Mark Masonry.

Lodge proceeded to tho consideration of this important question , to inform them that the anxious desire of the founders of this Grand Lodge , steadily followed by their successors and all connected with its executive , has been , and still is , to avoid every course , the adoption of which might even risk the slightest chance of a collision with the authorities of the United Grand Lodge of England . It was a delicate subject to discuss , but he must remind them that the chair of a Alark Lodge

possessed its secrets , as did that of a Craft Lodfje , and to authorise the communication of the former to any brother not having a knowledge of the latter , might place them in a position he for one would not like to occupy . In extreme cases , a dispensation might he issued—as had already been done—empowering a , Warden of a Mark Lodge to be elected and placed in the chair as AA . M ., with full powers to rule the lodge aud to confer the degreehis being fully entrusted being delayed until after his

, installation as W . iZ . of a Craft Lodge . He need hardly say that he highly valued the Mark Degree , and had a great regard for this Grand Lodge , but he could not ignore certain obligations , to the nature cf which ho need not more particularly allude .

Bro . Colonel COLE , C . S ., S . G . AA . recognising the unfitness of the question for discussion in public , moved that it be referred to the General Board , for consideration . Bro . J . II . AA ' TN ^ seconded the motion , which was adopted . To meet the difficulty suggested by Bro . Cooke in the use of the word " regular , " in Art . 85 , p . 22 ( New ed . ) , the words " or lodge of emergency" were ordered to be inserted after the words " regular lodge meeting . "

The recommended increase in the scale of fees was affirmed . That portion of the minutes not previously put for confirmation was then confirmed . Bro . G . AV . Monus , G . Steward , Old Kent Lodge , nominated Viscount Holmesdale , ALP ., as M . AA . G . M . for the year 1864-5 . The G . REG-ISTRAK proceeded to submit the motion , notice of which had been duly given . He was about to ask Grand Lodge

to consent to the appointment of a committee to investigate the connection between Mark Masonry and Christianity . There was no doubt that Mark Masonry existed before the Christian era , and as little doubt that , on the introduction of Christianity , that , as Well as other branches of the Ancient Order was altered so as to render its symbolical teachings in accordance with the spirit of the new religion . It was only on the advent of Royal Dukes to Masonic power in Englandthat Christianity was

eli-, minated from their rituals . As a matter of archaeological research he was anxious for this investigation , which he trusted would not be opposed . It would pledge Grand Lodgo to nothing , inasmuch as the committee would bring up a report which Grand Lodge would consider and accept or reject , as in its wisdom it thought best . Bro . CitAEtiES SWA ^ , G . S . B ., seconded the motion , which , on carried neni

being put , was . con . The following brethren were , by consent , nominated on the committee : —The R . AV . Deputy Grand Master ; the R . A \ . Sir Edmund Lechmere , Bart ., P . G . AV . ; the R . AV . Bro . Alexander Ridgway , P . G . AV ., and P . G . Reg . ; the Grand Registrar ; the Grand Secretary ; W . Bro . Frank Haes , delegate from Sydney ; and Bro . S . B . AVilson . Grand Lodge was then closed in form with solemn prayer , and adjourned .

THE BANQUET AA as attended by about forty brethren , the chair being ably filled by the R . W . D . G . M ., Bro . AV . AV . Beach , M . P ., supported by nearly every Grand Officer present in Grand Lodge . The viands , in quantity and quality , left nothing to bo desired , aud the wines were of undoubted excellence , the w hole arrangements reflecting great credit on the caterer to the establishment , Bro HEFennellwho is graduall " setting his house in order "

. . , y . The cloth having been removed , tho R . AV . D . G . MASTER , said that the first duty they had to perform was that of proposing the health of a lady , which was always most enthusiastically received in every society of Freemasons . Her Majesty , who had proved herself a most excellent constitutional sovereign , and a pattern to her own sex , had been for two years under a deep sorrow which it was to bo hoped time had alleviatedand she might

, now , again , be about to mix with her people , in whose hearts she ever reigned . He begged to propose " The Queen , and Mark Masonry . " ( Cheers . ) The D . G . MASTER said that when the Earl of Carnarvon , retired from the office of Grand Master , at the end of throe

years service , though they were sorry to lose him , they could nob feel otherwise than gratified , as Mark Masons , that his lordship had set au example , in his own person , of the principle ndiicli he had advocated under other circumstances . Though they had been established but a comparatively short time , they already possessed two Past Grand Masters , and though neither were present that evening , they had shown , by their attendance on previous occasions , that their interest in tho degree had not

ceased with their hi gh office . They had since elected to preside over thorn Viscount Holmesdale , and a more worthy or distinguished young Mason could not have been selected . His lordship was distinguished not only in that , but in other branches of the Craft , and he was sure that nothing but urgent business had prevented his attendance that evening . In conclusion , he asked them to drink , with all loyalty and affection ,, to the Present and Fast Grand Masters . The toast having heen

drunk with the usual honours , Tbe D . G . MAST KB gave " The Health of the Grand Officers . " It was briefly responded to by Bro . Barker , the -J . G . W . Bro . Sir Eojtu ^ D L ECIUIERE proposed "The Health of the D . G . AI ., " a brother long distinguished iu Craft Masonry , as well as in the degree over which he then presided . AVhen he saw himself supported by the D . G . AI ., and the G . Registrar , the Rev . Bro . G . R-. Portal , it brought back to his recollection tbe

associations of some twelve or fourteen years since , when'they all became members of the Apollo Lodge , Oxford , in which Bro . Beach soon distinguished himself as one of its most active workers . He had watched the progress of Bro . Beach with great interest , and it gave him the utmost pleasure to have the opportunity of proposing the toast . The D . G . MASTER , after again alluding to the unavoidable absence of the G . M . returned thanks for the compliment in a

, very eloquent and telling speech , in which he referred to the antiquity of the degree as evidenced in those Masons' Marks arranged prior to the general extension of education for insuring regularity in the carrying out of the work , as evidenced in the monuments of bygone ages , and in the beautiful cathedrals erected by our ancestors . The Rev . Bro . PORTAL , G . Reg ., in proposing the "Health of the Grand Secretary , " Bro . Binckes , said that the General

Board had been greatly indebted to that brother for the assistance he had rendered in maturing the important reforms which had been affirmed by Grand Lodge on that evening . It would now no longer be the case that the highest office in the Craft could be regarded as the property of any one individual , ox as tbe perquisite ol any social or political clique ; but , by changing the G . M . every three years , it would open that honour to a vast number of deserving brethrenand so return to the ancient

, practice . By the introduction of voting papers , also , brethren in distant provinces were put on a par with those who had the supreme felicity to be born within sound of Bow bells . Bro . J . BINCKES gratefully acknowledged the handsome mention of his name—the eulogium by which it had been introduced—and the warm reception it had met with . He had endeavoured to deserve their approbation , and might say ,

without egotism , that he had worked hard in a cause in which he felt a very great interest—the success of Mark Masonry . It booted not now to repeat the story of the origin of their Grand Lodge , it was sufficient that they had good grounds for mutual congratulation on their increasing prosperity , and on the growing appreciation of the importance of the degree . He was one of those—ho had every reason to believe a not inconsiderable number—who , while faithfully discharging his duties in

connection with Craft Masonry , in accordance with those obligations to which he had given his assent , did not hesitate to express his deep regret at the arrangements concluded in 1813 , at which date , amongst other matters to be lamented , the link which connected the Mark with the earlier degrees was severed . He believed the Mark to be an essential portion of Ancient Masonry , and no good Mason could blame them for raising it from the partial oblivion into which it had been sunk

by neglect . He was always ready to place his services at the disposal of tho young , newly-formed , lodges , whether in Londjn or the provinces , and in fact to do anything with a view to impart an accurate knowledge of their rites , ceremonies , and teachings . He could assure them , that though there were some who affected to regard them with feelings very much akin to contempt , that there was a large number of brethren wellversed in Masonic lore , and of old-standing in the Craft , but recently inU-odnced to the Mark Degree , who bad avowed themselves more delighted , and more instructed , by the teachings ,