No. 148

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The Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners

The Mark degree is widely accepted as the fourth regular step in Freemasonry and the Royal Ark Mariner degree is considered one of the most beautiful of the side degrees.

This ancient degree, the earliest confirmed working being in 1790,  is conferred only on Mark Master Masons and further develops the initiatory rite - that of a new start or outlook on life.

In chronological terms it precedes the Mark by hundreds of years because it relates to the building and voyage of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood and has none of the other characters we meet in Freemasonry.

It is thought that it was a degree for carpenters and woodworkers as in the past those trades were more closely associated with stonemasons than is the case today.

The degree has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons for some 130 years and is governed by the Grand Masters Royal Ark Council.

Each Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners is attached to (or moored to) a Mark Lodge which bears the same number.

The Principal Officers are the Worshipful Commander representing Noah, the Senior Warden, representing his son Japheth and the Junior Warden representing his son Shem.

The working of the degree symbolises wisdom, strength and beauty that are relevant not only in the construction of the ark but also for their moral significations to the candidate as an individual.

 As is suggested by the name of the degree, the wearers of this Jewel are most approachable and will be pleased to inform you of the RAM Lodge associated with your Mark Lodge.