Royal Ark Mariners
The Royal Ark Mariners Degree
The “Mariners”, as the Fraternity is popularly known, is mentioned here as it occupies an important place within the Order of Mark Masonry. Royal Ark Mariner Lodges are attached to a Mark Lodge and bear the number of that Lodge. The Fraternity is governed by Mark Grand Lodge who administer the various Mark Provinces.
The ritual of the ceremony of elevation is truly beautiful and makes use of illustrations from the Old Testament Books of Genesis and Exodus to expound the virtues of morality and the properties of wisdom, strength and beauty.
A candidate must be a Mark Master Mason to be proposed, seconded and balloted into a Royal Ark Mariner Lodge. Once elevated into the Fraternity, he is invested with a distinctive apron and breast jewel (which he may wear alongside his Mark jewel at Mark meetings) and he can, if he wishes, progress through the various offices and become the Worshipful Commander of the Lodge.
Past Commanders are considered on merit for promotion to Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank and when appointed are invested with a distinctive collar jewel by the Provincial Grand Master at the Provincial Grand Assembly meeting of the Fraternity. There are no separate offices within Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank and all holders of the rank are equal
