The Representation Of The Grand Mark Lodge Of England In American Chapters.

that you are ready at all times to grant space in your columns to all those who write to elucidate truth . " To make a long story short , I must say a good deal without stopping to oiler proof , but if you will send me a copy of the paper containing

this letter of mine , with your editorial notice , and will kindly point out any jiortion you desire proof for , I will gladly proceed by return post to present it to you ancl your numerous readers of ' The Mystic Tie . ' This will be better than for me to waste time to prove historically what you

are already most familiar with . " The regular Grand Lodge of England , until A . D . 181 , 3 , recognised no degrees but the jirsl three , pre-eminently designated tbe CrnJ' l . The ' Ancients , " so called ( or the ' Seceders ' ) , however , acknowledged the Roi / al Arch , as the fourth

degree , ancl made the Grand Lodge virtually the governing body for both departments . The Mark elegree was worked by the members of both Grand Lodges , from about 1760 , but in no sense was it recognised by either body . Many lodges gave the degree to its members in the

Craft meetings , and altogether much irregularity prevailed with respect to the ' Regulations , ' until the union of 1813 , when tbe two rival Grand Lodges united , ancl adopted the R . Arch as tiie complement of the Master Mason , and expressly declared it a part of the Third degree , and not a

fourth . " The Mark Degree was omitted , and an anomaly was at once apparent , as the Alark degree was entitled to consideration as much as any above tbe Third . * We have in Great Britain the Alark books of lodges from the sixteenth

century , ancl I have myself copies of many Alarks from 1 ( 170 , when the Tutor of Airth was Alaster of the Aberdeen Lodge , ancl several Earls , Clergymen , and doctors were members , and had regularly 'chosen their Alarks . ' " Several attempts have since been made to

secure recognition of Alark Alasonry , both privately and publicly , but with no success to mention . We all must acknowledge the ' United Grand Lodge of England ' is bound by its treaty of A . D . 181 , 3 , and dare not break any of its clauses ; so that I have always imposed

reeoiitiilioit , and do so , I think consistently , as the Craft Grand Lodge is bound only to conserve the first three degrees , including the R . Arch . " Finding there were so many Alark Lodges , as a body without a head , a number of representatives met in London ancl formed a central authority , and Grand Lodge , A . D . i 8 s 6 . A

successful career has been the experience of this body . It has now some 140 lodges under its banner , several thousands of members , and many of the best workers in England are proud to belong to its ranks . The D . G . Grand Alaster of lingland , tbe Earl of Carnarvon , has been Grand Alaster of the G . Alark Lodge , Lord Leigh , ancl others well-known for their Alasonic zeal and

ability , have also been elected G . Alasters , and the majority of the Prov . G . Alasters are also Prov . G . Alasters in tlie Craft . Tlie Alark Grand Lodge is recognised by all the Alasonic bodies above the Arch in England , who like the Alark , are unrecognised hy the G . Lodge of England—viz .

The Grand Conclave of Knights Templars , the General Grand Conclave of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , and the Ancient ancl Accepted Rite of , 3 , 3 ° . " Its certificates are also recognised ( and the G . Lodge ) by the Grand Chapters of Ireland and

Canada . Scotland , however , lias so far refused to extend tlie right hand of fellowship , but there the Mark degree is more regarded by the Craft authorities than the R . Arch , as it is exjiressl y recognised , and permitted to be worked in a Craft Lodge , and R . Arch is not recognised

by the G . Lodge . We hope , however , that the G . Chapter of Scotland will soon reciprocate our offers of union , and practice towards England those sublime principles which it exemplifies so well , with respect to its own jurisdiction , to foreign bodies .

' •' The G . Chajiter of Pennsylvania and Iowa have recognised the G . Mark Lodge , and we hope that these acts of good fellowship herald the action of the Grand Chapters of the United States . We are brethren , and should not be cold toward one another . But it has been said , ' AVC do not object to you as Masons , but AVC object to

The Representation Of The Grand Mark Lodge Of England In American Chapters.

you as a Mark G . Lodge , which is an anomaly . ' Suppose we grant the Alark Grand L odge is an anomaly , what then r That does not constitute it either an evil or an irregular body . Why not , it is asked ; I answer because the interests of

Alasonry in England require it , and the history of Masonry allows it . In 1717 the rirs't Grand Lodge was formed in London . Before then no such body existed with a G . Alaster anywhere in the world , although of course for cent uries the

' Annual Assembly ' bad been held ,, b ut no G . Alaster or G . Wardens , & c , were ever -appointed , notwithstanding would-be historians say they were . In or about A . D . 1756 tbe G-rancl Lodge of the ' Ancients ' was formed , part ly ( and

expressly in fact ) to work tbe R . Arch .. In 1817 , the United G . Chapter was formed in London , ancl farther still hack , no separate me stings were held to confer the R . Arch , until afte r the seceders had sained ground . Hence , we see Grand

Lodges , Chapters , and G . Chapiters , werc originally anomalies . What then ? AVho will say tbey bad not been useful and desirable institutions ? But another will say , why should we , and how can we , as G . Chapters in the United

States , recognise ancl exchange representatives with the Alark Grand Lodge , which is an inferior body in point of grade ? Alust we open a Alark Grand Lodge : ' I answer , let all the Representatives be Roval Arch Alasons , t and entitled to

seats in your Grand Chapters , without such representative capacity . Then , the representatives , being otherwise qualified , will simply be as ambassadors from our own body to your G . Chapters , on Alark Alasonry , ancl our Alark Alasters when

joining your Chapters need not be advanced as Alark Alasters afresh . ' As to forming Alark Grand Lodges in the United States , it is quite out ofthe question . It is an evil anywhere , // ' // can be avoided , but as it cannot be avoided in this

country , it has proved itself a benefit . " In tbe United States you receive Ambassadors from small countries , much inferior to your own in every sense , and why r Is it not because tbey are authorities with respect to their own

habits , wants , manufactures , elx . So with Alark Alasonry , receive our representatives on a similar footing , and send us representatives here , and give us a word of encouragement , like

noblehearted brethren , as you have many times proved yourselves . " With hearty good wishes to you and your AIasonic readers .

" " y . our friend and Brother , "WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN , " * We consider the Alark degree below and not above the Third . It certainly is nothing more

than the perfection of the F . C . degree ; for without the working tools of what is designated the Alark degree , no Fellow Craft could cut his Alark on the perfect ashlars he prepared by their

use , so as to enable him to receive his wages The Alark is but a section of the Second Degree lopped off , and ought to be restored where it belongs .

t This is the sticking point . If all the representatives are R . A . Alasons , they take their seats in our Grand Chapters as such , and not as Mark Alasons . If tbe credentials tbey bear as representatives emanate from a body of Mark

Alasons , then can they only come as sucli , and cannot be received , unless it can be proved that the Grand Alark Lodge of England confers its degrees on R . A . Masons only , having some control over that degree also , as Avell as of the Alark .

Tbe G . Alark Lodge of England certainly possesses no such power , hence the difficulty of its exchanging representatives with a body of superior grade . As well might a G . Lodge of Entered

Apprentices ( could there be such a thing ) ask 01 a G . Lodge of Alaster Masons for an exchange of representatives on an equality . —( ED . POMEROY ' DEMOCRAT , NEW YORK . )

Centenary Of The Royal Gloucester Lodge, Southampton.

CENTENARY OF THE ROYAL GLOUCESTER LODGE , SOUTHAMPTON .

Bro . John Neat Pocock , the Worshijiful Alaster , and the members of the Royal Gloucester Lodge of Free ancl Accepted Masons , Southampton , had great honour conferred upon them on Tuesday , the 24 th inst . The Most AVorshipful , the Grand Alaster of England , the Marquis of

Ripon , accompanied by a goodly number of Past ancl Present Grand Officers , left London by special train in the morning , and after spending the whole day at Southampton dined there in the evening . It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance of this compliment from a

AIasonic point of view . Lodges , that is to say voluntary associations of Freemasons who meet and " work" together under the same charter , always endeavour to make- much of their Centenary Festival , and that at Southampton has been honoured far beyond its fellows . It is only

when a lodge is able to produce proof that it has been in existence for one hundred years , without falling into even temporary abeyance during that period , that its ri ght to celebrate its centenary is admitted by the constituted authorities . Returns from till the lodges in England are preserved at tho

Freemasons' Hall , London , ancl if these verify the claims put forward to an unbroken existence of one hundred years , official sanction is given to a centenary festival , after which all members of the lodge holding it are permitted to wear a distinctive badge , emblematical of the antiquity

of their particular branch of the Order . Formerl y this badge was left in a great measure to the tastes of the brethren composing the different lodges . A design was submitted to and approved of by a central authority ; but this last rarel y interfered with the expressed wishes of those

who were to be henceforth distinguished by the jewel or badge which it was asked to sanction , This rule was changed a few years since . It was well enough when there were but a few lodges which could claim the right of wearing a centenary jewel , to permit the fancy of the brethren

to have play , hut as time wore on , and a lodge with a hundredth anniversary became less uncommon , it was decided for convenience sake that one form of ornament should be approved by the Grand Alaster , and the right of wearing that , and that only , should be given at the

centenary festivals of the future . The inference is plain . Centenary festivals of one lodge or the other are taking place every year ; ancl as the great revival of Speculative Freemasonry in England , which occurred about and after the

middle of the last century , continues to bear fruit , the number of brethren wearing the jewel conferred upon the members of the Royal Gloucester Lodge on Tuesday will become more and more numerous , and the objections to permitting each set of them to wear a distinctive ornament

would have increased . But for the memories it has inspired , and the interest it -will rouse throughout the entire Craft in English speaking countries , there has been no such celebration in a private lodge as that of yes-, terday , since the members of " the Jerusalem "

jnit Brother Charles Hutton Gregory , P . G . D ., in the W . AI . ' s chair for the second time , filled the other chairs and offices of their lodge with Past Alasters for the year , and entertained the Prince of Wales , Past Grand Alaster , the Earl of Carnarvon , Deputy Grand Alaster , the Duke of

Alanchester , tbe Duke of St . Albans , Lord Fife , ancl a brilliant throng of Grand Ofiicers , past and jiresent . The brethren who were privileged to attend the Jerusalem Lodge on that occasion always speak of it as one of the most successful evenings known in the annals of modern

Freemasonry—a centenary festival to be referred to , as marked permanently with a white stone , and a ceremonial and hospitality to be quoted by and to all interested in upholding the best social tra ditions of the Craft . The Southampton Freemasons may hojie to be similarly remembered by

their guests of yesterday , and they had one advantage which the engineers , artists , and architects composing the Jerusalem Lodge did not enjoy . The Alarquis of Rijion was in the United States when the festival of the latter was held , and though the Earl of Carnarvon spoke with full authority as his deputy , the Grand Alasters