The Ashton District Mark Lodge And The Grand Mark Lodge Of England.

THE ASHTON DISTRICT MARK LODGE AND THE GRAND MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] MANY thanks for publishing my letter on 2 nd inst ., and I beg permission to point out an error which I understand many have made unwittingly through lack of historical knowledge and true infdrmation , which error is and has been

a factor of great or vital importance , as it turns out to be the special point on which the Grand Lodge based their action and the chief or only one with which they now find fault , and has all through been "the head and front of our offending . "

It has been stated , "that in the teeth of all my evidence of the acknowledged regularity of Constitution of the Ashton District Lodge , the Mark Grand Lodge now declare it Spurious and Clandestine . The reason , of course , is clear ,

. The Ashton Mark has recently dubbed itself 'The Hon . United Grand Lodge of M . M . M . Ashton District , ' and that it has done an impolitic act in introducing the word Grand into its designation . "

Now this is the very thing the Ashton District Lodge has not recently done , at least no change has been made on its title during the present generation . When advanced about thirteen years ago , I was presented with a copy of their Constitutions or Bye-Laws , the front page of which reads as

follows : — "Rules for the Government of the Honourable United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons' Meetings , Ashton District , and Burial Society , established nth July

1830 , Revised 22 nd October 1885 . " I have proof before me to show that the word " Grand " was used by this Lodge as far back as 1857 , and tradition dates it before that epoch of its history .

This being so , it is unnecessary to regret the assumption of its present title , lately , and to say "that if it reverts to its old title or adopts a less grandiose designation than it has recently chosen for itself , who shall say it is not to the full as regular as any of the other ' Time Immemorial' Lodges on the roll of Mark Grand Lodge ? "

I do not believe the Ashton Mark Lodge desired , or thought much about , this " grandiose designation , " and had they known it was in the least offensive to Grand Lodge , would willingly and cheerfully have dropped it . It is their intention to drop it in future , or it is already fait accompli .

It is to be regretted the Grand Mark Lodge did not seek information from a reliable source and approach the Ashton Lodge with an open statement of their grievance and suggest the desirability of union , & c ., instead of threatening penalties in their first communication ; had that been done , union

might have been effected ere this with advantage to the Masonic Order , but let us hope it is not even yet too late , as from information received during the past week my views of the general aspect of the case have been materially modified and possibly I " may have mistaken the cold formality of an

Official Communication " for the curtness and abruptness of which I complained ; anyhow , many of the difficulties have vanished , and the case is ripening for adjustment if we all meet in that Fraternal spirit characteristic of our noble

Order . Having had an opportunity of learning some details of the information laid before Grand Lodge , it is not to be wondered at the action taken by them , as that information was grossly inaccurate , very misleading , and calculated to bias the mind of the General Board .

It is not an enviable position to be an informer , and when the information volunteered is inaccurate and untrue , it does not elevate the person in the respect and esteem of his fellow men ; all along I suspected the source of the information , but last week my suspicions became stronger , and

eventually were confirmed from authentic sources . I was not surprised , for this friend , Bro . John Armstrong , of Liverpool , had written a " History of Joppa Mark Lodge , No . 11 , " in which he enters on details of the working as well as the history of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , which is

the Mother of the " Joppa . " He is not only misleading and inaccurate , but states facts that are untrue , and displays a deplorable ignorance of the subject , and , not satisfied , he

repeats himself and reiterates the inaccuracies , the only plausible excuse for such tautology being a desire to swell the bulk of the twenty-one page volume he afterwards presents to Grand Lodge to be treasured in its archives .

I shall only refer to a few points . He writes , — "The Lodge has at different times been called the 'Dukinfield Lodge , '_ & c , & c , and is now ( 1 S 9 S ) called the ' Hon . United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the Ashton-under-Lyne District . ' It has always and still meets under the

The Ashton District Mark Lodge And The Grand Mark Lodge Of England.

Banner and Warrant of some Cheshire or East Lancashire Craft Lodge . The Craft Lodge is first opened in the three Craft Degrees , when the Mark Master enters and takes the chair . The candidates are balloted for in the Master Mason ' s Degree , and the Mark Lodge is then opened , & c . " The

above " high sounding title " with the word " Grand " was in use long before 18 9 8 , even before he or I had " cut our wisdom teeth , " as shown in an earlier part of this letter ; however , the author must be much pleased with the title , as he repeats it in all its fulness at least four times in his

pamphlet . I most emphatically deny that candidates are either proposed or balloted for in the third degree , or that the Lodge ever met under the Banner or Warrant of any Craft Lodge , so far as I know , or can learn from the testimony of Brethren having personal knowledge for at least twenty-five

years ; but only " at the Lodges , meaning the Lodge Rooms , as enumerated in Cheshire , Derbyshire , and Lancashire ( see Bye-Laws ) , or that Craft Lodges were ever opened , the whole ceremony pure and simple being part and parcel of the Ritual of the Mark Degree .

There are many other erroneous passages in the volume , but the above are more applicable to the points at issue , and sufficient to expose and prove the worthless and unreliable

character of the production . My advice to Brother Armstrong when next he contemplates attempting to write Masonic history , is the same us " Punch " gave some years ago to the man who sought his opinion as to marrying , — " DON ' T . "

Brother Armstrong applied to me for information and historical details of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , as he was about to write a history of Mark Masonry in Cheshire , I looked through all the minutes and records available , and forwarded him several extracts therefrom , of which

exceedingly little , if any , were utilised by him , and I have no knowledge of the source from which he gathered his material . We got into friendly correspondence on this and kindred subjects ; I invited him to visit the Ashton Mark , enclosing a circular for the Lodge meeting , also a copy of our Bye-Laws .

I considered our correspondence , although not all marked private , of a confidential nature , and never contemplated he would have abused the privilege , without at least consulting me , if not obtaining permission , before sending the Bye-Laws

and Circular to Grand Mark Lodge , together with a copy of his heterodox history and other information formulating a charge against his neighbour . " Do unto others as you would wish that they should do unto you . "

The Grand Mark Lodge could not well overlook the case as put before them by my over zealous friend , and the same misleading and inaccurate reports being communicated to Grand Craft Lodge necessitated action on their part ; however , the Grand Lodge authorities might have displayed

equally prudent administrative and judical ability , when taking the ipse dixit of this Brother , had they tabled the charges and evidence more fully , with the name of the informant , so that a complete answer could have been given , and thereby saved much time and trouble to the General

Boards , the Officers of the Provinces , and the Worshipful Masters of Lodges ; for a simple admonition on any irregularity , real or supposed , with a warning for the future to adhere strictly to any law of the Constitution , if such was broken or infringed , might have been sufficient , and decidedly would have produced less friction .

This closes my correspondence on the subject , and I beg to state that in defending my position , also the good name and fame of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , as well as the

honour and reputation of the Craft Lodges implicated in Cheshire and Lancashire , I have endeavoured to adhere strictly to facts , with mens conscia recti , and I think it is fully proved now that all concerned are not so bad as painted .

In conclusion allow me to give a word of counsel to the Brethren of the Ashton District Mark Lodge , collectively and individually . Let us live in peace , love and harmony . Union is strength . Let us be united . We are all one happy Masonic family , therefore let there be no divisions or

dissentions amongst us . Forgive and forget . After a quarrel the family relationship often becomes stronger , and more firmly cemented . Rise to the magnanimity of the occasion . Come over and help us . Come and unite with us of the Royal Mark . I am one of them , you know me . I promise all

possible assistance in effecting union with the Grand Mark Lodge of England . It is the parent in old age , having passed the century , going home to abide with her fair daughter , who is' young and vigorous , fresh and full of resources , and she bids you welcome . Having had interviews lately with several prominent Officers of Grand Mark Lodge , I can assure you they , one