The Mark Degree In England.

Chapter in any way' Nothing can be binding until confirmed by Grand Chapter . I have asked him to read this letter , which please show him . Yours very fraternally , ROB . AV . SHEKEETOI . ' , 33 rd . Bro . Mackerey ; On behalf ofthe deputation from the Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of Scotland , I think it right at the outset to explain the position we hold in connection

with Mark Masonry in England . The object we have very earnestly in view in this Conference is to endeavour if possible to bring aboufc a uniformity of Avorking between the three countries . You are all aAvare that Scoland and Ireland are almost identical in their Avorking , but unfortunately in England there are certain differences which are most inconvenient in the other countries

, as regards English Brethren visiting chapters in them . For instance , in Scotland and Ireland Ave have certain Degrees which occupy a position between the Degrees of Master Mason and the Royal Arch : but in England the Eoyal Arch Degree immediately follows the Master Mason's . So that when any English Eoyal Arch Mason comes down to Scotland , though we have the most

extreme desire to receive him with tho greatest cordiality , we are compelled from the difference in our constitution to say to him thafc he must remain outside during a portion of the time we are afc Avork in Lodge , aud that Ave cannot admit him until the Eoyal Arch Chapter is opened . If an Irish , Canadian , or American Eoyal Arch Companion comes to visit our Chapters , he is afc once

admitted , and can be present during the Avhole ceremony , but an English Companion must be excluded during a great part of it . This is not only A * ery disagreeable to us , but it must I should think be much more so to our English Brethren , who from no fault of their own , but from their being admitted to the Craft under a system Avhich differs from that of every other country Avhere the English language is spoken , have not the full benefits

which our order is inefcnded to confer . But whatever effect the English system may have abroad , ifc is very important thafc in countries so closely connected as England , Scotland , and Ireland there should not be any difference in Avorking ; and if the result of this Conference should be to establish uniformity , either by the Grand Lodge of England taking up certain points which

Ave intend to urge upon them , and recognising the Mark Degree , or by our recognising an independent governing body , with jurisdiction over those Degrees Avhich the Grand Lodgo and Chapter of England do nos recognise , I am sure that the Conference held this day will not bo Avithout effect . So much for preliminary observations ; and will now proceed to explain very shortltho

y position Avhich the Grand Chapter of Scotland holds with reference to the Mark Degree in England ; and in doing so I think it right to say at the outset , that our present Office Bearers have nothing to do with what has been called the invasion of the English territory by the Grand Chapter of Scotland . It all happened before our day , and we succeeded to an inheritance bequeathed to us .

That was done by our predecessors , Avhether wisely or not I do not say ; but so the fact stands . A Conference of this kind should be exhaustive and embrace every subject of controversy among the different Grand Bodies , and for this purpose I think it right the members should thoroughly understand the position of matters from the commencement . Now , to begin afc the beginning , in the

year , I think , 1856 , a Charter ivas granted by a subordinate Chapter , Avorking in Aberdeen , called the Bon Accord Chapter , holding Charter from the Grand Chapter of Scotland , and Avhich , in virtue of that Charter , was bound to work the Mark Master ' s Degree , as the first Degree of a series , to some English Brethren Avho had been down there and taken the Degree . They probably were struck with the beauty of the Mark Degree , and thought it would be a very excellent thing if it could be brought to England , where as at the present moment , it

is not recognised by the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter . They made application to this subordinate Chapter in Aberdeen for a Charter to a Lodge , to be called the Bon Accord , and the Chapter in Aberdeen , without consulting the Grand Chapter of Scotland , took upon itself to issue a Charter fco the English Brethren to work the Mark Master's Degree in London , Now , I need scarcely

say , speaking to members of the constituted authorities of both countries , that this was a step which no Supremo Body would tolerate in any subordinate . The Chapter which granted the warrant , and tho Office Bearers who were present , and had taken part in thafc proceeding , were immediately suspended , but unfortunatelythe mischief Avas doneand although attempts

, , were made to get back the Charter , which had been so granted , it was found that it was gone beyond recall . All that the Grand Chapter of Scotlsnd could do was to mark its sense of the impropriety which had been committed , by suspending the Chapter and its Office Bearers . The Charter so obtained was acted upon , and the Degree Avas Avorked under it in England ; in

consequence of this , certain Brethren there , Avho knew something of the Mark Degree and prized it , made a strong representation to the Grand Chapter of Scotland , setting forth the extreme illegality of the step taken by the Bon Accord Chapter , and the unfortunate results which Avere flowing from it in England by tho admission of Brethren to the Mark Master ' s Degree in a Lodge so illegally

constituted , and asking the Grand Chapter to give them a legitimate warrant , authorising the Brethren to Avork this Degree in England . I am not going to offer my opinion whether this was a prudent step on the parb of the Grand Chapter of Scotland or not ; but I dare say you will all admit that on account ofthe extreme irregularity which had been committed , there Avas , certainly , a strong temptation at least to try to put matters right as far as they could , by authorising a legal body to work

a Degree in England , the recognised authorities of which country refused to acknowledge it . In consequence of this , warrants were granted to England , and for a year or two this went on ; but then the English Brethren started this Grand Lodge of Mark Masters subsequent to the issuing of the Avarrants by the Grand Chapter of Scotland . Now , there is just one point on which I am

not exactly prepared to speak—I mean Avith regard to Avhat took place at the formation of this Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England . Bro . Binckes , I think , in his Memorandum which was submitted to us , does not dispute the fact that this Bon Accord Lodge , the Charter of Avhich was , as I have just explained , so illegally obtainedwas a party to itbut I think he maintains

, ; that it was only in connection with some time-immemorial Lodges . At that time , I think , Bro . Binckes Avas not a member of the Degree , but be that as it may , this Grand Lodge of Mark Masters started up , aud confessedly the leading body connected Avith ifc was the Bon Accord Lodge , constituted in the manner I have now described . Well , so far , matters have gone on ever since . The two

jurisdictions have existed iu England—this Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , Avhich 1 am bound to say is now a poAverful organisation , containing a large number of Lodges . Those from Scotland not so numerous , but still Avorking . Before proceeding further in what I havo to say as to the Mark Degree in England , I must here direct your attention to certain circumstances which

took place in Scotland , and to an arrangement which AVP . S entered into between Grand Chapter and Grand Lodge _ of Scotland . For a long time certain old operative Lodges in Scotland had been in the practice of Avorking the Mark Degree , but in Avhat we call the Speculative Lodges , the Degree hod never been worked ; therefore , the number of Lodges in Scotland working ifc was not very great . So few Avere they , except the Operative Lodges , and so little Avas genet-ally known of