Craft Masonry.

The toast of "Tbe Treasurer and Secretary , " proposed by Bro , AVright , P . M ., AVUS responded by Bro . Lane , P . M ., Treas . The " Officers of tho Lodge , " by tbe W . M ., responded to by the Senior AVarden . The " Tyler's toast " brought the meeting to a close . [ The particulars of tbe excursion to the places of interest in the neighbourhood AVUS given in last Aveek ' s Magazine , under the bead of " Masonic Festivities . " ]

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLANDLEICESTER . —St . John's Lodge ( No . 279 ) . —An emergency meeting of this Loclge was held at the Freemason ' s Hall , ou Friday , the 7 th inst . Iu the unavoidable absence , until a later hour of the evening , of the AV . M ., Bro . Stretton , P . Prov . G . Reg ., the chair AVUS taken and the ceremonies performed by the Prov . GM and Senior PMRAVBroKellassisted bBro . Toller

. .., . . . y , y , Prov . G . Sec . There AVSI-O also present : —Bros . Weaver , P . M ancl Treas . ; CroAi ' , S . W ; WiddoAA'Son , Sec ; Palmer , S . D . ; Smith , J . D . ; McAllister , as I . G . ; Ehvood Edwards , AVill-insin , Worthington , and Bembridge , Tvler . Visitors , Bros . Dr . Bakewell , Sec 405 ; Trinidad ; Toller , P . M . ; Buzzard , P . M . ; Partridge , Sec ; Thorp and Thomson , of No . 523 . The business was to raise BrosAA'ilkinsonEdwardsElhvoodand C . J .

Wor-. , , , thington to the third degree , Avhich , after due examination , AVI-S done in ancient form . A letter from his widoAV having been read , in replv to the vote of condolence on the decease of the late Bro . Pettifor , P . M .-P . Prov . G . S . AA ., the lodge was closed , after which refreshment folloAved labour .

The Royal Order Of Scotland.

THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND .

The annual meeting of the above Order Avas held at Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 4 th inst . After reading the minutes of previous meetings , AA'hich AA'ere confirmed , Comps . Charles FendeloAv , Wolverhampton , and David Forsyth , Edinburgh , Avere initiated members of the Order , and the officebearers Avere re-elected . After the Installation , tne Companions sat down to a sumptuous dinner , presided over by AV . D . Grand Master and

Governor , J . Whyte Melville , and spent a very pleasant and agreeable evening . It may be mentioned that at the business meeting tbe Grand Secretary intimated that he had been in communication with several Companions in London , AVIIO were desirous for the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Order there , and be had no doubt that by the next Quarterly Communication the matter will then haves > ssmncd such a shape as Avill mtitlet be taken into consideration by the Grand Lodge .

The Mark Degree In England.

THE MARK DEGREE IN ENGLAND .

[ Continued , from par / e 467 ) . Accordingly the folloAving minute was entered into betAveon the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter of Scotland : — " The Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge and Supreme Grand Royal Arch Cliapter having- held a Conference with a VIOAV to carrying out the remit to

them , unanimously agree that what is generally known under tho name of the Mark Master's Degree Avas wrought by the operative Lodges of St . John ' s Masonry in connection with the Fellow Craft Degree before tbe institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . That since that date ifc has continued to be wrought in the Old Operative Lodges , but in Avhat mny be called the Speculative Lodges it never AVUS Avorked at all—or at all events only in a very few—that this Degree being , AVI ' CII the exception of the Old Operative Lodges aboA * e mentioned , entirely

abandoned by tho Lodges of St . John ' s Masonry , the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter assumed the management of it , as the fourth Degree of Masonry , in order to complete the instruction of their candidates in the preliminary Degrees , before admitting them to the Royal Arch . That this Degree , whether vieAved as the second part of the FCIIOAV Craft Degree or as a separate Degree ,

has never been recognised or Avorked in England , Ireland , or the Continent , or in America , as apart of St . John ' s Masonry ; and that it is IIOAV most desirable that an arrangement ; may be made ivhich will reconcile the differences betAveen the Grand Lodge and Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , and which will admit of the three first Degrees of St . John ' s Masonry

being Avorked in the Lodges in Scotland in a manner similar to that allowed by Sister Grand Lodges . Resolve to recommend the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland to enact and declare as folloAvs : — " 1 . That all Lodges holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland shall be alloAved to work this Degree in virtue of the Charters which they

already possess . 2 . That to prevent confusion with Brethren belonging to Lodges out of this Kingdom , or with Sister Grand Lodges , this Degree although held by the Grand Lodge to bo a second part of the Fellow Craft Degree , shall only be conferred on Master Masons , and the secrets shall only be communicated in presence of those who have taken it either from a Lodge or

Chapter entitled to grant it . 3 . That the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland shall adopt the same ritual in conferring the Degree , being that now adjusted by their respective Committee . 4 . That any candidate applying to be admitted to the Royal Arch Degree , if he has received this Degree in a regular Lodge of St . John ' s Masonry , shall not be required to take it a second time from the Chapter into Avhich he seeks admission , but in event of his

not having received it he shall be obliged to take ib from that Chapter . 5 . That as regards the Royal Arch Degrees , this Degree shall be reckoned the fourth Degree in Masonry . 6 . That nothing contained in these regulation shall interfere Avith the superintendence Avhich the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter claims over Mark Masonry out of Scotland , or with , the Lodges

holding of it in England or abroad . " The Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Scotland agreed to this , so that IIOAV Ave are quite at one . Matters continued in his state till the year 1864 , I think , for the first time communications Avere opened betAveen Bro . Binckes , as representing the body of AA'hich he is noAV Secretary , and the Grand Chapter of Scotland as to the position of the Mark

Degree in England . A memorial was sent doAvn from Bro . Binckes to the Supreme Chapter of Scotland , and having given it our most careful consideration Ave Avere very anxious at the time to see if any arrangement could be made by which the superintendence of the Degree Avould be taken up by the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter of England . I may say that personally Ave

have not the least hostility to the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England . Nor did Ave attach too much importance to its spurious origin , as that might have been got over ; but the difficulty Ave had at that tlmeAvas that it should be fche last resort fco recognise a GoA'erning body , Avhich has an existence in no country in the Avorld , excepting England . We knoAV Avhat a Grand Lodge of

St . John ' s Masonry is ; and Ave know what a Grand Chapter means : and we know Avhat a Grand Council of Rites means ; but I believe we have not anvAvhere , except in England , a Grand Lodge of Mark Masters . And the point AVUS put to us in Scotland , that ive might as Avell have a Grand Loclge of Fellow Crafts . We thought in i 864 it Avould be very desirable if AVC cmild get tbe Grand Lodge , or the Grand Chapter of England , to take up the question . Avhen Ave Avould most gladly have