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Article Untitled Page 1 of 1 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF TUNIS AND MALTA. Page 1 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF TUNIS AND MALTA. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
Sky . W . W . w ^ Www ^ mmfT 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF TUNIS AND MALTA .
ffiHE Annual Communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge waa - * - held at Malta , on Friday , the 15 th inst . The Lodge waa opened in ample form at 7 p . m . Present : —E . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley , Barrister-afc-Law , P . G . M . on the throne ; W . Bros . R . V . Westrnp D . P . G . M . and Reed G . S . W ., Bro . Walker aa G . J . W ., Bro . Watson as G . M . O ., W . Bro . Mackinnon as G . S . O ., Bros . Senior as G . S . O ., Glenday as G ,
Reg ., Backhouse as Grand Chaplain , and Segond Grand Treasurer , W . Bro . Coffey Grand Secretary , Bros . Tagliaferro as G . S . D ., Pariente as G . J . D ., Ford as Grand Director of Ceremonies , King Assist . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Ewing Grand Organist , Stanley as Grand Sword Bearer , Flower as Grand Standard Bearer , England as G . I . G ., and Beck Grand Tyler j Bros . Yeoman , Truefitt , Donovan , Borg , ancl
May Grand Stewards ; Bros . Ahbott , Matthews , Kay , Jones , Bent , Welch , 0 . Segond , Burt , Phillippa , Mackett , Pearce , Pariente , Griffin , Cann and Hacoune , of the Keystone Lodge , No . 107 ; Bros . Sanford , Gner , McLaughlin , Cox , Hewson , Finch-Noyes , Thomson and Mortimer , of the Broadley Lodge , No . 248 ; Bros . Lockett , Woodthorpe , Periketh , Jones , Flower , Lucy , Shillinglaw , Walker , Timmins , Pearce , Sainfc
y , Gregg , West , Huggett and Giles , of the Union of Malta Lodge , No . 263 ; Bro . Bridger , of the Kingston Lodge , No . 222 , at Tunis . Visitors—W . Bros . Thomson W . M . of the Leinster Lodge , No . 387 ( I . O . ) , and Past Masters Doherty and Dahn ; Bros . McCnllah , Tanti , Read , Savin , Morley , Lippett , Santncci , Cooper , Jackson , Yardly , laylor , Hiscock , Jane , Yorkand Carltonof the same Lodge . In all ,
, , more than eighty brethren were present during the proceedings of Grand Lod ge . Grand Lodge being duly opened , the Prov . Grand Master was saluted in the usual mannner , and the minutes of the meeting held on the 27 th of March were unanimously confirmed . The petition for the constitution of the Union of Malta Lodge , ancl the warrant for the same , granted by the Earl of Lathom M . W . G . M . M . M ., the
on 27 th of April 1880 , having been read by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and the Prov . Grand Master having pronounced the invocation , as Consecrating Officer , the Acting Grand Chaplain delivered , in a faultless manner , the following oration , expressly composed for the occasion b y that distinguished exponent of the Mark Degree , Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York : —Brethren , —On such an auspicious
occasion as the present , when we are met together to consecrate the Union of Malta Lodge , in the Province of Tunis and Malta—a Province that has made more rapid progress than any other on the records of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England—it ma , y nofc > perhaps , be deemed inopportune if I make a few remarks on the degree which we are now banded together with a view to
practise , and touch lightly and briefly upon its origin , practice , and prospects . We , brethren , who live upon sites made classic by the deeds of those who havo gone before—we who daily survey scenes en . ! J ° by the P ° n of the historian and the poet—who are familiar with lands and seas whose names are household words to the ear or the anti quarian and the archaeologist—we can appreciate ,
perhaps , better than others , the legends which are treasured np in the teachings of the Mark degree ! We need but to stroll round the palaces and fortresses which surround us , we have only carelessly to survey the ruins of that wondrous city—at once the marvel and the terror of the day of her zenith—to view on every hand the traces of those ancient builders , our fathers in Masonry , to whose
genius we owe those art treasures , the boast of all ages and the pattern s for all time . The creators of these wondrous fabrics , the architects and scul ptors of these exquisite stones , have engraved their names in undying characters , and have moreover individually distinguished each man his work by means of that cipher which even to this day is practised . I mean the Mason ' s mark . Brethren , onr
legends come to us from the period of the erection of that stately edifice which crowned the Mount of God in Jerusalem , and we are told that in the process of building thafc Temple , the sound of workmen ' s tools was not heard . Why ? Because the stones were all cut , marked in the quarries , and the marks guided the builders , who with square , trowel , and plumb line of wood , fitted the stones
joint to joint until the lasfc keystone was lowered into its place amid the plaudits of the crowds of admiring Masons . Descending through history and examining the ancient temples , military erections , and domiciles of the several ages , we still find Masons' marks in use amongst tho builders , and whether we examine the ruined cities of Jordan , tho walls of Jerusalem , the palaces of Venice , the cathedrals of England and the Continent
, the wall of Hadrian , tho mosques of Constantinople , still the same silent , yet speaking story , comes to us—the story of tho fraternity of builders , whose marks , handed from father to son , record on the old Stono the deeds of thoso who wrought them . There is no break in the story , which continues even to this day , on which wo have met as Mark Masons , to perpetuate the principles which guided our forefathers . The extensive repairs now being conducted at that noble and
massive specimen of Gothic architectmo , the cathedra ] of St . Peter at York , are carried on exactly on the same principle as they wero in the thirteenth century , when Archbishop Gray erected the glorious south transept , and the old Gothic constitutions of the Freemasons , now preserved ' \ tho Cathedral Librry , woro carefully plrined .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.
Each Mason had his mark , which he indented on his completed stone , and the plan or tracing board , committed by the Master Builder to the Overseer ' s care , is referred to to guide tho Masons in the progress of their work . Each Mason is / moieis , to his Overseer by his mark , just as ho was in the days when Hiram , the widow's son , wrought in the quarries of Mount Moriah . So much for the
Operative sido of the history of Mark Masonry . We , brethren , as Speculative Mark Masons , havo an origin coeval with that of our Operative brethren . The workers in stono of tho present day have lost their Speculative knowledge , which is preserved by ns . Tho operative and speculative bodies of Masonry became divorced about tho time that the spoliation of tho monasteries
in England , by tho eighth Henry , caused tho building profession to fall into comparative disrepute . The monks had been tho great patrons of tho Freemasons , and , their patronage removed , the occupation of the architectural fraternity was well-nigh gone . But the speculative teaching , though dormant , was not lost , and was revived , as we believe , by our brethren at the commencement of the 18 th
century , who found it amongst tho treasures which thoy banded themselves together piously to preserve , and which has como to us from them through various channels—to be at length condensed and perfected in tho Ritual which wo now practise under tho Grand Mark Lodge of England . Like many other degrees—even like Craft Masonry itself , it is very uncertain which is the old form of Ritnal in
early uso . Tho fact is that Mark Rituals may be numbered by the dozen , and after a perusal of many of them , I can affirm that it i impossible to decide upon their respective ages . One thing , however , is certain , and that is , that the present ritual embodies every point of any real value in all of the older rituals . Minutes of old Mark meetings are very rare in Great Britain , tho only country whero
they exist . In Scotland , the old minute books of the 17 th century all contain marks selected by the candidates , but have no records of any special Mark working . The earliest known minute in London is in the minute books of the St . Thomas' Lodge , No . 142 , and is dated August 1777 . In tho North of England , tho earliest yot discovered is in the books of the Friendship Lodge , No . 277 , at Oldham , and
bears date October 1795 . The earlier history of Speculative Mark working , has now , however , been taken up by several Mark Masons of ability and experience in Masonic research , ancl I doubt not that we shall hear of further discoveries being made as the interest of more brethren becomes enlisted in the service . At the present moment the Grand Mark Lodge of England occupies a splendid position ,
and any Mason may be proud to be enrolled under its banners . Ifc enjoys the fraternal recognition of every orthodox body working the Mark degree in the world , and ifc has had a succession of Grand Masters second in position , as well as in Masonic knowledge , to none in the world . Ifc has , under its banners , no less than 280 Lodges , and in the practice of benevolence , it has set a proud examptet
There is no land in which Masonry has found a root ; in which the degree of Mark Master Mason is nofc practised , and , when worked in an impressive manner , I know of no degree more calculated to enlist the interest of a candidate . No teachings could be purer , none more cosmopolitan , and I am rejoiced to think thafc so valuable a school for the theoretical studv and practical working of the virtues of
Faith , Hope , and Charity should have found a root in our fertile Masonic field of Malta and Tunis . Brethren , I cannot do better than conclude in the words of an old Mark ritual once used in England" While virtue is your ruling principle , hope will always find a residence in yonr bosom . Under the frowns of fortune keep this consolation in your mind , that he who has a due faith in the dispensations of his
beneficent Creator and a becoming charity for his fellow-creatures will be sure of receiving that just reward which is the consequent attendant on good and virtuous actions . " The P . G . M . then proceeded with the ceremony of consecration , according to immemorial usage , and finally dedicated the Lodge . The musical portion of the ritual was very efficiently performed under the direction of Brother
Major Ewing . The W . M . and Officers of the new Lodge being invested with their respective collars of office , Worship ful Bro . Read expressed his heartfelt thanks for the honour clone to the Lodge and himself , and assured the P . G . M . that no pains would be spared to make the new Lodge a signal success . The report of the Board of General Purposes was next read . It appeared from it that one new
Mark Lodge , No . 263 , and two new Ark Lodges , —( the Hospitallers , attached to Lodge No . 107 , and the Noah , attached to Lodge No . 265 ) had been added to the Province during the half-year , and that , notwithstanding the summer season had intervened , the number of active Mark Masters in the Province had increased from 131 to 176 , and of Ark Mariners from 45 to 87 . The Board recommended a
considerable increase in the fees of honour payable on appointment to Provincial rank . The members of tho Board highly commended the energy and ability of the P . G . M ., under whose rule the Province had so greatly prospered , and invited the members of Grand Lodge to present him with an address on the occasion of tho first anniversary of his installation . The report was unanimously adopted , and
the P . G . Sec . then presented the following address to the P . G . M ., which was ordered to bo engrossed on vellum . To R . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley P . G . M . M . of the Province of Tunis aud Malta . We , tho Provincial Graud Officers , Masters , Pasfc Masters , Officers , and brethren of the Mark degree in this Province , and in Graud Lodgo assembled , feci that we cannot allow this auspicious occasion , viz .,
the completion of yonr first year of office , to pass without expressing to you that we consider tho unexampled prosperity of this frovinco is due to your untiring energy and devotion to Mark Masonry . Wo trust that tho G-A . O . T . U . will grant yon health , happiness , aud long life , so that you may be spared long to rule over us . With feelings of loyalty , zeal , and affection wo affix our signatures on behalf of the
brethren of the Mark degree in your Province ( Signed ) R . V . Westrnp D . P . G . M ., W . Eead G . SAV ., J . Walker jun . G . J . W ., C . E . Coffey G . Sec . Tho P . G . M . replied in feeling terms , and expressed his earnest desire to do his duty both to he Province and to the Grand Mark Lodge . Bro . Grand Secretary read congratulatory telegrams from tho W . M . ' s of Lodges Nos . 222 ancl 25-1 at Tunis , which were ordered
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
Sky . W . W . w ^ Www ^ mmfT 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF TUNIS AND MALTA .
ffiHE Annual Communication of this Provincial Grand Lodge waa - * - held at Malta , on Friday , the 15 th inst . The Lodge waa opened in ample form at 7 p . m . Present : —E . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley , Barrister-afc-Law , P . G . M . on the throne ; W . Bros . R . V . Westrnp D . P . G . M . and Reed G . S . W ., Bro . Walker aa G . J . W ., Bro . Watson as G . M . O ., W . Bro . Mackinnon as G . S . O ., Bros . Senior as G . S . O ., Glenday as G ,
Reg ., Backhouse as Grand Chaplain , and Segond Grand Treasurer , W . Bro . Coffey Grand Secretary , Bros . Tagliaferro as G . S . D ., Pariente as G . J . D ., Ford as Grand Director of Ceremonies , King Assist . Grand Director of Ceremonies , Ewing Grand Organist , Stanley as Grand Sword Bearer , Flower as Grand Standard Bearer , England as G . I . G ., and Beck Grand Tyler j Bros . Yeoman , Truefitt , Donovan , Borg , ancl
May Grand Stewards ; Bros . Ahbott , Matthews , Kay , Jones , Bent , Welch , 0 . Segond , Burt , Phillippa , Mackett , Pearce , Pariente , Griffin , Cann and Hacoune , of the Keystone Lodge , No . 107 ; Bros . Sanford , Gner , McLaughlin , Cox , Hewson , Finch-Noyes , Thomson and Mortimer , of the Broadley Lodge , No . 248 ; Bros . Lockett , Woodthorpe , Periketh , Jones , Flower , Lucy , Shillinglaw , Walker , Timmins , Pearce , Sainfc
y , Gregg , West , Huggett and Giles , of the Union of Malta Lodge , No . 263 ; Bro . Bridger , of the Kingston Lodge , No . 222 , at Tunis . Visitors—W . Bros . Thomson W . M . of the Leinster Lodge , No . 387 ( I . O . ) , and Past Masters Doherty and Dahn ; Bros . McCnllah , Tanti , Read , Savin , Morley , Lippett , Santncci , Cooper , Jackson , Yardly , laylor , Hiscock , Jane , Yorkand Carltonof the same Lodge . In all ,
, , more than eighty brethren were present during the proceedings of Grand Lod ge . Grand Lodge being duly opened , the Prov . Grand Master was saluted in the usual mannner , and the minutes of the meeting held on the 27 th of March were unanimously confirmed . The petition for the constitution of the Union of Malta Lodge , ancl the warrant for the same , granted by the Earl of Lathom M . W . G . M . M . M ., the
on 27 th of April 1880 , having been read by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and the Prov . Grand Master having pronounced the invocation , as Consecrating Officer , the Acting Grand Chaplain delivered , in a faultless manner , the following oration , expressly composed for the occasion b y that distinguished exponent of the Mark Degree , Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York : —Brethren , —On such an auspicious
occasion as the present , when we are met together to consecrate the Union of Malta Lodge , in the Province of Tunis and Malta—a Province that has made more rapid progress than any other on the records of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England—it ma , y nofc > perhaps , be deemed inopportune if I make a few remarks on the degree which we are now banded together with a view to
practise , and touch lightly and briefly upon its origin , practice , and prospects . We , brethren , who live upon sites made classic by the deeds of those who havo gone before—we who daily survey scenes en . ! J ° by the P ° n of the historian and the poet—who are familiar with lands and seas whose names are household words to the ear or the anti quarian and the archaeologist—we can appreciate ,
perhaps , better than others , the legends which are treasured np in the teachings of the Mark degree ! We need but to stroll round the palaces and fortresses which surround us , we have only carelessly to survey the ruins of that wondrous city—at once the marvel and the terror of the day of her zenith—to view on every hand the traces of those ancient builders , our fathers in Masonry , to whose
genius we owe those art treasures , the boast of all ages and the pattern s for all time . The creators of these wondrous fabrics , the architects and scul ptors of these exquisite stones , have engraved their names in undying characters , and have moreover individually distinguished each man his work by means of that cipher which even to this day is practised . I mean the Mason ' s mark . Brethren , onr
legends come to us from the period of the erection of that stately edifice which crowned the Mount of God in Jerusalem , and we are told that in the process of building thafc Temple , the sound of workmen ' s tools was not heard . Why ? Because the stones were all cut , marked in the quarries , and the marks guided the builders , who with square , trowel , and plumb line of wood , fitted the stones
joint to joint until the lasfc keystone was lowered into its place amid the plaudits of the crowds of admiring Masons . Descending through history and examining the ancient temples , military erections , and domiciles of the several ages , we still find Masons' marks in use amongst tho builders , and whether we examine the ruined cities of Jordan , tho walls of Jerusalem , the palaces of Venice , the cathedrals of England and the Continent
, the wall of Hadrian , tho mosques of Constantinople , still the same silent , yet speaking story , comes to us—the story of tho fraternity of builders , whose marks , handed from father to son , record on the old Stono the deeds of thoso who wrought them . There is no break in the story , which continues even to this day , on which wo have met as Mark Masons , to perpetuate the principles which guided our forefathers . The extensive repairs now being conducted at that noble and
massive specimen of Gothic architectmo , the cathedra ] of St . Peter at York , are carried on exactly on the same principle as they wero in the thirteenth century , when Archbishop Gray erected the glorious south transept , and the old Gothic constitutions of the Freemasons , now preserved ' \ tho Cathedral Librry , woro carefully plrined .
Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Tunis And Malta.
Each Mason had his mark , which he indented on his completed stone , and the plan or tracing board , committed by the Master Builder to the Overseer ' s care , is referred to to guide tho Masons in the progress of their work . Each Mason is / moieis , to his Overseer by his mark , just as ho was in the days when Hiram , the widow's son , wrought in the quarries of Mount Moriah . So much for the
Operative sido of the history of Mark Masonry . We , brethren , as Speculative Mark Masons , havo an origin coeval with that of our Operative brethren . The workers in stono of tho present day have lost their Speculative knowledge , which is preserved by ns . Tho operative and speculative bodies of Masonry became divorced about tho time that the spoliation of tho monasteries
in England , by tho eighth Henry , caused tho building profession to fall into comparative disrepute . The monks had been tho great patrons of tho Freemasons , and , their patronage removed , the occupation of the architectural fraternity was well-nigh gone . But the speculative teaching , though dormant , was not lost , and was revived , as we believe , by our brethren at the commencement of the 18 th
century , who found it amongst tho treasures which thoy banded themselves together piously to preserve , and which has como to us from them through various channels—to be at length condensed and perfected in tho Ritual which wo now practise under tho Grand Mark Lodge of England . Like many other degrees—even like Craft Masonry itself , it is very uncertain which is the old form of Ritnal in
early uso . Tho fact is that Mark Rituals may be numbered by the dozen , and after a perusal of many of them , I can affirm that it i impossible to decide upon their respective ages . One thing , however , is certain , and that is , that the present ritual embodies every point of any real value in all of the older rituals . Minutes of old Mark meetings are very rare in Great Britain , tho only country whero
they exist . In Scotland , the old minute books of the 17 th century all contain marks selected by the candidates , but have no records of any special Mark working . The earliest known minute in London is in the minute books of the St . Thomas' Lodge , No . 142 , and is dated August 1777 . In tho North of England , tho earliest yot discovered is in the books of the Friendship Lodge , No . 277 , at Oldham , and
bears date October 1795 . The earlier history of Speculative Mark working , has now , however , been taken up by several Mark Masons of ability and experience in Masonic research , ancl I doubt not that we shall hear of further discoveries being made as the interest of more brethren becomes enlisted in the service . At the present moment the Grand Mark Lodge of England occupies a splendid position ,
and any Mason may be proud to be enrolled under its banners . Ifc enjoys the fraternal recognition of every orthodox body working the Mark degree in the world , and ifc has had a succession of Grand Masters second in position , as well as in Masonic knowledge , to none in the world . Ifc has , under its banners , no less than 280 Lodges , and in the practice of benevolence , it has set a proud examptet
There is no land in which Masonry has found a root ; in which the degree of Mark Master Mason is nofc practised , and , when worked in an impressive manner , I know of no degree more calculated to enlist the interest of a candidate . No teachings could be purer , none more cosmopolitan , and I am rejoiced to think thafc so valuable a school for the theoretical studv and practical working of the virtues of
Faith , Hope , and Charity should have found a root in our fertile Masonic field of Malta and Tunis . Brethren , I cannot do better than conclude in the words of an old Mark ritual once used in England" While virtue is your ruling principle , hope will always find a residence in yonr bosom . Under the frowns of fortune keep this consolation in your mind , that he who has a due faith in the dispensations of his
beneficent Creator and a becoming charity for his fellow-creatures will be sure of receiving that just reward which is the consequent attendant on good and virtuous actions . " The P . G . M . then proceeded with the ceremony of consecration , according to immemorial usage , and finally dedicated the Lodge . The musical portion of the ritual was very efficiently performed under the direction of Brother
Major Ewing . The W . M . and Officers of the new Lodge being invested with their respective collars of office , Worship ful Bro . Read expressed his heartfelt thanks for the honour clone to the Lodge and himself , and assured the P . G . M . that no pains would be spared to make the new Lodge a signal success . The report of the Board of General Purposes was next read . It appeared from it that one new
Mark Lodge , No . 263 , and two new Ark Lodges , —( the Hospitallers , attached to Lodge No . 107 , and the Noah , attached to Lodge No . 265 ) had been added to the Province during the half-year , and that , notwithstanding the summer season had intervened , the number of active Mark Masters in the Province had increased from 131 to 176 , and of Ark Mariners from 45 to 87 . The Board recommended a
considerable increase in the fees of honour payable on appointment to Provincial rank . The members of tho Board highly commended the energy and ability of the P . G . M ., under whose rule the Province had so greatly prospered , and invited the members of Grand Lodge to present him with an address on the occasion of tho first anniversary of his installation . The report was unanimously adopted , and
the P . G . Sec . then presented the following address to the P . G . M ., which was ordered to bo engrossed on vellum . To R . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley P . G . M . M . of the Province of Tunis aud Malta . We , tho Provincial Graud Officers , Masters , Pasfc Masters , Officers , and brethren of the Mark degree in this Province , and in Graud Lodgo assembled , feci that we cannot allow this auspicious occasion , viz .,
the completion of yonr first year of office , to pass without expressing to you that we consider tho unexampled prosperity of this frovinco is due to your untiring energy and devotion to Mark Masonry . Wo trust that tho G-A . O . T . U . will grant yon health , happiness , aud long life , so that you may be spared long to rule over us . With feelings of loyalty , zeal , and affection wo affix our signatures on behalf of the
brethren of the Mark degree in your Province ( Signed ) R . V . Westrnp D . P . G . M ., W . Eead G . SAV ., J . Walker jun . G . J . W ., C . E . Coffey G . Sec . Tho P . G . M . replied in feeling terms , and expressed his earnest desire to do his duty both to he Province and to the Grand Mark Lodge . Bro . Grand Secretary read congratulatory telegrams from tho W . M . ' s of Lodges Nos . 222 ancl 25-1 at Tunis , which were ordered