The Masonic Mirror.

referred to the " Book of Constitutions , " and it said that the "Book of Constitutions" did not sanction ifc . He was desirous that the time should come when Grand Loclge should discuss the question on it oivn merits , for ifc was a degree that was recognised in different parts of the world , and if the Grand Lodge of England recognised it , although by so doing it might offend a few persons , it would add largely to the funds of Freemasonry . He

found that the Grand Chapter of Scotland issued commissions , and if those brethren ivere allowed to be exalted in the Grand Chapter of England , then tho whole thing was done . With regard to what the " Book of Constitutions" said , that ivas compiled many years ago , and at various times it had been hacked about in a most lamentable manner ; and as regards

the adoption of the Mark Degree , the report of a committee -which recommended its adoption by the Grand Lodge was adopted by about ; two-thirds , but by a principle which was better understood in Grand Lodge than anywhere else , the ¦ minutes were nofc confirmed . He contended that the question -was not advanced or thrown back by that discussion , ancl he

' ( Bro . Stebbing ) did not wish ifc to be raised that night , but when it was raised , ho hoped it would bo by the Mark Masters of England , and not by tbe Grand Chapter of Scotland . Bro . HAA'EES said it required something for a man to address his fellow men when ho wanted to say something aud had got something to say , but it was fur more difficult when ho had

nothing to say ; and yet was able to make a capital speech , . which was what Bro . Stebbing had done that night . ( Bro . Stebbing : I am very much obliged to you . ) Ho ( Bro . Havers ) ivas in hopes that he would have raised the question that night , but he had not clone so , although he hacl told them one or two points he had taken from his stand-point of view . Bro . Stebbing looked at those things from one point of view , when

lie told them , in so many words , that if the Grand Chapter of . Scotland received a courteous answer to their communications then they ivould recognise that body , but that was a statement which he did not think Grand Lodge was disposed to admit . Bro . Stebbing said they wished to get rid of the subject , but he ¦ ( Bro . Havers ) saicl they were always prepared to discuss it , and by the discussion of it to maintain the pure principles of

Freemasonry . He had told tbem that Grand Loclge had appointed a committee to consider this subject , ancl that their report met AA'ith a general approval ; but by some strange means , better understood in Grand Lodge than anywhere else , the minutes Avere not confirmed . The Grand Lodge received the report of the committee , bufc they reported that they wore not

prepared to say that the Mark Degree formed an essential part of Freemasonry . At the time this report was presented , he ( Bro . Havers ) was confined to his bed with a fever , hut on his moving thafc the minutes be not confirmed , the Grand Master withdrew his approval of the report of the committee , and the non-confirmation of the minutes was carried by a large majority .

As to what was called Christian Freemasonry , whether it was the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar or the high order of ¦ the Rose Croix , if any communication was sent he thought it should be received with all courtesy ; and as regarded the Knights Templar , as the Duke of Sussex was Grand Master of that Order , he thought that they , as Masons , should wish them

God speed , ancl that any communications from them should be received in the most courteous spirit . He hoped , however , that this discussion in Grand Lodge would not revive a feud which existed many years ago , hut which now . , happily , had died out . AVhile on this subject he might be permitted to refer to their old friend Preston , who , iu his " Illustrations of Masonry , " written more than half a century ago , had said that which was ust as applicable to the present time . The worthy brother

then read a passage from Preston in which it spoke of enthusiastic Masons endeavouring to amplify their present S 3 'stem or to go in search of new degrees ; hut while adhering to tlie pure original forms of Freemasonry , he saicl he saw no harm in their being allowed to indulge themselves in innocent amnsuments . There never were truer words ever written , ancl ho saw no reason why they should interfere with brethren if they chose to

play at being Grand Masters ; hut let them clo it inoffensively and they would never complain . While they did this he thought they ought nofc to come to them ancl ask them to erase the first page of the "Book of Constitutions" on Freemasonry , for iu it was found a chain ivhich would preserve them for all time unchanged and unchangeable . ( Cheers . )

Bro . BINCKES hoped that the consideration of this question , whether the Mark Degree was recognised or unrecognised , would have gone on without his taking part in ifc , and that nothing would have induced him to break through the rule , which four years ago , he had laid clown ; bufc after the observations of Bro . Havers , he thought he should be unworthy of the position he held , did ho not bring back Grand Loclge to the

subject which had been forced upon him by the remarks of Bro . Havers . Two questions , distinct and categorical , had been put to them , ancl with the replies proposed by the Grand Registrar to be given to them—aud he looked upon his resolution as a very proper one—lie thought the discussion should have been closed . Bro . Havers had said that Avhen tlie committee brought

up their report , they saicl that they did not consider tho Mark Degree to be an essential part of Freemasonry , but they added that they thought it would be a graceful appendage to tho second degree . With reference to the passage from Preston , that could not possibly refer fco the Mark Degree , for that had been practised in the land before over Preston

was born or thought of , and , therefore , he could not have had the Mark Degree in his mind ivhen he penned ( hose remarks to which Bro . Havers had referred , ferrecl . In other parts the Mark Degree was considered to be an essential part of Freemasonry , and there might be in the colonies lodges acting under the Grand Lodge of Scotland or Ireland who wished to have the Mark Degree ; but the Grand

Lodge of Mark Masters never wished to place it in antagonism with the Grand Loclge of England , and in every way they hedged themselves round in the issue of any now warrant that no course should bo taken antagonistic to the Grand Lodge , or subversive of its rules and regulations ; but on the contrary they impressed on every Mark Master a revered sense of the

obligations that were due to the Grand Loclge of England . He had made these observations conscientiously , for he believed if he had not clone so he should have been guilty of a gross dereliction of his duty . After a few words from Bro . STEBBING , the resolution of the Grand Registrar Avas put and curried .

PROPOSED MASONIC INSTITUTION IN VICTORIA . The G . SECRETARY road a copy of a report made by a special Charitable Institutions' Committee to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Victoria , with respect to the proposed formation of a local Masonic Asyum for Aged Decayed Freemasons and their Widows , a Girls' School and a Boys' School for Orphan Children , and those of Decayed Freemasons , as nearly similar as

circumstances will permit to those established under tho sanction of the United Grand Loclge of England ; and a resolution passed thereon soliciting the Grand Lodge to support the objects sought to be obtained by a donation towards its funds . The G . REGISTRAR said these communications had been deposited with the Grand Secretary , and for some days the lire-