INTRODUCTION TO LODGE OF ST MARK
Who are we and where are we? The Lodge of St Mark No. 6969 are a Craft Freemasons Lodge which meets at The Masonic Hall, Windmill Street in Hythe, a picturesque and historical seaside town on the south coast of Kent and one of the Cinque Ports.
When the Lodge started and when we meet Formed in 1950, we have 8 Regular Meetings each year, held on the first Wednesday of each month from October to May.
Social events We also hold social events at the Masonic Hall or at other local venues, with Members of other Lodges, family and friends all welcome to join us at these occasions.
Governing body The governing body of Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and some Districts overseas, and hence the overall controlling authority for the Lodge of St Mark, is The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). UGLE was founded in 1717 and has around 200,000 Members meeting at over 7,000 Lodges located throughout the country.
Provincial jurisdiction Under the authority of UGLE, Lodges are grouped into Provinces by region and the Lodge of St Mark are within the jurisdiction of the Masonic Province of East Kent, which has over 6,000 Members and 250 Lodges, meeting at 35 centres.
More information required For further details and information relating to the Lodge of St Mark and indeed Freemasonry in general, please take a moment to look through the remainder of this page and, in particular, the other pages referred to below;
Freemasonry – click here
Lodge Meetings – click here
News & Events – click here
Should you have any questions or require further information, please also feel very welcome to get in touch with the Lodge – click here.
LODGE HISTORY
The Lodge of St Mark No. 6969 was founded in 1950, with the Consecration Meeting taking place commencing at 2.45pm on Tuesday 6th June 1950 at the Hotel Metropole situate on The Leas in Folkestone, Kent, with the Consecration Luncheon also taking place at the same venue.
The Consecrating Officers were The Right Worshipful The Provincial Grand Master The Right Honourable The Lord Cornwallis, KBE, MC, Past Grand Warden, assisted by The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Worshipful Brother Wing/Commander Bertram Wilfred Noble, OBE, Past Grand Deacon, and The Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Worshipful Brothers Arthur Atkinson and Harold Tuffee, Past Grand Deacons, together with 12 other active Provincial Grand Lodge Officers, including the Provincial Wardens, Chaplain, Treasurer, Secretary and Director of Ceremonies.
The Lodge of St Mark had 21 Founding Members, including 7 Past Masters, and at the Consecration Meeting the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge, Worshipful Brother Captain William Walter Rowe, was installed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
Various documents relating to the Consecration Meeting can be viewed below.
The Province of Kent was at that time one Masonic governing body for the County, but has since been divided into two Provinces covering East and West Kent, with the Lodge of St Mark forming part of the East Kent Province.
The Mother Lodge of the Lodge of St Mark is the Shorncliffe Lodge No. 4330, formed in 1921 and meeting at the Sandgate Masonic Hall, with the Family Tree being as shown below. Shorncliffe in Folkestone has, of course, been the site of an Army Camp since the late 18th Century, although the Camp is now being largely closed down and redeveloped.
The Lodge of St Mark takes its name from St Mark’s Garrison Church, built on North Road at Shorncliffe Army Camp. The Church was built in the early years of the Second World War for use by Service personnel. It is a Grade II Listed Building and, no longer being used as a Church, it is now the venue for The Tower Theatre.
The Military connections from the early years of the Lodge of St Mark are further evidenced by the first Worshipful Master being a Captain and the other Founding Members including a Major. In addition, from the Agenda for the Meeting held in September 1950 (see below), the ballot for Joining Members included a serving Captain in HM Land Forces who was based at Shorncliffe Camp and there was a ballot for and Initiation of a Major, again serving in HM Land Forces based at Shorncliffe Camp.
When formed, the Lodge met on the first Wednesday of January to June and September to November inclusive, with the Installation of the Worshipful Master being in September. This has subsequently changed so that the Lodge no longer meet in June or September, although it does now meet in December, and the Installation now takes place in October.
The Lodge Meetings originally took place at the Masonic Hall in Grace Hill, Folkestone, with the meeting place since having moved to the Masonic Hall in Windmill Street, Hythe. The normal Regular Meeting start time was originally 6.15pm, as it remains now.
In addition to its Masonic Meetings, the Lodge has for many years maintained an active calendar of social events, including its annual Ladies Festival.
The Lodge celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary in the Millennium Year 2000 and continues as a very happy and healthy Lodge, with many distinguished Brethren having served as its Worshipful Master. It now looks forward to its Seventy Fifth Anniversary in 2025.
CHARITABLE GIVING
For information regarding how Freemasonry and the Lodge of St Mark encourages and operates charitable giving, please refer to the Charity section under the Freemasonry page of this website and also use the links to other websites provided under that section. Those links have also been included below if you would like immediate access.
– The Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons’ Charity– click here
– The Masonic Charity Foundation (MCF)- click here
– The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI)- click here
– The RMBI care home in Kent- click here
LODGE OFFICERS
In common with other Craft Masonic Lodges, each year individual Members of the Lodge of St Mark who have achieved an appropriate level of Masonic experience will be offered the opportunity to be appointed and, or invested or installed to hold the various Lodge Offices set out below.
There are also Committee and other Representative activities, again as outlined below.
All these areas of responsibility combine to provide ample opportunities for Members to participate and contribute, whilst developing their life within Masonry.
Whilst not all Members may wish to progress to Office, to be asked to take Office is a clear indication of the faith held in an individual to contribute to the success of the Lodge. Performing the duties of Office to the benefit of the Lodge and its Members brings with it very enjoyable and rewarding opportunities and challenges.
Certain of the Offices are progressive, in the sense that Members will generally be offered the opportunity to progress up through these Offices year on year, with a view to them finally achieving the Mastership of the Lodge.
For names and contact details in respect of individual Members holding Offices in the Lodge of St Mark, please refer to Lodge of St Mark Facebook Group – Members Only .
Worshipful Master (WM)
The ‘Master’, as he is generally referred to, is elected each year by the Members and to qualify he must have served Office as a Warden. He presides over all Lodge proceedings for his year in Office and ensures that the Lodge carries out its duties and responsibilities. He will play a key role in all Ceremonies and thus the ritual work of the Lodge. It is the most senior Office that a Lodge can confer on a Member and the Master will also represent the Lodge in, for instance, visiting other Lodges.
The WM will appoint all Officers for his period in Office, apart from those elected to hold Office by the Members.
He is referred to as ‘Worshipful’ as a term of honour and mark of respect and not in the sense that he is intended to be worshipped. The term ‘Master’ is used to acknowledge that he is fully qualified to carry out the duties of his Office and is thus sufficiently experienced in Masonry to further instruct and develop the Lodge Members.
At the end of his period in Office, the WM will be invested as the ‘Immediate Past Master’ (IPM), which is not an actual Lodge Office, but a position from which he will assist and support the incoming new Master. Each Member who has served as WM is then always known as a ‘Past Master’ (PM).
Senior Warden (SW)
The second of the three principal Lodge Officers, the SW assists the WM in carrying out his responsibilities and will again have a key role to play in the Ceremonies carried out. He will generally be expected to progress to become WM.
Junior Warden (JW)
The third of the three principal Lodge Officers, the JW assists the SW and WM in performing their duties and, for instance, has responsibilities for ensuring that refreshments at the Festive Board are properly attended to. He will again have a key role to play in the Ceremonies carried out.
Chaplain
The principal duties of the Chaplain are to lead prayer at the Lodge Meetings and grace at dining. It is not required that he is a member of the clergy.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is elected each year by the Members. He is responsible for the management and control of Lodge finances, including such matters as collection, banking and payment of monies. He will keep the Lodge Accounts, which will be presented annually for agreement by the Members, after inspection by Account Examiners, again elected annually by the Members.
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for all matters relating to Lodge administration, which includes the timely issuing of the Summons for each Meeting (a formal notice of an impending Meeting), recording Meeting minutes (which are circulated to and approved by the Members), submitting of required information returns to the Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges, dealing with correspondence and advising the WM on matters of procedure.
Director of Ceremonies (DC)
The DC is responsible for the direction and smooth operation of the Lodge proceedings and in particular the Ceremonies, including the ritual workings carried out. This will also include ensuring that prompting support is provided for those transacting ritual work and the running of Rehearsals for Officers.
Almoner
The Almoner fulfils a caring and support role for and on behalf of Lodge Members, helping to ensure that assistance is considered and provided where health or other circumstances demand. He will remain in contact with Members or their families who are unwell or otherwise distressed, and also maintains a discreet presence in the lives of widows of former Members, so that the Lodge may readily assist any of them should they find themselves in any particular need.
The Almoner will be familiar with the work of the local and national Masonic charities and be able to offer advice to those who might qualify for such assistance.
Charity Steward
The Charity Steward will have responsibility for helping to ensure that the Lodge generates from its Members and the Lodge activities an appropriate level of charitable giving and that the Lodge considers donations to good causes. He is likely to lead discussions about the appropriate recipients of the Lodge’s charity funds and to be able to advise Members upon matters relating to Masonic Charities.
Lodge Mentor
It is the duty of the Lodge Mentor to promote the Masonic development of the Lodge Members by helping to ensure that personal mentoring is provided as a natural part of how the Lodge operates, particularly for the benefit of new Members and those taking Office. His guidance and support will be key in helping Lodge Members to best understand and enjoy their Freemasonry.
Senior Deacon (SD)
The principal duties of the SD are key in that they involve conducting new Members through the Ceremonies, whilst he also has other Ceremonial responsibilities relating to certain communications between the senior Lodge Officers.
Junior Deacon (JD)
The duties of the JD essentially follow those of the SD, leaving him with an equally key responsibility when conducting new Members through the Ceremonies.
Assistant Director of Ceremonies (ADC)
It is the responsibility of the ADC to assist the DC in the successful performance of his duties and he can thus also have a key role in helping to ensure that Lodge proceedings and Ceremonies operate appropriately. He also has responsibility for directing the Meetings of the Lodge of Instruction (LoI).
Organist
The Organist provides musical accompaniment to certain parts of Lodge proceedings and Ceremonies and may also play during breaks in those proceedings or Ceremonies. He makes an important contribution towards creating a harmonious, enjoyable and suitably relaxed atmosphere in the Lodge Room.
Assistant Secretary
The Assistant Secretary may be called upon to assist the Secretary in the carrying out of his duties, although his primary role is to perform the duties of Secretary to the Lodge of Instruction (LoI). This can include the production of agendas and will involve keeping minutes of the LoI Meetings.
Inner Guard
Inner Guard is the first of the progressive Lodge Offices, after promotion from the Office of Steward. His principal responsibilities are to ensure that the Lodge Room is secured and to control entry to the Lodge Room during Meetings.
Steward
Steward is normally the first Office to which Members will be appointed. Stewards could be called upon to assist with Ceremonial duties, particularly presentations or when other Officers have to be absent from a Meeting, but their prime responsibilities will be to conduct a charitable collection during the Meeting and help where necessary with activities at the Festive Board, which may include collection of monies, carrying out of raffles, tending to tables and ensuring that Lodge Guests are properly provided for.
Tyler
The Tyler (sometimes referred to as the ‘Outer Guard’), who is elected annually by the Members, has responsibility at Meetings to control entry to the Lodge Room from outside the door and to prepare new Members for the Ceremonies. The Tyler is also traditionally responsible for preparing the Lodge Room before the Meeting and for clearing it and storing the regalia after the Meeting, although some of these duties tend to be shared with other Officers and Members.
This Office is usually taken by a Past Master or by a Lodge Member who is not desirous of progressing through the other Offices. It may also sometimes be occupied by a Member from another Lodge who has agreed to provide their services.
Membership Officer
Although not invested as an Officer of the Lodge, a Member can be appointed or elected annually to have responsibilities in respect of membership. He will assist, guide and report to the Lodge on the recruitment of new Members and the subsequent retention and renewal of their membership. This may encompass input towards refreshment and strengthening of the Membership experience as arising through all Lodge activities.
Library and Museum Representative
Although again not invested as an Officer of the Lodge, a Member is elected annually to represent the Lodge on matters connected to the Kent Museum of Freemasonry in Canterbury, which can include attendance at related meetings. They will report to the Lodge Meetings on all items of interest or importance relating to the Museum and its library facility.
Holy Royal Arch Representative
Although again not invested as an Officer of the Lodge, a Member is elected annually to represent the interests of Holy Royal Arch Masonry within the Lodge. The representative will be able to communicate information relating to the Holy Royal Arch and assist those who may wish to join.
Lodge Committee
In common with most clubs and similar organisations, the Lodge has a Committee (normally referred to as the ‘General Purposes [GP] Committee’) who have scheduled meetings and whose responsibilities include considering and reporting to the Lodge on proposals for Membership and upon other matters specifically referred to it. The Committee consists of those Members stated in the Lodge Byelaws.
Social Committee
The Lodge of St Mark have an active elected Social Committee, who co-ordinate and arrange all social events held for the enjoyment of the Members, their family and friends. Being a member of the Social Committee is not a Lodge Office, although those elected may also hold Offices in the Lodge and the Social Committee do have their own Constitution and Officers. Those who may not actually be a member of the Social Committee can still agree to be co-opted onto the Committee to assist with certain events.
Officers of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge
In reflection of their efforts, service and achievements within their own Lodge and Freemasonry in general, Members may be honoured by being offered a position as an Officer of the Masonic Province of East Kent or of The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). Those who are in receipt of such honours would still maintain their Membership of and contribution to their own Lodge.
DOCUMENTS & DOWNLOADS
Please see the links below where you can view, download and print useful information, documentation and forms. These will be particularly helpful to the Members of the Lodge of St Mark. Members will also find further information that can be viewed, downloaded and printed on the Lodge of St Mark Facebook Group – Members Only.
GN002 – A Message from the Lodge of St Mark Almoner – Click here
GN003 – Data Protection Notice – Click here
GN008 – The Cornwallis Lecture – Click here
GN011 – Register of Lodge Guidance Notes, Ceremonial Workings and Other Documents (V.2) – Click here
Lodge of St Mark 