About Mark Master Masonry
Mark Master Masons usually referred to as The Mark Degree is a fascinating degree and is rightly known as the Friendly Degree; it was originally worked in craft Lodges and consisted of two ceremonies.
The first came after the Fellowcraft Degree where the candidate was ‘made’ a Mark Man, and the second after the Master Mason’s Degree when he was advanced to the Degree of Mark Master Mason. In 1856 English Mark Masons established their own Grand Mark Lodge and the two ceremonies were combined into one. Since then, it has been conferred, not in Craft Lodges, but in Mark Lodges consecrated for that purpose.
The ritual explores the building of King Solomon’s Temple and, like all other Masonic Orders, the teaching of the Mark Degree significantly adds to the knowledge and enjoyment of Masonry linking to other Orders such as Royal Ark Mariners, Royal & Select & Allied.
Mark Masonry in Whalley
Priory Lodge of Mark Master Masons was created on Monday, 15th September 1919 in the Assembly Rooms, Whalley following several years of discussion regarding the question of founding a Lodge of Mark Master Masons by the Brethren of Abbey Lodge.
The discussions took a more concrete form in the spring of 1919 when W. Bro. T H Thompson was requested to “take the matter in hand”. Several members of Abbey Lodge wanted to become founder members, but as they were not Mark Master Masons the Scarlet Mark Lodge 189, Burnley offered to advance them into the Degree.
The following Brethren of Abbey Lodge were advanced by Scarlet Mark Lodge in May 1919, Bros:- Longworth, Hanson, Travis-Clegg, Taylor, Postlethwaite, Roland and Bassnett. In recognition of the assistance given by Scarlet Mark Lodge all the Officers and those who took part in the ceremony were invited to the Consecration of Priory Mark.
By choice, the Lodge would have been called Abby Mark Lodge but in order to avoid confusion with the Craft and Chapter the alternative name of Priory Mark was chosen.
Bro. R Verney Clayton officiated at the Consecration and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. F W Broadbent was installed as the first Worshipful Master.
The additional furniture required by the Lodge was made by James Langshaw to blend in with the existing Lodge furniture. The first candidate for advancement was Bro. William Horrocks and by special dispensation the Union Club Steward, Bro. James Ellis Kenyon was made a “Serving Brother” and took over the role of Tyler and the 3 shillings and sixpence per meeting pay.
Bro. R Verney Clayton was made the first Honorary member on the 17th May 1920 in appreciation of his service as the Consecrating Officer.
Priory Lodge of Mark Master Masons meets on the first Wednesday of March, October and December plus the third Wednesday of June with their Installation Meeting taking place in March.
The Lodge celebrated its Centenary in October 2019.
At the Installation Meeting of Priory Lodge of Mark Master Masons held on Wednesday 6th March 2024 Brother David Sharpe was Proclaimed Worshipful Master for a second year and is seen here with his two Wardens and with the Representative of the Provincial Grand Master (second left).
The Worshipful Master of Priory Lodge of Mark Master Masons, 693 with his Wardens, 6 March 2024.
The Worshipful Master of Priory Lodge of Mark Master Masons, 693 with his Wardens and 2 of his 3 Overseers.
For Worshipful Brother Sharpe, his Installation on 1st March 2023 was incredibly significant as it was 70 years ago to the day that his grandfather Douglas Jack Start, Past Grand Standard Bearer was installed in the very same office. David managed to find a photograph of Worshipful Brother Start in his Grand Lodge regalia which is shown here alongside W.Bro. Sharpe.
There is also another interesting fact – W.Bro. Sharpe has worn his grandfather’s regalia all the way through his masonic career and is immensely proud of the fact.
All at Whalley wish him and all his Officers a second successful year in office.
More About Mark Masonry
Its Purpose
As with Craft Freemasonry, Mark Master Masons conveys moral and ethical lessons using a ritualised allegory based around the building of King Solomon’s Temple. In the Mark Masonry ceremony of ‘advancement’ the candidate is required to undertake the role of a Fellowcraft, thus the Degree is seen as an extension of the Fellowcraft Degree, and the philosophical lessons conveyed are appropriate to that stage in a candidate’s Masonic development. The advancement can be said to comprise two Degrees; initially as a Mark Man followed by that of a Mark Master Mason.
While the Fellowcraft Degree teaches a Mason what the historical wages of a Fellowcraft Mason are, the Mark Master Masons Degree instructs him how to earn those wages, how to prove the work is his own, and what the historic penalty for fraud was during the building of the Temple. The candidate is helped to choose a Mason’s mark, and is introduced to another extension of the Hiramic myth, relating to the manufacture, loss and re-finding of the keystone of the Royal Arch.
The Mark referred to is the mark or symbol with which the stonemason identified his work. Such marks can still be found on the stonework of many cathedrals and important buildings.
The Degree of Mark Master Masons is open to all Master Masons.
Its History
The first record of Mark Master Masons in England is found in 1769, when Thomas Dunckerley, as Provincial Grand Superintendent, conferred the Degrees of Mark Mason and Mark Master at a Royal Arch Chapter in Portsmouth.
Following the Union of the Antients and Moderns Grand Lodges and the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813, the Articles of Union stated that there would be three Craft Degrees only, including the Royal Arch but excluding the Mark Master Masons Degree. For this reason, while in the rest of the world Mark Master Masons became attached to Royal Arch chapters, in England it was proscribed from the Union until the 1850s. It was a group of Scottish masons who procured an illegal warrant from Bon Accord Chapter in Aberdeen to set up a Mark Master Masons lodge in London. An attempt to add Mark Master Masons to the approved Craft workings was defeated in 1856, and a Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was created in response on Monday, 23 June 1856.
As Freemasonry spread around the globe in the 18th and 19th centuries, Mark Master Masons expanded with it, with six daughter Grand Lodges and the Degree being worked under alternative administrative structures elsewhere.
In England, the current Mark Grand Master is Prince Michael of Kent.
Regalia
The ordinary members’ regalia comprises an apron and breast jewel. The apron is of white kid with a triangular flap bordered with a 5cm ribbon of light blue with crimson edges. It has rosettes of the same colour whilst Masters and Past Masters have the rosettes replaced with silver levels.
The jewel of the order is a key stone appended to a ribbon which matches the apron and bears a mallet & chisel which are the tools of the Order. The key stone, which bears certain characters, forms an integral part of the ceremony.
Future Lodge Meetings
Our next Mark Master Masons Lodge meetings are shown here. They usually start at 7pm prompt followed by a Festive Board held at the Hall.
Should you wish to visit us please let our Lodge Secretary know well in advance so that he can ensure you are catered for. For your convenience we have provided a simple form below for this purpose which goes directly to the Lodge Secretary.
Our Next Meetings
