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Progress Of The Mark Degree. Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, Lincolnshire. Great Grimsby.
PROGRESS OF THE MARK DEGREE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , LINCOLNSHIRE . GREAT GRIMSBY .
GOOD fellows are by no means infrequent in Masonry , but it does not fall to the lot of every Province to be under the sway of such a right worshipful good fellow as the Provincial Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire . On the morning of Thursday , 30 th September , the Provincial
Grand Officers proceeded by early trains to Stallingbro' House , the residence of E . W . Bro . John Sutcliffe , where , after a sumptuous breakfast , they were photographed as a group , in full costume—the first Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masters held in Lincolnshire—which , it will be remembered , was constituted some eleven months ago at
Lincoln . This , in the early morning , was quick work ; the consecration of a new Lodge , named after the hospitable Chief , having been advertised to take place at 11 . 15 at Grimsby . Thither , nevertheless , by the aid of special trains , all in due time assembled . The consecration
ceremony was performed by the Grand Secretary , Bro . Frederick Binckes , in his customary able manner , and the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Eev . Daniel Ace , D . D ., being called upon to improve the occasion , delivered an impressive extempore oration , upon the moral bearings of the Degree . He observed that earliest records had disclosed
to ns bow the Supreme Artificer had specially marked both persons and things for the maintenance of His Glory , with the object of assisting our infirmities : for without forms or figures we could derive no ideas . From the Psalms we learned that the Lord had set apart men that were godly for Himself . Marks were upon the Tabernacle
and on tho Temple , and Mr . Godwin ' s work , " Marks on Stones , demonstrated the same of other ancient edifices . The Hebrew Tan was a sign used by the Prophet Ezekiel as a mark of the Almighty to be set upon the Jews ; and such a marie was used by the Egyptians in the shape of a Cross , prior to the Christian Era . As in
architecture , the copestone is essential to the perfect arch , so the rejected stone of Mark Masons proved to be the most valuable , the head of the corner . The Mark , then , is indicative of him who possesses it , that he possesses distinguishing mental and moral qualities ; and a Mark Mason who should fail to cultivate these would disgrace his
Order . The Eev . brother concluded with a solemn invocation to the G . O . O . T . U . The officers of the new " Sutcliffe Lodge " were appointed and invested ; the Lodge was closed , and at about half-past one the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , it being a noticeable fact that every
officer was there present in his place , a diligence not always noted at similar gatherings . The Province contains the following Mark Lodges : —
The St . Botolph . The Bemigius . The John 0 'Gaunt . The Sutcliffe . The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were appointed : — W . Watkins , S . W . Bland , J . W .
Kirk , M . O . A . Watson , S . O . A . Bates , J . O . Dr . Ace , Chaplain , Gough , Secretary , & c ., & o .
After which the P . G . M ., in a forcible speech , nrged upon his hearers the duty of not relaxing for an instant the strenuous efforts which the Province had been making in the sacred cause of Charity , but to keep the Province well in the front as a supporter of our charitable Institutions .
The brethren adjourned to the banquet at the Eoyal Hotel , where , as throughout all the arrangements , tho kind and careful forethought of the P . G . M ., were sufficiently evident . During the evening a numerous contingent of brethren from Yorkshire , headed b y E . W . Bro . Th . Perkinton , their P . G . M ., vied with those of Lincolnshire in
rendering honour to tho chairman , and in evincing , by every means in their powers , their appreciation of the " entente cordiale . " To the toast of the " Bishops and Clergy , " the Eev . Dr . Ace , Prov . G . C ., responded , and observed that many among the Clergy are now active in Masonry . It was not always so , for there was a time
when they did not understand it , when some of them derided it , and others thought their dignity would be compromised by their mixing with it . Such would , however , find that they would be respected in
Masonry , both for their work and office sake . He would briefly advert to a proposition he had made , relative to raising a tangible memorial to the venerated memory of Dr . Oliver , once a clergyman of this town . He had received encouraging letters from all parts ,
Progress Of The Mark Degree. Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, Lincolnshire. Great Grimsby.
urging him to continue that task—to set on foot a testimonial which should benefit some poor boy from our Masonic School , by procuring for him a University Scholarship . The health of the Prov . G . M . was proposed by his E . W . colleague of Yorkshire , in pithy but telling terms , " What need to descant upon
the good qualities of one so well known , who is here present amongst you ? You know him , what could I say to increase the honour and estimation which ho has won . " The E . W . brother did not propose to paint the rose , or gild the lily , and he was right . In addition to the Masonic Mark salutes , this toast was followed by spontaneous musical honours .
The health of the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Dr . Harris , was also drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . W . H . Prince , of Eochdale , addressed a few feeling remarks to the chair , and some of the speeches ( not except , ing those of Bros . F . Binckes and J . Terry ) were much above the average . A gathering happier in the perfect good understanding
which subsisted between all , cemented by love and respect for the occupant of the chair , has never been witnessed in Masonry . If the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters has other provinces after the manner of Lincolnshire , its members need not regret the technical objections which prevented the incorporation of their degree into Craft Masonry .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Ayrshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF AYRSHIRE .
LAYING OF A MEMORIAL STONE AT KILWINNING .
SATUEDAY , 25 th September , was a day that will long bo remembered in the annals of this quiet Ayrshire village , as that on which Colonel Mure , M . P ., P . G . M . of Ayrshire , attended to lay the memorial stone of the new schools , erecting by the School Board , for the children of this large parish . Kilwinning , as is well known to all Masonic students , claims to have been the cradle of British Freemasonry , inasmuch as the builders of the old abbey , whose ruins
still grace tho village , are said to be the oldest members of the Craft in this Isle of whom we have any authentic record , and whose descendants have continued to hold their meetings np to the present time . For a long time after the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the Kilwinning Lodge not only held aloof , but she continued to grant charters to daughter Lodges , and when a reconciliation was
effected it was only by conceding to her her priority over all tho other Lodges , and allowing her to call herself Mother Kilwinning , No . 0 , with the privileges of her members paying less for the registration and diploma than other Scotch Masons , and also granting her this unique privilege that the Master shall , from time to time elect , become thereby , ipso facto , tho Provincial Grand Master for the whole
of Ayrshire . This honourable office Colonel Mure , of Caldwell , M . P ., has long held , and very worthily filled , and when it was known that the School Board bad asked him , in that capacity , to lay the memorial stone of the splendid new schools they are erecting to meet the wants of this populous parish , it was determined that the occasion should be made worthy of the place and its memories . Notwithstanding
that Friday was a very stormy day , and that the morning of Saturday was equally unpropitious , a goodly number of the mother ' s bairns resident in Glasgow obeyed the summonses of tho Proxy Wardens—Bros . Ferguson and Tweed , —and went in special carriages by rail to this old and picturesque village . They were accompanied by a deputation of the following : —Glasgow Lodge , St . John ' s , No . 3 £ , a Lodge
which lays claim to equal antiquity with Kilwinning , but one always ready to assist the mother Lodge ; they were headed by their respected Master , W . Bell , P . M . Fletcher , and other influential brethren ; Thistle and Eose , No . 73 , were next followed by No . 116 ; while the Clyde , No . 408 , with its banner , her Master , and both his Wardens , and a fair proportion of the brethren , brought np tho rear
of the Glasgow contingent . Bro . Wyllie , the indefatigable P . G . S . of Ayrshire , had a band in waiting at the station to escort them into the town , and up to the oldest Lodge room in Scotland , where they were welcomed by Colonel Mure , Lord Eglinton , D . Murray Lyon , the Masonic historian , Sir James Ferguson , late Governor of New Zealand , W . E . Partrick , of Woodhonse D . P . G . M ., and the 6 lite of
the Masons of Ayrshire . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in the Temperance Hall , as the largest available building , by the P . G . M . Colonel Mure , M . P ., E . Montgomery D . P . G . M ., J . Partrick S . P . G . M ., D . Murray Lyon S . W ., Dr . J . Campbell E . W . M ., J . W . of Maybale , No . 11 , E . Wyllie S ., J . Winton Treasurer . A procession was than formed by A . Bryce , the Grand Tyler of Scotland , in which the
following Lodges took part : —Mother Kilwinning , No . 0 , St . John ' s , No . 3 £ , Maybale , No . 11 , St . John , Kilmarnock , No . 22 , Thistle and Eose , No . 73 , Troon , No . 86 , St . Marnock , No . 109 , St . John , Butherglen , No . 116 , Ayg , No . 124 , St . James , No . 125 , St . Andrew , No . 126 , Sfcewton , No . 127 , Tarbolton , No . 135 , Operative , No . 138 , Irvine , No . 149 , Ayr , No . 165 , St . Mnngo , No . 179 , Maybale , No . 198 , Muirkirk
No . 201 , Cumnock , No . 230 , Girvan , No . 237 , Johnson , No . 242 , St . John ' s , No . 248 , Dairy , No . 290 , Ardrossan , No . 320 , Galston , No . 331 , Dal . mellington , No . 433 , Neptune , No . 442 , Catrine , No . 497 , Hurlford , No . 505 , Stranraer , No . 519 , and Patna , No . 565 , Darby Ferguson , St . James . On reaching the building , which is at the outskirts of
the town , the Earl of Eglinton , in the name of the committee , presented Col . Mure with a handsome silver trowel , who gracefully acknowledged the compliment , and promised to transmit it as a heirloom to his family . The stone was then laid with the accustomed Masonic honours . Colonel Mure , M . P ., P . G . M ., then addressed the assemblage . He said it waa a very long time ago now—he thought it was in the year
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Progress Of The Mark Degree. Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, Lincolnshire. Great Grimsby.
PROGRESS OF THE MARK DEGREE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , LINCOLNSHIRE . GREAT GRIMSBY .
GOOD fellows are by no means infrequent in Masonry , but it does not fall to the lot of every Province to be under the sway of such a right worshipful good fellow as the Provincial Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire . On the morning of Thursday , 30 th September , the Provincial
Grand Officers proceeded by early trains to Stallingbro' House , the residence of E . W . Bro . John Sutcliffe , where , after a sumptuous breakfast , they were photographed as a group , in full costume—the first Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masters held in Lincolnshire—which , it will be remembered , was constituted some eleven months ago at
Lincoln . This , in the early morning , was quick work ; the consecration of a new Lodge , named after the hospitable Chief , having been advertised to take place at 11 . 15 at Grimsby . Thither , nevertheless , by the aid of special trains , all in due time assembled . The consecration
ceremony was performed by the Grand Secretary , Bro . Frederick Binckes , in his customary able manner , and the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Eev . Daniel Ace , D . D ., being called upon to improve the occasion , delivered an impressive extempore oration , upon the moral bearings of the Degree . He observed that earliest records had disclosed
to ns bow the Supreme Artificer had specially marked both persons and things for the maintenance of His Glory , with the object of assisting our infirmities : for without forms or figures we could derive no ideas . From the Psalms we learned that the Lord had set apart men that were godly for Himself . Marks were upon the Tabernacle
and on tho Temple , and Mr . Godwin ' s work , " Marks on Stones , demonstrated the same of other ancient edifices . The Hebrew Tan was a sign used by the Prophet Ezekiel as a mark of the Almighty to be set upon the Jews ; and such a marie was used by the Egyptians in the shape of a Cross , prior to the Christian Era . As in
architecture , the copestone is essential to the perfect arch , so the rejected stone of Mark Masons proved to be the most valuable , the head of the corner . The Mark , then , is indicative of him who possesses it , that he possesses distinguishing mental and moral qualities ; and a Mark Mason who should fail to cultivate these would disgrace his
Order . The Eev . brother concluded with a solemn invocation to the G . O . O . T . U . The officers of the new " Sutcliffe Lodge " were appointed and invested ; the Lodge was closed , and at about half-past one the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened , it being a noticeable fact that every
officer was there present in his place , a diligence not always noted at similar gatherings . The Province contains the following Mark Lodges : —
The St . Botolph . The Bemigius . The John 0 'Gaunt . The Sutcliffe . The Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year were appointed : — W . Watkins , S . W . Bland , J . W .
Kirk , M . O . A . Watson , S . O . A . Bates , J . O . Dr . Ace , Chaplain , Gough , Secretary , & c ., & o .
After which the P . G . M ., in a forcible speech , nrged upon his hearers the duty of not relaxing for an instant the strenuous efforts which the Province had been making in the sacred cause of Charity , but to keep the Province well in the front as a supporter of our charitable Institutions .
The brethren adjourned to the banquet at the Eoyal Hotel , where , as throughout all the arrangements , tho kind and careful forethought of the P . G . M ., were sufficiently evident . During the evening a numerous contingent of brethren from Yorkshire , headed b y E . W . Bro . Th . Perkinton , their P . G . M ., vied with those of Lincolnshire in
rendering honour to tho chairman , and in evincing , by every means in their powers , their appreciation of the " entente cordiale . " To the toast of the " Bishops and Clergy , " the Eev . Dr . Ace , Prov . G . C ., responded , and observed that many among the Clergy are now active in Masonry . It was not always so , for there was a time
when they did not understand it , when some of them derided it , and others thought their dignity would be compromised by their mixing with it . Such would , however , find that they would be respected in
Masonry , both for their work and office sake . He would briefly advert to a proposition he had made , relative to raising a tangible memorial to the venerated memory of Dr . Oliver , once a clergyman of this town . He had received encouraging letters from all parts ,
Progress Of The Mark Degree. Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, Lincolnshire. Great Grimsby.
urging him to continue that task—to set on foot a testimonial which should benefit some poor boy from our Masonic School , by procuring for him a University Scholarship . The health of the Prov . G . M . was proposed by his E . W . colleague of Yorkshire , in pithy but telling terms , " What need to descant upon
the good qualities of one so well known , who is here present amongst you ? You know him , what could I say to increase the honour and estimation which ho has won . " The E . W . brother did not propose to paint the rose , or gild the lily , and he was right . In addition to the Masonic Mark salutes , this toast was followed by spontaneous musical honours .
The health of the Deputy Prov . G . M ., Dr . Harris , was also drunk with enthusiasm . Bro . W . H . Prince , of Eochdale , addressed a few feeling remarks to the chair , and some of the speeches ( not except , ing those of Bros . F . Binckes and J . Terry ) were much above the average . A gathering happier in the perfect good understanding
which subsisted between all , cemented by love and respect for the occupant of the chair , has never been witnessed in Masonry . If the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters has other provinces after the manner of Lincolnshire , its members need not regret the technical objections which prevented the incorporation of their degree into Craft Masonry .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Ayrshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF AYRSHIRE .
LAYING OF A MEMORIAL STONE AT KILWINNING .
SATUEDAY , 25 th September , was a day that will long bo remembered in the annals of this quiet Ayrshire village , as that on which Colonel Mure , M . P ., P . G . M . of Ayrshire , attended to lay the memorial stone of the new schools , erecting by the School Board , for the children of this large parish . Kilwinning , as is well known to all Masonic students , claims to have been the cradle of British Freemasonry , inasmuch as the builders of the old abbey , whose ruins
still grace tho village , are said to be the oldest members of the Craft in this Isle of whom we have any authentic record , and whose descendants have continued to hold their meetings np to the present time . For a long time after the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the Kilwinning Lodge not only held aloof , but she continued to grant charters to daughter Lodges , and when a reconciliation was
effected it was only by conceding to her her priority over all tho other Lodges , and allowing her to call herself Mother Kilwinning , No . 0 , with the privileges of her members paying less for the registration and diploma than other Scotch Masons , and also granting her this unique privilege that the Master shall , from time to time elect , become thereby , ipso facto , tho Provincial Grand Master for the whole
of Ayrshire . This honourable office Colonel Mure , of Caldwell , M . P ., has long held , and very worthily filled , and when it was known that the School Board bad asked him , in that capacity , to lay the memorial stone of the splendid new schools they are erecting to meet the wants of this populous parish , it was determined that the occasion should be made worthy of the place and its memories . Notwithstanding
that Friday was a very stormy day , and that the morning of Saturday was equally unpropitious , a goodly number of the mother ' s bairns resident in Glasgow obeyed the summonses of tho Proxy Wardens—Bros . Ferguson and Tweed , —and went in special carriages by rail to this old and picturesque village . They were accompanied by a deputation of the following : —Glasgow Lodge , St . John ' s , No . 3 £ , a Lodge
which lays claim to equal antiquity with Kilwinning , but one always ready to assist the mother Lodge ; they were headed by their respected Master , W . Bell , P . M . Fletcher , and other influential brethren ; Thistle and Eose , No . 73 , were next followed by No . 116 ; while the Clyde , No . 408 , with its banner , her Master , and both his Wardens , and a fair proportion of the brethren , brought np tho rear
of the Glasgow contingent . Bro . Wyllie , the indefatigable P . G . S . of Ayrshire , had a band in waiting at the station to escort them into the town , and up to the oldest Lodge room in Scotland , where they were welcomed by Colonel Mure , Lord Eglinton , D . Murray Lyon , the Masonic historian , Sir James Ferguson , late Governor of New Zealand , W . E . Partrick , of Woodhonse D . P . G . M ., and the 6 lite of
the Masons of Ayrshire . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in the Temperance Hall , as the largest available building , by the P . G . M . Colonel Mure , M . P ., E . Montgomery D . P . G . M ., J . Partrick S . P . G . M ., D . Murray Lyon S . W ., Dr . J . Campbell E . W . M ., J . W . of Maybale , No . 11 , E . Wyllie S ., J . Winton Treasurer . A procession was than formed by A . Bryce , the Grand Tyler of Scotland , in which the
following Lodges took part : —Mother Kilwinning , No . 0 , St . John ' s , No . 3 £ , Maybale , No . 11 , St . John , Kilmarnock , No . 22 , Thistle and Eose , No . 73 , Troon , No . 86 , St . Marnock , No . 109 , St . John , Butherglen , No . 116 , Ayg , No . 124 , St . James , No . 125 , St . Andrew , No . 126 , Sfcewton , No . 127 , Tarbolton , No . 135 , Operative , No . 138 , Irvine , No . 149 , Ayr , No . 165 , St . Mnngo , No . 179 , Maybale , No . 198 , Muirkirk
No . 201 , Cumnock , No . 230 , Girvan , No . 237 , Johnson , No . 242 , St . John ' s , No . 248 , Dairy , No . 290 , Ardrossan , No . 320 , Galston , No . 331 , Dal . mellington , No . 433 , Neptune , No . 442 , Catrine , No . 497 , Hurlford , No . 505 , Stranraer , No . 519 , and Patna , No . 565 , Darby Ferguson , St . James . On reaching the building , which is at the outskirts of
the town , the Earl of Eglinton , in the name of the committee , presented Col . Mure with a handsome silver trowel , who gracefully acknowledged the compliment , and promised to transmit it as a heirloom to his family . The stone was then laid with the accustomed Masonic honours . Colonel Mure , M . P ., P . G . M ., then addressed the assemblage . He said it waa a very long time ago now—he thought it was in the year