for that- sustentacioun , vnder the payne of ane key of het yrne one thar chekis , and banysene of the toune . " I wonder how our present anonymas would feel at having such a statute passed ancl put in force against them ! A key of het iron on the cheek

would be quite a different affair from a dab of red paint or enamel ; no doubt the precious darlings would be'intensely horified at such an impertinent proceeding yet possibly it might be considered

a legitimate revival of " the mark , " especially when imparted to procuresses or to procurers . On the 14 fch August , 1581 , "The said day , the hail craftismen free and unfree of this burght , " & c . A great many extracts are given anent " our aid inemeis of Ingland , " in June and July , 1497 .

"Fossis and bastalze" are being put up , also a "blockhouse salbe bigyt of grefc strinth at the hevin moutht ; " . and " it was statut and ordanit ,. gif the Iuglismen propose to laude one the northt partis of the havyne , that al manere of men , with thar cartis of weirwith horsisgunryeartailzerie .

, , , and ail vther defensable wapinnis , be redy , and pass to resist thame for the saiftie of our cathedral kirk , my lord of Aberdenis palace , aur maisteris the chanonis , ancl tlier familiaris and habitaciones . " The townsmen had also to " wache the toune at nycht , " & c .

Iu October and November , 1497 , there seems to have been a great blow out on account of a visit from James IV . An " organman" ( who would seem to have been more appreciated then than now ) receives xls . Probably music was scarce . 6 th Oct ., 1525 the stepills of the tolbuith and

, Sanct Nicholace are to be occupied as watching stations , and the bell to be rung if any horsemen be seen approaching the town ; tvva or thre gunnars are feed for tna or thre monetht ; and men to get culwerings , cors bowis , and hand bowis , and practise shooting with them . " And atoure to hald

wappinschawingis euerie ilk wolk or monetht tuyss / ' this seems to have been for self defence from their neighbours about . In April , 1526 , King James V . visiting the town , " ane honest propyne" is provided for him , in which we find " stark mychty wynes and small wynnis , sax stayne of wax , xxxiiii lib . of