Moored to the Mark Degree
Royal Ark Mariner
The ethos of the Royal Ark Mariner Degree concerns events before, during and after the great deluge and is based on the story of Noah, his family and the Ark. It closely parallels the story of creation: a cycle of creation, desolation, and re-creation - in which the Ark plays a pivotal role.
There is one ceremony in the Degree - new members are Elevated into the Degree and candidates must be a Master Mason and a Mark Master Mason.
Although the actual origin of the Royal Ark Mariner Degree is not entirely certain the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner, known as RAM, has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons since 1871 and is governed by the Grand Master’s Royal Ark Council.
similar to the craft but different
Regalia
The regalia of a Royal Ark Mariner comprises an apron and breast jewel. The striking apron is of white kid with a curved flap, bordered with a two inch ribbon showing the colours of the rainbow. It has rosettes of a similar colouring whilst Commanders’ and Past Commanders’ rosettes are replaced with triangles. Lodge officers wear a similar collar with an appropriate jewel attached.
The jewel of the Order is a dove bearing an olive branch, flying beneath a rainbow.
The Degree of Royal Ark Mariner is based on the story of Noah and the flood and it is necessary for the Candidate to be a Master Mason and a Mark Mason before he can be Elevated to the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner.
a natural further step for mark master masons
The Mark connection
Although you have to be a Mark Master Masons to join, the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner is a separate and distinct Masonic Order.
Royal Ark Mariner Lodges are said to be moored to Mark Lodges, taking their number on the Order’s Roll. It is not uncommon for Royal Ark Mariner Lodges to meet on the same day as the Mark Master Masons’ Lodge to which they are ‘moored’ or attached, so membership of the Royal Ark Mariner is the natural next step in their Masonic journey for many Mark Master Masons. Consequently over half of all Mark Master Masons are also members of their moored Royal Ark Mariner Lodge.
The Mark Provincial team is responsible for the administration of the RAM Degree and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges in the Province and, in the Mark Province of Northampton, Huntingdon and Bedford, 18 of the 24 Mark Lodges have a Royal Ark Mariner Lodge moored to them.
