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Article THE MASONIC MIRROR. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
Order have bee « i those who have been favoured by the Grand Master with the distinction of Grand Officers . The refusal of Grand Lodge to acknowledge the Order left the "Bon Accord " to consider what was to be done with regard to a charter ; and their Committee have , it would appear , from an advertisement we have seen , resolved
themselves into a Grand Lodge of Mark Masters for England and Wales and its colonial dependencies . This step , it is but fair to add , is the work of only six or seven men , several of the members of the Lodge having been refused admission to the last meeting , notwithstanding that a portion of the business of the evening was the advancement of candidates . Before they took any such course , surely the Brethren who hold the " Mark " Degree , many of whom have
taken it in- ^ the legal Lodges of Scotland , Ireland , and the Colonies , ought to have been consulted as to their wishes on the subject . Lord Leigh , the Prov . G . Master for Warwickshire , is the so-called Grand Master of this new Grand Lodge ; and we much mistake if the Earl of Zetland will not consider it as an infringement upon his authority which calls for his interference .
In the mean time , another body of Mark Masons have taken a different course , and applied to the Grand Chapter of Scotland ( the memorialists being all members of a Scotch Chapter ) for a charter , which has been granted ; and the "St . Mark ' s Lodge of Mark Masters , " under the charter of Scotland , will commence working in a few days .
In our opinion , it would be better for all Mark Masons to apply to Scotland—¦ at all events for the present—for such charters — and we will willingly give them every assistance to do so , —and thus give Grand Lodge an opportunity , when the Degree is better understood , of reviewing the decision they came to at the last meeting . We are bound to say , that such decision was in the very face of the opinion entertained by our worthy Bro . Dobie , whose sound , practical common sense would save Grand Lodge from repeated self-stultifications , if he
were not impeded , as in this case , by a " packed opposition . Under any circumstances , the "Bon Accord" Officers can have no better claim to constitute themselves into a Grand Lodge than have any other half dozen Mark Masons , whether legally or illegally advanced to the Degree .
Since the above was in type , we have received the following letter for publication . To the Eight lion . Lord . Leigh , W . M . of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Marl Masons , Prov , G . M . for Warwickshire , & c . & c . London , June 28 , 185 ( 5 . My Loud and W . M .,
We , the undersigned Members of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters , appeal to you , as its W . M " ., and beg most respectfully to call your attention to the groat irregularities which have been practised in your name , during the time the Lodge has had tho honour of being presided over by your lordship . It lately came to the knowledge of the undersigned , that Lodges of Emergency wore being held to advance Masons to the Mark Degree , and instead of the whole of tho Members being summoned , only a few , . such as the immediate 1 * . M ., Treasurer , Secretary , and other Ofl'iccn . 4 , were called together , who balloted for , ami advanced Membern , contrary to the bye laws , and in defiance of that wholesome custom observed in all Masonic Lodges , and other Institutions ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Mirror.
Order have bee « i those who have been favoured by the Grand Master with the distinction of Grand Officers . The refusal of Grand Lodge to acknowledge the Order left the "Bon Accord " to consider what was to be done with regard to a charter ; and their Committee have , it would appear , from an advertisement we have seen , resolved
themselves into a Grand Lodge of Mark Masters for England and Wales and its colonial dependencies . This step , it is but fair to add , is the work of only six or seven men , several of the members of the Lodge having been refused admission to the last meeting , notwithstanding that a portion of the business of the evening was the advancement of candidates . Before they took any such course , surely the Brethren who hold the " Mark " Degree , many of whom have
taken it in- ^ the legal Lodges of Scotland , Ireland , and the Colonies , ought to have been consulted as to their wishes on the subject . Lord Leigh , the Prov . G . Master for Warwickshire , is the so-called Grand Master of this new Grand Lodge ; and we much mistake if the Earl of Zetland will not consider it as an infringement upon his authority which calls for his interference .
In the mean time , another body of Mark Masons have taken a different course , and applied to the Grand Chapter of Scotland ( the memorialists being all members of a Scotch Chapter ) for a charter , which has been granted ; and the "St . Mark ' s Lodge of Mark Masters , " under the charter of Scotland , will commence working in a few days .
In our opinion , it would be better for all Mark Masons to apply to Scotland—¦ at all events for the present—for such charters — and we will willingly give them every assistance to do so , —and thus give Grand Lodge an opportunity , when the Degree is better understood , of reviewing the decision they came to at the last meeting . We are bound to say , that such decision was in the very face of the opinion entertained by our worthy Bro . Dobie , whose sound , practical common sense would save Grand Lodge from repeated self-stultifications , if he
were not impeded , as in this case , by a " packed opposition . Under any circumstances , the "Bon Accord" Officers can have no better claim to constitute themselves into a Grand Lodge than have any other half dozen Mark Masons , whether legally or illegally advanced to the Degree .
Since the above was in type , we have received the following letter for publication . To the Eight lion . Lord . Leigh , W . M . of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Marl Masons , Prov , G . M . for Warwickshire , & c . & c . London , June 28 , 185 ( 5 . My Loud and W . M .,
We , the undersigned Members of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters , appeal to you , as its W . M " ., and beg most respectfully to call your attention to the groat irregularities which have been practised in your name , during the time the Lodge has had tho honour of being presided over by your lordship . It lately came to the knowledge of the undersigned , that Lodges of Emergency wore being held to advance Masons to the Mark Degree , and instead of the whole of tho Members being summoned , only a few , . such as the immediate 1 * . M ., Treasurer , Secretary , and other Ofl'iccn . 4 , were called together , who balloted for , ami advanced Membern , contrary to the bye laws , and in defiance of that wholesome custom observed in all Masonic Lodges , and other Institutions ,