The Mark Degree In England.

so until the last century . From this body rose the Incorporation of Masons . They had greater powers by their Charter of Incorporation than as a Lodge , none else being allowed to do Masons' work within Burgh . It was also found that in the Lodge of Edinburgh , Mary's Chapel , tbe members signed the book with their marks . "At a Conference or Grand Lodge held in Holyrood Palace in 1598 , " it was ordained : — " That no Muster or Fellow Craft be received or admitted without the

number of six Masters and two entered Apprentices , the AVarden of that Lodge being one of the saicl six , and that the day of the receiving of the said Fellow Craft or Master be orderly buikit ( booked ) , and bis name and mark inserted in the same book . " Bro . Portal : AVere or were not the Lodges then really operative ? Bro . Kerr : Purely operative , with the exception of certain

members of the Craft : that is to say , noblemen and clergymen being patrons ofthe Craft . Bro . Binckes : Bufc were any speculative practices then carried on . Bro . Hay : All those lodges and all those guilds of the period were certainly operative , but " speculative , " also in so far as that refers to teaching a system of morality by means of a symbolism derived from the implements or materials of their labour . Bro . Binckes : Tnat is what we want to get at . That is very important .

The Royal Albert Hall Concerts.

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL CONCERTS .

AVe quite coincide with the general opinion of our contemporaries , that Her Majesty's Commissioners of the International Exhibition , as well as the public , have every reason to be satisfied with the use that is made hy the several musical Societies of the ltoyal Albert Hall . On Monday Bro . G . AA . Martin gave " the Creation" the last of a series of Concerts ¦ under his conductorship , in which 1 , 000 members of the National ¦ Choral Societtook partthe principal vocalist being Miss

y , Matilda Scott , Mr . A crnon Rigby , ancl M . Lauder . On AVednesday the fifth Concert given by the Society of Arts , iu aid of musical education took place to the expressed gratification of a very large and fashionable assembly ; the orchestral pieces embraccod Aubor ' s Overture "Gustare , " Sullivan ' s , " in Memoriam ,, ' Beethoven ' s "Leonora , " and Mozart ' s "Le Mozze de Figard . " Tho artistes comprised the names of Mademoiselles

T ' ttiens and Fernandez , Madame Lemens Sherrington , Siguor Vizzani , Siguor Foli , and Mr . AV . II . Cuinmings . Kerr Ernest Pauor's solo performance on the \ Pianoforte , "La Campella " and " Tarantella , ' was delicately elegant , and distinctly heard in every part of the Hall . Sir Michael Costa Conducted . Next AA ' odnesday the last of the Series ofthe Society of Arts Concerts , will take place , doubtless , with as complete success us all the rest .

THE FREEMASON ' S AA iNic—There is a popular belief amongsi certain people that it is a desirable thing to be a Freemason , from the selfish idea that no matter what strait , pecuniary or otherwise , one may get into , a mvstic wink to a brother Mason will bring instant relief . According to the Calcutta " Englishman" this is not always the case . It appears that some degenerate Freemasons of that place having heen trying- to work ou the brotherly feelings of Mr . J . B . Roberts , a magistrate , by

making the " signs" when they appeared as defendants in his -court . Instead , however , of their obtaining the sympathy they claimed , they only received a brotherly rebuke . " . Now , with ¦ what object it is done , " aaid Mr . Roberts , "I do not know , but I feel it necessary to inform those whom it may concern that it is highly imgi-oper for any person to attempt to influence tho bench in that way . It is most objectionable , and I may say it . amounts to a comtempt of court . If they think that it will

benefit them iu any way , all I can say is they are very much mistaken . " It is certainly as well , says the " Pall Mail Gazette , " there should be no misunderstanding on this point , for if a suspicion prevailed that magistrates or judges , who are Freemasons look with a kindly eye on their brethren under any circumstances , there are many persons in the neighbourhood of AVliiteehapel ancl elsewhere contemplating the commencement

or continuance of a career inconvenient to the general community , who would use every exertion to gain admission to that honourable Fraternity , and avail themselves largely of tho benefits supposed to be derived from telegraphic cotnmuuicatior . s . —The Future .

List Of Lodge Meetngs &C., For Week Ending July 28th, 1871.

LIST OF LODGE MEETNGS & c ., FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 28 TH , 1871 .

METEOPOLITAK' LODGES AND CHA" 1 TEES . Tuesday , July 25 th . LODGE . —Industry , Freemasons' Hall . Wednesday , July 26 th . LODGES . —United Pilgrims , Horns Tavern , Kennington-park ;

Prince Frederick AVilliam , Knights of St . John Hotel , St . John ' s AA ood ; High Cross , Seven Sisters Tavern , Page Green , Tottenham ; Royal . Oak , AVhite Swan Tavern , Highstreet , Deptford ; Temperance in the East , Private Assembly Rooms , 0 , Newby-piacc . Poplar . Thursday , July 27 th . General Committee Girls' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Friday July , 28 th . LODGE . —Royal Alfred , Star and Garter , Kew Bridge , Ealing .

Metropolitan Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

METROPOLITAN LODGES AND CHAPTERS OF INSTRUCTION .

A number of Lodges and Chapters of Instruction do not meet during ihe summer months , lue shall , therefore discontinue the publication of our visual list until the re-commencement of the season . We shall , hoivever , give the announcement of those Lodges and Chapters of Instruction which continue to meet during the summer on receiving

authoritative intimation thereof . Thcfollou-ing Lodges of Instruction , we are informed by the Secretaries , meet all the gear round : — ROYAL UXIOX LODGE ( No . 3 S 2- ) , Horse and Groom , AA'insley Street , Oxford Street , at S . Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . PAXMURE LODGE ( No . 720 ) , Balham Hotel , Balham , Fridays at 8 . Bro . John Thomas , Preceptor . AA E 3 Tii 0 UKi , 'E LODGE ( No . 733 ) , Horse and Groom , AAlusley Street , Oxford Street , Fridays at S . Bro . Ash , Preceptor .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* , }* All Communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisburystreet , Strand , W . C . AA E shall be glad to receive from bretliren any proceedings of Masonic meetings , which shall be duly inserted . Communications should be forwarded so as to reach us as early in the week as convenient—not later than AVednesday if possible . AA e have to request our correspondents to be particular in writing names distinctly .

Our Correspondents , and especially our Foreign Exchanges are requested to Address in full to "The Editor of The Freemason's Magazine and Masonic Mirror , 19 , Salisbury Street , Strand , London , AV . C . " Letters ancl Papers , Address , "Freemasons' Magazine , London

although mostly reaching us are liable to miscarriage , and are invariably delayed in delivery . Tho Reports of the Installation meeting of the Suu , Square , ancl Compass Lodge , AVhitehavon , Cornwallis Lodge , Belvidere , Kent , ancl several others are unavoidably helcl over till next week . Letters from "Only a Past Master , " "A Mason who believes in his O . B , " " A Lover of Liberty , " ancl " A Red Cross Knight , ' are received and shall be attended to .