The Friendly Degree
The Mark & Royal Ark Mariner Degrees
HRH Prince Michael of Kent, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons is, as is well known, the blood brother of HRH Duke of Kent, the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. According to the earliest known English records Mark Masonry was introduced in a speculative body at Portsmouth on the 1st September 1769 by Thomas Dunkerley. Records do not show where he got the degree from, but all researchers into Freemasonry know of the man and his place in the history of Freemasonry. The Mark Degree is open to all Master Masons. The Order is generally perceived to be more informal than the Craft and there is no doubt that ‘among Mark Master Masons you will ever find friends’. The ceremony of admission is called “advancement” and chronologically the degree follows that of the Fellow Craft. The legend of the degree is most instructive, is well founded on statements of Holy Writ and relates to a period in the building of the Temple prior to the death of Hiram. It teaches the lesson that education is the reward of labour and contains a dramatic message. The symbol of the degree is a keystone, on which are engraved certain mystic letters, the meaning of which is revealed during the ceremony. The Mark Degree assists old and young brethren alike to gain experience in Freemasonry, and thus make their mark,without first having been installed in the Craft Chair. The Degree of Royal Ark Mariner is closely linked with, although separate from, the Mark Degree and is administered by it. It presents useful lessons of morality and integrity using as a foundation the Biblical legend of Noah constructing the Ark to escape with his family from the great Flood. The Mark Degree Provincial Grand Master, his Deputy and his senior officers are always also at the head of the Royal Ark Mariner in the Province. In Buckinghamshire there are at present 18 Mark Lodges and 10 Royal Ark Mariner Lodges details of which can be found either on this website or in the Buckinghamshire Masonic Directory.
Interested in joining the Mark Degree? Just click on the image to the right. We welcome you to this informative video introduction to The Magic of The Mark.
We hope you find much to interest you in this wonderful and friendly Order and look forward to welcoming you should you decide to take this Degree as your next regular step in Freemasonry.
Provincial Grand Master
Keith David Bristow
Keith was Advanced into the Mark Degree in Thomas a Becket Lodge No.775, Portsmouth, Hampshire and I.o.W. in 1979. He subsequently moved to Buckinghamshire where he was a founding member of The Chalfonts Mark Lodge No. 1779 in 1997, serving as Worshipful Master in 2005 and 2012. Keith became a joining member of the Misbourne Mark Lodge No.1087 in 1998, serving as Worshipful Master in 2010.He received his first Provincial appointment to Provincial Grand Registrar in 2007, and later received promotion to Provincial Grand Senior Warden in 2010. Keith was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Secretary in 2012, and honoured with the Grand Rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2014 and promoted to PGSD in 2017. He was appointed Provincial Grand Secretary in 2015. Keith is a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.
Deputy
Provincial Grand Master
Peter Cole
Peter was Advanced into the Mark Degree in Herchel Lodge Lodge No.376 in 1984 and served as Worshipful Master in 1999. He then became a member of the Buckinghamshire Intstalled Mark Masters No.1634 and the Chalfonts Mark Lodge No.1779. Peter received Grand Rank in the Mark when he was a appointed Grand Steward in 2009 and was promoted Past Grand Junior Deacon in 2011. Peter is well known for his excellent service to the Mark Degree in Buckinghamshire as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies since 2011. Peter is also a member of Brownrigg RAM No.376 and a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.
Provincial Grand Secretary
Simon Baines
Simon worked for many years as a Programme Manager at the Open University. He was advanced into the Mark Degree in 2005 in St Peter& St Paul’s Mark Lodge 163. He took the chair in 2012, and became Secretary the following year, an office he still holds. He was elevated into Bradwell Abbey Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners in 2011, became Commander in 2017 and then Scribe. He is also a member of Bucks Installed Mark Masters, joining in 2017. In the Province, Simon was appointed as Provincial Steward in 2014, and then invited to be Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary in 2015 – a fateful decision! He administered the Bucks Mark Travellers for several years, and now holds the Rank of Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer and the Office of Provincial Grand Secretary.
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