The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-06-01
Masonic Orders in England.

AT the commencement of a new year
it may not be amiss to look around us,
and consider for a moment at the actual
position and future prospects of Freema-
sonry in England. There cannot be a
doubt that the Order never was SO pow
erful as it is at present, and we do not
allude to mere numbers, but to the infu-
ence which it exercises over vast array
of intelligent men. We are also inclined
to believe that larger per centage Of
really desirable candidates have of late
years been added to the muster roll of
the Craft. We have literary lodges,
like F." Urban" holden at that quaint old
hosiery, the Jerusalem Tavern, ST.
Johns Gate and we have musical
lodges, like that of the "Asaph," where
brethren of eminence in the inspiring art
Of which St. Cecilia is the tutelary deity,
are enabled to conduct the ceremonies of
Freemasonry with great ability and sue
cess. Again, the martial element is rep
resented by the 'Fitzroy" and the "NIc-
Donald :" while those who plough the
ocean waves are found in the Merchant
Navy" and other maritime lodges at the
East end. Congenient Fellowship
great desideratum i'll life-is therefore
attainable by men of the most varied
habits and pursuits, and it is, we are sat
isfied, very wise and graceful policy to
encourage the formation of lodges for all
sections of the community, especially for
the professional classes, who are in gen.
eral animated by commendable esprit
de corps 1t is estimated that about
eight thousand initiates swell the rank of
English Masonry every year, and this
rate of increase is likely to continue, pro-
vided no calamity, such as war, should
intervene. Fifty new lodges are also
annually, added to the Grand Lodge
roll, and these, of course, in due time
augment materially the numerical
strength of the Fraternity. Royal Arch
Masonry, as we took occasion to remark
some time ago, is also in a very flourish
ing condition, and the adherents are rap
idly increasing, the number of new chap
tiers granted each year averaging fifteen.
The sum total of Craft lodges actually
working and in good order is 1850, and
the Royal Arch Chapters number $50.
We now come to what we call the UNI
recognized degrees, and during the past
year we find that the Mark" Degree has
outstripped all its competitors, and is
now second only to the Craft and ROYAL
Arch Masonry in prestige and Importance.
This is mainly due to the untiring energy
of the Nest Worshipful Bro. Portal.
whose career as Grand Mark Mark Mas
ter has been an uninterrupted series of
successes. Not that we ignore the valued
services of the distinguished brethren
who preceded him in his high office-on
= L. III 4
him the most loyal and cordial support
but the fact cannot be gainsaid that with
the zeal of an apostle, Bro. Portal CON-
bines those rare faculties of mind which
at once attest mans claim to rule and
direct his fellows. The Mark Grand
Lodge has now about 120 Lodges under
its jurisdiction, and its constituents are
to be found in nearly all the foreign and
colonial possessions of England. We
are also glad to state that, with wise
provision, it has been arranged that all
the allied or kindred degrees, such as the
Most Excellent Masters and the ROYAL
Ark Mariners, shall be worked under
the authority of the Mark Grand Lodge,
and by the adoption of this course
the multiplication Of supreme Masonic
bodies has been very properly prevented.
The Order of the Temple comes next
to the Mark in strength, numbering as il |
does about 40 Encampments. The
knights Iemplar do not, however, in |
crease very rapidly, but as their execu- |
tive department is extremely well man.
aged, we may fairly anticipate that they
viii hold their own for a long time to |
come amongst the various branches Of |
the Masonic brotherhood. London Free
mason.