Oration given at the consecration of the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge
20th October 2006
Introduction:
From time immemorial it has been an established custom among men of all races, colour, and creeds to set aside a place wherein, or whereat, to make intercession with his Deity - the God that he sees to be the creative or ruling force in his world. This has been perhaps a cairn – a simple pile of stones – a totem pole - a bush that burned or - as we have come to recognise in these days – a simple Chapel, or a beautiful and magnificent building erected especially as a house of Worship and Adoration to Him who said ‘I am that I am’.
And so today we are in a sense continuing that primordial instinct or desire to recognise a power greater than ourselves - today we are going to create in this ‘Masonic Temple’ - a Lodge - dedicated to the presence and power of the Great Overseer of the Universe.
The Mark Degree has the unique place in Masonic history of being the Degree or Order that links so directly and so especially with the Operative Masons – and when you were ‘Advanced’ you will remember that you selected a Mark and received a Token – tangible evidence of belonging.
During the month of August my wife and I visited ‘Tate Britain’ and went to view the ‘John Constable Exhibition’ – how awesome it was to see the great works of Art - the Paintings of such a renowned Artist –
We stood transfixed in front of many well known paintings – The Hay Wain; Flatford Mill; and Salisbury Cathedral – these were all painted on six foot canvases, but there were many - many more sketches – the sketches from which the final works were wrung – but only the finished paintings - bear the signature – ‘John Constable’ – only the completed and perfect work was thought - by him - to be worthy of his name.
The Origin of the Order:
Similarly in a time before writing was to become the achievement of the general populace – a piece of work was owned and recognised as made by a particular craftsman – or cutting or engraving his Mark. Never was this practice more followed than by the old Operative Stone-masons who spread throughout Europe, during the Middle Ages, under the protection of the Church, and with the assistance of great Monarchs and Kings. These Craftsmen were finally to become known as Freemasons. Their Mark was a sign of recognition’. How topical that has become in our Fraternity today – We no longer have secrets – but we openly admit that we have ‘signs of recognition’.
Most of these old Operatives banded themselves together in Lodges and research shows that they practised many of the rites and ceremonies which had their origin in Ancient Egypt, Phoenicia and even earlier cultures, and in these Lodges, every Mason had his own Mark, thus distinguishing one man’s work from that of another.
Marks have been found on the great works of the ancient Romans, Assyrians, Greeks, Chinese and Egyptian Temples, on the ruins of nameless structures of Judea, in fact, everywhere that architecture has been fostered, wherever man has chosen to erect noble edifices either to God, or for his own glorification. Those of us who have been present when ‘Mark meets the Craft’ will know that the stones of St Albans Cathedral is a case in point.
The Marks used, were of every form and character and as numerous and varied as the men who made them, and became a language to the illiterate Operatives as they wandered from place to place. These men, governed by their own rules and laws, lived a separate life from the local people where they were working, and were “free” masons in the fullest sense, moving on to other places, as and when, their work was completed. Whilst they belonged to many nations, they were all bound by the ‘ties of brotherhood’ and they placed their Marks on the great Cathedrals and Palaces of Europe.
Every stone used in the foundation of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London bears the Mark of the Mason who cut it. The Marks can be verified by a visit to the underground Lodge or Temple that was designed and built, by Sir Christopher Wren, in the park at Windsor. Examination of the old records – listing the Marks of the builders of St. Paul’s Cathedral - reveals - by comparing the records with the Marks on the Foundation Stones - that the essence of the Mark Degree was an integral part of their lives - and this was long before Freemasonry, as we have come to know it today, was established.
The Purpose of the Order:
A deep study of Masonry inevitably leads one to the conclusion that the Mark Degree is not a legend, but is based on the actual facts of the Volume of the Sacred Law - the stones of the Temple being marked and placed in their proper position…..‘so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building’….. This is the origin of the Mark Degree, and it is quite clear, to my mind, that every entrant to a Lodge of Operative Masons, as well as later to the Speculative Lodges, had to record his Mark - and whether he was a Mark Man or a Mark Master, he still had to present his Mark in the same manner, as from the earliest of times.
Mark Masonry, although vetoed by the United Grand Lodge of England - continued to be practised in Scotland, where the Degree was clearly, originally an Operative one, and was superior in antiquity to any Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter.
Mark Masonry made very little impact in England until March 1856, when the United Grand Lodge of England decided unanimously that: “ The Degree of Mark Mason or Mark Master, is not at variance with the ancient Landmarks of the Order and that the Degree, be an addition to, and form part of, Craft Masonry and could be conferred by all Regularly Warranted Lodges, under such regulations as shall be sanctioned by the Grand Master.”
The decision was negated when brought up for confirmation - on the grounds that it was a breach of the Articles of Union, which only recognised Three Degrees plus the Holy Royal Arch – we now say – including the Royal Arch. The United Grand Lodge had made a big mistake, because the Mark Grand Lodge was formed, housed itself in London – is still there – and, as we all are aware, is about to Celebrate 150 years of its being.
Unlike all other degrees in Freemasonry, the Mark Degree has only one emblem, the Keystone, and the whole Degree is woven around this symbol. The symbol we use today is different from the ancient Keystone, that being cone like in shape, with the point cut off – However, the keystone has always been revered as the chief and most sacred portion of the Arch.
We can appreciate the importance of the keystone in the operative sense - but to us - it not only is the jewel of the Degree, and bears the Mark Master Mason’s Mark, but it teaches us to appreciate the fact that honest work, faithfully performed, even though unappreciated, will vindicate itself and bring just rewards. It teaches us to practice charity of thought, as well as deed, and not to judge harshly or condemn others through our lack of understanding.
And so it is appropriate that today we – Dedicate – we set apart - we Consecrate this Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge of Mark Master Masons.
We often quite wrongly hear inexperienced Masons say - when being asked about their unfolding progress in Masonry – ‘Oh – I’m only a Steward’
Do you remember the sense of pride and honour that roused within you when you were invited to accept the appointment of Provincial Steward – The word steward has now acquired many meanings – but it is an old word that takes it rise from the Anglo Saxon word ‘stigweard’ - ‘stig’ meaning a house or hall and ‘weard’ meaning a Ward or keeper. Thus it came to mean ‘an official who controlled the domestic affairs of the Household – or one who managed the affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer’. Figuratively from these two definitions it has come to mean – an administrator and dispenser of wealth, of favours, of fruits and sustenance – to provide for the very life of man – and of course the badge and jewel of The Steward in Masonry is the Cornucopia – depicted as spilling out with the goodness and abundant provision from the Great Overseer of the Universe - And so we see that a Steward can be especially regarded as a Servant of God and of the People.
In the ‘Prayer’ – or Petition - written to seek agreement for the establishment of this New Lodge it was stated that: - The Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1880 will channel their wide range of talents in the service of the Province and provide assistance and support to the Provincial Grand Master and the Executive.
Our Application of The Teaching of the Order:
And so we are about to Consecrate a New Lodge – A Lodge – a group of men - who are symbolically the ‘marked stones’ of the Temple of which, today, we are laying the foundation – a foundation which is comprised of good men - men who acknowledge the existence of God - men who are Stewards - men of high regard - and men who wish to serve. As a young lad I always carried an Autograph album with me wherever I went and exactly 55 years ago today - these words were written in it:
“To each is given a bag of tools - an hour-glass and a book of rules - and each must make ‘ere life is flown a stumbling block - or - a Stepping-stone.”
Charge:
May each one of us, here today, during our ‘stewardship’ through this our earthly pilgrimage, endeavour to ‘make our Mark’ – ‘to Mark well’ - the ‘Stepping- stone’ that we create by the way that we live our life – so that we may - receive the approving Mark of the Great Overseer of the Universe - and are ‘fitted to form part of that that Spiritual Edifice – that Temple – that House not made with Hands – Eternal in the Heavens.
David M Sawyer
Provincial Grand Chaplain
(With some assistance from – Henry Rischin)
20th October 2006
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