Surrey Mark Masons
The Order of Mark Master Masons ranks as the third largest Masonic Order, following Craft and Royal Arch. Membership requires initiation, passing, and raising in the three Craft Masonry degrees.
The ceremony
The ceremony of becoming a Mark Master Mason, known as Advancement, is a captivating journey placing the Candidate at its core.
It portrays an event during King Solomon’s Temple construction, focusing on a stonemason’s chosen Mark.
The degree encompasses a single ceremony, an excellent extension of your Masonic knowledge when taken shortly after being raised, although advancement to the Mark degree is possible at any time.
The Mark Degree is a beacon of hope and encouragement, its ritual drawn from Psalm 118, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the headstone of the corner.”
The narrative revolves around the construction of King Solomon’s Temple and the diverse Craftsmen involved, yet its deeper essence invites reflection upon human strengths and vulnerabilities.
Embedded within the Degree are numerous insightful messages, revealing that even the wisest can err, that so-called experts can falter, the seemingly weakest may exhibit unwavering resolve, the seemingly insignificant can shine, and all contribute to the tapestry of Life’s construction.
Interpretation of the Degree’s message is personal, but it emphatically states that no one is beyond redemption, and the potential for distinction is within everyone’s reach.
Lastly, the Degree underscores that among the wisest and most astute builders, only one demonstrated the wisdom needed to assume leadership.
Symbolizing our everyday lives, the hewn Stone mirrors our journey, and its eventual recognition as perfection should guide our behaviour, ultimately rendering us deserving.
This experience imparts valuable life lessons and emphasizes the rewards of diligent work.
Just as the Holy Royal Arch completes a Master Mason’s third Degree, the Mark Master Mason Degree is often likened to completing the second.
Being a Mark Master Mason opens doors to enhance your Masonic journey through Royal Ark Mariners, Royal and Select Masters, or Allied Masonic Degrees.
If you choose to join, anticipate a warm welcome, particularly in Surrey, where the “friendly degree” reputation holds true, fostering lasting friendships among Mark Master Masons.
Who can join a Mark Masons Lodge in Surrey?
In Surrey, individuals who are already Master Masons within a Craft Lodge recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) can join a Mark Masons Lodge.
In other words, to become a member of a Mark Masons Lodge in Surrey, one must have completed the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason.
Once a Freemason attains the rank of Master Mason, they are eligible to explore and join additional Masonic Orders, such as the Mark Masons, to further their Masonic journey and experiences.
Who to contact to join a Mark Masons Lodge in Surrey?
In Surrey, please contact the Provincial Grand Secretary, W. Bro. David Clark, by completing and submitting the Form found on the Contact Us page of this website. We can then discuss your interest and enquiry, so that we can, together, find which Mark Lodge might suit you and your personal circumstances best.
The Origins of Mark Masonry
It is well known that operative stone masons indented the stones they had prepared with marks that identified the orientation and position of the stone within the building together with a personal mark to identify the mason who prepared it. Although earlier records of a brother having "received his mark' are known, the first records of a speculative Mark degree being worked in England are those of Royal Arch Chapter No 257 at Portsmouth in 1769.
In the Act of Union between the Premier and Antients Grand Lodges in 1813 it was declared that “Pure Antient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more, namely, those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch”.
To achieve harmony, each of the two Grand Lodges had to concede certain principles and practices. As a result of this compromise the Mark and other Masonic Orders were left to their own devices. But the Mark Degree continued to flourish and was still worked (unofficially) in Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters. The eventual establishment of a separate English Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in 1856 came after an intriguing period of manoeuvring and negotiation.
Logically the Mark is part of pure Freemasonry and is so recognised by our Sister Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland and indeed by most other constitutions, where the Mark is a pre-requisite for the Royal Arch.
The Mark is sometimes said to be an extension of the Second Degree in the Craft. But this rather simple assertion belies the fact that the ceremony of admission, called Advancement, is comparable in length to the Third Degree. The ceremony is based on the preparations for the building of King Solomon’s Temple and follows the fate of an ambitious craftsman (the candidate) seeking promotion in his trade by demonstrating his skill and ability. In the early part of the ceremony his talents go unrecognised, and his hopes are dashed but eventually he triumphs over adversity and is justly rewarded for his work. It is a wonderful ceremony containing elements of drama and humour, and, above all, strong moral lessons. The concept of Masons as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, in parallel with the construction of the Temple, is a powerful theme in the Degree.
Many reasons could be advanced why a Craft Mason should be a Mark Mason but three are of special importance. Firstly, it enhances his knowledge of Craft Masonry. Secondly, it teaches, in a delightful way, many important practical lessons about life. Thirdly, it gives a greater appreciation of the Royal Arch and provides an essential qualification to certain other Orders in Masonry.
