The Degree of Royal Ark Mariner is open to all Mark Master Masons. The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner, more commonly known as the R.A.M., has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons since 1871 and is now governed by the Grand Master's Royal Ark Council. There are references to a Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners being reconstituted in 1772, but the degree’s early history is obscure. The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons took full possession of the rights to the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners on 10 June 1884 for just £25. Lodges, which are governed by a Worshipful Commander, rather than a Worshipful Master, are attached, or moored, to Mark Lodges assuming their Number in the Roll. There the similarity ends. 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 whom we meet in Freemasonry. There are no individual Ranks within either Provincial or Grand Lodge. Brethren holding those Ranks simply suffixing their name with Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank or Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank. The Grand Master of the Mark is, ipso facto, the Grand Master of the Royal Ark Mariners.

M.W.Bro. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO

Ceremony of Elevation

As its name suggests it has a nautical flavour, with the “elevation” of a candidate into the Degree, commemorating the providence and mercy of God, with regard to the legend of the Deluge, as recorded in Genesis. During the ceremony, analogies are drawn between the dangers of the flood and the dangers of life. How we should strive to reach the “Ark”, the haven of rest, just as Noah’s family and the other occupants of his Ark did. The subject matter, being taken directly from the Volume of the Sacred Law, is therefore both beautiful and instructive, guaranteed to make a lasting impression on every candidate. Upon entering the Temple the attention of the Candidate is directed to three points and at a certain stage the Ark is symbolised in terms similar to the ark of salvation. The candidate is finally instructed to advance in the spirit of the cardinal virtues.

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.