The Mark Degree In England.

Lodge of England in 1865 , and sent a memorial asking if they would either recognise the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters or the Degree . Therefore it might be said , why recommend our respective Grand Bodies to go to Grand Lodge and Chapter of England again ? The reason I would recommend this course , is that now we have more information to submit to the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England than was contained in any of the documents laid before them at that time . I cannot say , of

course , with regard to the first time the matter came before Grand Lodge , to what extent the report of the Committee went . Bro . Binckes : It was a joint Committee of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . Bro . Mackersy : We do not know what evidence was laid before the Grand Lodge of England at that time . Bro . Binckes : I will tell you as far as I know . Some of them who were appointed on the Committee were not Mark Master

Masons . They were eminent Masons , and some of them took the Degree in the Albany Lodge , Isle of Wight ; some in the Bon Accord here ; and they had all the information that they could collect , what they knew and what they saw for themselves in taking the Degree . On that they made their Report . Bro . Mackersy : I think we have got before us now the grounds on which the Grand Lodge of Scotland held that the Mark

Master ' s Degree formed a part of tho F . C . Degree . Whether this may have the effect of altering the determination of the Grand Lodge of England I cannot say ; but at any rate we have now in this Conference every scrap of evidence that can be adduced ; and if the Grand Lodge of England say now that they will not under any circumstances recognise the Mark Degree , then the other bodies will determine what they will do with regard to Mark Masonry in England . But looking to the great

purpose of the uniformity of working , I think wo should make one and a last attempt , and by laying a report of these proceedings before them they will be put in possession of everything that can be said . That was not so in the memorial from the Grand Chapter of Scotland . It was merely a narrative of facts connected with the Constitution of the Grand Mark Lodge , but we did not go into any of the details which Bro . Kerr gave us yesterday , and these 1 should like very much to be submitted to

the Grand Lodge of England . It is a matter of extreme importance to get a uniformity of working in the throo comif-. ries , and therefore I should wish to propose a resolution to that effect . Bro . Portal : I wish it to bo distinctly understood that iu g iving my assent to a resolution which may possibly result in a renewed application to Grand Lodge to recognise the Mark Degree , I do not acquiesce in such renewed application , on these grounds : First of all I think it is rather derogatory to the

dignity of a body who have asked a question and recived a plain answer to repeat the question in five years . As a member of the Craft G . L . of England , I should object to any alteration of those Articles of Union as adopted by the Lodge of Reconciliation , which accurately laid down what the working should be , because it would simply , theoretically at any rate , break up our whole system , it fact it would destroy the Grand Lodge which , was

founded on those Articles of Union , and a fresh Grand Lodge would be created . Those Articles of Union would not join us together any longer . I should also consider it contrary to my obligation to the Grand Mark Lodge to sacrifice their independence which has existed from time immemorial in this country . It is perfectly indisputable that for at least 100 years Mark Lodges have existed in England , independent altogether of the Grand Craft Lodge . They have never been claimed by tbe Craft

Grand Lodge : That has been stated three times by that body , in 1856 , in 1865 , aud on the confirmation of those minutes . I object , therefore , to sacrifice the independence of the Mark Degree by putting it under the Craft Grand Lodge ; and as there are several points in which , according to our working , we think we possess privileges , viz . : in the triennial appointment of our Grand Master , and in the appointment of our Provincial Grand Masters by the Provincial Lodges , we should be unwilling

to place ourselves under a jurisdiction which does not manage its affairs in that way . I have also to remark that in America as well as in England , the Mark Lodges work as separate Lodges , though in America they receive separate warrants from Grand Chapter . Therefore , I should object to the Mark Degree being mixed up with the Fellow Craft Degrees as it is now worked , being the middle , in place of the principal Degree in Masonry , instead of preserving the independence which it has always possessed in this country , and which to a great extent it

possesses in the United States of America . With regard to its being a part of the F . G . Degree , it is strange that it should not be known in France , in Denmark , or in Germany ; and while I freely admit that Fellow Crafts have from time immemorial , from the time o £ James I . and long before that , always used a mark , I believe that as a . Degree , such as we now have it , it lias never been worked at all till within a hundred years . That accounts for its being unknown in FranceDenmarkand Germany . Some

, , countries do work it , and some do not , but nowhere is it given in a Fellow Craft Lodge , or put below the Degree of a Master Mason , who was originally of course the Master of a Lodge , and upon whom when elected this Degree was conferred to qualify him to preside over his Operative Lodges . Therefore , for all these reasons I do not wish to be understood , in assenting to this resolution which has been proposed by Bro . Mackersy to assent

to a renewed application to Grand Lodge to absorb this Degree ; Bro . Mackersy : I think Bro . Portal ' s remarks would come with much greater effect to his own Mark Grand Lodge , when these proceedings are reported to it . All that this resolution does is to propose that we lay the proceedings of this Conference before our constituents . Every one of them may say they do not see the necessity to go further in the way of consulting the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England . I wish merely to report our proceedings with that view . Bro . Portal : It conveys a recommendation on our part . Bro . Mackersy : I am not putting it in the form of a

recommendation . Then as to the alteration of the Articles of Union , as I explained before with regard to Scotland , we are more strict than you are in England , because your recognise tho three first Degrees and the Royal Arch , while we recognise the three first Degrees only . Now that evidence may be laid before the Grand Lodge of England . Bro . Portal : That will not alter what was decided by the Lodof Reconciliation .

ge Bro . Mackersy .- If you hold this to he a part of the F . C . Degree it is no breach of the articles . Bro . Entwisle : They say " without addition or subtraction . " Bro . Mackersy : It did not appear to me that it would interfere with tho strict words of your resolution . Bro . Portal : Y " es , that is the very ground on which tho application WHS vpjoatn . d last time .

Bro . Entwisle : Although I should not object personally if this matter could be worked by the Grand Lodge . I know that in Lancashire tbe Brethren would prefer to have an independent jurisdiction . Even when the matter came forward before , the rejection of the Mark Degree by Craft Grand Lodge was quite satisfactory to them . I know that is the general feeling . It will be no use going to Grand Lodge , we might as well not

go at all . I would prefer that Grand Lodge should recognise tho Degree , so that it might be worked without introducing dissensions of very great magnitude , but I am convinced that the Brethren in Lancashire would prefer a separate Grand

Body . Bro . Portal : I should wish to add to what has just been stated , that there was a hostile feeling on the part of the Craft Grand Lodge so long as it was supposed that we wished to force ourselves into the Craft system , and the moment that was given up , the best possible feeling has prevailed , which is evinced by the fact that the Deputy Grand Master , Lord Carnarvon , is a Past Grand Master of the Mark , and by Lord do Grey writing

this letter which you have already heard road and in which he says , " Brethren composing the Mark Degree are necessaril y Master Masons , and as snch they will at all time have his best wishes . " Now , that letter never would have been written five years ago . If any such proposal as this were made , it would agaiu , and I think justly , provoke a feeling of acrimony . The Chairman : It appears to me that this has been very forcible brought before Grand Lodge , and considered and rejected . I

think it would be lost time to take it before them again . At that time no Mark Grand Lodge was constituted , I think it would create a great deal of dissatisfaction among an immense number of Brethren who have office in the Grand Mark Lod go and who adhere to it . After a discussion as to the terms in which the motion of Bro . Mackersy should be put , it was worded as follows : — Resolved , — 2 . That in tho event of all , or cither of , the Sister Grand Lodges and Chapters considering it advisable to bring the proceedings of this Conference before the Grand Lodge aud Grand