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The Mark Degree And The Cryptic Rite.

THE MARK DEGREE AND THE CRYPTIC RITE .

IT cannot be gainsnyed , even by the most ardent supporters of Mark Masonry , that the degree , as practised in England , occupies an anomalous position in relation to

the Craft . Notwithstanding the comparative antiquity ofthe " Marie , " and the coincidence of its traditions with those of tlie recognised degrees , the Grand Lodge of

England , after expressing an opinion in its favour , finally resolved to ignore the degree . As a matter of course , thc immediate result of this policy of negation was tlie

formation of a separate jurisdiction for the Mark Masters of England , and the Mark Grand Lodge thus established is now probably the

most popular and flourishing unrecognised Masonic body in the country . This , however , docs not obliterate the fact that no similar

The Mark Degree And The Cryptic Rite.

jurisdiction exists , or has ever existed , amongst Masons . It must also Tse borne in mind that Mark Masonry is not known or worked on the Continent of Europe ; and ,

in general terms , it may be said that the Degree is confined to the English-speaking populations of the globe . In every country , however , except England , the " Mark "

forms part of a series of degrees conferred , as a rule , under the auspices of the Grand Royal Arch Chapters , and in this connection it succeeds the " Master Mason ' s , " as

tlie fourth degree . This is notably the case in the United States of America , where the " capitular , " or chapter degrees rank thus Mark Master , Past Master , Most Excellent

Master , Royal Arch Masbn . The symbolic or Craft Grand Lodges in the States exercise no control over any degrees but those

of Entered Apprentice , Fellow-Craft , and Master Mason ; but the higher organisations invariably recognise the Grand Lodges as the basis and source of their own

existence ; so mucn so , that u a brother be suspended or expelled by thc authorities of the Craft , a similar penalty is inflicted upon him by thc chapter , council , or

commandery to which he may also belong . In several States of the Union , the correct theory of Masonic progression is to advance from the blue lodge to the Royal Arch

chapter , thence to the council of Royal and Select Masters , and finally to the commandery of the Temple and Malta . In some councils , the grade of Super-Excellent

Master is added ; but this , being a very theatrical degree , is by no means universally appreciated . Our American brethren call this series thc " York " Rite , to distinguish

it from the "Ancient or Accepted , or "Scottish" Rite , which , as every Mason knows , consists of thirty-three degrees , from the " Entered Apprentice " to the " Sovereign Grand Inspector General . "

Now , in our opinion , there cannot be a doubt that the American system of letting each division of thc Craft pursue its own course , and manage its own concerns , is the

best and the wisest one . For example , if an American Craft Grand Lodge were ofiiciallyqucstioned as to the interior economy ofa Grand Royal Arch Chaptcr , ora Grand

Commandery of Knights Templar , the Grand Lodge would very likely reply that it knew nothing of the so-called superior body , although , in all probability , many of

its members would be found to be also members of the other organization . It may here be appositely noted that the Grand Lodge of England itself , some eighty

years ago , gave an almost identical response to a similar query which arose out of a complaint made by a Royal Arch Mason against the Grand Chapter for denouncing

him as an irregular companion , when it was unanimously resolved " that this Grand Lodge has nothing to do with the proceedings of the Society of Royal Arch Masons . "

Since then , it is true , we have recognised the Royal Arch degree , but thc principle remains precisely the same with respect to the relations of the Craft with the Mark .

The Mark Degree And The Cryptic Rite.

tlie Red Cross , the Order of the Temple , or any other unrecognised Masonic body . However , what we have now to consider is , tlie position of English Mark Masonry ,

and few brethren will deny that , as at present constituted , it is like Mahomet ' s coffin , suspended between the terrestrial and celestial spheres , and belonging neither to " blue " nor to " red " Masonry .

We are glad to say that this anomalous state of affairs will soon cease , and that English Mark Masters will be enabled to complete the chain of correlative degrees

practised by their American brethren . An obvious difficulty exists as to the fifth in the series—the " Past Master ' s " degree ; because none but an " Installed Master "

can legally obtain the chair secrets under tlie English Constitution , but with this exception , which does not , of course , apply to actual P . M . ' s , English Masons can now

take the Mark and Most Excellent Masters degrees , and can then , if also Royal Arch Masons , proceed to the Cryptic Rite , which comprises the grades of Royal and

Select Masters . The merit of having introduced these degrees into England is due to the present energetic Grand Master of the Mark Grand Lodge , Brother GEORGE

RAYMOND PORTAL , under whose auspices a distinguished American brother , Jackson II . Chase , 33 ° , of New York , has conferred the degrees upon a number of leading

iMasons in the metropolis , and established a Grand Council for England . We attach greater importance to this event because we believe , that by adopting the American

system we shall be drawing closer and closer the bonds which now happily unite the Fraternity of this country and of the great Republic , and we are persuaded that

greater interest will be awakened in Masonic proceedings generally on both sides of the Atlantic in consequence of the assimilation—nay , almost the identity—of

our respective Masonic organisations . The step thus taken cannot be said to interfere with the United Grand Lodge , because all who desire to progress must be Alaster

Alasons , and it will rather stimulate than otherwise the increasing desire of the brethren to enter into Royal Arch Masonry , because none but Royal Arch

Masons can be received into the Cryptic Rite . The most immediate and tangible advantage will nevertheless be this : that an English brother , who is also an Installed

Master , will now be enabled to claim admission to any and every meeting of the symbolic , capitular , cryptic , or chivalric degrees , wherever they may be worked ,

without having to retire because he is not in possession of the complete series . We do not pretend to maintain that the Cryptic

Rite is a very ancient one ; it is apparently an adaptation from an original with which all Rose Croix Masons are familiar . But

setting antiquity aside , its ceremonies are very beautiful and instructive , and , as we have already said , will be found eminently useful ia cementing the " solidarity , " to use a French phrase , of British and American