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Article THE SYMBOLISM OF FREEMASONRY AND G.L. OF MASSACHUSETTS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE MARK DEGREE. Page 1 of 3 Article NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE MARK DEGREE. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Symbolism Of Freemasonry And G.L. Of Massachusetts.
often as not are too bigoted to either see for themselves or listen to the arguments of others . The other business transacted at the Quarterly Communication of tho 10 th of March already referred to was of tho ordinary nature . Tho M . W . Charles Alfred Welch ,
Grand Master , presided , and was supported by a large attendance of Grand Officers and Lodge representatives . Tho report of the Committee appointed to consider the expenses of tho Grand Lodge was among the first items submitted . It states that tho Committee had mot on several
occasions , and had carefully investigated every item of expenditure . The first reduction they had made was in the office of the Grand Secretary , the work of which is now undertaken by one person , at a salary of 2 , 000 dollars , instead of , as hitherto , requiring two , who received between
them 3 , 220 dollars . Reductions havo likewise beon made in other departments which , combined with tho efforts lately made by the Grand Master and other influential members of tho Grand Lodgo , will cause a material diminution in the annual expenditure . This desire on the
part of our Massachusetts brethren to reduce their expenses is part of the scheme lately propounded for the purpose of clearing off the debt attached to their governing body , and we have great pleasure in offering our congratulations on the evident success which is attending
their determined efforts to set themselves free . As may be imagined , the question of the capitation tax was again brought under notice , the Grand Master using all his energy in advocating the heartiest co-operation of the brethren .
Notes On The History Of The Mark Degree.
NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE MARK DEGREE .
BY BRO . T . B . WHYTEHEAD ,
P . M . YOKK MAKK LODGE , T . I . Written for and Published in the " Proceedings of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania , 1879 . " THERE can be no doubt that the Mark Degree forms one of the closest links in tho chain which connects the present speculative with tho old operative system of Freemasonry . In the old Gnilds
tho ceremony of selecting and registering a mark by a newly admitted Graf tman , was only second in importance to that of his first admission into the Society . In using the words Mark Masonry , I must be understood to speak in a general sense , and not of any particular ceremony or ritnal as now carried ont in any country . The Degree of Mark Master Mason , as now worked , is essentially of
modern construction , and some Masonic writers have thought fit to ponr contempt upon the Degree in consequence . The whole Masonic system , however , as far as regards its details , is of snch comparatively recent formation that any degree which can claim an origin in the last century must be considered worthy of investigation , and the steady progress of the Mark 'Degree during the past few years has
given it an importance and a prominence which cannot be overlooked . The wide and interesting subject of Masons' Marks is somewhat beyond the present question , and moreover presents snch a lar ^ e scope as to be quite beyond the limits of a short paper . It is a subject of the deepest interest to Masons and archaeologists , and has been treated of elaborately by writers both inside and outside the pale
of the Craft . In tracing the history of the building sodalities , the study of Masons' Marks is of inestimable value , and from the very earliest period the custom of the selection of a Mark by each and every builder has been world-wide . It scarcely needs any argument to prove the great importance for the proper selection , approval and registration of each man ' s mark in an age when records were sparse
and writing bnt little known , and Mackey and others have sufficiently exemplified this , and havo given examples and quotations from old writers , showing tho antiquity of the use of the private mark as a pledge or guarantee of good faith . M ITho selection of a mark by every Brother appears to have been insisted on with much greater regularity in the Scotch than in the
English Lodges , but this may , I think , easily be accounted for by tho fact that tho Scotch Lodges retained their operative character Ion " after the English Lodges had ceased to contain any but tho specula " tive element . In the minute books of the oldest Lodges in Scotland the register of marks is usually kept with tho greatest regularity , and the choice seems to have been made by tho Brother at the time of
initiation ancl payment of fees . There seems to bo no mention of any ceremony , and it is improbable that any special form was observed still less that any ritual existed until about the end of tho last cen - tury at the earliest . The mark cypher was early used in England , and in tho minute books of the Grand Lodgo of All England at York tho initials of the titles of the officers present at meetings are sometimes
given in this cypher appended to their names . There is no evidence whatever in the York minutes to show that any ceremony was observed in the conferring of a Mark Degree , nor is any such Degree in any way alluded to as far as I can discover , but that a Mark Degree was in existence in England at the close of the century there is abundant proof . Where then did this Degree come from at the time of ics revival as a ivorking Degree ? It seems to me probable that it had
Notes On The History Of The Mark Degree.
been re-introdnced from Scotland , between which country and the northern counties thero was much communication . Tho Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland governs the Mark Degree in that country , and ifc was reported in 18 G 5 by a
Committee of that Body appointed to investigate the history of the Mark Degree , that— " In this country from timo immemorial and long before tho institution of tho Grand Lodge of Scotland ( in 1736 ) , what is now known aa the Mark Master ' s Degree was wrought by the operative Lodges of St . John ' s Masonry . "
Minntes preserved by somo of the older English Lodges show that tho Mark Degree was independently worked under tho authority of the blno warrant before tho close of the ISth century , but afc the union of tbo two Grand Lodges in 1813 , the Degree was nofc included in "Pnro and Ancient Masonry , " unless ifc was intended thafc Mark Masonrv shonld form tho first stop to tho Royal Arch ( asin Scotland ) ,
of which there is no hint . In both Ireland and Scotland the Mark Degree is , and always has been , recognized as a part of ancient Masonry , and ifc is difficult to understand on what ground it was nofc recognized as such at tho Union . Many old Masons of high standing have , in my hearing , expressed their regret at the exclusion of the Mark Degree , but a horror of tinkering at tho Constitutions has
always stood in tho way of any alteration , and the danger of interfering with the text of the Articles of Union wonld doubtless be very great . It is only within a " comparatively recent period thafc any system , afcio investigation of old Lodge minutes has been made , and even yefc those investigations have been of a very imperfect character . I have
no donbfc that as timo progresses and brethren see the advantage of careful examination , we shall have unearthed further evidence as to the date at which the Mark Degree came to the front in England . The earliest record of its working in London thafc I know of is to bo found in the Minute Books of St . Thomas Lodge , No . 142 ( London ) , warranted as 193 nnder tho " Ancients" in 1775 . Brother H . C .
Levander , tho Secretary of that Lodge , has transcribed tho record as follows : "August 9 , 1777 . " The W . M . with the following Brothers of thafc Lodgo were made Mark Masons aud Mark Masters . " ( Here occur names . )
"August 14 , 1777 . " Regnlar Lodge night , the W . M ., the Wardens , the Secretary and Treasurer present , worked in the First and Second Degrees . Made the following Brothers Mark Masons and also Mark Master Masons . Opened at 6 o ' clock . "
( Here occur names . ) " November 17 , 1777 . " Being a Lodge night of Emergency , the W . M . in the chair , the Wardens present , made the following Brothers Mark Masons , also Mark Master Masons . " ( Hero occur several names of Brethren from other Lodges . )
" May 4 , 1778 . " Being regnlar Lodge night , the W . M . in the chair as lasfc night , S . and J . Wardens present . The Lodge opened afc $ pasfc seven o ' clock , worked in the three Degrees , made the following Brothers Mark Masons as also Mark Master Masons . Opened the Lodge afc £ past seven ns above . "
( Here occur the names . ) " January 8 , 1784 . " The Lodge was opened , the W . M ., A . Harmah , in the chair , and Brother White , Master-elect , was installed in his office of W . Master for the next six months . ( Here occur names of visitors . ) Worked to tho ( blank ) Degree , when fcho following Brothers were made Mark
Masons and Mark Masters . ( Here occur names . ) " June 13 , 1785 . " The Lodge was opened , the W . M . in the chair ; the officers present , when the W . M ., S . W ., andothers wished tobecomoMarkMasons and Mark Masters . Brother McCree took the chair and the following were initiated : "
( Then occur several names . ) " Monday August 13 , 1787 . " The Lodge was opened , tho W . M . in the chair , the officers present , when the W . M ., S . and J . W . ' s and several members desired to become Mark Masons ancl Mark Masters . Brother James Mackree took the chair and tho following Brothers were installed : " ( Here occur the names . )
In may be noticed that the " marks" appended to the name of each Brother possess little variety , and in many cases the same mark was chosen by two or more Brethren afc the same meeting . Oafc of a total of 77 marks there aro only 9 varieties , there being 22 squares , 21 anchors , 10 compasses , 9 columns , 6 keys , 4 balls ( or circles ) , 2 cross pens , 2 plumb-rules , and 1 hour-glass .
In these minutes thero are several features to be particularly regarded , the most important of which are , first , thafc the Mark working consisted of two separate Degrees—Mark Man and Mark Mason , a fact that has beon long in dispute in England ; and second , thafc these Degrees formed an appendage of tho Second or Fellow Craft Degree . ( Seo minute of August 14 , 1777 . ) Theso are well worth
noting . Tho earliest North of England minute of any distinct Mark working which I havo so far been able to procure is to bo found in the minntes of the Imperial George Lodge , No . 78 , warranted by the " Moderns , " in 1752 , as No . 92 , meeting at Middleton , in Lancashire . It rnns thus :
" Imperial Georgo Lodge , No . 92 , " Haro and Hounds , " Middleton , March 9 , 1809 . " This Lodge was opened in due form at 8 o ' clock , in peace and good harmany . " When the following Brethren wore made Mark Mafloiifl . " ( Here follow names . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Symbolism Of Freemasonry And G.L. Of Massachusetts.
often as not are too bigoted to either see for themselves or listen to the arguments of others . The other business transacted at the Quarterly Communication of tho 10 th of March already referred to was of tho ordinary nature . Tho M . W . Charles Alfred Welch ,
Grand Master , presided , and was supported by a large attendance of Grand Officers and Lodge representatives . Tho report of the Committee appointed to consider the expenses of tho Grand Lodge was among the first items submitted . It states that tho Committee had mot on several
occasions , and had carefully investigated every item of expenditure . The first reduction they had made was in the office of the Grand Secretary , the work of which is now undertaken by one person , at a salary of 2 , 000 dollars , instead of , as hitherto , requiring two , who received between
them 3 , 220 dollars . Reductions havo likewise beon made in other departments which , combined with tho efforts lately made by the Grand Master and other influential members of tho Grand Lodgo , will cause a material diminution in the annual expenditure . This desire on the
part of our Massachusetts brethren to reduce their expenses is part of the scheme lately propounded for the purpose of clearing off the debt attached to their governing body , and we have great pleasure in offering our congratulations on the evident success which is attending
their determined efforts to set themselves free . As may be imagined , the question of the capitation tax was again brought under notice , the Grand Master using all his energy in advocating the heartiest co-operation of the brethren .
Notes On The History Of The Mark Degree.
NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE MARK DEGREE .
BY BRO . T . B . WHYTEHEAD ,
P . M . YOKK MAKK LODGE , T . I . Written for and Published in the " Proceedings of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania , 1879 . " THERE can be no doubt that the Mark Degree forms one of the closest links in tho chain which connects the present speculative with tho old operative system of Freemasonry . In the old Gnilds
tho ceremony of selecting and registering a mark by a newly admitted Graf tman , was only second in importance to that of his first admission into the Society . In using the words Mark Masonry , I must be understood to speak in a general sense , and not of any particular ceremony or ritnal as now carried ont in any country . The Degree of Mark Master Mason , as now worked , is essentially of
modern construction , and some Masonic writers have thought fit to ponr contempt upon the Degree in consequence . The whole Masonic system , however , as far as regards its details , is of snch comparatively recent formation that any degree which can claim an origin in the last century must be considered worthy of investigation , and the steady progress of the Mark 'Degree during the past few years has
given it an importance and a prominence which cannot be overlooked . The wide and interesting subject of Masons' Marks is somewhat beyond the present question , and moreover presents snch a lar ^ e scope as to be quite beyond the limits of a short paper . It is a subject of the deepest interest to Masons and archaeologists , and has been treated of elaborately by writers both inside and outside the pale
of the Craft . In tracing the history of the building sodalities , the study of Masons' Marks is of inestimable value , and from the very earliest period the custom of the selection of a Mark by each and every builder has been world-wide . It scarcely needs any argument to prove the great importance for the proper selection , approval and registration of each man ' s mark in an age when records were sparse
and writing bnt little known , and Mackey and others have sufficiently exemplified this , and havo given examples and quotations from old writers , showing tho antiquity of the use of the private mark as a pledge or guarantee of good faith . M ITho selection of a mark by every Brother appears to have been insisted on with much greater regularity in the Scotch than in the
English Lodges , but this may , I think , easily be accounted for by tho fact that tho Scotch Lodges retained their operative character Ion " after the English Lodges had ceased to contain any but tho specula " tive element . In the minute books of the oldest Lodges in Scotland the register of marks is usually kept with tho greatest regularity , and the choice seems to have been made by tho Brother at the time of
initiation ancl payment of fees . There seems to bo no mention of any ceremony , and it is improbable that any special form was observed still less that any ritual existed until about the end of tho last cen - tury at the earliest . The mark cypher was early used in England , and in tho minute books of the Grand Lodgo of All England at York tho initials of the titles of the officers present at meetings are sometimes
given in this cypher appended to their names . There is no evidence whatever in the York minutes to show that any ceremony was observed in the conferring of a Mark Degree , nor is any such Degree in any way alluded to as far as I can discover , but that a Mark Degree was in existence in England at the close of the century there is abundant proof . Where then did this Degree come from at the time of ics revival as a ivorking Degree ? It seems to me probable that it had
Notes On The History Of The Mark Degree.
been re-introdnced from Scotland , between which country and the northern counties thero was much communication . Tho Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland governs the Mark Degree in that country , and ifc was reported in 18 G 5 by a
Committee of that Body appointed to investigate the history of the Mark Degree , that— " In this country from timo immemorial and long before tho institution of tho Grand Lodge of Scotland ( in 1736 ) , what is now known aa the Mark Master ' s Degree was wrought by the operative Lodges of St . John ' s Masonry . "
Minntes preserved by somo of the older English Lodges show that tho Mark Degree was independently worked under tho authority of the blno warrant before tho close of the ISth century , but afc the union of tbo two Grand Lodges in 1813 , the Degree was nofc included in "Pnro and Ancient Masonry , " unless ifc was intended thafc Mark Masonrv shonld form tho first stop to tho Royal Arch ( asin Scotland ) ,
of which there is no hint . In both Ireland and Scotland the Mark Degree is , and always has been , recognized as a part of ancient Masonry , and ifc is difficult to understand on what ground it was nofc recognized as such at tho Union . Many old Masons of high standing have , in my hearing , expressed their regret at the exclusion of the Mark Degree , but a horror of tinkering at tho Constitutions has
always stood in tho way of any alteration , and the danger of interfering with the text of the Articles of Union wonld doubtless be very great . It is only within a " comparatively recent period thafc any system , afcio investigation of old Lodge minutes has been made , and even yefc those investigations have been of a very imperfect character . I have
no donbfc that as timo progresses and brethren see the advantage of careful examination , we shall have unearthed further evidence as to the date at which the Mark Degree came to the front in England . The earliest record of its working in London thafc I know of is to bo found in the Minute Books of St . Thomas Lodge , No . 142 ( London ) , warranted as 193 nnder tho " Ancients" in 1775 . Brother H . C .
Levander , tho Secretary of that Lodge , has transcribed tho record as follows : "August 9 , 1777 . " The W . M . with the following Brothers of thafc Lodgo were made Mark Masons aud Mark Masters . " ( Here occur names . )
"August 14 , 1777 . " Regnlar Lodge night , the W . M ., the Wardens , the Secretary and Treasurer present , worked in the First and Second Degrees . Made the following Brothers Mark Masons and also Mark Master Masons . Opened at 6 o ' clock . "
( Here occur names . ) " November 17 , 1777 . " Being a Lodge night of Emergency , the W . M . in the chair , the Wardens present , made the following Brothers Mark Masons , also Mark Master Masons . " ( Hero occur several names of Brethren from other Lodges . )
" May 4 , 1778 . " Being regnlar Lodge night , the W . M . in the chair as lasfc night , S . and J . Wardens present . The Lodge opened afc $ pasfc seven o ' clock , worked in the three Degrees , made the following Brothers Mark Masons as also Mark Master Masons . Opened the Lodge afc £ past seven ns above . "
( Here occur the names . ) " January 8 , 1784 . " The Lodge was opened , the W . M ., A . Harmah , in the chair , and Brother White , Master-elect , was installed in his office of W . Master for the next six months . ( Here occur names of visitors . ) Worked to tho ( blank ) Degree , when fcho following Brothers were made Mark
Masons and Mark Masters . ( Here occur names . ) " June 13 , 1785 . " The Lodge was opened , the W . M . in the chair ; the officers present , when the W . M ., S . W ., andothers wished tobecomoMarkMasons and Mark Masters . Brother McCree took the chair and the following were initiated : "
( Then occur several names . ) " Monday August 13 , 1787 . " The Lodge was opened , tho W . M . in the chair , the officers present , when the W . M ., S . and J . W . ' s and several members desired to become Mark Masons ancl Mark Masters . Brother James Mackree took the chair and tho following Brothers were installed : " ( Here occur the names . )
In may be noticed that the " marks" appended to the name of each Brother possess little variety , and in many cases the same mark was chosen by two or more Brethren afc the same meeting . Oafc of a total of 77 marks there aro only 9 varieties , there being 22 squares , 21 anchors , 10 compasses , 9 columns , 6 keys , 4 balls ( or circles ) , 2 cross pens , 2 plumb-rules , and 1 hour-glass .
In these minutes thero are several features to be particularly regarded , the most important of which are , first , thafc the Mark working consisted of two separate Degrees—Mark Man and Mark Mason , a fact that has beon long in dispute in England ; and second , thafc these Degrees formed an appendage of tho Second or Fellow Craft Degree . ( Seo minute of August 14 , 1777 . ) Theso are well worth
noting . Tho earliest North of England minute of any distinct Mark working which I havo so far been able to procure is to bo found in the minntes of the Imperial George Lodge , No . 78 , warranted by the " Moderns , " in 1752 , as No . 92 , meeting at Middleton , in Lancashire . It rnns thus :
" Imperial Georgo Lodge , No . 92 , " Haro and Hounds , " Middleton , March 9 , 1809 . " This Lodge was opened in due form at 8 o ' clock , in peace and good harmany . " When the following Brethren wore made Mark Mafloiifl . " ( Here follow names . )