Mark Masonry.

the Order in England , and as a necessary consequence and in accordance with the clause in the charters before quoted , to recall all these charters , and to cease in all time coming from issuing new ones . This memorandum Avas referred to the

Supreme Committee , who on the 11 th November , 1 S 64 , unanimously found that until the recognised governing body or bodies in England sanction the working of the Mark Degree , the committee did not think the Supreme Chapter could take the

initiative in recognising the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters as a lawful governing Masonic Body in England . This report was approved of at the Quarterly

Meeting , Dec . 16 th , 1864 , and a memorial was ordered to be prepared , to be laid before the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England with a view of establishing a uniform working in the countries of England , Ireland and Scotland ,

and the committee Avas directed to suggest to the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England that if these Grand Bodies Avould recognise the degree of Mask Master as a paxt OT portion of the second or FelloAv Craft Degree ; it Avould tend to

promote this object , and failing this , the memorial desired to know if these Grand Bodies were prepared to recognise as the lawful head of Mark Masonry in England , the body styling itself the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England , & c .

On the 21 st June , 186 o letters were received from the late Bro . W . Gray Clarke , Grand Sec . and G . S . E . of England , which stated that the Grand Lodge of England gave no sanction to the working of the Mark Degree in England , as it did not ,

according to the Book of Constitutions , acknowledge this degree to be part of pure Ancient Masonry . Also that the Supreme G . E . A . Chapter of England , did not sanction the Mark Masters ' degree in any private chapter under its

jurisdiction , and . did not acknowledge it as having any connection Avith Eoyal Arch Masonry as practised in England . And further that neither the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter would or did recognise the body styling itself the Grand Lodge of Mark

Masters of England , Wales , & c . The Supreme Chapter oi Scotland therefore unanimously declined to accede to the demand of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , and the degree remains at the present date in the same position

as in 1856 . We will now glance briefly at the status of the degree in the sister countries , as

already explained , only a few of the Scottish Operative Lodges continued of late years to work the degree , the great majority of lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge kneAV nothing of it . So much was this the case , that some years ago , an old

Operative Lodge in Glasgow , was actually suspended by the Provincial G . L . of that city , for having advanced Candidates to this degree , contrary to the Book of Constitutions of Scotland , Avhich provides ( Cap . II ., Sec . I ., ) that " the G . L .

of Scotland practises and recognises no other degrees of Masonry but those of Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , denominated St . John ' s Masonry . " The lodge referred to appealed to the Grand

Lodge , on the grounds that in the first place they had worked the degree of Mark Master prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge , and down to the date of the proceedings instituted against them by the P . G . Lodge of Glasgow ; and that in the

second place , apart from this , the degree of Mark Master Avas truly an integral and essential part of the second or Fellow Craft degree .

The Grand Lodge reversed the decision of the P . G . Lodge on the first ground stated , and referred the consideration of the second point to a committee , Avho were directed to confer with a committee of the Supreme Grand E . A . Chapter .

These committees accordingly met and drew up a joint report , the resolutions in Avhich were adopted by the two governing bodies , and UOAY form the law on the subject in Scotland . These are as folloAvs : —¦

1 st . "That all lodges holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland shall be allowed to work this degree by virtue of the charters they already possess . 2 nd . " That to prevent confusion with brethren

belonging to lodges out of this kingdom , or Avith sister Grand Lodges , this degree although held by the Grand Lodge to be a second part of the Fellow Craft degree , shall only be conferred on Master Masons , and the secrets only be

communicated in presence of those who have taken it either from a lodge or chapter entitled to grant it .

3 rd . " That the same ritual shall be adopted by the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter in conferring the degree . 4 th . " That any candidate for the Royal Arch , who has already received this degree in a regular Lodge of St . John ' s Masonry shall not be required