Masonic Notes And Queries.

situated , this present warrant or charter of constitution shall , eo ipso , become void and null , the holders thereof be deprived of their functions under it , and thereupon bound to return the same to our Supreme Chapter . " Since the year 1856 a number of warrants have been granted to Mark Master Lodges in England , all of which contain the clause above quoted .

" In the year 1856 the members of the Bon Accord Lodge of London ( illegally constituted in the manner already described ) ancl the members of certain Craft Lodges ( which are stated in the Memorandum to have worked the degree from time immemorial ) formed themselves into what is termed " The Grand Lodge

of Mark Masters of England and Wales , and the Colonies and Possessions of the British Crown , " and : tliis body has continued clown to the present date to ¦ issue Charters to subordinate Lodges for the purpose . of working the Mark Master ' s Degree , not as a

portion of the Fellow Craft Degree , but as a distinct ancl separate Degree . The Lodges holding of the Supreme Chapter of Scotland have also , during the same period , continued working in England , but have not recognised or visited the Lodges holding of the Lodge styling itself the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters . The object of the Memorandum now before

your Committee is to call upon the Supreme Chapter to recognise the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters as the lawful head of the Order in England , and , as a necessary consequence , and in terms of the clause in the Charters , above quoted , to recall those charters , and to cease in all time coming from issuiug new

ones . If the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters can ¦ satisfy the Supreme Chapter that they are truly and lawfully the head of the Order in England , then unquestionably they are right in their contention , and it must be given effect to ,

"Tour Committee will , before considering the reasons advanced by the Grand Mark Masters f odo-e of England in support of their demand , shortly advert to what has taken place in the Grand Lodge of Scotland on the subject of the Mark Masters Degree .

"As already explained , latterly only a few of the old Operative Lodges holding Charters from the Grand Lodge of Scotland continued to work the Degree—the great majority of Lodges on tho roll knew nothing about it ; and so much was this the case that au old Operative Lodge iu Glasgow was actually the Provincial Grand Lod

suspended by ge of that city for working this degree , in respect the constitutions of the Grand Loelge of Scotland , cap . ii . sec . ] provides that " The Grand Lodge of Scotland practices ancl recognises no degrees of Masonry but those of Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , denominated StJohn ' The Lod

. s Masonry . " ge referred to appealed to the Grand Lodge and maintained 1 . That they had worked the degree of Marie Master prior to the constitution of the Grand Lodge , and down to the date of the proceedings adopted against them by the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Glasgow and 2 That t from this the

, , apar Mark Masters degree was truly an integral part of the Second or Fellow Craft degree . After a long discussion , the Grand Lodge reversed the decision of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow on the first ground stated , and with reference to the second point raised , it was remitted to a Committee to examine into ancl report . " At the same time , with the view of putting matters

on a proper footing as regarded the working of the degree iu Scotland , the Supreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter appointed a committee to confer with the Grand Lodge Committee . The Committees accordingly met and adjusted a joint report , the resolutions in which were adopted , both by the Grand Lodge of Arch ter

Scotland ancl the Supreme Grand Eoyal Chap of Scotland . These resolutions , which now form the law on the subject in Scotland , are as follows : — " 1 . That all lodges holding of the Grand Lodge r of Scotland shall be allowed 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 be 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 GranclLodge of ScotlandandSupreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of Scotland shall adopt the same Eitual in conferring the Degree , being that now adjusted by their respective Committees . " ' k That the candidate applying to be admitted to

the Eoyal 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 ivhich he seeks admission , but in event of his not having received it , he shall be obliged to take it from that Chapter . " 5 . That as regards the Eoyal Arch Degrees , this Degree shall be reckoned the fourth Degree in Ma .- *

sonry . " 6 . That nothing contained in the regulations shall interfere with the superintendence which the Supreme umiud Soya ! Arch Chapter claims over Mark Ma ^ sonry out of Scotland , 01 ' with the Lodges holding of it in England or abroad . "

" The Mark Masters Degree , whether viewed as a separate Degree or as a part aud portion of the Fellow-Craft Degree , is now recognised ancl worked in Ireland , Scotland , and Canada , and in all the Grand Lodges and Chapters in the United States , England being the onlcountry in which the English language

y is spoken , ivhere the degree is not recognised either by the Grand Lodge or Chapter . Iu the Memorandum now under consideration , a narrative is given of the proceedings adopted by the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England on the subject of this Degree , from which the following may be extracted : —

" Iu England , as has been " shown , the knowledge and working of the Degree has never been lost , though it has been more or less in abeyance , its estimation varying according to varying circumstances . " In the Colonies much difficulty has been encountered from the establishment of Lodges under

different jurisdictions , some recognising the Mark Degree and some altogether ignoring it . " To remedy this state of things , and to restore the Degree to its rightful position in connection with the Masonic system , an attempt was made about the year 1855 to obtain its recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England , ancl a Committee , consisting of Members of that Grand Lodge , ancl of Members of the Supreme Grand Eoyal Arch Chapter of