About the Order
The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariner has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons since 1871 and is governed by the Grand Master's Royal Ark Council.
The ceremony of "Elevation" is based on the story of Noah and the Ark.
Lodges are attached, or "moored", to Mark Lodges assuming their Number on the Roll. To be a member the Candidate must already have been advanced as a Mark Master Mason.
The Grand Master and Pro Grand Master of the Mark are, ipso facto, the Grand Master and Pro Grand Master of the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner.
Sanct Elmo Lodge
The lodge was founded on the same day as Broadley Mark Lodge, 9th May 2005. It is "moored' to Broadley and bears the same number: 1863.
It is named after the famous Fort St Elmo at the tip of the Valletta peninsula which the Knights of St John defended so gallantly during the invasion of the Ottomans in 1565.
The Lodge crest depicts, within a triangle - the symbol of the Order, the star-shaped fort over which flies the flag of the Order of St John. On the apex of the triangle is depicted Noah's Ark, a rainbow and a dove bearing an olive branch.
The Installation of the new Worshipful Commander takes place at the May meeting while new Royal Ark Mariners are usually Elevated at the October meeting.