The Mark Degree In England.

of your Grand Body , a resolution of formal recognition and ratification will be submitted to the Grand Chapter at our annual Convocation in August next . I have the honour to remain , Dear Sir and V . W . Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , Thos . 3 . Harris , 33 ° , S . G . I . G . of E . and W . G . S . E . Grand Chapter of Canada .

APPENDIX B . Submitted by Comp . L . Mackersy , G . S . E ., Grand Chapter of Scotland . Extract Minute of Committes of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date the Sixth day of September , 1870 , A . D ., and 5874 , A . L . The committee having taken into consideration communication from Bro . Frederick BinckesLondonproposing a Conference

, , between Delegates of the Supreme Chapter , and the body which he represented , and having also carefully considered the previous communings relative thereto , unanimously recommended the Supreme Chapter to agree to send Delegates to a Conference , provided the Grand Lodges and Chapter of England , Ireland and S : otland were parties to .

Extract Minutes of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , of date Twenty-first day of September , 1870 , A . D ., and 5874 , A . L . The Supreme Chapter then took into consideration communication from Comp . Frederick Binckes of London , aud Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal , on the subject of the proposed Conference Avith the body AA'hich these Brethren represented , with tbe view to a recognition of that body by the Supreme Chapter , also the

copy letters therein referred to from the Grand Lodge of England . The Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , and tbe Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and the report of the Committee thereauent . After a long discussion it was unanimously resolved to adopt the recommendation of the Committee and to agree to appoint Delegates with the view to a Conference provided Delegates were appointed by the Grand Lodge ancl Chapter of England , the Grand

Lodge and Chapter of Ireland , and tbe Grand Lodge of Scotland . In coming to this decision the Supreme Chapter did not overlook the documents laid before them by Brothers Portal and Binckes , nor underrate their important bearing upon the question novv

under discussion , more particularly in so far as they disclose the sentiments of individual members of the Grand Lodge of England as such , but keeping in view ( 1 ) The decided expression of the mind of the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England as contained in the resolutions of these Grand Bodies , dated respectively the 7 th June and 2 nd August , 1865 , not to recognise "The Body styling itself the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of EnglandAVales and the Colonies and Possessions of the

, British Crown , " and ( 2 ) " The serious complications which might arise % vore the Grand of Lodge England at any future time to adopt the same view of tho Mark Degree as has been adopted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , viz . —That it is not a separate Degree at all , but a part and portion of the Fellow Craft Degree , and to assume the management of it , while on the other hand were recognition accorded to a body such as the ono now craving

it ( which exists in no country except EnglmacP aud were it insisting on abiding by the recognition so given , the Supreme Chapter did not feol disposed to undertake the responsibility of entering into any negotiations unless the Grand Lodge and Chapters of England , Ireland and Scotland were parties to them .

Extract Minute of Committee of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date Fourteenth October , 1870 , A . D ., and 5874 , A . L . This Meeting being Convened principally at the request of Bro . Binckes , London , the Committee heard that Brother fully on the subject cf the last Minute of the Supreme Chapter . After a ong discussion it was ultimately agreed to recommend the Supreme Chapter so far to modify that minute to the effect

that if the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England were formally nvited to send Delegates to the proposed Conference the absence of such Delegates should not be any bar to the Conference being held .

Extract Minute of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date Twenty-second day of December , 1870 , and 5874 A . L . Having resumed consideration of the proposed Conference on tho subject of the Mark Master Degree with the Minutes of the Supreme Chapter of date 21 st September , 1870 , und of the Committee of date 14 th October , 1870 , it was unanimously resolved to modify the resolutions of the former of these Minutes

to the effect recommended in the latter , and in event of the Grand Ludge and Chapter of England being formally invited to attend the Conference , that the- presence of a Delegate or Delegates from either or both of these bodies should not be deemed indispensable . And a letter having been read from Bro . F . Binckes , agreeing on the part of the body he represented that such formal invitation should be given , the Supreme Chapter unanimously agreed to send Delegates to the proposed

Conference , and remitted to the Committee Avith full powers to name the Delegates and to make all the necessary arrangements . The Supreme Chapter indicated au opinion that the Delegates should be the Grand Scribes , E . and N ., and Comp . AAlUiam Hay .

Extract Minute of Committee of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date Fourteenth day of February , 1871 , A . D ., and 5874 , A . L . A was resolved to delay appointing Delegates to the proposed Conference until the Grand Chapter of Ireland had returned an answer .

Extract Minute of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date the First day of March , 1871 , A . D ., and 5875 , A . L . The Supreme Chapter thereafter resumed the subject of the proposed Conference in London as to the position of the Mark Degree in England . The Grand Scribe E . read a letter from Bro . F . Binckes , intimating that Delegates Avould appear from Irelaud and that Office Bearers of the

Grand Lodge and Chapter of England would also attend although not officially . He also read a letter from Bro . Entwisle , Provincial Grand Superintendent under the Scotch Constitution , in Lancashire . Comp . Alexander Hay , Grand Recorder , then intimated that , in his opinion , Bro . Entwisle ought to be present at this conference . After some discussion as to the mode of carrying out the suggestion of

Comp Hay , of which the Supreme Chapter approved , it was unanimously resolved so far to modify the resolution of last quarterly communication as to the three Delegates to bo appointed , and to direct that Bro . Entwisle was to be one of them , and the Supreme Chapter remitted to the Committee to appoint three Delegates in terms of the resolution contained in the Minute of date 21 st December last , Bro . Entwisle to be one of them .

Extract Minute of Committee of Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland of date , Sixth March , 1871 , A . D ., and 5 S 72 . A . L . In term of the remit from the Supreme Chapter , Comp . Thomas Entwisle , Provincial Grand Mark Superintendent of Lancashire , Lindsay Mackersy , Grand Scribe E ., and A \ illiam MaiHi , Grand . Scvihc N ., wevc vmanimowsly appointed Delegates to the Conference to be held in London on the subject of the

Mark Degree in England . Extracted from the Minutes of Supreme Grand Royal Arch „ Chapter of Scotland this Twenty-seventh day of March , 1871 , A . D ., and 5875 , A . L . L . MACKERST , Grand Scribe E .

APPENDIX C : Copy of Circular from Representatives of Mark Lodges in Loudon , under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , recommending "Union with Grand Mark Lodge of England . Upper St . Martin's Lane , London , AV . C September ICtb , 1858 . Dear Sir and Brother , As R . AV . Masters of Mark Lodges , holding under the Supreme

Grand Chapter of Scotland , we invite your attention to a subject Avhich has for a considerable time occupied the minds ofthe London Brethren , vi' / . -. —the unsatisfactory condition of the Mark Degree in this country , arising from the anomalous position