Meeting Of Mark Masters.

in 1851 , to work the degree in London , that it could be said to have gained any influence , and he believed if the brethren were polled , not one in ten in the country ever even heard of Mark Masonry . He felt it his duty , to object not only to the resolution , but to the degree altogether . Brother SMITH felt considerable surprise at the very loose assertion of the last speaker , that Mark Masonry was little known or practised in the provinces . He ( Brother Smith ) could

hear witness that it flourished in the Midland Counties , where it had not only been worked since 1851 , but had , to the knowledge of living masons , never ceased to work for the last sixty years at least . He saw near him , a brother , whose Lodge numbered upwards of three hundred , and , in his own , the brethren exceeded one hundred . The brethren in Warwickshire were zealous Mark Masters , and had been so from time immemorial . Brother LEWIS ARIA felt also himself hound to contradict

Brother Havers , and doubt his information regarding Masonry in the Colonies , ss well as to disagree with the statements he had expressed regarding it . In the West Indies , the degree was almost universally practised , and , in Jamaica there were very many Lodges in which it was worked . The late Sir Michael Clare , a very old and respected Mason , always patronised and spoke highly of the degree , and that alone would have been sufficient proof to him ( Brother Aria ) that it was not the modem

innovation , and of the evil tendency sought to be shown . Brother RIDGWAY wished to draw attention to the peculiarly unfortunate expression made use of , and several times repeated , by Brother Havers , that the Mark Degree formed no part of Ancient Freemasonry . Now , it was well known , that the reconciliation in 1813 took place on equal terms , between two rival Grand Lodges , known respectively as the Ancient Masons , and the Modern Masons ; and whilst the Modern Masons had

practised only the three degrees , the Ancient Masons had worked the Mark Degree , at least , so far back as the early part of the last century . So much for the assertion that the Mark formed no part of Ancient Masonry , and had never been recognised \> y the Grand Lodge . Brother LAZ ARUS fully confirmed what had fallen from Brother Ridgway , and he had in his hand , at that moment , a certificate from , a Mark Lodge , held under the Ancient Grand Lodge , and working sixty or seventy years ago . In fact , most of the old warrants for Mark Lodges now to be found in different parts of the country were under the constitution of the Ancient Masons .

Brother BURRED noticed that there was difference of opinion as to whether it was advisable that the United Grand Lodge of England should accept this degree , therefore , he would move an amendment , omitting the expression of regret that the Grand Lodge did not recognise it . His amendment was in these words : — "That this meeting , as a collection of brethren practising the Mark Degree , is anxious to promote the uniform working of Mark Masonry , and the general interest of the

degree . " The amendment having been seconded , Brother Lord LEIQH desired , before putting it to the meeting , to notice the strong appeal which had been made to him , as to his responsibility by a brother present . He ( Lord Leigh ) felt greatly interested in the Masonic Charities , and was a sincere well-wisher to the craft ; added to which he was a personal friend of Lord Zetland , and if lie thought the Mark Degree would injure the charitiesthe

, Craft , or the Grand Master , he would at once renounce the position in which he had been placed , but he was happy to think that all such fears were totally groundless . The amendment was then put and carried . Brother HUGU . ES proposed tho next resolution , to this effect "That this meeting deplores the differences of working authorities , of working and organization , at present existing among Mark Mastersand is anxious to promote unity and uniformity

, on these points . " No one could deplore more than he did the differences alluded to by the resolution ; but he felt that we could hardly expect to heal differences unless we went the proper way to do so . He could not but regret that this meeting had not been called at this time last year , when it would , probably , have been easier to compare the objects now proposed , than at the present time : certain it was that the course taken by some

brethren in respect to the Degree , was not such as he , and many of his friends approved ; and hence it was that , while he was happy to meet in Craft Lodges many of the brethren he saw around him , yet , when they spoke of the Mark it was a sore question . He would give every brother credit for doing what he considered the best for the interest of the Degree . He ( Brother Hughes ) had thought it the legitimate course to apply for a warrant from the Grand Chapter of Scotland , which had been

granted , and the Lodge had been successful beyond their expectations . He considered this Degree ought to be recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England , and was not prepaTed , to say that too complicated an organization should take place as that might prevent , rather than aid , this result . Brother HAVERS , addressing the chair , apologized for his interruption , and stated that , considering himself to hold a prominent position in the Crafthe felt bound to attempt to remove an

, impression which the meeting might have formed as to the incorrectness of his masonic information . He would , therefore , read an extract from " Preston ' s Illustrations , " a work of high masonic authority : — " The schism commenced with the secession of some brethren from the Grand Lodge , in 1739 , the active promoters of it calling themselves Ancient Masons , not only formed Lodges in subversion of the Rules of the Order , but actually established in London a nominal Grand Lodge , in open

defiance of the Ancient Grand Lodge , on whom they invidiously bestowed the name of ' Modern Masons , ' on account of a few trifling innovations in the ceremonial observing which had been inconsiderately sanctioned , " so that , in fact , these brethren who worked the Mark Degree , calling themselves Ancient Masons , were not , in fact , more ancient than the moderns . Brother NORTON had much pleasure in seconding the resolutions of Brother Hughes . He felt great interest in Mark Masonry

, and a sincere desire to see all differences between brethren removed , the greater the differences , the more necessary their removal . The resolution was then put from the chair and carried . Brother WARREN hold in his hand the third resolution , which

was , probably , the most important , as it sought to carry out practically the spirit : of the other two ; he proposed , "That it was desirable that a Committee be formed to ascertain and represent the views of all parties practising the Degree with respect to the means to he adopted to promote such unity and uniformity , and that the Committee consist of the following brethren : — JONES RIDGWAY

COLE ISAACS WARREN ADAMS HUGHES SHARMAN BARNARD S . B . WILSON PETER MATTHEWS COLLINS PULLEN BARRINGER HEARS and WOOLLEY . " These names had been carefullandhe hopedimpartiall

y , , , y chosen , with a view , so far as possible , equally to represent , what might be considered , the several parties or sections of the Craft . He ( Bro . Warren ) considered that a small committee would work best , but it had been enlarged upon the principle he had stated . The functions of the Committee should be strictly confined to the terms of the resolution , and he did not , in any degree , propose that they should have the power of binding-, or in any way committingto any course the brethren then present .

, Brother RIDGWAY seconded the resolution , and considered that if the brethren desired unity , they must not seek to secure it by any other means that an impartial attention to the opinions and desires of all those sought to be united . He hoped this Committee would be the means of effectually ascertaining those opinions and desires , and , with this feeling , he cordially seconded the resolution . Brother KING had listened with a great deal of attention to

what had been said , but if it was intended to have a fair representation , he had lately seen , in Dublin , the names of fifteen hundred Mark Masons , and he was himself a member of a Mark Lodge in Ireland , he could bear testimony of the wide-spread influence of the Degree in the sister countries , and in Amevica , and in other foreign parts .