Grand Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners.

could not pay fealty to both bodies . There was no desire on the part of Grand Mark Lodge to prevent a settlement , but it appeared to him that there were some small matters which had been allowed by -members of the Ark degree to insert themselves to the disturbance of the

arrangement , the basis of which was that ooth Orders should join together . The words which had been objected to , though injudiciously used , were not meant as a slur on the Ark degree . If in former times there had been as much wisdom among Masons as there was now , there

would not have been at the present time so many independent jurisdictions . He was speaking now as a member of the Order—as one called to its councils—and as such he thought they should weigh every circumstance in the matter , but he could not help feeling that there

were some little points which were obstructing the way to a settlement . ( No , no . ) He was glad to hear it ; the impression he had was shared in by many others , and he thought it was a pity that trivial points should stop the way . He was anxious to see the Ark degree spread , and as Past Master of as famous a lodge as

existed anywhere , he should wish it to be spread if this could be done consistently with his obligation to the Mark . Conciliatory measures , he thought , should be adopted , and he should with that view support the amendment . Bro . Emmanuel said that if the report were adopted there would be no door left open for conciliation .

Bro . T . W . White asked whether the best course would not be to adopt the report , omitting the objectionable clause . Bro . A . D . Loewenstark was not so much surprised at the views of Bro . Oxland and Bro . Stevens , but he was greatly surprised that Bro .

Emmanuel should go so deep into the matter as to talk of this degree falling to the ground through Grand Mark Lodge granting warrants to work the degree . Bro . Emmanuel had not said anything

about the degree falling to the ground—he had said it was not possible for one man to stand against four , his meaning being that as Mark Lodges were so much more numerous than Ark , the former would make four members to the latter ' s one .

Bro . A . D . Loewenstark asked whether they were to be intimidated by the Grand Mark Masters , should they be threatened ? Grand Mark was going in opposition to the Ark , because the Ark was working prosperously . Grand Ark Lodge had done more wonders since it had been establish 'd than Grand Mark could boast of doing during the live years of its

existence . Bro . Oxland would not for one moment sanction Grand Ark giving up its righls . but he thought that as far as possible ( lie two bodies should come to an amicable settlement . Bro . A . D . Loewenstark bad no objection to

that , but do not let them be intimidated . This Ark body was the only holder of the charter , and they had no right to lie threatened in order to give up their riirhts to the Grand Mark Master . The Grand Mark Lodge had no thought of working the Ark degree until Bro . Morton

Edwards revived it and re-opened the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners . When Bro . Morton Edward * asked him to take the degree he hesitated , and told him he could do nothing of the sort until he found what Grand Mark Lodge would do , for as a Grand Officer he must

see whether his duties to the two bodies dished . When he found the Grand Mark Master had taken the degree and was elevated with several of the Grand Officers of the Mark , by lhe Grand Commander , Bro . Morton Edwards , he no longer hesitated , for he believed in upholding

the dignity of the one body he was upholding the dignity of the other . He maintained that Grand . Mark Lodge had no right to extort—he would use that word—from Royal Ark Mariners , bv such irregular means as they had tried , those

privileges which were the Ark Mariners' own property . The draft treaty was sent in with insults , ' . thrown upon the Ark Gran : ! Lodge , and how could it . be expected it would be agreed to ? i * ro ' i : Koch ; £ itd that the treaty differed

Grand Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners.

materially from the terms originally agreed to at the joint meeting . Bro . Stevens thought it rig ht that the members should know in what respect the treaty had been altered .

The M . W . G . C . said that the meeting must be adjourned for that purpose , Bro . Stevens asked why ? The M . W . G . C . said because the treaty was not in the room .

Bro . Stevens thought this extraordinary , as it would have satisfied the brethren . The M . W . G . C , before putting the motion , would like to say a few words , as there appeared to be differences of opinion . This Grand Lodge was re-opened a little more than a year ago , and

Grand Officers were appointed ; and there was nothing in its management to call for interference on the part of another body . Ithad been in existence for nearly 100 years—the charter was a very valuable document , giving power to work the degrees of Mark Man , Mark Master ,

and many other degrees . Finding this to be the case , being a Mark Master , and not wishing to interfere with his duties to Grand Mark Lodge , he showed this to the Grand Mark Master , who stated that the G . M . Lodge wished to work the R . A . Mariner , and he had a good deal of

correspondence on the subject with the G . M . M ., which could be referred to if necessary , and it was agreed to that , if he ( the G . C . ) undertook to give up all claim to work the Mark , the G . M . Lodge would not interfere in any way with the R . A . Mariner Grand Lodge- Very soon after , it

appeared that the Grand Mark were not satisfied to work on that basis , and the members of the G . Lodge of R . A . M . were induced to agree to a treaty by which all was to be settled . This treaty the G . C , on behalf of the R . A . Mariners , and the G . M ., on behalf of the Mark Degree , siened and

sealed respectively ; and he ( tne G . C . ) considered that all was settled , as it was brought up to the Grand Mark Lodge and carried . However , four months after , at the next Grand Mark Lodge , the G . M Master advised that this treaty be thrown out , as some Ark Mariners claimed to

work the degree also . As the Grand Lodge of R . A . Mariners was now improving its position , and in consequence of the hostile attitude of the G . Mark Lodge in reference to the degree , a meeting was held , and at that m : cting it was settled that the G . M . Master

should be elected as G C of R . A . M ., and that a committee be appointed to settle differences between them , and his being enthroned as G . C . of R . A . Mariners . They met , and it was considered again that the preliminaries of a treaty were settled ; but before this committee could meet . a

letter was published in 'I HE FREEMASON- stating that theG . M . M hadnothingto do with the Grand Lodge of R . A . . Mariners , and did not intend to have anything to do with it ; and the Grand Mark Lodge issued a circular offering to grant warrants to Mark Lodges to work lhe Mark

Degree , and stating that the Grand Lodge of R . A . Mariners had ceased to exist , when , in fact , it was nothing of the kind , for the joint committee was then about to meet and discuss the question of attachment . He ( the G . C . ) had offered that , although the Grand Lodge of R . A .

Manners had the right to confer the degree of R . A . Mariner on any Master Mason , it should not be conferred on . ' 1113 ' one but a Mark Master ; but while matters were under discussion the Grand Mark Lodge were encroaching as much as possible , and he distinctly stated that the G .

Mark Lodge never had the power to give the Royal Ark Mariner , rind never would have , except through them , or ns long as they kept in the field . But even recently , the Grand Mark Lodge had issued a circular to say that they would give the degree of Ark Mariner at half the

price of our fees . The Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners had existed for nearly a century before them , and in 1793 , lhe charter says , TT . R . H . the Duke of Clarence accepted the Grand Command of the Order . The Grand

Lodges then existing sanctioned their proceedings , and they were living in harmony with them , and these powers had never been ceded . Bro . Emmanuel objected to the letter of Bro . Portal , the G M . of the Mark Degree , being

Grand Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners.

introduced , as it was before the joint committee on the treat ) ' . Bro . Stevens wished to know whether there was anything in the background which prevented matters being arranged ? The M . W . G . Commander would excuse him , but had he not stipulated that he should be Past Grand Master of

the Mark ? The M . W . G . C . : Certainly not . Bro . Stevens was glad to hear it , as such a report had gone abroad , and it was only just to the M . W . G . C . that it should be contradicted . The belief was that some personal feelings ,

irrespective of the * true interests of both Orders , had stood in the way . The adoption of the report was then agreed to be deferred until the next meeting . Bro . Oxland suggested that the draft treaty should be printed , and a copy sent to all the brethren .

Bro Emmanuel proposed , "That a committee of three be appointed to meet the Grand Master of the Mark to arrange the differences , and in the event of these not being arranged , that the draft treaty , and the cause thereof , be laid before the Grand Lodge at next meeting . "

Bro . Oxland seconded the motion , which was carried . Bro . J . Stevens proposed that Bro . Morton Edwards , M . W . GC . ; Bro . Major Finney , R . W . D . G . C ; and Bro . J . O . Oxland , V . W . G . S . Warden , be the committee .

This was seconded by Bro . Koch , G . J . W ., and carried unanimously . The following are the principal of the Grand Officers of the year , the rest not being filled up yet by the M . W . G . C , who retains his position in consequence of the G M . Master declining to fill the throne of the R . A . M . : —

R . W . Bro . Major Finney ... D . G . C . V . W . „ Oxland C . S . W . W . „ Joshua Nunn ... G . J . W . „ ,, G . Lambert G . Treas .

,, „ M . A . Loewenstark ... G . Scribe . ., „ Rev . W . B . Church ... G . S . D . „ „ T . Cubitt G . J . D . ., „ T . W . White G . Supt . of Ccrs . „ „ John Read G . Org . „ ,, G . F . Henly G . T . Bearer .

„ „ C . Lacey G . Guardian . » „ G . Neall ) „ „ T- W . Barrett ... f ~ c , , ,, . I E . II . Thiellay ... ^ G . Stewards . ., ., Funkcnzstein ... )

M „ Laing G . Warder . The Grand Lodge was then adjourned , and the brethren proceeded to a first-class bnnonet , at which the M . W . G . C presided . After the cloth was cleared , the hour being somewhat late , the usual toasts were briefly given and responded to , and the Warder ' s toast brought a very enjoyable evening to a close .

[ With reference to the above , we are authorised by Bro . Cubitt ( named as G . J . D . ) to state that he repudiates all connection with the so-called G . L . of R . A . M ., he having received the Royal Ark degree in the St . Mark ' s Lodge , No . 1 , to which is at . tached the mother lodge of Ark Masons of England , and which has never owned Bro . Edward ' s authority . —En . /<' . ]

ALTON TOWERS HORTICULTURAL Snow . —The first show of the present season is to be held at Alton Towers on Tuesday , July 4 th , and it is expected to be one of the most successful shows yet held in these beautiful gardens , as the entries for flowers and vegetables are very numerous . The

object of these shows is not generally known to the public . The movement was commenced for the purpose of encouraging cottage gardening amongst the cottagers and small tenants on the Alton estate , and the funds realised by the show are devoted to the prizes , the principal portion of which arc

awarded to the cottagers by Lady Shrewsbury on the afternoon of the show . Especial interest will he . attached to the gathering on Tuesday , July 4 th , from the fact that a party of forty-one American Knights Templar , who are now travelling through Europe under the personal arrangements of Messrs . Thomas and John M . Cook , are invited by the

Earl of Shrewsbury to a reception at Alton Towers on the day in question . The parly is composed of generals , statesmen , Doctors of Divinity , successful merchants , & c , ivc , who are travelling through Europe as tourists . Their visit to Alton is of especial interest , it being on the anniversary of American Independence .