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Royal Ark Mariner
The story of this degree contains events before,
during and after the Biblical Flood. The apron and emblems of this
degree are easily recognizable by the ark and rainbow motif, although
the degree itself claims the original apron to have been made of
unfinished lambskin.
The historic prerequisite to be made a Royal Ark
Mason is to be a Mark Master Mason, however, the degree has no
connection symbolically or otherwise to the Mark degree.
A brother is said to be "Elevated" to the Degree
of Royal Ark Mariner.
Earlier in AMD history, this Degree was conferred in separate Royal
Ark Mariner Lodges which were “moored” to a Council of the Allied
Masonic Degrees. There are still a few surviving RAM Lodges moored to
Councils, but warrants are no longer issued for new RAM Lodges. Other
than those remaining Lodges, the Degree, if worked today, is worked
directly by the Council upon their own AMD members.
In Canada, it is conferred by a Council of Royal & Select Masters
(Cryptic Masons), bringing the number of Degrees worked by R&SM in
that country to four (the third being Super Excellent Master.)
Overseas, RAM Lodges are moored to Lodges of Mark Masters which work
under a separate Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. The existence of
Mark Grand Lodges is another fascinating study, worthy of its own
lengthy discussion.
It is fascinating to me that this Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners
exists worldwide, while being administered by three very different
bodies of Masonry.
The Principal Officers of a Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners represent
Noah, and two of his sons: Shem, and Japheth, and the Lodge room is
made to represent the Ark of Safety. Indeed, our Brethren of the
nineteenth century considered Noah to be one of the Grand Masters of
Masonry. (Do you?) He is a celebrated Builder, and a man of integrity
in the face of great opposition (if not a little bit of a drunkard.)
Indeed, the early brethren of our Craft did not hesitate to trace the
line of Masonry even back to Adam in the Garden of Eden, who was the
first to build an Altar (of unhewn stone, the Rough Ashlar), and the
first man to don an apron (though his was of fig leaves.) While it is
ridiculous to think that Modern Freemasonry was known to Adam or Noah,
there is something inherently true in the idea that Masonry is heir to
the fruits of the greatest and noblest accomplishment of a more
primitive generation of man. The Royal Ark Mariner degree is special
because it embodies this speculative reference to far antiquity, which
if taken literally, implies that all of humanity was saved from the
great flood by a Grand Master Mason.
The Ark and the Anchor are symbols to which our attention is drawn,
seemingly at random, in the Lecture of the Master Mason Degree. This
proves the antiquity of their Masonic significance. I will now diverge
from the subject of the Royal Ark Mariners in particular in order to
quote at great length about "The Ark and Anchor," from "Freemasory,
its Symbolism, Religious Nature, and Law of Perfection, by Brother
Chalmers I. Paton (Past-Master, No. 393, England)" printed in 1873. If
it doesn't suit you, please look past the Christian references present
in this piece, as I believe the point being made regarding Salvation
(Deliverance) and Trust are equally applicable to all of us who depend
upon the Great Architect:
CHAPTER LX.
MASONIC SYMBOLS.—THE ARK AND THE ANCHOR.
THE Ark and the Anchor sometimes represented separately, and sometimes
conjointly, are symbolic of the safety and the sure hope of him who
puts his trust in God, and walks in the way of God's Commandments.
Tossed on a tempestuous sea of troubles, and exposed to many dangers
in his earthly life, a good man is still preserved in safety, as Noah
and his family were preserved in the ark, when it floated on the
waters of the deluge, and all the rest of mankind perished. The ark
refers our thoughts to this great historic fact, but at the same time
leads us to think of that which even it symbolised or typified. As
Noah and his family were saved in the ark, from the destruction which
overwhelmed the multitudes of the unbelieving and ungodly, so all who
put their trust in God are saved, whatever the dangers which beset
them, and the storms which thicken around them. We read in the Epistle
to the Hebrews, that "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not
seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith" (Heb. xi. 7). Even so, every
believer, listening to the voice of God, and yielding a willing
obedience, finds an ark of refuge ready, an ark which he does not need
to prepare as Noah did, but in which he is in perfect safety.
The anchor may be regarded as securing the ark from danger amidst the
storms of life. Or by itself it may be accounted as a symbol of the
security of a good man who puts his trust in God. And thus the figure
of the anchor is used in Scripture, to represent the perfect security
of the believer's hope. "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail"
(Heb. vi. 19).
The Anchor and the Ark remind us both of the dangers to which we are
exposed, and of the refuge which we may find from them. They encourage
us to choose and persevere in a right course, all dangers
notwithstanding, and they assure us that if we do so, all shall be
well. We shall not be overwhelmed in the surging billows; we shall not
be driven from our place to be the sport of winds, and to be dashed by
them to destruction; but we shall weather every storm, and find
ourselves after all in a haven of peace and rest. It is a terrible
picture of human life which is presented to us by the ark on the
shoreless waters of the deluge; but we are comforted and encouraged by
the thought of the safety in which it was preserved, till it rested on
the mountains of Ararat, and its inmates went forth to enter on
possession of the regenerated earth. Amidst the storm, a well-built
and well-appointed ship rides securely at anchor in a good harbour,
and we are encouraged to confidence of perfect security, as knowing
how good both our anchor and our harbour are. But let us see to it
that all is right, that ours is indeed a well-built and well-appointed
ship, and our anchor is that which is "sure and steadfast."
The very significant symbol now under our consideration, is therefore
far from being merely intended to remind us of the deliverance of Noah
and his family, the progenitors of the whole existing human race, from
the deluge which overwhelmed the old world, and swept away the workers
of iniquity, but still more to suggest to our thoughts those great
truths which were typified even in Noah's ark itself, and in the
salvation accomplished by it. "For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins, the just for the unjust," says the Apostle Peter, "that He might
bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the
Spirit. By which also lie went and preached unto the spirits in
prison; which sometimes were disobedient, when once the long-suffering
of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a-preparing,
wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into
heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and
powers being made subject unto Him" (1 Pet. iii. 18-22).
Traditions of the flood are common throughout the world, and are found
in the earliest records of ancient times, mingling with the other
legends of all the mythologies, and with the accounts which different
nations have received of their origin. These traditions have been
sought out and compared with great diligence by learned authors; for
they afford an important argument in favour of the unity of the human
race, and of the truth of the Bible. We find the ark figured in the
ancient monuments of Egypt; and we find in many other of the most
ancient sculptures, and on coins or medals of various countries, not
uncertain evidence of the prevalence of the tradition of the flood,
and of the preservation of Noah and his family.
The ark fitly symbolises the means of salvation. The flood rages
around, but within the ark there is no danger. The perfect safety of
those who seek refuge in it, is still further symbolised by the
anchor. The ark is not represented as floating wildly, at the mercy of
the winds and waves, but as secured by its anchor. And thus the
believer has hope, "as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner
is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec" (Heb. vi. 19-20). That hope cannot fail;
disappointment is impossible; for it is a hope resting on the
promise—nay, upon the oath of God; for "God," says the author of the
Epistle to the Hebrews, "willing more abundantly to shew unto the
heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an
oath: That by two immutable things, in which it wns impossible for God
to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge
to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Heb. vi. 17-18).
He is safe who puts his trust in the Lord. The fiery deluge of wrath
shall sweep away the workers of iniquity; perdition awaits them; but
the believer is free from danger. No billow shall overwhelm the ark in
which he has taken refuge; and it cannot be wrecked by any storm.
[Source:
Lodgical]
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