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Members of Essex Craft and Holy Royal Arch Executive pictured with our PGM,
taken at PGL at Felsted School.
(Left to right W. Bro. Chas Elliott, Craft APGM; W. Bro. Nick Franklin, Dep Provincial Grand Superintendent;
W. Bro. Peter Hollingsworth Craft APGM; W. Bro. John Davies Craft Past APGM; R.W. Bro Terence Sheern, PGM;
Bro. Lee Taylor Craft APGM; W. Bro. Rodney Bass, Craft PGM; Bro. Graham Dickerson. Craft APGM;
Bro. Paul Reeves, Craft Dep PGM; W. Bro. Clive Rees, Craft APGM)
The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Craft, Paul Reeves says in answer to some questions put to him:
Q. In your opinion what is the most important part of being a member of the Mark Degree?
A. For me, it's the learning & understanding a part of the wider masonic story.
Q. What do you get the most enjoyment from in Mark Masonry?
A. The companionship of like-minded brethren.
Q. What made you decide to join the Mark Degree?
A. I joined a Scottish Lodge in 2000 when my friend was Installed as WM. He invited me to join the following year so that I could Install him for his second year in the Chair as WM. Once I joined, the Lodge also Advanced me to the Mark Degree; something every Scottish Mason does. When I was the Craft Prov.GDC, the then PGM of the Mark Degree in Essex invited me to join his Lodge and I was happy to accept.
Q. Would you consider recommending the Mark Degree to others?
A. I have and I do recommend it as the natural next step after the Royal Arch. As in the Holy Royal Arch I like that the ritual is, for the most part, a story which makes it easier to learn and to understand.
Q. It's been said that Mark Masonry is not real masonry, what are your views?
A. I would always say that pure Antient Freemasonry consists of three Degrees and no more; namely the EA, FC and MM including the Supreme degree of the HRA. But in my opinion Mark Masonry is an important and worthwhile additional Order of Freemasonry in which many Freemasons take great enjoyment.
Q. Whilst acknowledging that you will always put Craft and/or Holy Royal Arch first, do you have any views about brethren joining other Orders?
A. Provided they do not desert their Mother Lodge or Chapter I would have absolutely no objection to Brethren joining the additional Orders.
Q. In your view does joining other Masonic Orders and in particular the Mark have any detrimental effect on a brother’s membership of the Craft or HRA?
A. There is very little evidence for this. I believe Mark Masonry enriches a Brother’s overall Masonic experience.
Q. Would you agree that the Mark is an important link between the Craft and HRA, and if so why
A. Not sure I would describe the Mark Degree as a link between the Craft and the HRA (which are of course themselves inextricably linked), and the Mark is neither an extension of the 2nd Degree nor a fourth regular step. But it is an important complementary Masonic experience and, for example in Scotland is more closely linked to the Craft and conducted within the Craft Lodge.
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Deputy Grand Superintendent Nick Franklin says in answer to some questions put to him:
Q. In your opinion what is the most important part of being a member of the Mark Degree?
A. The Mark Degree is the largest Order after the Craft and the Royal Arch and forms an important part of the Hiramic legend. But for an accident of history, the Mark Degree, much like the Royal Arch, might well have been part of the natural progression from the three degrees of Craft Masonry. In this respect, I consider it an important part of a Mason’s journey in Freemasonry.
Q. What do you get the most enjoyment from in Mark Masonry?
A. Mark Masonry, in common with the Craft and the Royal Arch, teaches important and valuable lessons but with a lighter touch through a Ceremony that encourages enjoyment and individual self-expression. I enjoy the fact that the Ceremony provides the opportunity for some levity without detracting from the importance of what is a solemn rite.
Q. What made you decide to join the Mark Degree?
A. In common, I suspect, with many other, when I joined Freemasonry I expected to learn something deep and meaningful and much of my Masonic journey has been driven by a desire for knowledge. When I was invited to join Mark Masonry, it did not hesitate to join on the basis that I did not want to miss out on an important part of my Masonic education.
Q. Would you consider recommending the Mark Degree to others?
A. I would of course recommend the Mark Degree to others and have proposed and/or seconded a number of new members into the Dunmow Mark Lodge.
Q. What one thing do you like about the Mark Degree?
A. The one thing that is most often said about the Mark Degree is that it is the ‘friendly Degree’ and the Ceremony naturally lends itself to being interpreted in a fun and enjoyable way and in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Q. It's been said that Mark Masonry is not real masonry, what are your views?
A. The history of Mark Masonry can be traced back to the 1700’s and it is the third largest order in Freemasonry. It is often thought of as an extension of the Fellowcraft Degree and in some other constitutions it is worked either in Craft Lodges or in Royal Arch Chapters. The Mark Degree is an integral part of Masonry in this country and all over the world and I just do not understand why anyone would think that Mark Masonry is not real Masonry.
Q. Whilst acknowledging that you will always put Craft and/or Holy Royal Arch first, do you have any views about brethren joining other Orders?
A. I am a member of many, if not most, of the additional orders and was driven to join them by a desire to find out what they could offer in terms of my Masonic education and to see what I was missing out on. As a result, I feel that I have benefitted greatly and learned a great deal from being a member of the wider family of Freemasonry. I would always encourage others to join other orders, to expand their Masonic knowledge and to widen their circle of Masonic friends.
Q. In your view does joining other Masonic Orders and in particular the Mark have any detrimental effect on a brother’s membership of the Craft or HRA?
A. Membership of other Masonic orders not only compliments membership of the Craft and Holy Royal Arch but, since some of the additional orders are also based upon the Hiramic Legend, they can also lead to a greater understanding of what might be considered to be core Freemasonry. The Mark Degree in particular, is often considered to be a link between the Second and Third Degrees of Craft Freemasonry and provides valuable further information about matters that have been introduced in Craft Masonry. In this respect, membership of other Masonic orders can only serve to enhance a member’s enjoyment of Freemasonry.
Q. Would you agree that the Mark is an important link between the Craft and HRA, and if so why.
A. The Mark Degree adds valuable background to the story of the construction of King Solomon’s Temple and places particular significance of the Keystone of the Royal Arch. The link between the Craft, Royal Arch and Mark Masonry is clearly demonstrated in the Order of Royal and Select Masters. Indeed, in some constitutions, the Mark Degree is a pre-requisite to joining the Royal Arch. However, as the Deputy Grand Superintendent designate of the Holy Royal Arch in Essex, I would have to qualify this by referring to a recent statement by the MW Grand Master in which he encouraged Master Masons to join the Royal Arch before joining any other order.
Craft APGM Clive Rees says in answer to some questions put to him:
Q. It's been said that Mark Masonry is not real masonry, what are your views?
A. Regarding Mark Masonry not being “real Masonry”, there are some who still think the “earth is flat”, we embrace all, but we must acknowledge that some do not have as wide a vision of acceptance
Q. Whilst acknowledging that you will always put Craft and/or Holy Royal Arch first, do you have any views about brethren joining other Orders?
A. I encourage and practice joining other degree’s/orders”. Masonry is a broad-Church, involvement and active practice in whatever Order appeals to you; is perfectly acceptable.
Q. In your view does joining other Masonic Orders and in particular the Mark have any detrimental effect on a brothers membership of the Craft or HRA?
A. With regard to membership of any other Order being detrimental to a Brother’s membership of Craft or Royal Arch the question posed I assume must refer to “progression”-- if the problem is within a Brothers Craft Lodge or Chapter those causing the problem usually worry that a Brother joining another Order will lose interest or not wish to progress because they are advancing at a faster pace in their new Order, wise council is then needed to explain the advantages of finishing one job at a time and encouraging patience without pressure, we don’t want to lose anyone, caused by undue pressure.
Sometimes a Brother may have been inadvertently overlooked or missed within the Craft and Royal Arch despite the Executive in both making every effort to see this does not happen within the bounds of visiting and communication – but unfortunately sometimes it happens. When a Brother is seen to excel in another Order it is right that those in the Executive question “how did we miss him” it may be that he has found his niche and that Order appeals to him more, whatever Masonry is the winner.
Q. Would you agree that the Mark is an important link between the Craft and HRA, and if so why?
A. Knowledge of other Orders makes for a wiser Mason, involvement makes for a happier man, embrace everything that Freemasonry offers you and hopefully become a more inclusive and accepting friend and Brother to your fellow man.
Overall. Clearly to become a Freemason everyone must join the Craft and in due time encouraged to complete their journey through Craft Masonry by being Exalted into the Holy Royal Arch thus enabling them to discover “some” of the answers to the questions posed along their journey.
I was invited to join The Wayfarers Lodge of Mark Master Masons, No. 1096, by my proposer into Craft Masonry,
W.Bro. Vic Green, and was duly Advanced in 1994. Back then progress through the three degrees of Craft Masonry and the waiting list for joining the Mark Degree compared to today were different to say the least. Having completed that initial task a fresh set of questions awaited me with a challenge to test myself and learn even more ritual should I wish or just understand a little more of what Freemasonry had in store for me.
The Ceremony of Advancement into Mark Masonry was a whole different ball game; they were all having fun during the Ceremony but still within the “bounds of propriety”. The story is one that halfway through I, along with every other Candidate before me, new the answer but the manner in which we achieve our goal is very enlightening and everyone has a smile on their faces. The Mark is truly a happy degree and to my knowledge and belief it still remains the same for every Candidate. For the young Mason joining the Mark he has discovered that he is “building something” part of his Masonic journey.
Other orders? It is my belief some join other Orders simply to gain the opportunity of wearing some of the colourful and distinguished regalia, is this a fair assumption? I think so, there is I believe, nothing wrong with that, it’s our money, our time and our hobby. Having joined, you are soon swept up with the story and tradition of the Order and wearing whatever is right and comfortable for you is a bonus.
Embracing as many Orders as you wish and are able is something I actively encourage and practice. Look around, see who belongs and to what order, if it suits you and the members are ones you wish to spend part of your hobby with; go for it. To gain admission into some Orders you must have achieved certain Masonic qualifications, if you want to join there is your next challenge. Some Orders are unachievable to some religious beliefs but that is understandable we are all different, but Masonry still binds us together. Right now continue your journey and when you are ready join Mark Masonry.
Don’t be one of those who miss out on an interesting fun degree. Either speak to a brother who you know and is a member and ask for more details, or contact the Provincial Grand Secretary via the contact details on the website at www.essexmark.co.uk or email to EssexProvSec@britishmasons.uk.
This is the forth in a set of 9 teasers in this campaign and previous teasers can still be found on the Essex Mark website by clicking on the Teaser of the Month button on the front page.
