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Article MARK MASONRY AT BRADFORD. ← Page 3 of 3 Article MARK MASONRY AT BRADFORD. Page 3 of 3
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Mark Masonry At Bradford.
Article of Union , after declaring that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , including the Royal Arch , says " this Article is not intended to prevent any Lodge or Chapter from holding a meeting in any of the degrees of the Orders of Chivalry , according to the
Constitutions of the said Orders . " In many Lodge records we find that Craft Lodges were opened in the second degree and that brethren were made " Mark Men . " Again , we find them opened in tbe third degree and brethren made " Mark Masters . " This was the case in Hull , in London , in Lancashire , Cumberland , and in West Yorkshire .
Before an assembly of brethren , some of whom are not Mark Masons , it will be readily understood that the question of the Mark Ritual is one upon which it would be improper for me to enter , and on this account I am obliged to restrict my observations within much narrower limits than
I could have desired . I may , however , say that the rituals of the degree have been almost legion . I possess copies of several of the old workings , some of which are curious and seem to be associated with , or derived from , degrees that are now worked ou an entirely separate basis . But in this
respect Mark Masonry does not differ from other degrees , or even from the Craft itself . You are doubtless aware that the present usually accepted Craft working is very different to that , which prevailed dnring last century , and during the early part of the XVIIIth century it is extremely
doubtful what ritual , if any , existed . It is quite probable that the present German system then usually obtained , i . e ., that the Master of the Lodge exemplified the working according to his own ideas and in his own language , keeping within certain due bounds laid down by elementary landmarks .
As late as 1855 tho Mark Degree had a narrow escape of being embodied in the working of Craft Masonry by the deliberate action of the Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Chapter of England , becoming aware that the Grand Chapter of Scotland accepted the Mark Degree as
part of its system , considered whether or not it should follow the example of its northern neighbour , but upon a close investigation of the working of the Degree , the Grand Chapter decided that the Mark was in point of fact an integral portion of the Fellow Craft working , and
recommended Grand Lodge to accept the responsibility ; and this Grand Lodge actually decided to do . When , however , the matter came up for confirmation , it was resolved not to carry out the resolve , and perhaps wisely , for although I quite think that any unprejudiced person would agree in
the ori ginal conclusion of Grand Lodge as to the Mark being an integral portion of Craft working and teaching , yet there is such a thing as precedent , and there is another such thing as the thin end of a wedge , and perhaps if the door of change had once been opened , were it ever so little ,
there might have been some difficulty in keeping it closed against other degrees that might have claimed admission . Those of my hearers who are acquainted with Mark working are well aware that it dovetails into a certain place in Craft working with remarkable exactitude , and forms a
most valuable connecting link in the completion of the Masonic Traditional History . Some Masons are of opinion that the Royal Arch originally was , in some form , actual portion of the Master Masons' Degree , and this theory is in some measure justified by certain words and symbols found
on tracing boards depicted in the oldest Masonic works extant . In the same way there are those who believe that the Mark Degree was at some period lopped off from the second degree , and it is possible that this may have also been the case , for the Grand Lodge of England declared
m 1856 that the Mark Degree was " not positively essential , but a graceful appendage to the Degree of Fellow Craft . ' ' This is especially worthy of note , because it is a
"record of the deliberate opinion of the highest and most reliabl e leaders in Craft Masonry of our own day ; not that the verdict is absolutely correct , for it is more correct to
say that the degree of Mark Man would be a suitable appendage to the Fellow Craft , and that of Mark Master to the Masters' Degree . But of these details it is rather difficult to speak on the present occasion . The formation of the present Grand Lodge of Mark iisrer
" < Masons ot England was perfectly Constitutional . J * one can now tell how long previous to 1855 or 1856 -Mark Lodges had been working in this country , but just as m 1717 it was felt that without some governing body and some central organisation Masonry ran a great risk of emg lost altogether or becoming corrupted , so in one of « e former years some of the more influential of English
Mark Masonry At Bradford.
Mark Masons made up their minds that something must bo done to preserve and consolidate an order which possessed such good teachings and had so many worthy disciples . It was found that for lack of a supreme authority , members of the Order were applying to Scotland for
warrants , and that no control existed over any part of the working or admission of members . There were excellent and sufficient reasons for the formation , under Lord Leigh , of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and the very fact that most of the influential Lodges gave in their
adhesion at once proves how general was the consensus of opinion that the step was wise and necessary . It was unavoidable and to be expected that there should be some dissentients . No one ever heard of any movement , either inside or outside of Masonry , that did not find an opponent .
It is true that some strong Lodges did not join the Grand Lodge for several years , and indeed it is within a very brief period indeed that that one old Lodge at Nottingham has given in its adhesion . But the fact that the Grand Lodge now practically commands the allegiance of the whole of
the Mark Lodges and Mark Masons in England , is sufficient to remove the necessity for any further argument as to the legality of its origin . Moreover , it is now recognised , and in friendly relations with every Masonic body of good repute in the world .
It has been objected by some brethren that tbe Mark Degree , like others beyond the Three Degrees , involves a waste of Masonic energy , and militates against the Masonic Charities . I am not of that opinion . I have always noticed that it is those who give most to the Masonic Charities who are the best Masonic workers in other
degrees beyond the Craft , and that those who say unkind things of the " Fancy Degrees " are not , as a rule , distinguished by their support of any of our Institutions . But the brethren of the Mark have shown their true desire to promote Charity by their foundation of a separate
Benevolent Fund of their own , as well as a distinct Educational Fund , both of which have made great progress , and have done very good and practical service , and I am myself well aware that it is no infrequent thing for a Mark Lodge to contribute to the annual collections for the great Craft Charities .
Mark Masonry , like every other branch of the Speculative Art , depends , however , very much upon its rulers and guides . Every one knows the enormous strides made b y the Craft within the past few years , and this is no doubt very largely owing to the fact of our future King filling
the post of Grancl Master . It is of the utmost importance to have men not only of light and leading , but of social weight and influence , to occupy the chief places in any Masonic Order , if that Order is to advance or become popular ; for although our maxim is right—that we prefer
honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune , yet in this country it is happily true that honour and rank , virtue and fortune , may not at all unfrequently be found combined in the person of one individual , and that one a Mason .
In Craft Masonry you , in West Yorkshire , have made , and are making , great progress , but from what I hear this has not been the case in Mark Masonry . This is , I think , much to be regretted , and the matter is to me somewhat unaccountable . It seems strange that a district
intimately associated with the degree in its earlier and more obscure days shonld nofc appear to look npon ifc kindly now in its days of fortune . I think that as far as outsiders are concerned their shyness of the degree musfc arise more from want of knowledge of its value than anything else , and if
anything I may have said shall have had the effect of exciting any interest in an Order and a working that for me possesses very great attractions , I shall feel that the little effort made in the preparation of this paper has not been wasted .
Bro . J . S . Cumberland made some interesting remarks upon the customs of the Operative Masons of the present clay , and also exhibited a number of curious marks extracted from the old minutes of the Newstead Mark Lodge at Nottingham , and other old documents . Votes of thanks to
Bros . Wh ytehead ancl Cumberland were moved by Bro . 0 . J . Banister 33 ° , and were seconded ancl carried , and after several leading brethren present had made remarks bearing upon the subject , the meeting separated , with expressions of gratification .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Mark Masonry At Bradford.
Article of Union , after declaring that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , including the Royal Arch , says " this Article is not intended to prevent any Lodge or Chapter from holding a meeting in any of the degrees of the Orders of Chivalry , according to the
Constitutions of the said Orders . " In many Lodge records we find that Craft Lodges were opened in the second degree and that brethren were made " Mark Men . " Again , we find them opened in tbe third degree and brethren made " Mark Masters . " This was the case in Hull , in London , in Lancashire , Cumberland , and in West Yorkshire .
Before an assembly of brethren , some of whom are not Mark Masons , it will be readily understood that the question of the Mark Ritual is one upon which it would be improper for me to enter , and on this account I am obliged to restrict my observations within much narrower limits than
I could have desired . I may , however , say that the rituals of the degree have been almost legion . I possess copies of several of the old workings , some of which are curious and seem to be associated with , or derived from , degrees that are now worked ou an entirely separate basis . But in this
respect Mark Masonry does not differ from other degrees , or even from the Craft itself . You are doubtless aware that the present usually accepted Craft working is very different to that , which prevailed dnring last century , and during the early part of the XVIIIth century it is extremely
doubtful what ritual , if any , existed . It is quite probable that the present German system then usually obtained , i . e ., that the Master of the Lodge exemplified the working according to his own ideas and in his own language , keeping within certain due bounds laid down by elementary landmarks .
As late as 1855 tho Mark Degree had a narrow escape of being embodied in the working of Craft Masonry by the deliberate action of the Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Chapter of England , becoming aware that the Grand Chapter of Scotland accepted the Mark Degree as
part of its system , considered whether or not it should follow the example of its northern neighbour , but upon a close investigation of the working of the Degree , the Grand Chapter decided that the Mark was in point of fact an integral portion of the Fellow Craft working , and
recommended Grand Lodge to accept the responsibility ; and this Grand Lodge actually decided to do . When , however , the matter came up for confirmation , it was resolved not to carry out the resolve , and perhaps wisely , for although I quite think that any unprejudiced person would agree in
the ori ginal conclusion of Grand Lodge as to the Mark being an integral portion of Craft working and teaching , yet there is such a thing as precedent , and there is another such thing as the thin end of a wedge , and perhaps if the door of change had once been opened , were it ever so little ,
there might have been some difficulty in keeping it closed against other degrees that might have claimed admission . Those of my hearers who are acquainted with Mark working are well aware that it dovetails into a certain place in Craft working with remarkable exactitude , and forms a
most valuable connecting link in the completion of the Masonic Traditional History . Some Masons are of opinion that the Royal Arch originally was , in some form , actual portion of the Master Masons' Degree , and this theory is in some measure justified by certain words and symbols found
on tracing boards depicted in the oldest Masonic works extant . In the same way there are those who believe that the Mark Degree was at some period lopped off from the second degree , and it is possible that this may have also been the case , for the Grand Lodge of England declared
m 1856 that the Mark Degree was " not positively essential , but a graceful appendage to the Degree of Fellow Craft . ' ' This is especially worthy of note , because it is a
"record of the deliberate opinion of the highest and most reliabl e leaders in Craft Masonry of our own day ; not that the verdict is absolutely correct , for it is more correct to
say that the degree of Mark Man would be a suitable appendage to the Fellow Craft , and that of Mark Master to the Masters' Degree . But of these details it is rather difficult to speak on the present occasion . The formation of the present Grand Lodge of Mark iisrer
" < Masons ot England was perfectly Constitutional . J * one can now tell how long previous to 1855 or 1856 -Mark Lodges had been working in this country , but just as m 1717 it was felt that without some governing body and some central organisation Masonry ran a great risk of emg lost altogether or becoming corrupted , so in one of « e former years some of the more influential of English
Mark Masonry At Bradford.
Mark Masons made up their minds that something must bo done to preserve and consolidate an order which possessed such good teachings and had so many worthy disciples . It was found that for lack of a supreme authority , members of the Order were applying to Scotland for
warrants , and that no control existed over any part of the working or admission of members . There were excellent and sufficient reasons for the formation , under Lord Leigh , of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and the very fact that most of the influential Lodges gave in their
adhesion at once proves how general was the consensus of opinion that the step was wise and necessary . It was unavoidable and to be expected that there should be some dissentients . No one ever heard of any movement , either inside or outside of Masonry , that did not find an opponent .
It is true that some strong Lodges did not join the Grand Lodge for several years , and indeed it is within a very brief period indeed that that one old Lodge at Nottingham has given in its adhesion . But the fact that the Grand Lodge now practically commands the allegiance of the whole of
the Mark Lodges and Mark Masons in England , is sufficient to remove the necessity for any further argument as to the legality of its origin . Moreover , it is now recognised , and in friendly relations with every Masonic body of good repute in the world .
It has been objected by some brethren that tbe Mark Degree , like others beyond the Three Degrees , involves a waste of Masonic energy , and militates against the Masonic Charities . I am not of that opinion . I have always noticed that it is those who give most to the Masonic Charities who are the best Masonic workers in other
degrees beyond the Craft , and that those who say unkind things of the " Fancy Degrees " are not , as a rule , distinguished by their support of any of our Institutions . But the brethren of the Mark have shown their true desire to promote Charity by their foundation of a separate
Benevolent Fund of their own , as well as a distinct Educational Fund , both of which have made great progress , and have done very good and practical service , and I am myself well aware that it is no infrequent thing for a Mark Lodge to contribute to the annual collections for the great Craft Charities .
Mark Masonry , like every other branch of the Speculative Art , depends , however , very much upon its rulers and guides . Every one knows the enormous strides made b y the Craft within the past few years , and this is no doubt very largely owing to the fact of our future King filling
the post of Grancl Master . It is of the utmost importance to have men not only of light and leading , but of social weight and influence , to occupy the chief places in any Masonic Order , if that Order is to advance or become popular ; for although our maxim is right—that we prefer
honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune , yet in this country it is happily true that honour and rank , virtue and fortune , may not at all unfrequently be found combined in the person of one individual , and that one a Mason .
In Craft Masonry you , in West Yorkshire , have made , and are making , great progress , but from what I hear this has not been the case in Mark Masonry . This is , I think , much to be regretted , and the matter is to me somewhat unaccountable . It seems strange that a district
intimately associated with the degree in its earlier and more obscure days shonld nofc appear to look npon ifc kindly now in its days of fortune . I think that as far as outsiders are concerned their shyness of the degree musfc arise more from want of knowledge of its value than anything else , and if
anything I may have said shall have had the effect of exciting any interest in an Order and a working that for me possesses very great attractions , I shall feel that the little effort made in the preparation of this paper has not been wasted .
Bro . J . S . Cumberland made some interesting remarks upon the customs of the Operative Masons of the present clay , and also exhibited a number of curious marks extracted from the old minutes of the Newstead Mark Lodge at Nottingham , and other old documents . Votes of thanks to
Bros . Wh ytehead ancl Cumberland were moved by Bro . 0 . J . Banister 33 ° , and were seconded ancl carried , and after several leading brethren present had made remarks bearing upon the subject , the meeting separated , with expressions of gratification .