Blackpool and District Mark Festival is a great success
 
“Beyond the Mark” was the theme for the 46th Blackpool and District Mark Festival which was this year staged by Fylde Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 296 at Adelaide Street Masonic Hall in Blackpool.
The Provincial team turned out in force for the festival.
This much anticipated annual event attracted a wide ranging audience of almost 100 Masons from every part of the Province which included not only the Provincial Grand Master Keith Beardmore and no less than 21 Grand officers, but also 29 members of the Provincial team as well as a contingent of Royal Ark Mariners and an invited audience of Craft Masons.
Five DCs ensure no-one puts a foot wrong.
Fylde Mark’s WM Bill Snell, after he had completed the domestic business of the lodge, welcomed the PGM and the glittering procession of his entourage to the packed-to-capacity lodge room.
Keith Beardmore pictured with the chain gang.
Following salutations, Keith introduced his Deputy Geoffrey Lee, APrGM Ian Nairn, Special Representative John Forster, PrGSW Andrew Whittle, PrGJW Tony Cross and the Provincial team who were marshalled by PrGDC David Emmerson. Keith explained that though it was not strictly speaking a team visit the occasion warranted the “glitzy” show of support and that everyone was gathered in Blackpool simply to enjoy themselves and the show.
Don’t they all look grand?
The lodge was adjourned by Bill Snell and the assembled company relaxed as the lights were dimmed and the festival began.
The side degree guys dream up a new degree.
The scene was set by narrator Robert Arrand, who also produced the accompanying visual screen shots, and was ably assisted by ‘projectionist’ John Forster (who appears on the commemorative programme as’ button pusher’. John also was responsible for much of the research which went into the history of the presentation which was re-enacted by the members of Fylde Mark.
Canon Portal aka Peter Green buys 'The RAM' for £25 from Salesman Edward Morton aka Stan Hill
The tale which unfolded covered “What’s next in Masonry” as there are so many other Masonic degrees. The audience heard that before the end of the 18th century, rituals of some 1,100 degrees had been compiled and a further 300 were introduced in the first half of the 19th century. These were passed by word of mouth so what would start as a small difference soon became another SIDE degree. Side degrees were considered as such because these were conferred by two or three brethren at one ‘side’ of the meeting place.
Noah and sons builders of the Ark
John Earnshaw, Colin Goodwin, Bernard Hopkinson and Peter Wilson then appeared from the wings and with great humour demonstrated how a new degree could be brought into being. The potential candidate took an irreverent side swipe at John Forster saying that the reason he wanted to join another degree, which would be his 14th, was that he was trying to catch up with the special rep. There was a dig that even John’s wife didn’t know how many subscriptions he paid. The ‘actor’ playing the candidate for the fictitious degree professed to be one Keith Alan Beardmore...
One of the oldest and interesting of all the side degrees, according to Robert the narrator, who was coincidentally dressed in what appeared to be all the colours of the rainbow, is that of the Royal Ark Mariners. He mentioned that this is a very exclusive degree as only Mark Master Masons can join it and that this beautiful degree has been under the control of Grand Mark Lodge since 1871. It was purchased by Canon Portal the then Grand Master of the Mark from one Edward Morton who claimed ownership of the degree.
Come and join us. Craig Scott (left) is persuaded by some Mariners that RAM is the degree to join.
On cue two gentlemen dressed fashionably in Victorian costume appeared. ‘Edward Morton’ looked suspiciously like Peter Green and ‘Canon Portal’ like Stan Hill. After an earnest discussion and at times some unscripted haggling the Degree of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners changed hands for £25. The receipt for which sum was held in the library at Mark Masons Hall until they moved to 86 St James Street; which is also the home of nine other side degrees all administered from that building and all of which have the same Grand Secretary. All Mark Masons are members of this ‘gentlemen’s club’ and can visit whenever they are in London.
Narrator Robert Arrand is joined by his assistant and projectionist John Forster.
The festival audience next heard from the narrator that the Royal Ark Mariners Degree, being one of the oldest degrees is based on the great flood, Noah his sons Japheth and Shem, and of course the Ark from which the degree takes its name.
Keith Beardmore thanks Fylde Mark for a splendid evening.
Cue the entry of Bill Ainsworth, Granville Coxhill and Wally Atcheson dressed suitably for pre-flood times. There were some hilarious exchanges twixt father Noah and his sons concerning ‘animal waste’ and how to deal with it. Eventually a raven was released theatrically (bird on a wire springs to mind) across the lodge to Secretary Rick Clarke’s desk, then, seven days later when it turned out the raven was tendering its apologies for absence, a dove was released. Spectacularly on its return a rainbow appeared.
A full house of festival diners
As in the story of Noah’s Ark the rainbow is very prominent so the RAM regalia reflects this and is some of the most colourful in Masonry. There was plenty of audience participation as the company joined in a sing-a-long of ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’.
Saying it with flowers - Bill Snell gives Keith an orchid for Mrs B.
Hopeful RAM candidate Craig Scott was next told all about Royal Ark Mariners its aims and structure and how it supports worthy causes through its charitable giving by Rory Maskell, Patrick Dwyer, Brian Ogden, Ray Lamb, Ernie Gavan and Bob McGown.
Craig heard about the analogies which are drawn in the degree between the dangers of the flood and the dangers of life. It was also stressed to Craig that the whole emphasis was in enjoying Masonry and to have fun; as he could tell from the happy and colourful regalia and one that is a pleasure to have on his Masonic CV. Suitably impressed Craig was sent off clutching a joining form.
As the (virtual) curtain closed on the proceedings Robert Arrand thanked his audience for their attention saying that he hoped the festival had whetted the appetites of those who were not yet Royal Ark Mariners.
Keith Beardmore thanked the Fylde Mark players for their splendid performance which he said had set a benchmark for other Mark lodges to follow in the future.
Imperial Mark Lodge No 1276 is to take up that challenge in 2017. In 2020 all of the Mark lodges in Blackpool and District are joining forces for a spectacular festival.
Following the close of the lodge and the evening’s entertainment the company retired to further enjoyment at a sumptuous festive board.
Article and Photographs Courtesy of Bob Boal