Ancient Masonic Lodges, No. Iv.

Smith , Deput Master at Turreff , to make particular Enquery anent William Murray ' s being lawfully married to the Woman who takes on her the title of his Widow , and to Report the same at next Annnall Meeting .

" Appoint the Treasurer to pay to the wife of Alex . James , in Banff , for supporting his family , himselfe being presently in Prison for debt , the sum of Ten Shillings sterling , to be repaid into the Lodge by the said Alex . James Avhen his circumstances will admit thereof .

"And appoint the Treasurer to take proper Receipts for the forsaid Donations , and take credite therefor in his accounts . "Thereafter a Pitition was put in for Alex . Robertson , mason in Banff ,

for Joining the Lodge . The vote being put , it was carried by a majority not to admit the said Alex . Robertson ; and recommends it to the Meeting that none of the members thereof may never in time coming make any further application for admitting the said Alex . Robertson . "

Some little time since we had a friendly discussion Avith Bro . Tisdall of New York respecting what is called the "Mark Master Mason ' s" degree being conferred upon Fellow Crafts . We maintained that the custom had

been to confer it only on Master Masons , but Bro . Tisdall stated that on the contrary it had generally been given to Fellow Crafts in a Craft Lodge . We challenged the production of a minute to such an effect belonging to any

Lodge in the United States , but though Bro . Tisdall undertook to send a transcript of one , he has not succeeded in finding any confirmation of his statement , or if he has discovered such a reference he has been singularly quiet

in announcing the important fact . The custom during the last century was for Fellow Crafts to be made " Marie Men , " but only Master Masons to be advanced as Mark Masters . ( To be concluded in our next . )

The Old Masonic Poem.

THE OLD MASONIC POEM .

( . Contimied from page 13 . ) Another ordination of the Art of Gemetry . They ordained there an assembly to be holden Every year , wheresoever they would , To amend the defaultsif any were found ,

, Among the craft within the land ; Each year or third year it should be holden , In every place wheresoe'er they would ; Time and place must be ordained also , In what place they shall assemble to . All the men of craft there they must be , And other great lords , as ye may see , To amend the faults that be there spoken , -

If that any of them be then broken . There they shall be all sworn , That belongeth to this craft ' s lore , To keep these statutes every one , That be ordained by King Athelstan ; " These statutes that I have here found " I will they be holden through my laud , " For the worship of my royalty

, " That I have by my dignity . " Also at eveiy assembly that ye hold , That ye come to your liege king bold , Beseeching him . of his high grace , To stand with you in every place , To eonfam the statutes of King Athelstan , Which he ordained to this craft by good reason .

The Ait of the four crowned ! Pray we now to God Almighty , And to his mother Mary bright , That we may keep these articles here , And these points well all together , As did these holy martyrs four , That in this craft were of great honour ;

They were as good masons as on earth shall go , Gravers and image makers they were also , For they were workmen of the best . The emperor had for them great ( 1 ) Inst , He willed of them an image to make , That might be worshipped for his sake ; Such idols he had in his day , To turn the people from Christ ' s law ;

But they were steadfast in Christ's law , And to their craft , without nay ; They loved well God and all his lore , And were in his service evermore . True men they were in that day , And lived well in God's law ; They thought no idols for to make , For no good that they might take ,

To believe on those idols for their God , They would not do so , though he were wood ; For they would not forsake their true faith , And believe in his false law . The emperor ( 2 ) let take them soon anon , And put them into a deep prison ; The sorer he punished them in that place , The more joy was to them of Christ ' s grace . Then when he saw no other way ,

( 1 ) Lust ; liking . ( 2 ) Let take them ; caused them to be taken .