Provinctal Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.

PROVINCTAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF TUNIS AND MALTA .

THE installation of tho R . W . P . G . M . M . of this Province , as well as tho inaugural meeting of tlio Provincial Grand Lodgo , took placo at the Masonic Hall , Malta , on tlio 11 th September 1879 . Tho oldest Mark Lodge in the province , " Keystone , " No . 107 , was opened by Bro . W . Read W . M . M . at 7 . 30 p . m . precisely . The Lodge Room was completely filled by tho Mark Masters of the Province . Amongst

thoso present were W . Bros . Rotherham and Wostrop P . M . M . ' s 107 , Lieut . Coffey , R . A ., W . M . M . 2 IS , Rev . J . K . Lothbridge P . P . G . Chaplain of Cornwall , Chevalier Edward Rosenbnsch , C . E ., P . D . D . G . M . Malta , Colonel Carey , R . A ., Major Ewing , Professor H . Stilon , A . Tagliafcrro , J . W . Starkey D . G . Sec ., J . Segond D . G . Treas ., W . J . Jones , C . E ., Captain A . Finch Noycs , Fleot Surgeon J . Flanagau , Captain C . J .

Blake , R . A ., Snrgeou Major Mackirmon , Captain A . 1 . Chapman , Lieut . G . W . Freeman , Surgeon H . Grior , Captain C . E . Mortimor , Surgeon J . Walker , Assist-Cominissary R . F . King , Lient . G . H . McLangbAin R . A ., II . P . Miller , J . A . Matthews , S . G . Yeomau , J . May , W . Farquharson , E . Blanch , R . Price , T . A . Bnrmiugbam , S . Haconne , R . Beck , and other members of Lodges 107 and 218 .

Bros . Lippctt , Davison , Foncch , D . Cooper , D . \ V . Jackson , J . C . Stanley , T . Jones and W . Taylor P . M ., Visitors from tho Irish Mark Lodge " Leinster , " No . 387 , and Bro . J . C . Toogood , a Visitor from a Chapter under tho Snpreme Grand Chapter of Scotland . Tho Lodge having been opened in due form , the summons convoking tho meeting was read . On an alarm being given that tho P . G . M . wa 3 without

and demanded to bo installed , tho patent of appointment was duly read , as well as a letter from the Grand Mark Secretary conveying Lord Skelmersdalo ' s authority to Bro . Read to perform the ceremony . The P . G . M . elect was conducted to tho cast by P . M . M . ' s Westrup and Rothoram , preceded by the P . G . Sword Bearer , and followed by the P . G . Banner Bearer and P . G . Stewards . The obligation was then

administered to AV . Bro . Broadley , who was afterwards inducted by W . Bro . Read into the chair of P . G . M . Tho D . of C having mado the usual proclamation , the P . G . M . was saluted in ancient form . The P . G . M . appointed Bro . Richard Westrup P . M . M . 107 his Deputy , who tock tho oath appertaining to that office . The P . G . M . then mado the following appointments in P . G . Lodge : —Wor . Bros . W . Read 107

G . S . W ., G . Pentecost 222 G . J . W ., Cliev . E . Rosenbnsch 222 G . Reg ., C . E . CoKby 218 G . Sec , Bros . W . Watson 107 G . M . O ., Dr . A . Perini 222 G . S . O ., W . J . Jones 248 G . J . O ., Rev . G . N . Godwin 248 G . Chaplain , Professor Souiller 222 Assist .-G . See ., P . M . Paleologo 222 G . S . D ., Capt . Blake , R . A ., 213 G . J . D ., Capt . Beechey 30 ° 107 G . D . of C , 11 . P . King 2 IS G . Assist . D . of C , Professor Clement 222 G . Superintendent

of Works , E . Grebboll 107 Standard Bearer , R . P . Miller 107 Sword Bearer , H . Stilon 218 G . I . G ., Major Ewing 218 G . Organist , Tnlin de la Tunisio 222 , L . Curletto 222 , A . Tagliafcrro 248 , and S . G . Yeoman 107 , Stewards . Bros . J . Segond and R . Beek were elected Grand . Treasurer and Grand Tyler of tho province , and invested accordingly . The P . G . M . announced that tho first duty which

devolved on him was tu formally consecrate the " Broadley Lodge , " No . 2 IS , aud called on the Secretary to read the petition and warrant . This being done , he pronounced the following Oration , as Consecrating Officer of the new Lodge : — MARK MASTKII MASONS OF INK Piiovt . vcii OF Taxis AND MALTA , — Wo are assembled here this evening for tho purpose of inaugurating

the Graud Mark Lodge of this Province , and at the same time consecrating , as an addition to its muster-roll , Lodge No . 3 IS , upon which the kindly feelings of its founders havo bestowed my muno . The formation of this Provincial Mark Lodge on the classic soil of Ancient Carthago on the one hand , and tho last residence of the Knights of St . Johu on the other , may perhaps have an interest for Stark

Master Masons beyond the boundaries of tho district itself ; indeed , it is difficult to imagine any given combination of localities which could afford moro food for the study and contemplation of tbe thonghtfti ) brother , than tho two countries comprised in this United Province . Our imagination may well carry 113 back through the vista of centuries to the distant epoch when the immediato descendants of tho

operative masons ot Tyre , " going westwards , reared ou the shores of North Africa that magnificent metiopolis which for a time ruled the ancient world , aud then pass from the consideration of their labours to the more recent period when , under Roman rulers , masons of tho Roman College of Artificers raised on the same site a second city which vied in architectural splendour with the

Phoenician capital , upon the ruins of which it was erected . Turning to the part of the Province in which we now stand , the eyo rests on the varied proofs of the cunning and skill of that great Military Order , the customs of which ( to say the least ) have offered a model for ceremonies , and laid the foundation of one of the most interesting degrees of Christian Masonry . It will be impossible for mo , on this

occasion , to trace iu detail tho history of tho Mark Degree , still more to show its historical connection with this Province , to which I firmly believe it has of late years beon merely restored . The practice of tho Mark begins , doubtless , in the earliest days of Operative Masonry , when Guilds of Tyrian workmen , under Tyriau overseers , built tho Temple of King Solomon , aud when their descendants

constructed tho walls , and citadels , and harbours ot Carthage . The " Marks " of these early Masons abound in the deep , buried remaius of the Phoenician City , which now lie under the accumulated rubbish of moro than two thousand years ; they were perpetuated by the Roman occupants of the ancient site , aud have descended to the operations of the Moslem conquerors , whose victorious flag has waved for ten centuries over all that remaius of the cities of

Hannibal and Hamilcar , of Cato and Seipio . The city gates of Tunis still Dear distinctive marks , familiar to every one now present . The history of Masonry , in its most general sense , may , 1 think , be trul y described as operative in its birth , partly operative and partly speculative in its growth , and purely speculative in its Maturity . The Degree of the Mark was from the first an essential constituent of operative Masonry . It was , doubtless , worked from

Provinctal Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.

timo immemorial in the operative Lodges of Scotland , as well as in tho old semi-oporatiVo Lodges of England and other countries deriving from us tho origin of their Masonic systems . The Mark Degree forms au integral part of tho pure and recognised Masonry of Ireland , Scotland , and tho United States . In Scotland , even as early as 159 S , the annals of Masonry abonnd iu allusions to tho Mark

Degree , and in England it was worked in many Lodges meeting uuder one or othor of the two Constitutions , as well ns in others acknowledging tho supremacy of the Grand Lodge at York . By tho articles of union between tho rival Grand Lodges in 1 S 13 , the Mark Degree was excluded from , or , perhaps moro correctly , nob included in , the symbolical teaching of tho Craft . In spite , however , of fcho new

regulations tho Mark was still extensively worked in many Lodges , and flourished moro especially in tho north and midland districts of England . About a quarter of a century ago tho attention of tho Masonic world in general was drawn to this anomalous state of things , and more particularly to somo Lodges having obtained charters from the Supremo Chapter of Scotland . A rigorous attompt

was made to obtain tho recognition of tho dogree by the Grand Lodgo of England , and on this effort failing the Grand Mark Lodgo was established , having , according to tho precedent afforded by the history of tho Royal Arch , exclusive jurisdiction over tho degree of tho Mark . To discuss to-day , any longer , the origin of this Grand Lodgo is entirely useless . A Graud Lodgo is nothing moro nor less than a

union of several Lodges which vest in ono tho power which oach formerly had separately , aud any possible ( law iu its original constitution is condoned by tho adhesion of tho lawful Lodges it has received . The " timo immemorial" Lodges throughout tho country , as well as thoso originally holding warrants from Scotland , have almost nnanimonsly acknowledged its supremacy , and it now numbers 250 Lodges

on its muster-roll , which is , as a matter of fact , numerically stronger than that of the Craft Graud Orient of Franco and Italy , and many other Grand Lodges on the Continent . We find onr Mark Grand Lodgo to-day recognised as a legitimate governing body of tho degree by the Supreme Royal Arch Chapters of Ireland , Canada , Quebec , and many of tho American States , and it is my agreeable task to

inform yon that , pn tho 18 th Juno last , the Grand Chapter of Scotland rosolvcd unauimonsly to acknowledge the Grand Mark Lodge of England and Wales as lawful and supreme throughout thoso conntries , and to refrain from henceforth granting any charters for Mark Lodges within its homo jurisdiction . Tims , my brethren , wo have the satisfaction of knowing that our Mark Masters will be recognised ,

and our certificates respected wherever tho Mark Degree exists . I would feign say something of the illustrious rulers of tho Mark Grand Lodge ( one of whom , Lord Carnarvon , became a K . T . in this very hall ) ; of the admirable working of its various departments ; of its fast increasing Benevolent Fand , and its excellent scheme for assisting to educate tho children of Mark Masters ; but time will not

permit me . As to tho intrinsic worth of the degree itself , suffice it to say that its rapid progress is tho best proof of its merits . Not only do wo find in it practical illustrations of the truths taught as in other degrees , but it abounds with appropriate lessons for our rule in daily life . This Province has had tlie privilege of inrroducing tho speculative Mark Degree , aud tho rule of the Mark Graud Lodgo of

England , amongst foreign brethren of many nationalities and many languages in t ' -. o Regency of Tunis , and I see in their keen appreciation of its eloquent teachings , homely illustrations , and striking lessons , yet another attestation to its value , and though necessity has sometimes compullod me to employ the medium of four languages in a single evening , I havo never heard any candidate do otherwise

than express himself gratified with the ceremony of his advancement . Yonr recommendation and the approvement of the M . W . G . M . M . has called me to the rulo of this houourablo degree in this Province , and I can only trust tho progress it is destined to make in our midst will be commensurate with its rapidly increasing appreciation at tho hands of the Craft at large . The inauguration of

this Provincial Grand Lodge has bronght with it tbe consecration of our third subordinate Mark Lodge . I feel sure both the one and tho other has the best wishes of every Mark Master present . I trust my assiduity for tho best interests of tho degree in this Province will justify the recommendation you mado in my favour . The time seems to be approaching whea each Craft Lodge will have a Mark Lodge attached to it , and wo venture to hope the United Grand

Lodge of England wdl feel justified in extending its recognition to the Mark Degreo under its own particular government as a portion of " pure and ancient Masonry . " May the activity of the Mark Masters of Tunis aud Malta contribute to tho general spread of Mark Masonry throughout the world . Wo cannot assist this end better than by carrying out in practice , as well as in theory , the principles of humility , uprightness , self-control , and universal beiievolouco inculcated in the Mark Decree : —

The well known sign we mark and fly The wound to heal—to still the sigh , And wipe the tear from sorrow ' s eye ; For onr's the aim is , onr's the art To meliorate the human heart , Of wild desires to stem the flood , And act as if of kindred blood .

On the conclusion of the Oration au anthem was sung by a choir trained under the direction of tho P . G . Organist Major Ewing . Tho pedestal was then uncovered , and the consecrating elements wero carried round the Lodge in procession , an appropriate verse being sung on each occasion by tho brethren . The Lodge was then duly incensed by the acting P . G . Chaplain , and filially dedicated and

consecrated to the purposes ot Mark Masonry . The P . G . M . then delivered their respective collars of offico tu each of the officers of the new Lodge , and offered his congratulations to Bro . VV . Coffey on his appoint , ment . Bro . Colley having returned thanks , the work of P . G . Lodgo was resumed , and Bros . Kothernm ( P . M . M . 107 ) and Major Ewing elected as members of the Board of General Purposes . The report ot" the Board was read and adopted , the statement of accounts passed ,