York
Rite Masonry
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Mark Master Degree Origin
Author Unknown
Provided by: Ray Hayward
The
antiquity of Mark Masonry cannot be doubted. Operatively considered, and
even Speculative, it has enjoyed special prominence for centuries, records
of the custom of the adoption of Marks by theoretical brethren according to
existing records dating back to the 8th day of June, A. D. 1600.
Mark Masonry formerly consisted of the degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master
Mason. These degrees, in the sense given to the word "degree," were wholly
unknown to the Operative Freemasons of the Middle Ages. They were
undoubtedly invented and put into working order in Scotland. That they were
founded upon the custom established by the Operative Freemasons of Cologne
and Strasburg and later introduced into other countries of Europe, in
requiring the selection and registration of Marks, is clear.
There is little doubt that both the degrees were invented in Scotland. Just
when a special and elaborate ceremony (with a distinctive legend) was first
used it is not possible to decide. The following quotation from Graham Mss.
Dated 1726 but which scholars believe is written in a style at least 50
years before is most interesting:
"-now it is holden forth by tradition that there was a tumult at this
Errection which should happened betwixt the Laborers and masons about wages
and for to call me all and to make all things easy the wise king should have
said be all of you contented for you shall be payed all alike yet give a
signe to the Masons not known to the Laborers and who could make that signe
at the paying place was to bayed as masons the Laborers not knowing thereof
was payed as foresaid- this might have yet if it was so were to Judge very
Mercyfull on the words of the wise King Solomon for it is to be understood
and also believed that the wise king meant according to every mans
deserving-"
The story of the Temple origin of the Mark Master Degree is a myth, as is
the legend of the Third degree. From all we know about the time of origin of
the Mark Degree, we are led to believe that it was invented or fabricated
later the Third or Master Masons Degree.
The Mark was and is directly associated with both Operative and Speculative
Freemasonry and from time immemorial it has been the custom for the skilled
craftsman to chisel his distinctive Mark on stones fashioned by him, so as
to indicate his workmanship.
The existence of proprietary marks on European Buildings may be traced as
far back as the 10th century. The Greek artists who introduced the Byzantine
style of architecture, for which the Freemasons afterwards substituted the
Gothic, probably brought them over at that time.
But it was not until the 15th century that we were furnished with any
historical evidence that there was an organized systems of laws by which the
imparting, owning, and using of these marks was regulated.
The Mark degree is important because it is the connecting link between
operative and speculative Masonry. As early as 1599 we find that
non-operative Masons were admitted to operative Mark Lodges. What this
ceremony consisted of no one knows. There may have been some moral teachings
connected with it. The records hover; merely show the payment of a fee and
the registering of a Mark.
The early history of the degree in what is now the United States is very
similar to that in the other countries and is very meager. It was conferred
in Lodges as part of the Lodge work as was the Most Excellent and the Royal
Arch. Apparently Lodges worked the degrees as an inherent right and not
under the authority of a charter.
Ohio was no different in its practices than the rest of the country. Almost
as soon as Marietta was settled, American Union Lodge was opened. This Lodge
was originally a military lodge warranted by the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts in 1776. After the close of the war and the dissolution of the
Army the warrant was in possession of the Master, Jonathan Heart, who
carried it to Fort Harmar, near Marietta, where he was stationed. Under this
warrant American Union Lodge was opened in Marietta in 1790.
Unlike many of the early Masonic Bodies American Union Lodge did keep fairly
complete minutes, which have been preserved. From these minutes we learn the
American Union Chapter, under the aegis of American Union Lodge, began
holding meetings in 1792 and conferred all of the degrees although the
minutes refer to them as steps rather than degrees and do not mention them
by name until 1797. The degrees were the Past Master, Mark Master, Most
Excellent Master and Royal Arch.
With the organization in 1797 of what eventually became known as the General
Grand Chapter and with the forming of Grand Chapters, the degrees of Mark,
Past, Most Excellent and Royal Arch came under the jurisdiction of Chapters
operating independently of Symbolic Lodges.