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Article THE MARK DEGREE IN ENGLAND. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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The Mark Degree In England.
He intimated to Grand Lodgo that Mark Masonry must been a portion of the Old Masonic system . That body then directed their Committee with the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter to prepare a ritual . The only difference being that the Old Lodge speak of a square stone , and the Royal Arch of a keystone . Bro . Mackersy : That goes to show that this is a part of operative Masonry , not of Royal Arch Masonry . Bro . Kerr : That is the whole argument between us and the
Royal Arch Masons . The traditional ritual has been practised by the Old Lodges in this way , who hold it , and will not give it up . Bro . Hay : It had no doubt a meaning of some kind or other ; although obscure . They were cautious in expressing themselves . It was all ' -speculative ,- " hut nevertheless it was a system intelligible to themselves .
Bro . Kerr : The stone you refer to as the chief Arch stone is our square stone . Bro . Hay : It ivould appear from some traditions I have met with to have been the practice of ancient operative Masons in their initiations to make the candidate personify a stone to which the square is applied to try whether it be a perfect or square stone . Here is a stone for the building , presented for approval by the Master or Overseers , andif approvedto be recognised
, , as fit for its place iu the structure , emblematical of the individual ' s place in the moral or heavenly temple . This is also a truly Christian symbol , and I think the Grand Lodge of England , by refusing to recognise the Mark Degree , loses invaluable matter for useful instruction . The idea of the initiate being presented as a stone lor the building of the Masonic Temple is recognised in the E . A . Degree , as usually practised in all Lodges ,
and the inference is that as the stones combine to form the Temple , so the individuals combine to form the Lodge , Society , Church , or Family . Bvo . Mackersy . They existed prior to the time of Christ . They have other than a Christian reference . Earl Percy -. Do you recognise them as Christians in your Degree ? Bro . Kerr : Yes . It is worthy of remark that this stone is understood to have been intended for the foundation stone ; and
m the end the "bunding cannot be finished without it . ( Bro . Kerr then then described the preparation and approval of the stones as rehearsed in the Mark Ritual , and its final acceptance and laying with rejoicing . ) In answer to Bro . Portal he further stated that the three marks used were the apprentice's mark , which had its points equal in number , say 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ; tbe F . C . marlv , which was irregular in the number of its points , and the Marie Master ' s mark was an equilateral triangle .
Bro . Portal : The Mark Man is the same as a F . C , Brc . Kerr : He is . Earl Percy : They were a Mark Master's Lodge , but they could not do anything without a Master . Bro . Portal : Did the Masters then form themselves into a Lodge ? Bro . Kerr : Oh , yes . The Overseers or Mark Masters . Bro . Portal : and they had Masters over them ?
Bro . Kerr : Yes . The word " Architect" is modern . Bro . Portal : 1 'hey ' were a Lodge of Magisters , having a Magister over them . Bro . Kerr : Yes . Bro . Portal : That is a curious fact . Bro . Kerr : "Apprentices were divided into small companies or Lodges , which were presided over and instructed by the Fellow Crafts or Journeymenwho were also divided in a similar manner
, , presided over and instructed by the Foreman or Overseers , and these again by the Master Mason . " Bro . Portal : There was no such thing as a Master Masons ' Lodge as now understood . Bro . Hay : The Masters' Lodges are of modern date . Bro . Portal : Coining to this point about the position of the Mark Degree , that will be our difficulty ; it was a mistake ofthe . loinl Committee of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England
when thoy said the Mark Degree was a graceful appenndage to the F . C , and Mark Masters would not confirm the report ou the ground that it was putting the Mark Degree out of its proper place . I have two or three facts to bring before the attention of the Conference . First of all there is the fact , which is indisputable , that in every Masonic system throughout the world , in Scotland , Ireland , Canada and America , the Mark Degree is taken under the cognisance ofthe Grand Chapter and not under
the cognisance of the Grand Lodge . It is only given to those who have taken the Degree of Master Mason . In Ash ' s Manual it is put clearly enough . There a Mark Man comes below the Master Mason , but a Mark Master comes after Master Mason . ; the Master Mason comes between the two . Bro . Hay : The Americans work in their Chapters the same number of Degrees between the Master ' s Degree and the Royal Arch as we do in Scotland—viz : Mark Master , Past Master ,
and a Degree called Most Excellent Master . The later is not worked in this country , and the Degree appears to have some relation to the F . C . or Mark Degree . Their Royal Arch is a combination of our Excellent and R . A- Their Craft Degrees are given in all essentials the same as in England , Ireland and Scotland . The ritual , however , differs , but is probably the same as was used in Scotland at the time Masonry was introduced into America , and which is still in use in some country Lodges in
Scotland and also in Ireland . Bro . Portal : Then as regards the Mark having a separate jurisdiction , I think the Grand Secretary has a word or two tosay on that point . I see no great anomal y iu Mark Masonry having a separate jurisdiction any more than the Royal Arch , which , as we hold , is a completion ofthe Master Mason ' s Degree in the same way as you say the Mark is the completion of the
F . C . It is an historical fact , that in 1740 the Royal Arch secrets were given in the Master Mason's Lodges . I have a French , book , dated in 1747 , wherein there is a diagram of the third Degree and the word of the Royal Arch . That shows that now the Royal Arch has got separated from the third Degree . If that is riot thought an anomaly , why should it be thought an anomaly thsit the Mark Degree should also have its own separate
jurisdiction ? Bro . Mackersy : In all countries is the Royal Arch separate ; but in no country but England is the Mark . Bro . Portal : Avery learned author , Bro . Hyde Clarke , assured me that in some part pf Turkey or Syria a Mark G . L . had been started by some Americans . Bro . Hay : We have a chapter in Turkey ; we have also a Chapter in Smyrna ivorking the Mark Degree . Bro . Binckes : You say in Scotland that there ought not
to be a separate jurisdiction for the Mark because it is a part of the second Degree . But you have a separate jurisdiction for the Royal Arch , wliich is part and parcel of the third Degree , and there is a separate jurisdiction for the Arch in all countries In England we have a separate jurisdiction for it , although it is said here to be a part of the third Degree ; and yet they will not work that Degree in tbe Lodges . In Scotland the Royal Arch Degree is not in connection with the Grand Lodge of Scotland ,
but they are obliged to form a separate jurisdiction over the Royal Arch Degree , because the Grand Lodge of Scotland will not have anything to do with it , just as our Supreme Body will not have anything to do with the Mark Degree . Therefore I hold that the position of the Mark Grand Lodge in England with respect to the Grand Craft Lodge in England is precisely analogous to the position of Grand Chapter of Scotland with regard to Grand Lodge of Scotland . They ivill not recognise it .
And what do we do ? We say if you will not recognise us , we will form a separate jurisdiction over Mark Lodges . I must say that our justification is to be found in the separation of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . Bro . Mackersy : That is very important . Bro . Hay : Why should not the Grand Lodge of England recognise your Grand Mark Lodge in the same way as the Grand Lodge of Scotland has recognised the Grand Chapter of
Scotland ? It seems they do not disapprove of it . Why should not you work like Grand Chapter with their sanction and approval ivithout being connected with them , or they with your Degrees ? Bro . Binckes : They put it this way , are you prepared to advise tbe erasure of a portion of the articles of union ? They say , No , Bro . l \ Iacl _ ersy : Ifc was said that ive must have altered the constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to admit the mark
, but when it was proved to be a part of the Fellow Craft Degree the admission of it was held to be quite consistent with our Con . stitution . Bro . Hay : Here is what the Grand Lodge of Scotland says : — " All Lodges holding of the Grand Lodges of Scotland are strictly prohibited and discharged from holding any other meeting than those of the three orders , —viz ., Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , denominated St . John ' s Masonry , the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Mark Degree In England.
He intimated to Grand Lodgo that Mark Masonry must been a portion of the Old Masonic system . That body then directed their Committee with the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter to prepare a ritual . The only difference being that the Old Lodge speak of a square stone , and the Royal Arch of a keystone . Bro . Mackersy : That goes to show that this is a part of operative Masonry , not of Royal Arch Masonry . Bro . Kerr : That is the whole argument between us and the
Royal Arch Masons . The traditional ritual has been practised by the Old Lodges in this way , who hold it , and will not give it up . Bro . Hay : It had no doubt a meaning of some kind or other ; although obscure . They were cautious in expressing themselves . It was all ' -speculative ,- " hut nevertheless it was a system intelligible to themselves .
Bro . Kerr : The stone you refer to as the chief Arch stone is our square stone . Bro . Hay : It ivould appear from some traditions I have met with to have been the practice of ancient operative Masons in their initiations to make the candidate personify a stone to which the square is applied to try whether it be a perfect or square stone . Here is a stone for the building , presented for approval by the Master or Overseers , andif approvedto be recognised
, , as fit for its place iu the structure , emblematical of the individual ' s place in the moral or heavenly temple . This is also a truly Christian symbol , and I think the Grand Lodge of England , by refusing to recognise the Mark Degree , loses invaluable matter for useful instruction . The idea of the initiate being presented as a stone lor the building of the Masonic Temple is recognised in the E . A . Degree , as usually practised in all Lodges ,
and the inference is that as the stones combine to form the Temple , so the individuals combine to form the Lodge , Society , Church , or Family . Bvo . Mackersy . They existed prior to the time of Christ . They have other than a Christian reference . Earl Percy -. Do you recognise them as Christians in your Degree ? Bro . Kerr : Yes . It is worthy of remark that this stone is understood to have been intended for the foundation stone ; and
m the end the "bunding cannot be finished without it . ( Bro . Kerr then then described the preparation and approval of the stones as rehearsed in the Mark Ritual , and its final acceptance and laying with rejoicing . ) In answer to Bro . Portal he further stated that the three marks used were the apprentice's mark , which had its points equal in number , say 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 ; tbe F . C . marlv , which was irregular in the number of its points , and the Marie Master ' s mark was an equilateral triangle .
Bro . Portal : The Mark Man is the same as a F . C , Brc . Kerr : He is . Earl Percy : They were a Mark Master's Lodge , but they could not do anything without a Master . Bro . Portal : Did the Masters then form themselves into a Lodge ? Bro . Kerr : Oh , yes . The Overseers or Mark Masters . Bro . Portal : and they had Masters over them ?
Bro . Kerr : Yes . The word " Architect" is modern . Bro . Portal : 1 'hey ' were a Lodge of Magisters , having a Magister over them . Bro . Kerr : Yes . Bro . Portal : That is a curious fact . Bro . Kerr : "Apprentices were divided into small companies or Lodges , which were presided over and instructed by the Fellow Crafts or Journeymenwho were also divided in a similar manner
, , presided over and instructed by the Foreman or Overseers , and these again by the Master Mason . " Bro . Portal : There was no such thing as a Master Masons ' Lodge as now understood . Bro . Hay : The Masters' Lodges are of modern date . Bro . Portal : Coining to this point about the position of the Mark Degree , that will be our difficulty ; it was a mistake ofthe . loinl Committee of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England
when thoy said the Mark Degree was a graceful appenndage to the F . C , and Mark Masters would not confirm the report ou the ground that it was putting the Mark Degree out of its proper place . I have two or three facts to bring before the attention of the Conference . First of all there is the fact , which is indisputable , that in every Masonic system throughout the world , in Scotland , Ireland , Canada and America , the Mark Degree is taken under the cognisance ofthe Grand Chapter and not under
the cognisance of the Grand Lodge . It is only given to those who have taken the Degree of Master Mason . In Ash ' s Manual it is put clearly enough . There a Mark Man comes below the Master Mason , but a Mark Master comes after Master Mason . ; the Master Mason comes between the two . Bro . Hay : The Americans work in their Chapters the same number of Degrees between the Master ' s Degree and the Royal Arch as we do in Scotland—viz : Mark Master , Past Master ,
and a Degree called Most Excellent Master . The later is not worked in this country , and the Degree appears to have some relation to the F . C . or Mark Degree . Their Royal Arch is a combination of our Excellent and R . A- Their Craft Degrees are given in all essentials the same as in England , Ireland and Scotland . The ritual , however , differs , but is probably the same as was used in Scotland at the time Masonry was introduced into America , and which is still in use in some country Lodges in
Scotland and also in Ireland . Bro . Portal : Then as regards the Mark having a separate jurisdiction , I think the Grand Secretary has a word or two tosay on that point . I see no great anomal y iu Mark Masonry having a separate jurisdiction any more than the Royal Arch , which , as we hold , is a completion ofthe Master Mason ' s Degree in the same way as you say the Mark is the completion of the
F . C . It is an historical fact , that in 1740 the Royal Arch secrets were given in the Master Mason's Lodges . I have a French , book , dated in 1747 , wherein there is a diagram of the third Degree and the word of the Royal Arch . That shows that now the Royal Arch has got separated from the third Degree . If that is riot thought an anomaly , why should it be thought an anomaly thsit the Mark Degree should also have its own separate
jurisdiction ? Bro . Mackersy : In all countries is the Royal Arch separate ; but in no country but England is the Mark . Bro . Portal : Avery learned author , Bro . Hyde Clarke , assured me that in some part pf Turkey or Syria a Mark G . L . had been started by some Americans . Bro . Hay : We have a chapter in Turkey ; we have also a Chapter in Smyrna ivorking the Mark Degree . Bro . Binckes : You say in Scotland that there ought not
to be a separate jurisdiction for the Mark because it is a part of the second Degree . But you have a separate jurisdiction for the Royal Arch , wliich is part and parcel of the third Degree , and there is a separate jurisdiction for the Arch in all countries In England we have a separate jurisdiction for it , although it is said here to be a part of the third Degree ; and yet they will not work that Degree in tbe Lodges . In Scotland the Royal Arch Degree is not in connection with the Grand Lodge of Scotland ,
but they are obliged to form a separate jurisdiction over the Royal Arch Degree , because the Grand Lodge of Scotland will not have anything to do with it , just as our Supreme Body will not have anything to do with the Mark Degree . Therefore I hold that the position of the Mark Grand Lodge in England with respect to the Grand Craft Lodge in England is precisely analogous to the position of Grand Chapter of Scotland with regard to Grand Lodge of Scotland . They ivill not recognise it .
And what do we do ? We say if you will not recognise us , we will form a separate jurisdiction over Mark Lodges . I must say that our justification is to be found in the separation of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . Bro . Mackersy : That is very important . Bro . Hay : Why should not the Grand Lodge of England recognise your Grand Mark Lodge in the same way as the Grand Lodge of Scotland has recognised the Grand Chapter of
Scotland ? It seems they do not disapprove of it . Why should not you work like Grand Chapter with their sanction and approval ivithout being connected with them , or they with your Degrees ? Bro . Binckes : They put it this way , are you prepared to advise tbe erasure of a portion of the articles of union ? They say , No , Bro . l \ Iacl _ ersy : Ifc was said that ive must have altered the constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to admit the mark
, but when it was proved to be a part of the Fellow Craft Degree the admission of it was held to be quite consistent with our Con . stitution . Bro . Hay : Here is what the Grand Lodge of Scotland says : — " All Lodges holding of the Grand Lodges of Scotland are strictly prohibited and discharged from holding any other meeting than those of the three orders , —viz ., Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason , denominated St . John ' s Masonry , the