Mark Degree, Grand Lodge and Supreme Why do two bodies confer the same degree?
ond part of the Fellow Craft Degree, shall only be conferred on Master Masons, and the seWhat is generally known as the Mark Mas- crets shall only be communicated in presence ter's Degree was wrought by Operative Lodg- of those who have taken it either from a es of St John's Masonry in connection with Lodge or Chapter entitled to grant it. the Fellow Craft Degree before the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Since then it 3. That the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the had continued to be wrought in the old Oper- Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotative Lodges; but in what may be called the land shall adopt the same Ritual in conferring Speculative Lodges it never has been worked the Degree, being that now adjusted by their at all—or at all events only in a very few. respective Committees. With the exception of the old Operative Lodges , this degree having been entirely aban- 4. That any candidate applying to be admitted doned by the Lodges of St John's Masonry, the to the Royal Arch Degree, if he has received Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter assumed the Mark Degree in a regular Lodge of St the management of it as the Fourth Degree of John's Masonry, shall not be required to take Masonry in order to complete the instruction it a second time from the Chapter into which of their candidates in the preliminary degrees he seeks admission; but in the event of his before admitting them to the Royal Arch. not having received it, he shall be obliged to take it from that Chapter. The degree, however, whether viewed as a second part of the Fellow Craft Degree or as a 5. That as regards the Royal Arch Degrees, the separate degree, had never been recognised Mark Degree shall be reckoned as the Fourth or worked in England, Ireland or the Conti- Degree in Masonry. nent or in America, as a part of St John's Masonry. It, therefore, now being desirable that 6. That nothing contained in these regulations an arrangement may be made which would shall interfere with the Superintendence reconcile the differences between the Grand which the Supreme Grand Royal Arch ChapLodge of Scotland and the Supreme Grand ter of Scotland claims over Mark Masonry out Royal Arch Chapter and admit of the first of Scotland, or with the Lodges holding of it in three Degrees of St John's Masonry being England or abroad. worked in the Lodges in Scotland in a manner similar to that allowed by Sister Grand Lodg- This report was accepted on 20th December, es, resolve to recommend the Grand Lodge of 1860 although many lodges did not confer Scotland and the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland to enact and declare as the MMM until well into the 20th century. follows, viz.: May’s edition will look at Scottish regalia. 1.That all Lodges holding of the Grand Lodge of Scotland shall be allowed to work this degree in virtue of the charters which they already possess. 2. That to prevent confusion with Brethren belonging to Lodges out of this kingdom, or with Sister Grand Lodges, this Degree, although held by the Grand Lodge to be a sec-
Cross Keys April 2021
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