The Royal Ark Mariner Degree is a fascinating and compact degree, it uses the story of Noah and his Ark, and the story of the flood of cleansing and rebirth, in that the virtuous and industrious, represented by Noah and his family will prosper.
As with other masonic orders the origins of the degree are not certain, the earliest authenticated record of a Royal Ark Mariner Degree being worked in England is 1790. The degree was worked in Craft and Mark lodges, and in 1871 the order was taken under the wing of the Mark Grand Lodge.
The ceremony of admission is called an elevation and has close affinities with the Craft, where the legend of Noah and the First Covenant was part of the earliest development of Craft ritual, giving rise to early masons being known as Noachites. There are several references to Noah and his Ark in early manuscripts and you can still see this link to the Noachite legend in today’s Craft Masonry with the Doves atop the Deacons wands.
There are two ceremonies: the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner, where a member is elevated (or admitted) to the Order, and the ceremony of Installation by which the Commander Elect is installed in the Chair of a Royal Ark Mariner Lodge
The regalia comprises an apron which is boarded by a rainbow ribbon with similar rosettes. The breast jewel is of a dove bearing an olive branch suspended from a rainbow attached to a rainbow colored ribbon. Commanders and Past Commanders (who are the equivalent of Masters and Past Masters in the Craft) exchange the rosettes on the aprons for silver triangles and wear a breast jewel of a triangle surmounted by the letter N for Noah. Provincial Officers wear a collarette from which is suspended a silver ark. Grand Officers exchange the silver detail for gold. There are no individual ranks within either Province or Grand Lodge.
The Royal Ark Mariner Degree is overseen by The Grand Masters Royal Ark Council, which is under the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. All RAM lodges are attached to Mark Lodges and carry the same Lodge number. For more information please take a look at the leaflet from our province below, fill in the contact form, or contact the Mark Secretary on secretary@oldyorkti.com
