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The Order of Mark Master Masons may often be the first Masonic organisation encountered "beyond the Craft", that is, after completing the three Craft or "blue" degrees and the "supreme degree of the Holy Royal Arch". Although in most jurisdictions the Mark is now only conferred on Master Masons, its legend is logically an extension of the Second Degree; and its moral theme is not concerned with the heavy lessons of the Third Degree or Royal Arch. There are many old masons' marks on buildings, and references to formally making or registering marks, in operative Scottish minute books and by-laws and in old statutes and rituals. However it is not known when the status of Mark Mason was first formally conferred in Freemasonry, although Thomas Dunckerley was certainly active in 1769. In Scotland the degree has always been worked both by Lodges and by Royal Arch Chapters, but it was (probably inadvertantly) outlawed by the Articles of Union of the United Grand Lodge of England. In 1856, by which time many Lodges and Chapters were claiming inherent jurisdiction to confer the Mark, the English Grand Lodge resolved that the degree should be a graceful addition to Craft Masonry; but the continuing independence of the Order was preserved by arranging for the non-confirmation of the Grand Lodge minute. In some confusion, Mark Grand Lodge was then established with a separate administration, which is now in a small stone building opposite St. James's Palace. Nevertheless, since all Mark Masters are necessarily first Master Masons, the relationship between the separate Grand Lodges is naturally close and fraternal. The Order will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the erection of Mark Grand Lodge by a meeting in the presence of HRH Prince Michael, Grand Master, on 26th October 2006, at the Royal Albert Hall, to which, unusually, ladies and other non-Masons will be admitted. There is only one Mark ceremony, but Mark Masons may join certain other degrees and orders with interdependent membership qualifications, separately constituted but often governed by the same individual brethren as Grand Officers, and administered in the same offices. Purely for reasons of administrative convenience, in England the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner is "moored" to the Order of Mark Master Masons, and so is only conferred in a RAM Lodge which must be "moored" to some Mark Lodge, and which bears its number and usually its name. Not all Mark Lodges choose to obtain a warrant for a RAM Lodge. EXTERNAL LINK |
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