Page 27 - Essex Mason (Issue 91)

Additional Orders

Mark Masons in Essex

Donate £45,000 to Festival 2022

At the June meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master
Masons of Essex, the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro Terence D.
Sheern, presented a “virtual” cheque in the sum of £11,000 to Paul
Reeves, Deputy Provincial Grand Master in Charge, who himself is
a Mark Master Mason in Essex. This brought the total contribution
from Essex Mark to Festival Essex 2022 to the magnifi cent sum of
£45,000!

After the Craft and Royal Arch, the Mark Degree is the third largest and one of the most popular degrees in
Freemasonry, containing some 1500 Mark Lodges in the English Constitution with Essex being one of the largest
Provinces, comprising 50 Mark Lodges with almost 1300 subscriptions and 39 Royal Ark Mariner Lodges with over
900 subscribing members.
The Mark Benevolent Fund is the main charity of the order, with the Essex MBF having local responsibility. The Essex
fund has donated to many local charities and good causes, including our own “Meals on Wheels” campaign. Currently
we are processing up to £50,000 of donations to local hospices in recognition of the late Duke of Edinburgh’s lifetime
of service.
Known as "the friendly degree", all Master Masons are eligible to join. The Degree is slightly less formal than The Craft
and there is no doubt that among Mark Master Masons you will ever fi nd friends.
Like Craft Freemasonry, the Mark Degree conveys moral and ethical lessons using ritual based around the building of
King Solomon's Temple.

Initiation into the Mark Degree is termed as “Advancement” and, in a chronological sense, the ceremony follows that of
the second degree in Craft - the Fellow Craft.
The Ceremony of Advancement follows the fate of an ambitious Fellow Craft seeking promotion in his trade by
demonstrating his skill and ability and each candidate, is provided with a mark peculiar to himself. This mark enables the
Overseers (or Mark Masters) to identify the work.
It is a wonderful ceremony containing elements of drama and humour, and, above all, strong moral lessons.

If you would like to have your Masonic knowledge truly “Advanced”, and receive your own unique Mark, why not join us.
For further information please contact our Communications Offi cer, W.Bro Geoff Newman at : CommsOffi cer@
britishmasons.uk, and if you would like to learn what we have been up to recently just click here to visit our website
www.essexmark.co.uk

Ambresbury

Preceptory 583

First Meeting Back

The Ambresbury Preceptory fi nally met at the Cross Keys Masonic Hall on the 17th June 2021 to install Kt. Robert
Young into the Eminent Preceptors chair having originally been elected back in Feb 2020.

The meeting was attended by 10 knights in a socially distanced manner and, despite no festive board, thoroughly
enjoyed the meeting and getting back to ceremonies.
November will see another candidate being brought into the preceptory.

If anyone is interested in joining, or knowing more, please contact Mark.Harrison@Intertek.com

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