Advancement
Making your Mark
Historical origins
The Mark Master Mason’s Degree has its origins in, and takes its name from, the historical practice of stonemasons choosing a unique mark for themselves which, when displayed on a stone upon which they had worked, would identify the particular craftsman who had completed the work. There were also other marks which identified its destined place in the intended structure.
The Mark Degree continues to follow this tradition and every Mark Master Mason will be in possession of his own mark - unique and distinctive within his lodge. He may add this beside his name in a Lodge’s Registration Book and may use it when in written communication with another brother Mark Master Mason.
In bygone ages workmen were often illiterate and their individual marks were also used to tally their work and to identify each one individually when claiming their wages or dues. This mark and other stonemasons’ practices are used allegorically to teach us important lessons in life and how to conduct ourselves.
The ceremony of admission is called ‘Advancement’ rather than ‘Initiation’ - the Candidate is already a Freemason and so both he and his Masonic knowledge are being advanced.
The Degree comprises two parts, both of which are conducted at the same meeting. In the first stage the Master Mason is acknowledged as a ‘Mark Man’ and subsequently advanced to the Degree of ‘Mark Master Mason’ during the Ceremony.
A selection of historical Mason's Marks
(from Córdoba Cathedral)
similar to Craft but different
Regalia
The regalia of a Mark Master Mason comprises an apron and breast jewel. The apron is of white kid with a triangular flap, bordered with a two inch ribbon of light blue with crimson edges. It has rosettes of a similar colouring whilst Masters’ and Past Masters’ rosettes are replaced with silver levels.
Lodge officers wear a collar with an appropriate jewel attached.
The jewel of the Order is a keystone appended to a ribbon which matches the apron. The keystone bears certain characters and forms an integral part of the ceremony.
In Masonic terms, the Degree of Mark Master Mason is considered the fulfilment of the Fellow Craft Degree but it is still necessary for the Candidate to be a Master Mason before he can be Advanced to the Degree of Mark Master Mason.
A keystone of understanding
The Keystone
What does it mean?
The ceremony of Advancement within a Mark Masters’ Lodge to the Degree of Mark Master is based on a mixture of historical fact and key principles of morality. It's core message is one of contemplation of human strengths and weaknesses.
The Degree contains many messages for the discerning man and illustrates that the wisest of men can be mistaken, that the experts are often wrong, that the weakest can display greater perseverance than the strongest, that the insignificant have the potential for distinction – and that we all have a part to play in Life.
The Degree of Mark Master Mason can be described as a keystone of understanding - an important piece of the jigsaw puzzle of life. Once Advanced a Mark Master Mason begins to learn what it truly means to be a Mark Master and no longer considers that a Mark Master Mason is what he is but rather who he is.
