Oxfordshire. — Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1399.

and it was felt when he took this lodge in hand , it would be a great success , Though this may be a summer lodge , I know from those who belong to it , that it will do credit to the province and to the Craft at large . After long experience ( and I believe I am the senior Mason present ) , I

must say that nothing has g iven me such pleasure as Freemasonry has . I thank you for your kind reception , which really deserves my best thanks , Ithankmy friend and Bro . Goldsbrough for the exceeding kind way he has spoken of me

and I wish you all every prosperity . " Bro . Goldsbrough ¦— It is with very sincere p leasure that I propose to you the next toast , which may be called the toast of the day , for it is the " Health of your Worshinful Master and

the first Master of this lodge . I feel assured you must all feel deeply grateful to that distinguished brother for consenting to be your guiding star . It has been my pleasure to know Bro . Brown for many years past , and this is the second time I have had the privilege of installing

him in the chair as the Worshipful Master of a lodge . I can fully endorse all that the Deputy Provincial Grand Master has said of his high qualifications as a Mason and as a friend and I call upon you to drink with fill' honours to the Health and prosperity of your Wo . shipful Master

Brother Brown . Bro . Brown— I am sure that my warmest thanks are due to my friend and brother Dr . Goldsbrough for the kind way he has proposed my health , and to you also , brethren , for accepting it in so hearty a manner . I have first to thank

you all for your attendance here this evening ; this town though not a very large place , is quite large enough for a Masonic lodge . It possesses many men of honourable and generous spirit , and I am happy to say the brethren in this town had the will to establish Masonry here , when money was mentioned , it was answered by " we

have the whole of the money ready to put down and should ; have , were double the amount required , the difficulty with us is to find a brother to attend as a Worshipful Master . " When I was asked to become the first Master , I accepted the duty with pleasure . Every circumstance connected with the formation of this

lodge encourages us to hope that this will be a most successful lodge . Bro . Spiers : —I have a very important toast to propose . It is one of the greatest possible importance , for it is the health ofthe brother who has brought you into existence as a lodge . I have

had the pleasure ol knowing Bro . Goldsbrough for many years , and I value him very hi ghly as a friend and a brother , and ' not only for his own sake but also on account of the high efficiency with which he discharges every duty he has to perform . I thank him especially for what he has done to-day for the lodge . I propose to you "The

Health of Bro . Dr . Goldsbrough , and our best thanks to him for the great service he has rendered this lodge . " Bro . Goldsbrough having returned thanks , the W . M . proposed the "Health if the Visitors , and coupled with the toast , Bro . James Smith of the Margate Lodge . "

Bro . Smith replied expressing the gratification he felt in being present at the opening of the Marlborough Lodge . Bros . Parks , Reade , and Scroggs returned thanks on behalf ofthe " Sister Lodges" in the

province . In proposing the health of tlie officers , the W . M . paid a well merited compliment to Bros . Dr . Stockweil , and M . Prior , and the other officers , for the very efficient manner in which they had discharged the duties uf their respective offices .

Bros . Mark Prior , and Stockweil acknowl edged the compliment paid them by ihe W . M . Tho remaining toast , " the Masonic Charities " & c , were duly honoured , after which the W . M . directed the Junior Warden to summon the

brethren front refreshment to the duties of the lodge , when it was proposed by the W . M ., seconded by Bro . M . Prior , and unanimousl y agreed that Bro . Goldsbroug h be elected as Honorary Member of the lodge .

Bro . Spiers , intimated his intention to offer for the acceptance of the lod ge a handsome alms box . A large number of propositions were made

Oxfordshire. — Consecration Of The Marlborough Lodge, No. 1399.

for brethren desirous of becoming joining members and on behalf of candidates for initiation . The lodge was then closed in antient form , and with solemn prayer and adjourned .

Capitular Freemasonry In Great Britain And Ireland.

CAPITULAR FREEMASONRY IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND .

BY COMPANION WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . The following interesting letter appeared in the appendix to the proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania for 1 S 71 : —

In response to the invitation of my esteemed friend , M . E . Companion C . E . Meyer , I will endeavour , as the time permits , to afford the Companions in Pennsylvania a glimpse of British Capitular Freemasonry .

To commence the series , according to custom , the Mark degree should of course , first receive notice . In Ireland Mark Masonry is comparatively

quiet at present . Chapters are not compelled to give the degree as preparatory to the Royal Arch , and although it is under the jurisdiction ofthe Grand Chapter , but little attention is paid to its peculiar and

impressive ceremonies . A distinctive mark may ( not must ) be adopted , and separate certificates are issued , if required . Six Mark Masters are required to be present at opening , who must be duly qualified to fill the offices of Master ,

Wardens , and Overseers . Members are accepted as Mark Masters under that Constitution without any intention of being exalted , just as with brethren who join the . Mark Lodges in Philadelphia ; ind in England , \ -e ., being , of course , Master

Masons . Some of the foregoing remarks having been made by me , and questioned , i submitted the points in dispute to the Assistant Grand Secretary to ihe ( irand Lodge of Ireland , and that most obliging Conmanioii confirmed my

statement in full . In a letter dated ist July , 1 S 71 , he observes : " ft is quite optional with brethren taking the Royal Arch to take the Mark degree ; i . e ., as far as Grand Chapter is concerned ; but very many chapters , by their By-laws , make it a prerequisite . " Hence it is clear that in Ireland .

( a ) r lhat . Mark degree is not a prerequisite for the Royal Arch Masonry , according to the laws of the Grand Chapter . (/•) Thai some chapters do not work the degree . ( c ) That lodges work under the Chapter warrants .

(

under its Constitution , has a ri ght to work the degree in Scotland , as a Craft Lodge , and many exercise that privilege : and , in fact , all can . It is considered by some authorities to belong lo the Second Degree , but no evidence in support of

tins position has been adduced . The earliest minute known which alludes to the degree is dated A . D . 177 S , of which we have a copy , and unequivocally connects the Mark Master , s deuree with the Master Mason .

Thc " Mark" is a prerequisite for Royal Arch Masonry under the Grand Chapter , and candidates for exaltation who have been " advanced " in a Craft Lodge are accepted as members of the Fourth Decree .

The Grand Chapter has granted warrants to form . Mark Lodges in England from A . D . 1 S 56 , bill never many at any time have been working . Some of these , however , have been most successful , particularly one now working at

Manchester . Some brethren , like the writer , belong to both Jurisdictions , and hope soon to see all undue rivalry at an end . The warrants contain a proviso that in the event of any governing body being recognized for the degree in Kngland , they should ipso facto be cancelled . It is believ-

Capitular Freemasonry In Great Britain And Ireland.

ed by many that the time has come for these warrants to be recalled , as a properly constituted governing body exists in England for the present time , with more than one hundred Mark Lodges on its roll , and some thousands of members . We anticipate ere long that the good understanding and fellowshi p always subsisting between the members of both organisations will

be indissolubly cemented by the withdrawal of the warrants for Scottish Mark . Lodges in England . Companions in the United States can feelingly sympathise with those who are suffering from "invasion of jurisdiction , " and although we in

England , as if ark Masters , are-content to wait patiently for free and full recognition of our claims by the . Grand Chapter of Scotland , we nevertheless shall be glad of a prompt response . In Scotland , then , the Mark degree ( 11 ) Is recognised by the Grand Lodge and Chapter .

(/•) It is a pre-requisite for Royal Arch Masonry . ( e ) It can be given in a Craft Lodge , Mark Lodge , or as preparatory for the Chapter , ((/) The Grand Chapter has Lodges in England .

( c ) Joining Companions not " marked , " must be before the affiliation is complete . In England the onl y degrees recognised by the Grand Lodge are the three first , the Past Master ( viz ., an installed Master of a Lodge only , who has been dul y elected , and formerly served as Warden ) and the Royal Arch .

I he " articles of union " of 1 S 13 , which bound the two rival Grand Lodges to certain degrees , and no more , omitted any mention of Mark Masonry ; and , although the Grand Chapter of Scotland and Mark Masters in England have endeavoured to secure the recognition of the degree by the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter of England , they have signally failed .

\\ e say unhesitatingly , unless the Grand Lodge breaks its pledge , Mark Masonry cannot ) e recognized in England . The solemn promise made in 1813 effectually

shuts out the Mark degree , and it is of no service to inquire whether members were wise in so promising , as the pledge was given , and therefore must be honoured by all who value treaties among Masons .

'I Ins being so , the members of Mark Lodges were averse to remain as a bod y without a head , and , naturally objecting to any foreign rule , formed a Grand Lodge , A . D . 1 S 3 6 , with many Lodges under its jurisdiction . The degree has rapidly spread , and the Grand Lodge has

prospered exceedingly—so much so that now the Lodges muster more than one hundred ! Lord Leigh , the first Grand Master , is an esteemed Provincial Grand Master in the Craft . The next Grand Master was the Earl of Carnarvon , who is a Provineal Grand Master , and the present

Deputy Grand Master of England , ( i . e . the next in authority to the Marquis of Ripon ) . The third Grand Master was Viscount Holmesdale , also a Provincial Grand Master ; and the Grand Master at the present time is a deservedly esteemed and respected well-known Craft Mason

and estimable clergyman . Many well-known noblemen and brethren under the banner of English Freemasonry are proud to acknowledge their membership of this Grand Lodge , many of whom are Past Grand Wardens of the Craft Grand Lodge . Some of the Lodges are of "time

immemorial ' age , and have worked the degree no one knows how long , but certainly during the last century . Without such a Grand Lodge having been formed , the degree would have been little known in England , and although it is certainly a novel feature to have a Grand Lodge for

the . Mark degree , it is justifiable under the circumstances . The- same novelty as a governing bod y was instituted for Royal Arch Masons about the middle of the last century . Before then there was not a Grand Chapter anywhere over the globe , and never had been . The Roval

Arch Chapters had no governing body before A . D . 1750 , and , in response to the wants ofthe Companions , the "Ancients" formed a Grand Chapter , and the "Moderns" followed about A . D . 1766—new bodies entirely , as much as the Mark Grand Lod ge in 18 5 6 , but , like it , much wanted .