Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

On Tuesday evening a Convocation of Emergency of Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Tavem , for the purpose of completing the business left over from Grand Lodge of 31 st May . Some other matters were also

announced to be brought forward for settlement at this emergency , and among them were the receiving the report of the Committee on the Royal Ark Mariners' Degree , the receiving communications from the Grand Master on the

subject of a treaty with the Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , and with the Supreme Grand Council 33 , and to consider motions on all three subjects . The Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . G . R .

Portal , M . A ., presided ; the Earl Percy , M . P ., Dep . G . M . ; Bro . the Earl of Limerick , S . G . W . ; A . W . Adair , J . G . W . ; Captain J . King , G . M . O . James Stevens , G . S . O . ; Joshua Nunn , G . J . O . Rev . W . Taylor Jones , as G . Ch . ; R . A .

Benson , G . Reg . ; and F . Binckes , G . Sec , being at their posts . There were also present Bros . R . Spencer , F . H . Gottlieb ( Singapore ) , S . Rosenthal , H . G . Lake , George Kenning , Morton Edwards , C . Hammerton , A . D . Loewenstark , J .

King , M . A . Loewenstark , W . Worrell , F . Davidson , ^ . M . Lazarus , Abrahams , Wolf Littaur , T . J . Sabine , J . G . Marsh , George Neall , Newman , and H . Massey . Grand Lodge having been formally opened ,

the Earl of Limerick was invested by the G . M . with the collar of S . G . W ., and Grand Secretary read the summons convoking the lodge and letters of apology from several officers who were unable to be present

The GRAND MASTER , in opening the proceedings , said he had received communications from Grand Chapters of Ireland and Canada acknowledging Mark Masters advanced under the English Grand Mark Lodge , and stating that

such Mark Masters would be admitted m the lodges of Ireland and Canada . He had also to inform the brethren that he had thought it wise to ask a very important Masonic body—the Order of the Red Cross of Rome and

Constantine , of which Bro . Hervey , Grand Secretary , was Chancellor—if they would be willing to enter into a treaty recognising this Grand Mark Lodge , on this Grand Lodge recognising the authority of the Red Cross Order , each

agreeing to promote the interests of the other as far as it could . A most kind affirmative response had been given to the question . The draft of the treaty had been prepared , and the effect of it was that the two contracting bodies agreed

mutually to acknowledge each other as the governing bodies of their respective degrees , and if a member of either order was for a good reason suspended or expelled by the governing body of that order , the other agreed to hold him

as suspended or expelled . The Supreme Grand Council of the 33 ° had offered to do the same , and he had great hopes that the Knights Templar would come to a similar arrangement . Ultimately , perhaps , Grand Craft Lodge would

concur , and the advantages of such a treaty were plain . It had always been thrown in Mark Masters' teeth by Scotch Masons that they were not recognised by any body . He asked authority

to-night to contract on the above terms with the Red Cross , the 33 rd degree , and the Knights Templar , and that the Earl of Carnarvon might be associated with the Grand Master in carrying that out .

Bro . the Rev . W . TAYLOR J ONES had much pleasure in supporting the view of the Grand Master , as he believed it would be most effectual in advancing the principles of the Order , and would be a credit to the brethren in promoting

unity , concord , and discipline , and making Masons of one mind and feeling . He felt that all the brethren would rejoice in having such an opportunity of assisting the Grand Master in

his work . He begged to second the motion . Bro . WOLF LITTAUR could perfectly understand such a treaty as was proposed being desired by Christian brethren , but , aa a Jew , he

Grand Mark Lodge.

should vote against it . However much he respected the talents and the admirable qualities ofthe majority of those who belonged to the Red Cross Order , he was obliged to differ with them on this point . He was a friend to all men of all creeds : he , however , respected truth . He

might say "Amicus , Plato ; amicus , Socrates ; scd major Veritas . " They were called upon to enter into a treaty in the name of the Grand Lodge with the Red Cross . Bro . BINCKES would inform Grand Lodge that the brother who was speaking against the Red

Cross Order was a member of the Rose Croix and the 30 th degree , both of which were Christian degrees . Bro . WOLF LITTAUR would observe that Jews were necessarily excluded from the Red Cross . That body was Christian , and had no

connection with Mark Masonry . He considered that Masonry was a platform where all men could meet ; and it was contrary to the feelings of non-Christians—in fact , it was almost a breach of that part of the ceremonies which taught us that there was nothing opposed to our religious

principles in it—to have the Red Cross apron ; it was humiliation to a Jew who did not put his faith in the sign of the cross , and on these grounds he ( Bro . Littaur ) opposed the motion . Bro . BINCKES , to shorten tlie discussion , would state that by the treaty a mere engagement was

entered into by the different Orders to recognise each other . No member of this lodge would be entitled to attend the Council of the Red Cross , nor would members of the Red Cross be entitled by this treaty to attend Grand Mark Lodge , much less to wear their aprons in it . It involved no

clashing of doctrines in any way ; but the two bodies being dc facto in existence , they chose to enter into an alliance , and to acknowledge that the supreme body of each was the legitimate ruling body of that Order . Bro . LAZARUS said , as an Israelite , that the

two bodies at present were supreme authorities over their respective members . He could not see the least reason why there should be any objection on the part of the Israelitish brethren to this treaty , as it would not interfere with their faith in any degree .

Bro the EARL of LIMERICK wished for an explanation whether the treaty would affect the position of Mark Masters belonging to these other Orders in Grand Mark Lodge . The GRAND MASTER said the treaty , if concluded , with the Red Cross and the 33 obliged

this lodge , when a member of any of the other Orders behaved so badly as to be suspended or expelled by his Order , to adopt the same course with regard to him * and so also with a Mark Mason , if Grand Mark Lodge suspended or expelled a brother , the other Orders would carry that sentence out , and not admit him to their

meetings . Bro . A . D . LOEWENSTARK thought they should pause before the amalgamation was effected . Bro . BINCKES rose to order . Amalgamation was never contemplated . This was simply a treaty .

Bro . A . D . LOEWENSTARK hoped that this Grand Lodge would admit men of all shades of opinion . He wished to know whether the treaty was offensive and defensive . On that ground he would support it , provided it went on the same footing as Craft Masonry , making itself

universal . As regarded religious creeds , he could meet every honest Christian or Mahometan and go into treaty with him , offensive and defensive , private and public * he was a friend of men of all creeds , and would shake hands with them when they were honest in their creeds

If creeds were not interfered with , he should support the motion . Bro . ABRAHAMS understood that Mark Masonry was a completion of the Fellow Craft degree , just as the Royal Arch was of the third degree , and he saw nothing in it which should

not be followed the same as Craft Masonry ; but when he saw that it was proposed to have a treaty with degrees which were not Freemasonry , he should hold up his hand against it . He had been told the evening before that the treaty would strengthen Mark Masonry , but in that opinion he differed . In the first place , Mark

Grand Mark Lodge.

Masonry did not require to be recognised by Christian Masonry . It was on a foundation of such strength and solidity that whether it was acknowledged or not by any degree , it would not be improved by such acknowledgment , though it might be injured . Masonry was

universal . Freemasons were one brotherhood , knowing no distinction ; and it would be a most unfair advantage to take if the Mark degree acknowledged any non-Masonic degree that refused Jews admission because they would not take a particular oath which affected their

religious principles . In fact , it was re-enacting what this country had succeeded in abolishing—the religious test * and he would beg this Grand Lodge not to thrust on any man what he objected to . He was not speaking for himself , but in the name of a very large body of Christians

as well as Jews . There should be no distinction in this lodge or in any other degree , and this motion certainly affected the liberty of Masons . Although it was a treaty offensive and defensive , it acknowledged these other degrees as Masonic . ( Bro . BINCKES : No , no . )

He thought it would be an injury , not only to the Mark Degree in particular but to the Craft in general , as it would give offence to a very large number of Mark Masters , and would probably be the means of many renouncing the Mark Degree . It would raise a question whether

Grand Mark Lodge was not offending Grand Craft Lodge of England . The question was one of principle , and was most important . He hoped never to read that Grand Mark Lodge had acknowledged a degree which said to a Mason , " You shall not be admitted into these Orders ,

unless you take a certain form of obligation . " He wished to keep Mark Masonry purely Masonic , without interfering with any Order which had a religious test to prove its identity . Bro . the EARL PERCY , D . G . M ., differed from Bro . Abrahams , when he said that Masonry

knew no distinction of creed . If he looked at the rules and constitutions of Grand Lodge he would find it said , that no Atheist could be a member . At the same time , any one acquainted with Masonry would allow that there was some reference to a future state , and a Mason could

hardly be an honest and hearty Mason , unless he believed in such a state . But the whole difficulty which seemed to press on the minds ofthe Jewish brethren with regard to this treaty , arose from a misconception as to the meaning of the treaty . There was nothing to prevent a treaty

being entered into with a Turk , and if we did , it could not be said that we thereby sacrificed our principles or our Christianity . Between nations it was customary to enter into treaties , and if we took the case of an Extradition Treaty , he could not see that principle or Christianity was

compromised , if it was entered into with a Turk or a Roman Catholic . He could not allow that the treaty under discussion was in a different position . There might be cases in which it would be unavoidable to recognise a particular body , but he thought they were justified in treating

these bodies as Masonic for the purpose of this treaty . Bro . J OSHUA NUNN could see that even among the Jewish brethren there was a divided opinion , but the strongest arguments they had used were against themselves . There was no desire from the

first to introduce anything into the Mark Degree that would hurt tlie religious opinions of any brethren . By entering into a treaty offensive and defensive with all outside itself , Grand Mark Lodge was strengthening itself in that it reduced to the smallest limits the differences that could

arise between them . Any great body that recognised Grand Mark Lodge threw its protection around it ; not in any way to amalgamate with it , or to interfere with it , but to support it as it was . He wished to narrow the jealousies of

Freemasonry as much as possible . It was much better for all the degrees that it should be so . No one felt more strongly on this point than he , while at the same time he felt the greatest repugnance to interfering with any one ' s religious creed .

Bro . J . H . WYNNE , asked whether if a Mark brother offended this Grand Lodge and it excluded him , would the other degrees exclude