American Correspondence.

a concordat is presently established ; all parties shake hands ; schismatics are healed and evorthing again is lovely . Your readers would be surprised to learn how many of the 33 ° in this country , received their honours in this Avay . It takes no

prophet to compute how many more will yet receive it so . The evil grows out of the un-democratic character of the system itself . The grade of 33 ° like all other Masonic honours , should be bestowed

" by merit only , " and that through the suffrages of all Scotch Rite Masons . Until this is done there ivill never be ( for there never has been ) more than a brief intermission in the schisms that disgrace the rite , and damage the entire Masonic

institution in the United States . The story of that rite ever since it was introduced into this country , Avith its 33 ° , its ad vitam appointments , the unlimited accumulation of powers in the hands of the few , and the want of historical accuracy that

vitiates its history , is full charged Avith evil and has not one good thing , to my knowledge , to recommend it .

A few years since , an attempt was made to introduce into this country another system of the same sort called the rite of Memphis . Hundreds of our leading Masons entered into it , and quite a number of organizations have been formed under

cognomens that drive us to the dictionary of antiquities for definitions . I do not think that they flourish , yet there is no lack of applications for the degrees . The truth is , our American brethren are hungry

and thirsty for new degrees . Never was such a race for grades , steps , and rounds . The true emblem of American Masonry is the ladder , and one too , with an infinite number of rounds . I have taken 142 ! yet I still live . Is that all that can be had here you enquire ? I trow not . I see that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales went to Sweden to

get some degrees eheu posthume ! we haven't got in this republic 1—what then ? why , we will send somebody there who ivill get them . And he shall come back , and we will meet him at the wharf , and he shall be honourably conducted to the

nearest Masonic hall , and we will draw them out of him . Then we will have a new rite , and my poor paltry number of 142 will attain to the respectable aggregate of 154 ! think of that Master Brooke ! By the way , do you know of any new degrees , or does any correspondent of the FREEMASON ' MAGAZINE know of any new degrees that

American Correspondence.

I can get hold of ? A friend of mine ivrites me lately ; " down this way , Bro . Morris , all the boys-( he means the Masons ) are asking me if I cannot get them some new degrees ? " Do brother Editor help us if you can .

The Mark Degree.

THE MARK DEGREE .

By BRO . FEEDEEICK BINCKES , Grand Secretary , Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , & c . "Reitarn" is , in my opinion , deserving of the thanks of all Mark Masons for having , drawn attention in the MAGAZINE of the 5 th inst .,.

to the status and condition of this degree and I propose to say a few words on two topics of importance to which allusion is made by him , not in any Avay seeking to impugn his narration of facts . The subjects I refer to are :

1 . —The legality of the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and Wales , & c ; 2 . —The position of that body with reference to other Supreme Masonic jurisdictions . 1 . —On this head I maintain the indefeasible

right of any body of men finding themselves without government , to organise themselves under a ruler , and to frame laws for their guidance and control . This was done by the Mark Masons in England

in 1856 , but not until every effort had been used to induce the Supreme existing Masonic jurisdiction in England to authorise the working of the Mark Degree not as a new degree , but as an integral portion of the Fellow Craft Degree .

This was done by the Masons in London in 1717 , who constituted , and declared themselves to be , a Grand Lodge , although the Grand Lodge at York continued the exercise of its functions . This was done by the Masonic Knights

Tern-plars in 1790 . This was done by the members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite in 1846 . In the two latter instances , the degrees not . being recognised by the Grand Lodge of England ,,

the organisation in each case was effected without provoking rivalry , opposition , or even hostile criticism .

This was done by the Masons , who in 1739-40 . seceded from the body constituted in 1717 , and organised a Grand Lodge which maintained a flourishing existence in opposition to the older body , until the union in 1813 .