THE NEW ZEALAND CRAFTSMAN. June 2, 1913.

MARK MASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

[EXTRACT FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE G. MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND.
HELD 4TH MARCH, 1913.]

GRAND REGISTRAR'S REPORT.

At the request of the General Board J have considered an application from the S.G.R.A. Chapter of New
Zealand for recognition by this G.L., and I beg to report as follows :—The application is dated 16th August,
1912, and would have been dealt with earlier, but it was necessary to make certain inquiries, which has now
been done. It is signed by the G.S.E., Bro. H. J. Williams, who says :-

I am instructed by Supreme Committee of the G.R.A. Chapter of New Zealand to apply to your G. Mark
Lodge for the, interchange of fraternal relations in so far as such interchange may affect all Mark Masons
enrolled under the said G. Chapter of New Zealand, and in connection therewith I beg to submit the
following information :

1. That the Mark Degree is worked by all Chapters holding under the G. Chapter of New Zealand,
and is made necessary for all candidates for exaltation. So that all R. A. Masons have attained the
Mark Degree.
2. G. Chapter has on its register 32 Chapters and one Mark Lodge.
3. Charters are granted to Mark Lodges to work the Mark Degree only.
4. Two reasons may be given why there is only one Mark Lodge under the jurisdiction of G.
Chapter. Firstly, G. Chapter has never encouraged this formation, and, secondly, special local efforts
are invariably made to support a Chapter in lieu of a Mark Lodge.
5. G. Chapter is now in its twenty-first year, and its work in the past has abundantly justified its
existence. It is felt that as fraternal relations exist between the G.Ls. and G Chapters of England and
New Zealand, that Mark Masonry should not suffer any disability, because it is not worked as a
separate and distinct body in the Masonic territory of New Zealand. The request is, therefore, preferred
m order to create a better feeling and greater harmony, that fraternal relations be entered into by the G.
Mark Lodge of England and Wales, and Mark Masonry under the S.G.R.A. Chapter of New Zealand.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the Mark Degree, so far as the New Zealand Constitution is
concerned, is not worked as separate entity; but is conferred by the Royal Arch and is a pre-requisite to
exaltation. In this the practice of Irish Masons as to the Mark is more nearly followed ; while the Scottish
usage is to confer the Mark under the authority of the Craft as well as of the Royal Arch. With us, as we all
know, the Order is solely governed by this " G.L. of Mark Master 'Masons of England and Wales and the
Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown," and under our Constitution we have warranted and have
in working- order in New Zealand several Lodges, under two District G.Ms.—Bro. Alfred S. Bankart for
Auckland (North Island), and Bro. C. Dillworth Fox for South Island. The pre, sent application does not ask
for those Lodges to be brought under the jurisdiction of the G. Chapter (nor would such a course be
advisable if requested, as being certain to create confusion); but only seeks " the interchange of fraternal
relations in so far as such interchange may affect all Mark Masons enrolled under the said G. Chapter of
New Zealand." To accede to this request gives practical recognition to the G. Chapter as a body having the
right and power to confer the Mark Degree upon its members, and to warrant Mark Lodges in New Zealand ;
while this G.L. retains unimpaired its present jurisdiction over all its Lodges (District and Subordinate) in the
Dominion, together with its powers of warranting new Lodges; and our G.M.'s prerogatives as to appointing
and dealing with District G.Ms., etc., are (as they must be) unaffected. It has been ascertained that the G.
Chapter of Scotland, which has Chapters and Lodges in New Zealand, proceeds on the principle (as stated by
their G.S.E.) that in such a case as the present :

We have no objection to recognition on the footing of de facto mutual sovereignty, allowing thus
intercourse between the members belonging to our own constitution and those belonging to that of
New Zealand, but in addition we decline to give up the rights we at present possess, entitling us to
govern the Chapters still adhering to us, or to charter new Chapters where thought desirable.

So far as I have been able to gather the views of our own members in New Zealand, there is a strong desire
to have such recognition as would facilitate inter-visitation between the several Mark bodies. In this regard
G.L. is greatly indebted to our indefatigable Bro. Lieut.Col. Geo. Hearn, P.A.G.D.C., who has been resident

in Auckland, and has given valuable information through our G.Sec. I must point out, however, that it will be
advisable, if such a policy as I have indicated be adopted by G.L., that an understanding be arrived at locally
as to the conditions on which inter-visitation should be conducted. There must be many difficulties where the
Degree is subject to such varying circumstances. For instance, I understand that under the New Zealand G.
Chapter the W.M. of the Mark Lodge does not receive the secrets, etc., of the Master's chair until he becomes
an Installed Z. It is true that there is only ONE Mark Lodge under that Constitution, but others might be
formed ; and in any event provision would have to be made as to this and other matters which will probably
arise. In arriving at this local understanding it would also be necessary to provide with regard to the Irish and
Scottish Lodges and members of the Degree under all the jurisdictions, visiting from places outside the
Dominion. In order to carry out what I have indicated, I advise G.L. to adopt the following resolutions :

1. That in the opinion of this G.L. it is desirable that facilities be given for the interchange of fraternal
relations and visitations between all regular Mark Masonic bodies in New Zealand.
2. That in order to give practical effect to the foregoing resolution, our M.W.G.M. be respectfully
requested to give directions to his District G.Ms. of Auckland and South Island to take steps, at an
early date, to bring about a common understanding with the local representatives of the regular
Masonic authorities in New Zealand conferring or working the Mark Degree, as to the conditions
under which inter-visitation may be conducted, subject to the ultimate approval of their respective G.
bodies.
3. That the G.Sec. be instructed to send copies of these resolutions to the G. Chapters of Ireland,
Scotland, and New Zealand, with a cordial fraternal request that they will facilitate the local efforts to
arrive at a sound working agreement as to inter-visitation, all of which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN STRACHAN, P.G.O., G.Reg.

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE.
The forty-fifth Annual Festival will be held on 2nd July, 1913, and Bro. Robert Lock, Prov.G.M. for South
Wales, has kindly consented to take the chair, The G.Sec. will be happy to receive the names of ladies and
brethren willing to act. as Stewards.

ANNUITY FUND.
The Board have elected on the Annuity Fund, without proceeding to a poll, Mrs. Eliza Peacock, age 59,
widow of Bro. William Webster Peacock, P.Prov.G.I. of W., West Yorkshire, who was advanced on the 17th
May, 1891, in the Danum Lodge, No. 398, of which he was W.M. in 1905 and remained a subscribing
member till death, twenty years; and that the following cases have been relieved : Bro. R. L. D, Lodge No.
383, £25 ; Bro. A. J., Lodge No. 214, £25 ; Bro. W. R. P., Lodge No. 63, £10 ; Bro. R. P., Lodge No. 235.
£10: Mrs. E. L. S., widow of a brother of Lodges No. 12 and No. 281, £20 ; Mrs. H. M. H., widow of a
brother of Lodge No. 255, £10. The Board recommends G.L. to vote to a brother of Lodge No. 188, £50;
widow of a brother of Lodge No. 247, £50 ; widow of a brother of Lodges No. 10 and No. 340, £50 ; widow
of a brother of Lodges No. 235 and No. 519, £30.

Each recommendation of the Committee was agreed to in turn, including the three recommendations in the
New Zealand report. The latter met with most cordial acceptance.