Bon Accord Mark Masons.

I -will quote Scribe N . ' s own words from his letter in the 11 th number of the Mirror , dated August 17 th , in it he says , "Dr . Jones next states , that he and certain others forming the London Bon Accord , received their degree in Aberdeen , and none therefore can be more assured than they of its identity with that which must be admitted to be genuine . It had been desirable that Dr . Jones had given the names of the parties who were oonjoined with him in this illegitimate fraternity , as it might then have been tested whether they , any more than himself , were entitled to claim legitimacy ; for if the

Aberdeen Chapter is correct , and has been fulfilling its obligations to the mother Chapter , Dr . Jones is not a member of it , and never received any degree whatever from that source , his name not appearing to be recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter , which is the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . It is to be doubted whether the others stand in any different position . " This extract like more of Scribe N . 's lucubrations , is very much involved , and I do not consider that I am doing him injustice , if , taking the common sense interpretation of it , I hold that he means to

say , the " others forming the London Bon Accord , " should have been registered in the Books of the Supreme Chapter ; and because they are not registered , that they , like Dr . Jones , " never received any degree whatever from that source . " Let us examine what the rules and regulations of the Supreme Chapter say about registration , and who are to be registered or recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter . As I do not hold Scribe N . ' s statement of what Dr . Jones said to be correct , any more than his deductionswhich he innocently thinks people -will believe because they are

, given out by a Scribe ; I consider it will be more correct to give the exact words attributed to Dr . Jones , as reported in the Freemason's Magazine , the Craft can then judge of the value of Scribe N . ' s version . —In the Magazine , Dr . Jones is reported to have said that "he , Dr . Jones , and several other members of this Lodge , ( the London Bon Accord ) had been made MARK MASTERS in the Aberdeen Mark Masters Lodge . " Scribe N . ought to know who are to be registered in the books of the Supreme

Chapter . But this brings me to the Laws , Chap . II . Rule 5 , " The Recorder shall enter into a book to be kept for that purpose , the name of all Entrants exalted or affiliated in the subordinate Chapters . " Not a single word appears in this rule about Mark Masters being recorded . Again in Chap . IV ., Rule 33 , we have , " a Chapter forming itself into a Lodge of Marie Masters , of Ark Mariners , or into a Council of Knights of the Sword , Knights of the East , and Knights of the East and West , shall keep a separate Minute hook and Roll of Members for Each , " aud still further we

find in the same Chapter , Rule 35 , " These Chair Master Lodges ( Mark and Past Master ) do not require to register Members on the Roll of the Supreme Chapter , but shall keep a Minute book for their own use . " Scribe N . ought to have known this perfectly well ; if he did not know them , I think I have proved " the glaring amount of ignorance , displayed on the occasion" by him , —If he did know these rules , and cooly and deliberately sat down seventeen days after the report was made public , and give such a version as he has done of Dr . Jones's speech , and draw such conclusions

as he has done from if , I think I may still make use of his own phrase , but instead of " ignorance" put in the word dishonesty ; lie may make his choice—one or other of the terms belongs to him . Any Master Mason may receive the degree of Mark Master , Past Master , and the Excellent ; still his name does not require to be recorded in the Books of the Supreme Chapter ; and any Royal Arch Mason , belonging , say to an English Chapter , can receive themand if he wish it obtain the degrees of Ark MarinersKnights of

, , may , the Sword , Knights of the East , and Knights of the East and West , in any Chapter in Scotland , that may he able to work those degrees ,- bat even then , his name has not to be recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter ; Cornp . Gaylor cannot have been ignorant of all this . I think the extracts I have made from tho Rules will satisf y the most sceptical . —Should Scribe Gaylor- require any more information upon the subject , I will be glad to enlighten him . " I have to thank M . M . in your last number for the great anxiety which he expresses ,