Notes On The History Of The Mark Degree.

Chapter , even wero such a consummation to be desired by either of thoso Bodies . I stated before , that in Scotland wero to bo found the oldest records of any registration of marks in Lodges now in existence . Of course , when a brother choso a mark it must -necessarily have been different from tho mark of any other member of the Lodge , ancl for

that reason it must havo been registered in tho Books of tho Lodge . It is in Scotland that wo now find Lodges practising speculative Masonry , whose records show them to be direct descendants of Operative Lodges existing from very ancient ; times . In the very earliest records of these Lodges we find the progress of tho selection of a mark to havo beon gone through by every Mason admitted , ancl

we also find thafc aa early as the middle of the 17 th century others than Masons were admitted members , showing that oven then tho speculative element was invading tho Lodges . How long that period existed during which the Lodges were both operative ancl speculative it would be difficult to decide , because , in tho very earliest charges which wepossess , iiot only thoso collected and published by onr eminent

Bro . Hughan , but tho old medicoval guild charters , aro contained allusions which provothat moral ancl even Theological teachings entered into tho earliest operations of tho building guilds . According to the records of a trial which took place in Edinburgh about 1707 , being tho outcome of a financial dispute between tho Edinbnrgh Journeyman ' s Lodge and tho Mary ' s Chapel Lodge , it appears thafc tho former

Lodgo made only Entered Apprentices-and Fellow Crafts , tho " Mark Master" being Master of the Lodgo . The condition of things in England about that time was very similar , since the third degree conld only be given iu Grand Lodge , just as in Edinbnrgh it could only bo obtained from St . Mary ' s Chapel Lodge , which occupied tho position to a certain extent of a Grand Lodge in that city . The Mark

Master who rnled the Lodge , therefore , was not what we understand now by a "Mark Master , " bnt was simply an Installed Master , and ns such held the register of marks of his Lodge , or , in other words , ruled over tho Mark men , or Craftsmen , who formed tho ordinary Masons' Lodge . He soems to have been called a " Mark Master , " or " Overseer , " in distinction to the " Master Mason , " who rnled over a

Mother Lodge , such as Mary's Chapel . Thus thero wonld seem to have been two classes of Lodges , tho lower class , or Mark Lodges , owing a kind of allegiance to tho Master Mason ' s Lodges , and this existed np to the commencement of the 18 th centnry . In many of tho old Scotch minnte books tho brethren appear to have made a rule of appending their marks to their signatures , and I hope our Brother

Hughan may seo his way one day to publish a work on Mark Masonry , and reproduce therein specimens of the marks used , which , as far as I havo been ablo to examine them , aro principally emblematical of the calling in life of the Brother adopting them , snch as a shovel for a maltster , & c , or merely a monogram of the brother ' s initials . The present ritnal of the Mark Degree , wherever worked , has been

founded principally upon Ancient Craft legends , and is intended not only to illustrate the principles which guided onr ancient operative founders , but to instil moral lessons of integrity , faith , hope , and gratitude . As snch tho Degree is valuable . But it does not end here , for Mark Masons in England have taken np a position iu regard to practical Charity , which , regarding tho strength of tho Order ,

places them second to none amongst the Masonic Bodies of tho world . Tho Grand Lodge has on its roll over 240 numbered Lodges in addition to 10 "Time Immemorial" Lodges withonfc distinction of number . Tho Grand Master holds 45 votes in the Masonic Charities . It has an invested Benevolent Fund of £ 2000 , and a General Fund of £ 1000 . It has an " Educational Branch" of its Benevolent Fund for the

purpose of giving supplementary aid in the education of tho children of Mark Master Masons iu reduced circumstances ; to say nothing of the assistance casually rendered by the Lodges , both to local Charities , and to the lists of brethren at the Annual Masonic Charity Festivals . This alone would bo a sufficient raison d ' etre for tho existence of the Degree , which has , since the formation of the Grand Lodge , been

ruled over by most distinguished brethren : —Lord Leigh , Lord Carnarvon , Viscount Holmesdale , W . W . B . Beach , Esq ., the Her . G . R . Portal , Earl Percy , Lord Limerick , and now Lord Skelmersdale . It also has the advantage of many energetic Officers , and none more so than our distinguished Bro . Binckes , the Grand Secretary , whoso zeal for the Order is only excelled by thafc for tho Boys' School , whoso

needs he so constantly ancl eloquently advocates . I wish I could have given you a more connected and detailed paper , but there is a very little ground to work upon , and records are so meagre in England that , without bringing in the sister king . dom , I fear any history of the Mark Degree might be summed up in tho words—there is none to speak of .

Duke Of Connaught Mark Master Masons' Lodge, No. 199.

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT MARK MASTER MASONS ' LODGE , No . 199 .

THE Installation Meeting of this Lodgo was held at the Bell Tavern , High-street , Shoreditch , on Thursday , 6 th May . Lodge was opened by tho W . M ., Bro . J . B . Shackleton P . G . S . B ., who was well supported by Officers ancl members . Thero being no other business before the Lodge but tho Installation , tho minutes were confirmed , and the V . W . Bro . James Stevens P . G . J . O . proceeded with

the ceremony , placing Bro . W . J . Meek in tho chair of A ., according to tho ancient rites of the Order . The W . M . appointed ancl invested tho following Officers , viz ., Bro . J . B . Shackleton I . P . M ., H . Meyers S . W ., W . Beasley J . W ., J . Edmunds M . O ., R . Marshall S . O ., J . J . Gould J . O ., A . P . Little R . M ., James Hill Sec , B . Meyer Treasurer ,

G . Andrews S . D ., E . M . Adams J . D ., H . Godfrey I . G ., J . G . Hopkins Tyler . Amongst the visitors on this occasion were the V . W . Bios . Fred . Binckes P . G . W . and Grand Mark Secretary , John Constable , W . C . Needes , and others . A P . M . ' s jewel was presented to Bro . Shackleton on his retirement from the Master ' s chair , for the second

Duke Of Connaught Mark Master Masons' Lodge, No. 199.

timo since tho establishment of tho Lodge , and tho thanks of the members were accorded to Bro . James Stevens for his highly appre - ciated services as Installing Master . After the closing of the Lodge , tho brethren dined together , and subsequently tho usual Loyal ancl Masonic toasts wero duly honoured , and a most enjoyable evening spent in social intercourse .

Northumberland And Berwick Lodge Of Mark Masters.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

THIS time immemorial Lodge held its regnlar monthly meeting on the 28 th April , afc tho Masonio Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle . on-Tyne . Bro . Dr . L . Armstrong W . M . in the chair , supported by Bros . T . J . Armstrong S . W ., W . S . Hughes P . M . as J . W ., J . E . Robson M . O ., G . R . Salmon S . O ., John Wood J . O ., R . Lock Treasurer , G . W . Lax

Registrar of Works , J . S .. Boll Sec , S . M . Han-is S . D ., Ford I . G . and G . S . Sims Tyler . Tho Lodgo was opened and tho minutes of the lasfc meeting confirmed . No business offering itself , tho Lodge waa closed and adjourned till September . The brethren then partook of refreshment .

Simon De St. Liz Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 245.

SIMON DE ST . LIZ LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , No . 245 .

THE Annual Festival in connection with this Lodge was cele . brated on Tuesday evening , 11 th May , in tho Masonio Hall , Abington Street , Northampton , when Bro . the Rev . S . J . W . Sanders LL . M . and M . A . was duly installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , in the presence of a large assembly of brethren of thia degree . Tho duties of Installing Master wero very ably discharged by Bro . J . T . Thorp P . P . G . S . W . of Leicestershire , Northamptonshire

and Derbyshire , and I . P . M . of the Simon de Monfcfort 194 , and was performed with the usual clearness and perfect ceremony for whioh this brother is so greatly distinguished . After tho presentation of tho warrant , 4 c , Bro . Sanders W . M . appointed and invested his Officers in tho following manner : —Bros . Nicholas T . Hewena Senior Warden , Henry J . Atkins Junior Warden , George Ellard

Master Overseer , Eli Morris Senior Overseer , Henry Spoor Junior Overseer , Eev . T . C . Beasley , M . A ., Chaplain , W . 0 . Short Treasurer , H . W . Parker Registrar of Marks , Henry Hill Secretary , Georgo H . Percival Senior Deacon , J . V , de Denne Junior Deacon , Henry Brown Director of Ceremonies , Edward Hale Assistant D . C , Richard Croft Organist , Brook Sampson Inner Guard ,

Stephen Dnmbleby Steward , Geo . Butcher Steward , Wm . Kirby Tylor . The usual addresses to tho Worshipful Master , Wardens , Overseers , and brethren wero then given by the Installing Master , ancl the newly-appointed W . M . afc once gave evidence of his working powers , for which ho is so well known , by ably advancing Bros . J .

Manning and T . Emery to tho degree of Mark Master Mason . Afc an excellent banquet which followed , the usual toasts were duly honoured . Tho whole proceedings wore throughout mosfc agreeable , and the brethren separated highly pleased with tho work of tho evening .

Hilda Chapter Rose Croix.

HILDA CHAPTER ROSE CROIX .

rjIHE regular meeting of this Chapter took placo in the Eboraoum -1- Lodge Rooms , York , on Friday evening lasfc , when the chair was ocenpied by Bro . T . B . Whytehead M . W . S ., J . S . Cumberland H . P ., Rev . W . C . Lukis first Gen ., L . Murphy as second Gen ., A . T . B . Turner G . M ., T . M . Richey R ., G . Simpson C . of G ., J . Hanly , 4 c . Successful ballots wore taken for Bro . Edward J . De Salis

D . A . C . G . of Ordnance , Aldershofc Camp Lodge , 1331 , and Bro . tho Rev . James Blake of York , Eboracum Lodgo , 1611 , and those brethren being in attendance were duly installed by the M . W . S . A letter was read from Lieut-Colonel Gierke Grand Sec of England , thanking the Chapter for a letter of congratulation which had been sent to him

from tho Chapter on the occasion of his appointment by the Grand Master of England . Tho M . W . S . stated that he had , on his own responsibility , forwarded two guineas to tho Testimonial Fnnd to their late Sec . Gen ., feeling sure thafc the Chapter would be only too glad to sanction his act . Accordingly thafc sum was unanimously voted by the Chapter , which was afterwards closed .

Everything seems to promise a mosfc successful gathering for Thursday next at Truro on the occasion of the visit of the Princo and Princess of "Wales to lay tho foundation-stones of the new Cathedral there . An especial Grand Lodge -will be opened in the Town HaU , Truro , at

eleven o'clock , the Provincial Grand Lodge having previously been opened at ten o ' clock . In another part of our present issue will be found details of the arrangements

which , have been made by the Great Western Railway Company for the conveyance of visitors , of whom it is expected a very numerous company will assemble . Wo tender our heartiest wishes for the success of the meeting .

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