The Mark Degree In England.

the existence of the Mark as a Craft Degree , that in the City of Glasgow an Operative Lodge in the year 1860 had conferred it under fche St . John ' s Charter , and this coming to the knowledge of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , Avhich apparently knew nothing aboufc the Mark Degree , it was considered thafc this was a complete irregularity , as Lodges working Sfc . John ' s Masonry

Avere , under the Scotch Constitution , only entitled to confer three Degrees—the Entered Apprentice , the Fellow Craffc , and Master Mason—and the Lodge was in consequence suspended by the Provincial Grand Lodge . The Lodge appealed against that sentence to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and the ground of their appeal was a very bold one , as many thought at that time . It was

this—they admitted they had worked the Degree , but they said : " AVo havo worked nothing more than Ave Avere entitled to do as a part of Ancient Masonry , and have not introduced a new Degree ; because the Mark Degree is not a new Degree , ifc is the completing part of the Second Degree . " This came before the Grand Lodge , the Lodge produced all its evidence , and

the result Avas that the Grand Lodge was compelled to admit thafc the Mark Degree , as practised by them , was in point of fact a part of the Fellow Craft Degree , and As , however , the Grandwas not a separate Degree at all . Lodge had never recognised the working of the Degree as a part of tho Fellow Craft Degree , or as a separate Degree , and as the Grand Chapter of Scotland

considering it necessary for the instruction of its Candidates to have it , had assumed tbe management of it in Scotland , and as those of you Avho are acquainted with the Scotch Eoyal Arch Degree will know the connection there is between it and the Mark Degree , it became apparent from the decision in the Glasgow case that there were two jurisdictions in Scotland claiming to superintend the Mark Degree , and that it was necessary some arrangement should be entered into between them .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

HERTFORDSHIRE . GREAT BERKIIAMPSTED . —Jierhhampsted Lodge ( No . 504 ) . — On AA ' ednesday , the Sth inst ., the members of this lodge held their Summer Festival Aleeting , and as usual there was a goodly number of members , and a still larger number of invited guests . The members present were : Bros . AVm . AVilson , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., AV . AI . ; A . E . Olney , P . Prov . G . Purst ., S . AV ; J . H . AdamsP . Prov . G . S . B . J . AV . ; AV . H . RoweP . Prov . G . Sup .

, , , of AVorks ., S . D . ; Wm . Hendry , J . D . ; John E . Lane , P . Prov . G . P ., Treas . ; AV . B . Heath , P . Prov . G . S . W ., P . AI . ; James Burton , P . Prov . G . S . W ., P . AI . ; AV . J . Adams , P . Prov . G . S . D ., P . AI . ; R . A . AVright , P . Prov . G . S . D ., P . AI . ; H . Balderson , AA . II . Hobson , Thos . AVoodman , junr ., Daniel C . Fisher , A . Allan , AV . Abbott , B . Peart , A . Greenaway , J . T . Rowe , H . Hunt , W . C Aladdener , J . J . Hatton , H . T . Lowe , Thos . Luxton , P .

T . Breary , P . G . Steward ; and AV . Breary . The visitors were : Bros . Eeliv . Baxter , Past G . Steward , P . AI . No . 8 ; AVm . Smith , C . F .. P . G . S ., P . M . 33 , & c . ; Dr . T . S . Barringer , P . Prov . G . S . AV ., P . AI . 504 & c . ; John Dale , P . AI . 11 ; C AV . Price , P . AI . 96 ; E . Sillifant , P . M . 217 ; G . A . Taylor , P . M . 217 ; Thomas Price , P . M . 186 ; Dr . Tripe , P . M . 912 ; Thos . Aloring , P . M . 9 ; Partridge , 198 ; Martin , 198 ; Thos . Lawrence , 22 ; Rowland . 157 ;

Rugg , S 57 ; 01 rick , 84 ; I . T . Bass , 948 ; Ring , 19 ; Knox , 860 ; Salmon , 173 ; Simmons , 902 ; Crowse ? . 72 ; and T . AVinterflood , H . Marsh , E . Sell , W . S . AVood , and T . AV . Field , 1321 . Arrangements by tlie indefatigable VV . AL , Bro . AVilson , had been made with the London and North Western Railway for the issue of return tickets at single fare from several stations ; and the brethren assembled at the Berkhampsted Station on the arrival of the 10 . 10 o ' clock train from Euston ; after tho visitors

had been introduced to the AVorshipful Alaster , the numerous four-horse brakes were freighted , and all being in order , the cortege started towards Triug . On arriving at a stiff hill on the outskirts of Tring Park , the whole party dismounted from the carriages and ascended the bill , from

Masonic Festivities.

which a splendid view was obtained ofthe surrounding counties , nnd after a stroll over the farm , the preserves , and a portion of the magnificent park of the late M . AVilliams , thc AV . M . invited the brethren to partake of luncheon , which had been laid out in excellent style , iu a delightful place , in an avenue of trees on an eminence commanding one of the most extensive and beautiful views obtainable in the country of Hertford ; then , after ample justice had been done to the excellent luncheon provided bthe

y lodge , the prominent places of interest in the surrounding counties of Oxfordshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Middlesex , & c , were pointed out to tho visitors by the W . AI . and the local brethren ; the brethren then continued their ramble through the park and grounds until they reached the village of Tring , where the several carriages awaited them . From theuce across canalrailwayhih roadaud b-road

, , g , y through the pretty village of Aldbury , towards Hoddesden , the party proceeded ac a spanking pace to Ashridge Park , the beautiful seat of Earl Brownlow , where they halted at the Monument , erected to the memory of Francis , third Earl of Bridgwater , most famous amongst the many great benefactors of his county , as the great promoter of systematic inland canal

construction in England , anel the originator of the great system of inland navigation , known as the Duke of Bridgewater ' s canals and docks . The monument is a hollow column , having an internal spiral staircase , by which a gallery at ihe summit is reached , and from whence a magnificent view of the surrounding country is obtained , and Ashridge Castle , or mansion , situated at a distance of about a mile and a half , is seen at the opposite end of the continuous broad green avenue by which the

monument and the mansion are connected , as it were , by a beautiful green velvet-pile carpet . The carriages were then again got into motion , the post-boys plying the thong , the " ridges " were traversed , and the whole of the points of interest around the Park were visited , and by way of variety the company were treated to a forced halt under a row of tall trees , during a heavy thunderstorm and refreshing shower of rain . The mansion and gardens were passedaud the partthenhaving a drive of

, y , some eight miles before them , were speedily curried onward o ' er hill and dale , back to Great Berkhampstead , to proceed with the business of the Lodge , all present having spent a very delightful day . ( The proceeds afc the Lodge and subsequent banquet will be given next week , being unavoidably crowded out of our present issue . )

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS BENDY . We regret to announce the death of the above mentioned Brother , who died at his residence , Grotto Hotel , Twickenham , Middlesex , on the 27 th of July . He was initiated in the Strawberry Hill Lodge , No . 946 , on the Sth of January , 1863 , he Avas passed and

raised in due course , and was exalted in the Eoyal Arch Chapter , attached to thafc Lodge , on the 30 th of November , 1865 , both the Lodges and Chapters are held at the Grotto Tavern , Twickenham . He joined the Cresent Lodge , No . 788 , on the 28 fch of May , 1867 ; he served all the offices up to S . W ., and was unanimously elected Worshipful Master ,

and was to have been installed on the day he died . He served as Steward to the Boys' School in 1869 , and was a very energetic Mason , and highly esteemed by all who knew him , for his kind disposition , thorough geniality , and for many acts of benevolence . His funeral took place on Friday , the 30 th of June , afc New Twickenham Cemetery ; and was attended by a

large number of friends and brethren from London , and other parts , among Avhom were Bros . Henry Beard W . Smeed , P . M . ; Stedwell , P . M . and Treas , 946 ; W . Platfc , P . M . Sec . ; Thomas Mclllwham , P . M . ; W . Kipling , J . W . ; Garner , Seekins , and J . B . Jacklin , all of 946 , and Bros . Gurney , W . M ., and several others Ot the Lodge 781 ; also Comps . A . J . Codner , Henry Sharman , and J . A . Winsland , of Chapter 946 .