Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CONSTITUTION OP A PROV . GRAND LODGE OP M . M . M . ' s FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

WE are nofc of those snppoaed to be initiated into the hidden mysteries of the Masonic art , nor are the majority of our readers ; we are but for the nonce giving prolatiou to the idiosyncrasy of a bod y of onr fellow men who promulgate that Freemasonry is " a beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory nnd illustrated by symbols , " and who , when you ask them to draw aside the curtain and show

what there is to he revealed , suddenly tile the door of the Lodgo , and with serious mien , almost catching , bated breath , and pre-occnpatioB of thought , which whets curiousity , will whisper of tlu-ce great pillars which support the Order , denominated" Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty , " who ? " chapiters aro lost in the clouds , and absorbed in a spiritual temple not made with handx , eternal in the heavens .

We aro iustt acted that Freemasonry is congenial to the Jewish mind , the building of King Solomon ' s Templo being the gist of the 3 tory woven in its ceremonies ; that it has a universality of credence , one of its nucieut charges enjoining : " Lota man's religion or 7 iiode of worship bo what it may , he is not excluded from tlio Order , provided he believe in Ihe Glorious Architect of Ilea ven and Earth , and practises

tho sacred duties ot morality ; and that it has a large Christian following is palpable , on the ground ( hat tho Apostle to tho Gentiles taught that all profession wns vain without Hie gift of Charity , aud thafc the exercise of this virtue is the Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the cud , of all Masonic inculcation .

But Freemasons candidly admit thafc their institution is , after all , lint human ; thafc whilst it has its inner circle , there is an outer circle which , but for the collar and badge and apron , like Carlyle ' s " World hi clothes , " depicted in his Sartor Ucsarlv * , would not be known at all . That there are brethren aud brethren .

It is alleged •' that kings and priuces nt every age have been much disposed to encourage the Craftsmen on account of their peaceableness aud loyalty . " It has been so in Eugluud , mid , imitating his ancestors , the Prince of Wales is now the head of the Order . Germany does well to encourage the Craft , HB an antidote to the Socialist element in that conutiy . Freemasonry is proscribed by law in Russia

than which thuro could mil be a more fatal mistake . Iu France it is a mere toy , where it is dressed and played with as a dull , and to second childhood is added infidelity , forgetful of the charge , "A Mason is obliged by his tcnture to obey the moral hi w ; and if he rightly understood the url , ho will never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine . " Tho I ' opo has good grounds for complaining of

Freemasonry in Italy , and some other of the continental countries , where it bus ilegoimated into secret chilis , having political objects in view , in contravention of Masouic law . Butt why dues Rome anatheniizo ? Why not become tho patron of the Order amongst Catholic populations , enforcing u loading Masonic tenet , " never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies aguiust the peace and welfare of the

nation r " The Grand Lodgo of England of Craft Freemasonry recognises three degrees , namely , those of Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason . With these degrees ; a Mason ' s education may he considered as complete . But in the year 177- the Royal Arch degree received the recognition of tho Grand Lodge . It is sanctioned and

permissible , but il is entirely optional with Freemasons to take ifc or not . There are other degrees which wo do not now stay to not-ico , beyond that of Mark Master . Before the Act of Union which settled the differences between the Grand Lodge of all England , which had its seat afc York , and that of the Grand Lodge of England , which held its court in Loudon , the

degree of Mark Master was the fourth in the York rite , one of the articles of Declaration agreed to afc snch Union being " Pure and Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , includiii" the Royal Arch ; " but in Scotland aud Ireland the Mark degree has ° ever been retained . The United Graud Lodgo of England , although not officially recognising tho Mark Master ' s degree , has nofc forbidden it

as a graceful appendage , aud completion of the Fellow Craffc de"ree . Mark Masters in England , who until the year 1856 had their warrant of constitution under Scottish rule , are now under tho authority of the " Graud Lodgo of Mark Masters of England aud Wales nnd the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , " which has its centre , liko tho Grand Lodge of Craft Masonry , in

Londou . 1 hat there is no antagonism between those Graud Lodges may be inferred when wo say that Lord Skelmersdale is the present Grand Mrster of Mark Masons , and that it numbers amongst its Past Grand Masters tho Earl of Carnarvon , tha Earl of Limerick , the Earl Percy , Lord Leigh , Viscount Holmosdale , aud other great lights iu the firmament of Craft Masonry . If a Mark Master be asked to

deliver himself of the faith that is in him , he will reply that Masonio tradition teaches that al the building of King Solomon's Temple every mason was provided with a peculiar mark , which he placed upon his work to distinguish it from that of his fellows ; that a similar usage has always existed amongst operative masons ; and thafc such marks are to be found at the present day in all parts nf the world , and are

to be seen even at the Cathedral of lliis city , whore Professor Willis in one of his admirable lectures before tho Royal Academy , expressed his belief " there existed in olden times a school of Masons , " and of which wo suggest tho old man with an ample bifurcated beard al the foot of the bracket of tho Mason ' s Squuie over the door leading to the Crypt wsa once its H ' ursbipful Master or the Muster Overseer of the work .

In the past twenty yoars Mark Masonry has made rapid strides , and Provincial Grand Lodges have been established in various parts of England , and on Saturday , 7 lh inst ., Gloucester completed tho list of provinces iu our immediate vicinity by the constitution of its Provincial Grand Lodge , entirely separate and distinct from the

Mark Masonry.

Craft Provincial Grand Lodgo , over which the Right Hon . Lord Sherborne presides . Tho inauguration took p lace afc the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , the ceremony being performed by Brother Frederick Binckes P . G . S . W . and Grand Secretary . Of the distinguished Masons present were Brothers Colonel Henry Basevi , P . P . G . M . M . Bengal ; Captain Homfray , P . G . Master Monmouth ; ! . Brook . Smith , M . A .,

Cheltenham Colledge ; General Doherty , Bath ; W . Watkins , P . G . S . Monmouth j W . Munro ; W . M . Canyne , Somerset ; E . T . Inskip , Grand Junior Deacon ; T . R . Monks , J . Balcomb , J . Stevens , W . B ,. Felton , J . Jewitt , Thomas Parker , George Norman , George Peters , Arthur Jack , N . Gregg , W . R . Porcher , nnd others . The Provincial Grand Lodgo was opened at 2 . 30 , and the authority of the Earl of

Skelmersdale having been read , tho Provincial Grand Master Designate , the Rov . Charles Raikes Davy , J . P ., of Tracy Park , Bath , Past Grand Chaplain of England , was installed by Brother Binckes , with due •eroinony and the usual salutations , and an impressive lootnre was delivered , which secured the marked approbation of the brethren assembled . Brother John Walker , M . A ., of Westborno House ,

Cheltenham , was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; and Bro . W . I / . Bain , of Cheltenham College , was unanimously elected as Treasurer . The following are the other Officers : —Bros . J . Robertson S . W ., Ronnie Powell J . W ., W . Forth M . O . Henry Jeffs S . O ., Baron de Ferrieres J . O ., Colonel Kasevi 11 . of M .. James P . Curtis Sec ,, . 1 . Brook-Smith , M . A ., Cholfconham College , S . D ., W . M . Lowich J . D .,

Dr . Maicr D . of C , E . T . Bryant A . D . of C , Francis J . Vizard S . B , G . F . Robert I . G ., Algernon Sudlow and Tinsloy Stewards , Wiggins Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master , after investing his Officers with their collars and jewels of office , gave an address to the brethren , thanking thom for the honour conferred upon him by his appointmenfc to the chair , his remarks eliciting warm approval . The brethreu

afterwards sat down to an excellent and cnpitally . aerved banquet , which waa presided over by tho Provincial Grand Master . The usual loyal aud Masonid toasts wero proposed , and received with enthusiasm , aud several brethren responded , the . speeches of Bros . Binckos and E . T . Inskip being particulary applauded . Tho subject of tho latter was ns usual the Masonio Charities , in which he is always happily at home . Not only iu the county of Gloucester , but in tho districts

adjacent , the constitution of this Provincial Grand Lodgo had been looked forward to . Bro . theltev . C . R . Davy , by his zeal and devotion to the interests of tbe Order , and the high position ho has gained in Grand Lodge , and his frequency of attendance there , has not only secured metropolitan Masonio fame , but an won popularity far and near in the provinces ; and the Masouic body generally will hail with the greatest satisfaction his installation ns Provincial Grand Master of Mark Masons of this counlv . —Gloucestershire i ' 1 hroniele .

St. Andrew's Lodge Of M.M. Masons, No. 34.

ST . ANDREW'S LODGE OF M . M . MASONS , No . 34 .

fpiIE regular meeting of this flourishing Lodge was held nt the -L Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , on Thursday , the 27 th ult . Present : — Bros . E . C . Milligan R . W . M ., T . R . Peel S . W ., Arthur Middleton J . W ., JI . R . G . Baylev S . O ., 11 . C . Millar J . O ., J . T . Richardson Treas . and Sec , W . D . Waddeil S . D ., W . H . Hopkins P . M . M . Reg ., J . B . Kirk Tyler , and Past M . Masters Bros . J . Aronsberg , H . T . Robbards , C . F . Matier , W . Rome , and Bros . J . Howarth

Clark , J . R . Lever , J . G . Jones , W . Nicholl , W . Glendimiing , Murray Thompson , Ac . Visitors : —G . R . Goopol P . G . S . O ., J . R . Beard 32 , C . S . Lane 3 ( J , C . F . Woodall , W . Gaffroy , T . Hooper , W . T . Parkinson , J . Senior Union Lodge , S . M . Davies FREEMASON ' S CnuoNrci , K , < tc . Lodge was opened nnd , usual preliminaries observed , the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . This being the

meeting for the installation of officers , at the appointed time the Installing M . Master Bro . G . F . Matier was announced as seeking ad . uiisiiou into the Lodge . He was accompanied by three Grand Mark Lodge Officers , viz ., Bros . Goepel , Rome , and Smith , who on entering wero received with fche honours due their exalted rank . Bro . Matier signified his readiness to proceed with tho ceremony , and

Bro . Rome introduced Bro . Middleton , the W . M . M . elect , for tho benefit of installation . The special warrant from G . L . M . M ., ap . pointing Bio . Middleton to hold the office was read , and this became tho authority for procedure ; whereupon Bro . Middleton was solemnly obligated , invested , aud installed the R . W . M . of the St . Andrew ' s Lodgo of M . M . Masons for the ensuing twelve months , and , as such ,

received the salutations of tho brethren . Bro . Middleton , with the assistance of Bro . Matier , proceeded to invesk his Officers as follow : —Edwd . C . Milligan P . G . M . O . I . P . M ., Thos . Robert Peel S . W ., Joseph T . Richardson J . W ., Edwin Simpson M . O ., Heber Chase Miller S . O ., Win . Douglas Waddeil J . O ., William Nicholl Secretary , Murray Thomson Treasurer , H . Robbards P . P . G . O . D . C , Jno . Roger

Lover Organist , Philip Haines Chaplain , Thos . Hy . Glendinning S . D ., Jno . Cavanugh J . D ., Mark Vickers I . G ., J . B . " Kirk Tyler . It is pleasing to record that Bro . Matier performed the ceremony throughout in that masterly style which at all times characterises his efforts . Tho labours of tho evening being ended , the Lodge was closed and the brethren proceeded to banquet . On the removal of the cloth ,

tho W . M . proposed the toast of tho Queen and the Royal Famil y , which wus duly honoured , tho brethreu singing the National Anthem . The next toast was peculiarly interesting , as it related to a nobleman who , as the head of Mark Masonry in England aud Wales , hatl proved himself worthy of the confidence aud esteem of Masons in every degree , it was unnecessary for him ( tbo W . M . ) to say more

than ask tho brctnion to drink the health of the Most Worshipful tho Grand Master of M . M . M . Lord Skelmersdale . The toast was heartily drunk . The health of tho Earl of Donoughmoro was pronosed in like genial strains ; the rest of Grand Lodge Officers were iiuitcd with tho toast , nnd with it wns coupled the name of Bro . Smith . Bro . Middleton , in submitting this toast , assured the brethreu that the Officers of Grand Lodge did their work well and