The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

IN MEMORIAM—JOHN YARKER WE deeply regret to have to record that the Most Illus- trious Brother John Yarker, 33°, 90°, 97°, Sovereign Grand Master General of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Masonry in and for Great Britain and Ireland, Honorary Member of the Sovereign Sanctuaries in and for the German Empire, France, Spain, America, Cuba, etc., died on March 20, 1913, E.V. at Manchester. Regudescat in Pace! We are obliged to the Universal Freemason for the following Memorial Article: In the death of Brother John Yarker, of Didsbury, Manchester, England, whom the Great Architect of the Universe called from labour in March last, Masonry has lost her greatest living authority on high grades, of all of which Brother Yarker was a Past Master, an ardent devotee, and on which he was a voluminous writer. We had the honour of Brother Yarker’s acquaintance nearly three decades ago, he having been a contributor to the Scottish Free- mason when we edited that journal. The following leading events in Brother Yarker’s Masonic career we quote from the Co-Mason, of London, England : It was in Manchester that Brother Yarker entered on his Masonic career and took up those studies which were to make him famous throughout the world in his after-life. He was initiated at the age of 21 in the Lodge of Integrity, No. 189, Manchester, on the 25th day of October, 1854, and after an interval of three months was duly Passed and Raised. The year after saw him occupying the Senior Warden’s Chair of the Lodge of Fidelity, No. 623+, and in 1857 he was elected Master of this Lodge. He still retained his membership of his Mother Lodge and served as Secretary in 1856; other offices were offered, but he resigned in 1862. He entered Mark Masonry at Mottram in 1855, and took also the Ark and Link degrees, and became the first Worshipful Master of the Fidelity Lodge of Mark Masters, No. 31. In 1856 he was exalted to the degree of a Royal Arch Mason in the Industry Chapter, No. 466, and became P.Z. of the Chapter of Fidelity in 1858, and occupied the same office in the Industry Chapter for two years: 1861, 1862. b2 xix