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Article ENGLISH FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE ROYAL ARK MARINERS. Page 1 of 1 Article THE ROYAL ARK MARINERS. Page 1 of 1 Article THE ROYAL ARK MARINERS. Page 1 of 1 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
English Freemasonry.
participate in the most exalted sphere , with congenial associates , in that subtle communion and fraternisation which genuine "Sublime Freemasonry" is peculiarly calculated to afford .
Bro . Findel and his colleagues may rest assured that the Universality of the Craft will never be assailed in England by the
supporters of the high grades , and they may equally rest assured that those Chivalric Orderswill continuetobe practised wherever the Christian faith exists .
We hail , therefore , with gratification , these auspicious signs of unity , peace and concord amongst the rulers of the high degrees which should ever be found to prevail within the hallowed precincts ofthe Masonic
fold . THE ARK MARINERS' DEGREE
[ COMMUNICATED . ] We understand that the committee appointed at the last Grand Mark Lodge , to consider the propriety of permitting the
Ark Mariners' Degree to be given in Mark Lodges have had two meetings , the Grand Mark Master being in the chair . Evidence was adduced by several old
Masons that the Ark Manners Degree had from time to time been given in Mark Lodges , and the committee have agreed to a report stating this fact , and recommending
that the Masters of Mark Lodges should be permitted to continue to give this degree , together with the other named in reference , as side degrees , the distinct
altogether from the Mark , which is complete without them . No Mark Master is to be under any necessity to take the degree
unless he pleases , and they are never to be given in a Mark Lodge , save only in a Lodge of Emergency to be specially called for that purpose .
The Royal Ark Mariners.
THE ROYAL ARK MARINERS .
[ COMMUNICATED . ] As considerable misconception appears to prevail as to the recent proceedings of certain brethren in reference to the degree
it may bc well to throw some light upon the subject . On the 2 nd May last at a meeting of the St . Marie ' s Lodge of Mark Masters , No . I , and under the warrant
of that lodge , as previously notified in the summons , the Royal Ark Mariners ' Degree was conferred upon several Mark Master Masons by a Past Master who was an old member of the degree .
Among the brethren admitted was Bro . Morton Edwards , who has since proclaimed himself Grand Commander by virtue of his
having obtained possession of a warrant issued in 1 / 93 , which was superseded three years afterwards by the following charter promulgated by authority of Lord Rancliffe , G . C . N .
" RANCLIFFE , G . C . N . . "R OUT . GILL , A . G . C . N . " Wm . Jones , G . J . Wm . Cooper , G . S . " The Charier of the Grand nnd Royal Ark ( Vessel Fleet or Squadron ) Granted from Grand
Noah , and now under the Command of Lord Rancliff , & c ., & c , & c . And then held on Mount Ararat , in Armenia , on lhe 3 rd day after the Ark rested beingthc . -plhof the Second Month inthefirst year after the Flood , when by the Constitution of the
The Royal Ark Mariners.
Old World , 1655 , it was Handed down by Faitlifull Noah and then under the Almighty Grand Commander of the Universe , Who fixed it on Earth and formed the plan ofthe Second World and communicated his mind to his Faitlifull Noah ; God
who approved of his offerings and Accepted of his Sacrifices . And as a sure Pledge and Token of Divine Sanction , the Grand Architect of the Universe has condescended to place his Bow in the Clouds and said . ' This is a Token of my Covenant with
you ( Ark Mariners ) and your Seed for ever . ' This Charter was given to our Worthy Mariners Sir Robt , Gill , Sir Isaac Mosely , Sir Chas . Sinclair , Sir Wm . Jones , and Sir Wm . Cooper , and by them under the authority of this Charter to Grant
Dispensations , warrants , & c , & c , to Regular Registered Ark Mariners to Command Such Vessels as are appointed and commissioneel to them-and aproved of That these Degrees be held under this Charter the Royal Ark , viz .: The Red + The Ex . & High Ex .
Mark Man and Mark Master That the above Named Manners Shall Annually Elect and Install their Successors according to the Old Charter Granted by Noah of Old as the Covenant fully expresses , And the Ark Lays Mooredin the Port of
London at the Surry Tavern Strand , and at their Quarterly Meetings of this Charter all Registered Vessels are to attend and Pay their regular Contributions as established in the Constitution and regular Laws of their warrants Signed and Sealed in the
Presence of Each and Every of the abovenamed Mariners This 10 Day of May in the Year of Our Lord 1796 of the Grand and Royal Ark Vessel 4145 So mote it be
'SIR ROET . GILL Countersigned by theG . J f £ ^ t ^ ctZ Scribe and Treasurer bIR CHAS - SINCLAIR ociioeanci iieasmei . SjR WM J ONES SIR W . M . COOPER . "
It is therefore needless to add , that the 1793 warrant is so much waste paper . A report ofthe meeting ofthe St . Mark Lodge , No . 1 , held as above-mentioned , was
published in THE FREEMASON of the 7 th May , but no reference whatever was made it that report to the fact that the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner was given under the warrant of the Mark Lodge .
A similar sufprcssio vcri occurs in the report of a meeting held on the 14 th June , when the Grand Mark Master , Bro . Portal , and other eminent brethren received the
" Ark " degree . A copy of the summons convening this meeting will best convey an impression of what really took place , and will explode the idea that Bros . Portal , Beach , & c , were admitted under the auspices of tlie self-dubbed Grand Commander .
[ EMERGENCY . ) Special—By authority if the W . M . G . M . M . M ., Kent Lodge of Marl ; Masters . BRO . F . J . Cox , A . G . Dir . of . Cer ., W . M . Dear Sir and Brother , —You are requested to attend the duties of this lodge , at Masons' Hall
Tavern , Mason ' s-avenue , Basinghall-street , E . C , on Tuesday , the 14 th instant , at five o ' clock precisely . By command ofthe W . M .. CHARLES SWAN , P . G . S . B ., P . M ., Secretary Ellison-road , Baines , S . W . 6 th June , 1 S 70 Banquet will be provided for those who desire it ,
Business . To confer the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner , & c ., on the M . W . G . Master , also Bro . XV . XV . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M ., and other brethren ( Mark Masters ) wishing to take the same . The committee appointed by the M . W . G . M . to consider the question of
advisability of working these decrees having decided in the affirmative . The fee for taking these degree is not yet settled , but it is expected it will be about io' 6 to 15 / . If you intend to take the degree on this occasion , or to stop to the banquet , please let rne know by Monday morning , tlie 13 th instant .
It will thus be seen , that by a series of somewhat disingenuous statements , several worthy members of the Craft have liccn induced to countenance the formation of a
mock Grand Lodge of ArkMarincrs , but when the real factsarcmadeknown ; they will doubtless speedily withdraw from co-operation
The Royal Ark Mariners.
in a movement which is sure to entail serious consequences upon its promoters . While admiring the zeal of Bro . Morton Edwards
in this matter , it is to be feared that he has shown a want of judgment , and of candour which are not to be so readily commended .
It has been suggested that a general meeting of brethren connected with the Royal Ark Mariners' Degree should be convened as soon as practicable , in order that
those who have no sympathy with the present ill-advised attempt to form a Grand Lodge , may thereby obtain an opportunity
of expressing their sentiments , and , if necessary , of repudiating the acts of the Grand Commander (?) and his handful of coadjutors .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
BRO . HUGHAN ON ORIGIN OF OPERATIVE FREE MASONRY . In answer to Bro . Paton and others , Bro
Hughan desires to say he cannot write in answer to Bro . " Leo" until fully two months have elapsed , as he is already so full of Masonic business that new work must wait for some
time . DEUCHAR WARRANTS AND BRO . D . M . LYON . I am sure the readers of THE FREEMASON will have gladly noticed the article by my old friend , Bro . Lyon , on the above subject ; and they will
agree with me in wishing that his " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary Chapel ) " was finished , so as to enable him once more to write at length in the columns of this excellent Alasonic journal . I know nothing of any brother
who works in antagonism to the " Grand Priory of Scotland , " and would warn all Knight Templars in that country against having to do with such parties in any way . I merely mention what was told me by a brother in Glasgow as to
there being encampments still working in Scotland professedly by virtue of the " DeucharWarrants , " which , I presume , is not doubted . The fact is all I stated , and all that I know of the
matter . As to any illegal Mason-making in Glasgow , the sooner the authorities investigate the matter the better , and let the Craft be told who are doing so as early as possible . XV . J . HUGHAN .
MASONIC JURISDICTIONS . As an old Mason , I can fully endorse the remarks of " Reitam " in last week ' s number of your excellent paper , with reference to the formation of a " Grand Lodge of Ark Mariners . "
I have taken the degree (!) myself , and , like " Reitam , " think the less said about it the better , for it is utterly worthless and stupid ; and I sincerely trust that its practice will soon die out , as it did formerly . No shadow of authority can be
claimed by any new-fangled " Grand Lodge , " as the degree may be conferred by any Master Mason ( who is in possession of it ) upon another , and this is in the North of England frequently done by itinerant Masons for a shilling , which is
fully its value . I can only regard the formation of a ruling body for this " side degree " as a means of obtaining money from the Craft for the support of a Grand Secretary , & c , in a semiofficial Masonic idleness .
A SUBSCRIBER FROM THE BEGINNING . THE DUNDEE LUGE ( p . lge 310 ) . The old Dundee " luge , " was merely similar to the old Aberdeen luge in the fifteenth century .
Both were simply lodges , or societies of Operaeeiie Masons , who worked at their trade or " Craft , " and neither knew of nor practised the ceremonies , secrets , & c ., oi Speculative Masonry . Our
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
English Freemasonry.
participate in the most exalted sphere , with congenial associates , in that subtle communion and fraternisation which genuine "Sublime Freemasonry" is peculiarly calculated to afford .
Bro . Findel and his colleagues may rest assured that the Universality of the Craft will never be assailed in England by the
supporters of the high grades , and they may equally rest assured that those Chivalric Orderswill continuetobe practised wherever the Christian faith exists .
We hail , therefore , with gratification , these auspicious signs of unity , peace and concord amongst the rulers of the high degrees which should ever be found to prevail within the hallowed precincts ofthe Masonic
fold . THE ARK MARINERS' DEGREE
[ COMMUNICATED . ] We understand that the committee appointed at the last Grand Mark Lodge , to consider the propriety of permitting the
Ark Mariners' Degree to be given in Mark Lodges have had two meetings , the Grand Mark Master being in the chair . Evidence was adduced by several old
Masons that the Ark Manners Degree had from time to time been given in Mark Lodges , and the committee have agreed to a report stating this fact , and recommending
that the Masters of Mark Lodges should be permitted to continue to give this degree , together with the other named in reference , as side degrees , the distinct
altogether from the Mark , which is complete without them . No Mark Master is to be under any necessity to take the degree
unless he pleases , and they are never to be given in a Mark Lodge , save only in a Lodge of Emergency to be specially called for that purpose .
The Royal Ark Mariners.
THE ROYAL ARK MARINERS .
[ COMMUNICATED . ] As considerable misconception appears to prevail as to the recent proceedings of certain brethren in reference to the degree
it may bc well to throw some light upon the subject . On the 2 nd May last at a meeting of the St . Marie ' s Lodge of Mark Masters , No . I , and under the warrant
of that lodge , as previously notified in the summons , the Royal Ark Mariners ' Degree was conferred upon several Mark Master Masons by a Past Master who was an old member of the degree .
Among the brethren admitted was Bro . Morton Edwards , who has since proclaimed himself Grand Commander by virtue of his
having obtained possession of a warrant issued in 1 / 93 , which was superseded three years afterwards by the following charter promulgated by authority of Lord Rancliffe , G . C . N .
" RANCLIFFE , G . C . N . . "R OUT . GILL , A . G . C . N . " Wm . Jones , G . J . Wm . Cooper , G . S . " The Charier of the Grand nnd Royal Ark ( Vessel Fleet or Squadron ) Granted from Grand
Noah , and now under the Command of Lord Rancliff , & c ., & c , & c . And then held on Mount Ararat , in Armenia , on lhe 3 rd day after the Ark rested beingthc . -plhof the Second Month inthefirst year after the Flood , when by the Constitution of the
The Royal Ark Mariners.
Old World , 1655 , it was Handed down by Faitlifull Noah and then under the Almighty Grand Commander of the Universe , Who fixed it on Earth and formed the plan ofthe Second World and communicated his mind to his Faitlifull Noah ; God
who approved of his offerings and Accepted of his Sacrifices . And as a sure Pledge and Token of Divine Sanction , the Grand Architect of the Universe has condescended to place his Bow in the Clouds and said . ' This is a Token of my Covenant with
you ( Ark Mariners ) and your Seed for ever . ' This Charter was given to our Worthy Mariners Sir Robt , Gill , Sir Isaac Mosely , Sir Chas . Sinclair , Sir Wm . Jones , and Sir Wm . Cooper , and by them under the authority of this Charter to Grant
Dispensations , warrants , & c , & c , to Regular Registered Ark Mariners to Command Such Vessels as are appointed and commissioneel to them-and aproved of That these Degrees be held under this Charter the Royal Ark , viz .: The Red + The Ex . & High Ex .
Mark Man and Mark Master That the above Named Manners Shall Annually Elect and Install their Successors according to the Old Charter Granted by Noah of Old as the Covenant fully expresses , And the Ark Lays Mooredin the Port of
London at the Surry Tavern Strand , and at their Quarterly Meetings of this Charter all Registered Vessels are to attend and Pay their regular Contributions as established in the Constitution and regular Laws of their warrants Signed and Sealed in the
Presence of Each and Every of the abovenamed Mariners This 10 Day of May in the Year of Our Lord 1796 of the Grand and Royal Ark Vessel 4145 So mote it be
'SIR ROET . GILL Countersigned by theG . J f £ ^ t ^ ctZ Scribe and Treasurer bIR CHAS - SINCLAIR ociioeanci iieasmei . SjR WM J ONES SIR W . M . COOPER . "
It is therefore needless to add , that the 1793 warrant is so much waste paper . A report ofthe meeting ofthe St . Mark Lodge , No . 1 , held as above-mentioned , was
published in THE FREEMASON of the 7 th May , but no reference whatever was made it that report to the fact that the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner was given under the warrant of the Mark Lodge .
A similar sufprcssio vcri occurs in the report of a meeting held on the 14 th June , when the Grand Mark Master , Bro . Portal , and other eminent brethren received the
" Ark " degree . A copy of the summons convening this meeting will best convey an impression of what really took place , and will explode the idea that Bros . Portal , Beach , & c , were admitted under the auspices of tlie self-dubbed Grand Commander .
[ EMERGENCY . ) Special—By authority if the W . M . G . M . M . M ., Kent Lodge of Marl ; Masters . BRO . F . J . Cox , A . G . Dir . of . Cer ., W . M . Dear Sir and Brother , —You are requested to attend the duties of this lodge , at Masons' Hall
Tavern , Mason ' s-avenue , Basinghall-street , E . C , on Tuesday , the 14 th instant , at five o ' clock precisely . By command ofthe W . M .. CHARLES SWAN , P . G . S . B ., P . M ., Secretary Ellison-road , Baines , S . W . 6 th June , 1 S 70 Banquet will be provided for those who desire it ,
Business . To confer the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner , & c ., on the M . W . G . Master , also Bro . XV . XV . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M ., and other brethren ( Mark Masters ) wishing to take the same . The committee appointed by the M . W . G . M . to consider the question of
advisability of working these decrees having decided in the affirmative . The fee for taking these degree is not yet settled , but it is expected it will be about io' 6 to 15 / . If you intend to take the degree on this occasion , or to stop to the banquet , please let rne know by Monday morning , tlie 13 th instant .
It will thus be seen , that by a series of somewhat disingenuous statements , several worthy members of the Craft have liccn induced to countenance the formation of a
mock Grand Lodge of ArkMarincrs , but when the real factsarcmadeknown ; they will doubtless speedily withdraw from co-operation
The Royal Ark Mariners.
in a movement which is sure to entail serious consequences upon its promoters . While admiring the zeal of Bro . Morton Edwards
in this matter , it is to be feared that he has shown a want of judgment , and of candour which are not to be so readily commended .
It has been suggested that a general meeting of brethren connected with the Royal Ark Mariners' Degree should be convened as soon as practicable , in order that
those who have no sympathy with the present ill-advised attempt to form a Grand Lodge , may thereby obtain an opportunity
of expressing their sentiments , and , if necessary , of repudiating the acts of the Grand Commander (?) and his handful of coadjutors .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
BRO . HUGHAN ON ORIGIN OF OPERATIVE FREE MASONRY . In answer to Bro . Paton and others , Bro
Hughan desires to say he cannot write in answer to Bro . " Leo" until fully two months have elapsed , as he is already so full of Masonic business that new work must wait for some
time . DEUCHAR WARRANTS AND BRO . D . M . LYON . I am sure the readers of THE FREEMASON will have gladly noticed the article by my old friend , Bro . Lyon , on the above subject ; and they will
agree with me in wishing that his " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary Chapel ) " was finished , so as to enable him once more to write at length in the columns of this excellent Alasonic journal . I know nothing of any brother
who works in antagonism to the " Grand Priory of Scotland , " and would warn all Knight Templars in that country against having to do with such parties in any way . I merely mention what was told me by a brother in Glasgow as to
there being encampments still working in Scotland professedly by virtue of the " DeucharWarrants , " which , I presume , is not doubted . The fact is all I stated , and all that I know of the
matter . As to any illegal Mason-making in Glasgow , the sooner the authorities investigate the matter the better , and let the Craft be told who are doing so as early as possible . XV . J . HUGHAN .
MASONIC JURISDICTIONS . As an old Mason , I can fully endorse the remarks of " Reitam " in last week ' s number of your excellent paper , with reference to the formation of a " Grand Lodge of Ark Mariners . "
I have taken the degree (!) myself , and , like " Reitam , " think the less said about it the better , for it is utterly worthless and stupid ; and I sincerely trust that its practice will soon die out , as it did formerly . No shadow of authority can be
claimed by any new-fangled " Grand Lodge , " as the degree may be conferred by any Master Mason ( who is in possession of it ) upon another , and this is in the North of England frequently done by itinerant Masons for a shilling , which is
fully its value . I can only regard the formation of a ruling body for this " side degree " as a means of obtaining money from the Craft for the support of a Grand Secretary , & c , in a semiofficial Masonic idleness .
A SUBSCRIBER FROM THE BEGINNING . THE DUNDEE LUGE ( p . lge 310 ) . The old Dundee " luge , " was merely similar to the old Aberdeen luge in the fifteenth century .
Both were simply lodges , or societies of Operaeeiie Masons , who worked at their trade or " Craft , " and neither knew of nor practised the ceremonies , secrets , & c ., oi Speculative Masonry . Our