Royal Ark Mariner

The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner

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HRH Grand Master 300The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner, more commonly known as RAM, has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons since 1871 and governed by the Grand Master's Royal Ark Council. However, its early history is obscure. Statutes refer to Grand Lodge being reconstituted in 1772. It is recorded that the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons took possession of the rights to the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariner on 10 June 1884 for just £25.

Lodges are attached, or moored, to Mark Lodges assuming their Number in the Roll and to be a member the Candidate has to have been advanced as a Mark Master Mason. 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 that we meet in Freemasonry.

There are no individual Ranks within either Province or Grand Lodge. Brethren holding those Ranks suffix 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 Degree of Royal Ark Mariner.

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Powys Lodge

L to R: W.Bro. Mark Golding, Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, W.Bro. Daniel Heath, Asst. Grand Secretary, RW.Bro Ernest Stevens, Past District Provincial Grand Master River Plate, R.W.Bro. John Prizeman Deputy Grand Master, W.Bro. David Hilton Worshipful Commander, R.W.Bro Bob Stokes Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Ian McLachlan, Senior Warden and W.Bro. Mark Constant, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.

In the month of June 1918 a group of brethren in Peterborough decided to form a Royal Ark Mariner Lodge from which the Powys R.A.M. Lodge No. 477 was later constituted and moored to the Fitzwilliam Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 477.

The first Commander was Lord Lilford who was the first of four brethren of the Lodge subsequently to attain the Office of Provincial Grand Master. On 5th October 2018 the brethren of Powys assembled to celebrate the Centenary of the Lodge in the presence of the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. John Prizeman and the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Robert Stokes, two Past Provincial Grand Masters and a Past District Grand Master of the District of the River Plate.

 

The committee which had been formed to plan the celebration comprised W.Bro. David Hilton, Commander, W.Bro. Robin Johnstone, Scribe and W.Bro. Richard Asher, Treasurer.

Following the Lodge being opened by its Officers the Provincial Grand Master entered with his Wardens and active Provincial Grand Officers accompanied by holders of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank under the direction of W.Bro. Mark Constant, Provincial Grand Grand Deputy D.C. The Provincial Grand Master accepted the Lodge Sceptre and placed his Officers.

The Deputy Grand DC, W.Bro. Mark Golding, sought admission and advised that the Deputy Grand Master was outside the Lodge and that he demanded admission. The Deputy Grand Master entered the Lodge, to spontaneous applause, carrying a scroll accompanied by the Assistant Grand Secretary, W.Bro. Dan Heath. Offered the Sceptre by the Provincial Grand Master he accepted and took the Chair.

The Assistant Grand Secretary was asked to read out the original Lodge warrant the wording of which was significantly different to that which appears on a warrant today, referring, amongst other things, to the Colonies and Dependences – how times have changed? The Assistant Grand Secretary then read the Centenary Warrant which the Deputy Grand Master presented to the Worshipful Commander.

At the request of the Commander, the Deputy Grand Master then presented Centenary Jewels to each of the brethren of the lodge. The Worshipful Commander was pleased to present a Jewel to the Deputy Grand Master and to each of his team and to the Provincial Grand Master.

The Brethren present received a booklet covering the history of the Lodge’s first hundred years researched and written by the Worshipful Commander, W.Bro. David Hilton.

The Commander then gave a brief oration of the first Hundred Years and was thanked by W.Bro. Richard Asher for all his work in researching and preparing the presentation.

The Lodge being restored to its Officers, the Commander then proceeded to install Bro Ian McLachlan as his successor.
With the approval of the Deputy Grand Master and to complete the evening the Provincial Grand Master was pleased to confer a field appointment of ProvRAMGR to W.Bro. David Hilton in recognition of his two consecutive years as Lodge Commander and for his work on the Centenary Committee whilst researching the Lodge history booklet.

The brethren retired to enjoy a wonderful festive board of Royal Ark Mariner fellowship during which and to the enjoyment of all, the Deputy Grand Master gave an entertaining reply to his toast.

By: W.Bro Richard Asher GJD

 

Rulers

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

M.W.Bro. John H. Prizeman
Pro Grand Master

R.W.Bro. Francis C. Spencer
Deputy Grand Master

R.W.Bro. Prof Denovan K. Wilson
Assistant Grand Master

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