Grand Master’s Lodges of Instruction

Grand Master’s Lodges of Instruction
For
Mark Master Masons & Royal Ark Mariners

The Grand Master’s Lodges of Instruction meet on the first and third Monday of each month, commencing with the Masonic season starting in September to March, at Mark Masons’ Hall (86 St. James’s Street, London SW1A 1PL). The Advancement and Elevation ceremonies are rehearsed at each meeting; with the Elevation ceremony starting at 5.00pm and the Advancement ceremony starting at 6.00pm. The Installation ceremonies for Mark and RAM are rehearsed once each month on alternate Mondays, and also when requested by the members to accommodate their individual schedule.

The instructions are given in a friendly and relaxed manner to an approved standard of ritual, to fit individual requirement and need. It is hoped that brethren will familiarise themselves with the ritual and attain an ability to deliver the ritual with confidence, in a competent manner and style, worthy of note. Regalia is not worn for the GM’s LoI, but smart casual dress is a requirement at MMH (no jeans or trainers!).

The Lodges of Instructions’ season culminates with the Annual Festival, at which the Advancement and Elevation ceremonies are demonstrated, and it is usually held during the last week in April, on a date and at a venue mutually agreed by the GM’s LoI’s committee and also the committee of the host Mark Province. The GM’s LoI`s Annual Festival for 2020 had to be postponed due the current Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent suspension of all masonic activities. The next GM’s LoI’s Annual Festival will be held on Friday 29th April 2022 at Mark Masons’ Hall, 86. St. James’s Street, London SW1A 1PL, at which the R.W. Bro. Peter David Williams, Provincial Grand Master for the Mark Province of Kent, will preside.

When the Government imposed restrictions on public assembly and the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons suspended all Masonic activities, the GM’s LoI continued to meet – using a secure virtual Zoom facility and using protocol approved by Mark Grand Lodge – every Monday evening at 19.30 hours from 4th April 2020 until the resumption of face-to-face meetings in September 2021. These virtual LoI’s have become very popular, particularly with far-away Provinces and Districts Overseas, and as a result the virtual LoI’s will continue to be  held – on the last Monday of each month.

The names of the Committee are shown below. They are all very willing and eager to support and assist attendees in their individual requirements and the specific Offices that they wish to undertake in their own Lodges.

Chairman:
R.W. Bro. Frank Spencer G.D.C., P.Prov.G.M. (Worcs), G.M.R.A.C.

Preceptor:
R.W. Bro. Tom Quinn Prov.G.M. (London), R.A.M.G.R.

Assistant Preceptors:
W. Bro. David Stiff P.G.S.D., Asst.Prov.G.M. (Kent), R.A.M.G.R.
W. Bro. Graeme McCormack P.A.G.D.C., P.Prov.G.J.W. (London), Prov.R.A.M.G.R.
W. Bro. G.C. Munday P.G.S.D., P.Prov.G.S.W. (London), R.A.M.G.R.

Secretary:
W. Bro. Hemant Vyas P.G.J.D., P.Prov.G.S.W. (London), R.A.M.G.R.

Assistant Secretary:
W. Bro. Michael Guile P.A.G.D.C., P.Prov.G.S.W. (London), R.A.M.G.R.

Treasurer:
W. Bro. Shane Clapham P.A.G.Swd.B., P.Prov.G.J.W. (London), R.A.M.G.R.

Festival Secretary & Zoom Meetings Co-ordinator:
W. Bro. C.J. Rose Prov.G.Stwd (London), Prov.R.A.M.G.R.

Members:
V.W. Bro. D.F. Pascho P.G.M.O., R.A.M.G.R.
V.W. Bro. G.A. Trew P.G.J.O., R.A.M.G.R.
W. Bro. C.J.B. Lloyd P.G.J.D., R.A.M.G.R.
W. Bro. J.H. Bussel P.A.G.D.C., R.A.M.G.R.

Mark Master Masons and Royal Ark Mariners of all Provinces are cordially invited to participate in the Festival in addition to taking the opportunity to rehearse work which they are expecting to do in their own Lodges.

Any inquiries should go to W. Bro. Hemant Vyas (hemantvyas@btopenworld.com)

Dates of the GMLOI can be found by logging into the members’ area of the website and accessing Forms – Grand Master’s Lodges of Instruction.

NB: Since the resumption of GM’s LoI’s regular physical meetings at MMH on Monday 4th October 2021, the committee has agreed to continue holding the virtual Zoom meetings on the 4th or the last Monday of each month.

Guidelines for Virtual Grand Master’s Lodges of Instruction

Meeting Set-up:
The LoI will be held via Zoom. An experienced Worshipful Master will be responsible for setting up the meeting and monitoring the attendance.
1. The meeting password must be changed for each meeting
2. The waiting room and individual access being granted must be applied.
3. The meeting details must not be shared on the social media.
4. A list of attendees for each meeting – to be obtained from the application to be kept in a minute book.
5. Every effort should be used to ensure that the security of our meetings is not compromised.Officers and Officials:
1. A meeting matrix will be created on a rolling monthly basis.
2. Bids for offices or part offices (WM – first half of ceremony, working tools etc.) to be made one week prior to the meeting date.
3. A ‘Narrator` will describe movement to cue the next line of ritual. (e.g. SD and Candidate moves to NW facing E.)
4. No signs, passwords or other words to be used. The word `password` or initial (`J`) only to be used.
5. Members are placed on trust and that books or notes will not be used, unless they announce beforehand that they are.
6. Prompting to be allocated to one person who will follow the ceremony closely. Corrections to be made sympathetically, stopping for only `serious` variations.
7. The GM’s LoI operates a membership register, however virtual Zoom meetings are open to all `bona fide` Mark Master Masons and Royal Ark Mariners who are properly vouched for.
8. Membership of GM’s LoI – details are available from the Secretary. Any Mark Master Mason may be proposed, seconded and elected to life membership of Mark Lodge by a show of hands.