Ar00903

g^^^^^^^^g 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Mark Masonry In North Africa.

MARK MASONRY IN NORTH AFRICA .

A MEETING of tlie Kingston Lodgo , No . 222 , was held at tho Masonic Hall , Tunis , on the 24 th January last .

Present—Worshipful Bro . Pentecost W . M . M ., Dr . Perini S . W ., Soniller J . W ., M . Lo Gallais M . O ., V . Clement S . O ., D . Enriquoz as J . O ., Dr . Pace-Williams Secretary , J . Barsotti Treas ., J . B . Cassar S . D ., A . Bokobsa J . D ., A . Lumbroso Steward , Commander Bridger , R . N ., Organist , T . Boccara I . G ., and J . Eymon Tyler . The R . W . P . G . M . M . M . was also present , The folio-wing brethren were advanced ( after election by ballot ) : —

Bros . Captain E . A . Johnstone and J . Lumbroso 1717 , and S . Sessing of the Belisaire Lodge , Algiers . Tho P . G . M . addressed the brethren on the topic of his recent visit to England , alluding particularly to the fraternal reception he had from the brethren of the Mark . He invited the brethren of No . 222 to assist him at the inauguration of tbe St . Louis Mark Lodge , No . 254 . which was fixed to take place at

the Goletta on the 31 st January . The Lodge was then adjourned till the 14 th February . On the 31 st January a goodly number of brethren assembled in tho Masonio Hall , Goletta , to witness the consecration of the now Lodge , constituted under tho auspices of the Craft Lodge William Kingston , No . 1835 , which has greatly prospered during its brief career , and numbers over thirty members . Its founders have

always hoped to open a Mark Lodge as soon as circumstances would permit , arid soon felt themselves justified in applying for a warrant to Grand Mark Lodgo throngh the P . G . M .. who granted a provisional charter for tho opening of tho Lodge . Tho new Lodgo is called the Sfc . Louis ( after the celebrated French king who died in the immediate neighbourhood of the Goletta , 25 th August 1270 ) , and an Ark

Mariners' Lodgo will bo attached to it , named after Charles V ., who bnsiejred tho town of Goletta , together with the troops of the Knights of Malta , in 1535 . A Mark Lodge was opened at 6 . 30 p . m . Present —E . W . Bro . A . M . Broadlev P . G . M . M . M . as W . M ., W . Bro . G . Pentecost W . M . 222 P . G . J . W . S . W ., Bros . S . Souiller P . G . Asst . Sec . J . W ., M . Le Gallais M . O ., S . Sessing S . O ., Captain Johnstone J . O ., V . C .

Clement P . G . S . W . D . C , A . Attard Sec . and R . of M ., L . Curletto S . D ., J . E . L . Barker J . D ., 0 . Enjyerer I . G ., and Commander Bridger Organist , together with several other brethren . Tho following candidates wero duly elected , vis * .: —Bros . Sir William E . Clayton , Bart ., of tho Isaac Newton University Lodge No . 8 o £ ) , and W . Vaux , S . Morana , S . Dnrnzzann , J . Villaroale , L . Coppi , S . Angelica , N . D'Amico , J .

Cntalano , A . Pagnno , and A . Eomian , of Lodge No . 1835 , at tho Goletta . All the candidates , being in attendance , were dnly advanced by the P . G . M . to the honourable degree of M . M . Tho petition to Grand Lodge nnd Prov . Grand Lodge having been read , together with the provisional warrant for tho constitntion of the new Lodgo , tho P . G . M . addressed tho assembled Mark Masters as follows : —

Biethren , —Here , within the precincts of tho ancient city of Carthage , we are assembled to inaugurate a new Mark Lodge , and according to ancient custom to award a mark of our approval to several of our brethren who have worked well and faithfully in Craft Masonry . The William Kingston Lodsre , true to tho early traditions of the royal art , has attached to it this Mark Lodge , " that we may

distinguish the work of each artisan in order that he may receive just and suitable compensation . " To confer this distinction on the worthy Craftsman has been tho prerogative of tho rulers in Masonry from timo immemorial , and this evening we have had the privilege of advancing to the Mark Degree ten brethren of tho young but flourishing Craft Lodge No . 1835 . I congratulate this Province , and

at tho same timo tho Grand Mark Locige of England , on tho accession to their common muster roll of the St . Louis Lodgo , surrounded as it is by unrivalled associations of almost surpassing interest . Tho Grand Mark Lodge has viewed with satisfaction the establishment of modern speculative Mark Masonry on this classic North African soil , and this feeling will , I am sure , be intensified and

increased by the knowledge that we of the Mark are now diligently working on the actual site of that far-famed city which witnessed in the timo of its pristine splendour the bravery of Hannibal , the patriotism of Asdrubal , the skill of Scipio , the courage of Eegnlus and the stoicism of Cato ; and which saw , during tho days of its decline

and fall , the labours of St . Augustine , the martyrdom of St . Cyprian , the death of St . Louis of France , and the exploits of Charles V . of Spain and the Knights of St . John . I feel it a high honour as P . G . M . M . of Tunis and Malta to consecrate this Lodgo to-night in the midst of that shore where

Giar-e l ' alta Cartage , appena 1 segni Dell' alte sue mine il lido serba . [ Tasso . ] The greatest edifices in the greatest cities of the world owe their existence to guilds or companies of builders . Pre-eminent amongst these old-world Masons wero the Phoenicians . Bro . Fort , in his

" Antiquities of Freemasonry , " tells us of Masons' marks still visible on tho foundations of the temple of Solomon , now nncovered to the human gaze after the lapse of a « es . Similar marks have been discovered nt Sidon , and other distant and varied localities of Palestine . These peculiar geometrical figures were used undoubtedly by the T yrfen carvers and " hewers of stone / ' who were sent by their

Mark Masonry In North Africa.

Tyrian king to aid in tho erection of tho most complete and gorgeous Masonio work of remote antiquity . Tho descendants of these very builders barely two centuries later founded Carthago , and carried westwardstho skill and peculiar customs of thoir confraternities . Tho marks we can seo to-day on many a fragment of tho ruins around us , exactly correspond with thoso of Jerusalem and other cities in tho

far East . They are part and parcel of a system ; an integral portion tho working of thoso ancient operative guilds , which have laid tho foundations upon which in the present day tho great fabric of speculative Masonry may be said to rest . Carthage fell . The city of tho Roman conquerors becamo tho prey of the Vandals , who in their turn succumbed to the forces of the Byzantines ; but traces of the old

builders' customs survived , and were carried , strange to say , by tho Byzantine masons to northern Europe . Hence the striking and remarkable uniformity in the tokens whioh still exist to-day in tho walls of Sidon and Jerusalem , and the ruins of Carthage and Utica ; in the abbeys of Melrose and Eosslyn . and in the cathedrals of Strasbourg and Cologne , of Florence and Venice . Theso marks doubtless

served for the purposes of proprietary distinction amongst tho earliest of oriental artificers—the Phoenicians ; tho Romans and Byzantines adopted a similar system , aud hence the custom of the mark spread far and wide amongst the builders' associations of mediaeval Europe . These guilds of operative Masons have passed away , bequeathing to speculative Masonry their emblems , traditions and ceremonies , and

amongst theso tho degree of the Mark . You have all learned from the ceremony tho moral to be deduced from this observance of our ancestors . I need not now further allude to ifc . Suffice it to say thafc the Mark degree is au essential parfc of the Masonio systems of America , Ireland and Scotland , and we trust the day is nofc far distant when it may be recognised by our own Craffc Grand Lodge .

Tonight , after the lapse of centuries , we may be said to have restored the practice of the Mark to Carthago . May we imitate the industry and assiduity of our operative ancestors , and as they devoted their skill and ability to the material edifices of tho pasfc , so may we endeavour to profit by the striking truths and practical lessons illnstratcd by the ceremonial thoy havo bequeathed to us , and shaping

our lives and actions on tho teaching it convoys , become worthy of that approving mark which can belong only to thoso who have acted towards thoir fellows as they would desire their fellow-men would act towards them , and havo based their conduct through life on the sacred Masonic principles of Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . Tho Lodge was then constituted in ancient form , and Bro . J . E . L . Barker

W . M . 1835 installed in the chair of A . The W . M . M . appointed and invested tho following Officers : —Bros . E . They S . W ., L . Curletto J . W ., 0 . Engerer M . O ., A . Attard S . O ., S . Durazzano . J . O ., W . Vaux Secretary , A . Romiau S . D ., N . D'Amico J . D ., A . Villareale l . G . and A . Pagano Tyler ( elected ) . The P . G . M . was elected Treasurer . The charitable collection being mado , with a very satisfactory result , tho

Lodge was duly closed . The proosedings terminated with a banquet , at which tho P . G . M . presided . Tho usual obligatory toasts of tho Mark degree were duly honoured , and the W . M . of the St . Louis Lodge proposed tho health of tho P . G . M ., which was most warmly received . The P . G . M . in reply thanked tho brethren for their kindly feelings towards him , and asked them to drink " Success to the now

Mark Lodge . " Tho President proposed the toast of the newly advanced brethren , coupled with tho name of Bro . Sir William Clayton . The toasfc having been duly honoured , Sir William Clayton expressed his satisfaction at renewing his active connection with Masonry in the St . Louis Lodge , ancl added thafc ho was deeply

impressed both with the interest aud importance of the Mark degree , and with tho way the ceremony had been worked by the P . G . M Other toasts having been given and responded to , the brethren separated , highly pleased with tho evening thoy had spent , and with mutual congratulations on the introduction of tho Mark Degree to tho modern Masons inhabiting tho site of Ancient Carthago .

Ark Mariners' Degree,

ARK MARINERS' DEGREE ,

ri ^ HE Charles V . Lodge , attached to the St . Louis Lodge of Mark X Masters , No . 254 at Goletta , in the Regency of Tunis , was formally consecrated by the P . G . M . M . Bro . Broadley , tho W . C . N ., on tho 28 th February . 1880 . The following are the first Officers of the Lodge : —Bros . J . E . L . Barker J ., E . They S ., 0 . Engerer Scribe and Treasurer , L . Curletto S . D ., A . Attard J . D ., A . Villareale D . of C , A . A . Eomiau Steward , W . Vans Guardian , and A . Pagano Warder .

Twelve M . M . 's were duly exalted to the honourable and ancient decree of Ark Mariner . Amongst those who have taken the degree in the Lodgo are Bros . Perini VV . M . 1717 S . W . 222 P . G . S . O . M . M ., Capt . R . A . Johnstone 222 , S . Sessing 222 , Commander Bridger , R . N ., 222 , and G . Pentecost W . M . 222 P . G . J . W . M . M . The ceremonies having been successfully gone through , and the Officers duly invested , tho W . C . N .

alluded briefly to tho historical interest of tbe degree , and the reasons which induced him to recommend the Lodgo to be called the Charles V . This famous monarch , aided by the Knights of Malta and their fleet , took tho Goletta on tho 14 th July 1535 . Tbe W . C . N , mentioned incidentally that a Flemish artist in the Emperor's

train executed six pictures of the battles , & c , which took place , in three of which the Goletta is tho principal object of interest . The great carraca of the Knights of St . John appears in tho centre . These pictures were discovered by the lato Princo Consort , and have been photographed by permission of the Queen . The Lodge was closed afc a somewhat late hour .

HofcLOWAi- ' s Puts ASD O ' XTSIEI'T . —These corrective remedies enable the strong to preserve their health , and afford aa easy means for the weak and ailing to restore it . Working ct high pressure as thousands daily do , to support life , it is hut littlo wonder that the digestion becomes defective , tho heart irritable , tho bowels constipated , and tho mental faculties dimmed . Let all such sufferers apply themselves at once to these medicaments , and uso them according to the plan directions which accompany them : then the disordered functions will soon respond to their action , and tlio physical nnd mental powera will bo quickly recuperated , producing a feeling of lightness and case which ia itself is worth ita Weight iu gold .