New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-30
AN OLD DOCUMENT.
OF INTEREST TO ROYAL ARCH MAsoNs.

The degree OF Mark Master rs an independent
degree, is OF comparatively modern date, and -
confined principally 10 the United states. BIZ re"
European Royal Arch Masons arc in possession
OF f. In England Mark Ma ,onry Is at this time
pracsed In some Of tn, Chapters and looges. but
II is. says d.. Oliver. by the tolerance ana not ny
the sanction OF the Grand Lodge. When we SPEAK
OF the modern character OF the degree We OF course
allude to 1t a distinct and Independent grace
There can be no doubt of the antiquity and truth-
fulness OF the traditions and legends connected with
IT, but II most probable that they were formerly
connected with the degree OF Fellow craft Va
which Mark Masonry is Illustrative just as foy"'
Arch Masonry Is illustrative OF the third degree
Since the organization OF Royal Arch Chapters III
this country those bodies have token the MARK
degree under their superintendent. and II Is no"
conferred. az Is well known, az the hrst OF the
capituar degrees. But the control oil the degree
was probably assumed by the Chapters. rather oe-
cause Il was found floating about, without any
definite experimenting power thin because Vi
AIRY connection which had existed be."eeh II
and the ROYAL Arch before the latter was taken
from the lodges and made a dis inct 1urisdicuoh'
It was in 1891 In the English Chapters no p'o-
vision Is made for its being conferred. nor as we
have already said IS Il usual to find Engsh f'o9a'
Arch Magons In possession OF II. When they ar
rive In this country 1t is generally necessary "
heal them, by bestowing the degree before thes
be admitted into our Chapters. win 'nese
| facts In view It becomes interesting as an MS
al discover
| was controlled before Its direction was as
| sumed by the Grand Chapters. As some assistance
to the calculation OF this question we appehu 'he
! following copy OF Warrant OF constitution
| granted In 1909 IN Charleston. for holding MARK
Lodge and which a revival OF previous
| Warran. Issued by the same body In lsoz by 'his
| document the original OF which Is in the archiVes
| OF the Supreme Council Of the Thrty-third Degree
for the Southern Jurisdiction Of the United STATES
| II Will be seea that Mark Masonry was AT 'na'
| time In South Carolina at least. considered as ne
Ing attached to the Scotch rite. and Warrants were
| issued by Councils of Princes OF Jerusalem ,ne
| sixteenth degree In that rite. whether similar
Councils. that time in existence IN some oi 'ne
| Northern States. were also in the haon OF exc,
| cising the same powers We are at present uhao'o
| 10 saw But the following document. which we
have closely copied from the original. Tor whose
authenti,ity We vouch. offer as an Interesting
contribution the history OF the degree IN ''''s
country The Warrant is as follows
By the Glory OF the Grand Architect OF the universe
| Lux F. TENEBRIS.
From the East Of the Grand Of ne Moss the
Celestial CANOPY of the Zenith Which answers 10
$685. and OF the Christian Era 1902, Warrant was was
BY the G SIS connf st
for the purpose OF establishing Lodge Of a MARX
BY the this Gy Of G the De hnGMp
MARK LODGE NO ]. said Warrant hav degos pfe
aetorneq ib Archives ana an application made for
to bear ,b hs sane connc from the
conviction tnat the estahS,hment OF avaUce the
MorH Of ihe R9ya Arr in the Sublime degrees
DO deem n it expedent til; our W2rrSn
sSba srob "4a G
% HasieF Ws
and our beloved and worshipful brother nd IN
o 5SSiGg Msrf Ms G
as their successors in office, shall diligently ana ana
faithfully discharge and oxes sueh 'n lodge which
duties and functions shall be considered "a Gon ~
The PssS n the the %ysees Of Lodged
agrceably ancient form ana usa s iso 70 frame
that such forms ,b nsafst
Of eaT this &C" Grand md Council ..,un.o officers
Of th@ Grand Council OF Princes Of Jerusalem n,I IN
open Council Charleston soutn thn Grand
seals Of the Iusrious order in the place %neGe
the greatest treasures are deoOs f md acknowl-
nGs@ pr wn of ali that great and good Near the
BE and under the co THIS hi answ %s to the
Februaryn Inc AM" CSr Eqss Era
1893 JN. MTG HE'LL,
Pres and Most Enlightened.
FRED5'KS RAJ RAh ,.ns5
'e"'0 IssAc AULD.
Junior Most Enlightened.
JOSEPH BEE.
Wa derive thr. historical facts from this docu-
ment which are worthy Of notice. voors after the
In the o FIRST PeS Grand n Chapters G in Pennsylvania
ana New England Mark Lodges were es apsnam
in South n. C ssoich r y IT The
in that sia,s the WAS or * d"gree seems to
been placed exclusively under the hoya' "'''
Jurisdiction. ~ document we learn
that the presiding officer OF a Mark Lodge n wSs
ste
70 tSis ,e in the charge OF the degree rsI 9nn
shed by Webb ana me candidate is directed 70
arI HAT his conduct may stand the test Of the
G Th1rd Wc learn from this document that at
that time lin the Scotch ritz At IeSSn der n9 and
Pasc ihs lodge was authorized preparatory
step pass its candidates ,nr thIs was or was
not aiyvavs and everywhere the case Ply SUI ohpt
light is thrown Gpon the suoSc Working tools Of the
MI Was;cr were originally considered as .e'r p
ing with their sym9o,c sn sat down in Hutchin-
sons spirit of Masonry p qnlifneu in rs Webb
~ the 6rst writer who appropriated them 10 'ne
Mark degree. 49,, +o old documents scat
,rod ,nrouehout the country, must; by me ESQ,
iated facts that thev contain and ne borynt
ina, IN tb nip history nc Of Masonry in America
sT CECILE'S MYSTICAL MATNEES.
,rh rubucat,on IN The Tribune in advance
10 tho nrogramme for the last communication
OF St Cecile had effect on the ooi.i"''
too on Seating Capacity and Brother MINOR
worked indusrlously with the camp s'oois'
Moral. Read The Tribune) lie will not be en-
tirrlv happy until he gets the new standing room
only" sign now being prepared, TO hang round
the Tyler's neck. In the mean time ample pro-
vision will be made for the great increase III az
tendance en- that tempora rily least 1t will not be
necessary to employ the commandery room 1his
has been an expedient resorted to on some occa-
sions for the third degree. when special musical
! programme would be arranged that would attract
hundreds Hereafter the degrees will not be dis