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At the last quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Special Committee appointed on the subject of the "Mark," reported that in answer to several communications reported by Grand Secretary, it was agreed to recommend to the Grand Committee to rule that "it is incompetent under the Scottish Constitution to work the Mark in so-called Mark lodges with office-bearers other than those of the Craft lodge, and having separate books and accounts, but that the degree shall be conferred on Master Masons as a section of that of the Fellow Craft, and that all such admissions to the Mark shall be recorded in the ordinary minute book of the lodge. Further, that it is competent to lodges to give the mark to regularly recorded Master Masons of other lodges under the Scottish Constitution, as well as to their own qualified members." This was approved.

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England has just granted warrants for the following new lodges: The Ruahine Lodge, Woodville, Hawke's Bay, and the Lodge of Harmony, Otahuhu, Auckland.

We referred some time ago to the position that the Mark o ocupies amongst the recognised Masonic Degrees, under the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The matter has again been considered by that body. The Grand Committee has ruled that "it is incompetent, under the Scottish Constitution, to work the Mark in so-called Mark lodges, with office-bearers other than those of the Craft lodge, &c., also that the page 10 Degree shall be conferred on Master Masons as a section of that of the Fellow Craft and that all such admissions to the Mark shall be recorded in the ordinary minute book of the lodge. Further, that it is competent to lodges [Craft] to give the Mark to regularly recorded Master Masons of other lodges under the Scottish Constitution as well as to their own qualified members." The position of the Scottish Mark Degree, or ceremony, is thus unique. It is recognised by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the subordinates of which are permitted to work the Degree so long as the Craft minute book is used for its records, and Master Masons of Scottish lodges are eligible for "advancement," even in lodges to which they do not subscribe as members. The fiction of its being a "section of the Fellow Craft" is still persisted in, but that is not of much moment. Then the Mark Degree is recognised by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland, it being a necessary prerequisite for "exaltation;" and, the two Grand Bodies having agreed to work the same ritual, should a Mark Master of Scottish lodge a desire to join a Royal Arch Chapter, his being in possession of the Degree thus conferred in a Craft lodge renders it unnecessary for him "to take it a second time"; so that the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter work most amicably together though they both exercise jurisdiction over Mark Masonry in Scotland. Had it not been for the "Articles of Union," it is just possible a somewhat similar arrangement would have prevailed in this country, but as it is, the Mark Degree cannot be actually recognised by the Grand Lodge of England. It has, however, all the recognition that is desirable by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales being the Grand Master of both organizations. We fail to see what more can possibly be wanted, and have little patience with those who rail at "unrecognised Degrees," yet would tolerate any ceremony which obtained recognition, however modern, useless, or un-Masonic in character.—The Freemason.

The Chaine'd Union says—A Masonic ball, in aid of the poor at Constantinople was held recently at the new theatre in that city; 450 persons were present, including many Masonic notabilities, and the affair was a great success; 600 Turkish lire were netted, including a donation of 100 lire from the Sultan.