Over the several lockdowns during the Covid pandemic, it feels that Masonry has suffered somewhat with reticence in attending meetings as we try to find a new normality. I’ve just had a total shoulder replacement, straight back in to my part time day job but equally spending some time in building content for this site and my reasons for doing it. So far I’ve written almost to every Ruler in Warwickshire and a few in Worcestershire to try to get them to ‘buy into’ this little project of mine. But I don’t want to stop there. I feel it’s important for me to share some of the wonderful experiences I’ve had across all the Orders I currently subscribe to and perhaps, those to come.
First of all, one of my real passions…The Mark Degree.
The first sojourn into the additional Degrees, Thanks to my Masonic Mentors, was Rose Croix. Unfortunately for me a case of wrong time, wrong Chapter. So my next move was to join the Marvellous Mark Degree (rapidly followed by the RAM). I joined at a time when the Degree was in an ascendency in Warwickshire and I took to it like a duck to water! I progressed quite rapidly as I literally sucked up the ritual, reaching my first Chair (and not in my mother Mark either), in 1999. Soon I found myself a Provincial Grand Steward and the year after, another active promotion. I have equal passion for the RAM Degree as its ritual is beautiful with an almost unsurpassable Installation. I was eventually promoted to RAMGR in 2016. A Grand Rank I cherish the most.
Back to the Mark, unfortunately I took some time out living in Spain for 8 years. I didn’t lose touch, simply opportunity. Stuck at P.Prov.GSO for years a new PGM and a new active Rank. This time as an ADC, a position that develops a passion! One I have never lost. It would have been great to stay on that track but our current ProvGM had other ideas and promoted me to Provincial Grand Junior Warden. And then Covid struck! It’s now February 2022 and I have 8 precious months left as the Provincial Senior Warden. I can only say I hope that’s not the end of my journey in the Mark, only time will tell.
Martin