Cerdic Consec Oration. - Somerset Mark Master Masons

The Oration at the Consecration
of the
Cerdic Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 571
Right worshipful Provincial Grand Master; Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand
Master, Worshipful Brethren and Brother Royal Ark Mariners
The birth of anything is an interesting and thrilling event not without its
hazards and dangers. The birth of a new lodge is the same. It may have its
teething problems as it grows to maturity. Will it be a blessing to its members
and through them to the local community where its members live, or will it be
inward looking? It will be a blessing to many if the words said and heard in the
Lodge are taken into the lives of its members and pass through them out into
the world by their words and actions.
At the moment there is no Royal Ark Mariner Lodge in Chard but within the
hour Cerdic Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners will have been dedicated – born -
have members.
In the course of the consecration ceremony the Provincial Grand Master will
strew salt on the founders of this new Lodge and so make it into a Lodge.
Notice brethren that it is not this room or the Lodge board which becomes the
Lodge, it is the founders and all who will join later. The salt, we shall be
reminded is an emblem of fidelity, hospitality and everlasting friendship, which
will be strewn on founders not the lodge board or the room. The Lodge will be
you, Founders, and all the rest there are here and all who rest there Ark here.
In the Craft and Mark masonry the symbolic teaching of the ceremonies is
based on the architecture and the fashioning of stone. In this degree the
emphasis is on making the ark from wood. It is suggested that just as in the
period between about 1300 and 1500, when the majority of churches were
built in England, there were itinerant stonemasons travelling around building
these churches, so also there were bands of travelling woodcarvers and
carpenters moving around adding to the adornment of the insides of the
buildings. The stonemasons lodged for a time in the parish and no doubt used
much local unskilled labour to help with the supply and building of a church,
which might take anything up to 100 years to complete. Secrecy among these
practical masons was essential. As the building was to be completed carvers
were imported to assist the local carpenters in the adornment of the
woodwork. These woodworkers lodged for a time in parish and they also were
jealous of their knowledge of carving and kept their secrets as much as
possible to themselves. Their lodge was not interested in stone masonry, but
in wood and the best and most well-known of woodwork in the Bible was
Noah's Ark. Hence it is thought this Royal Ark Mariner degree started.
Have you ever really looked at the woodwork in some other ancient churches?
We tend to look at the stonework and rarely look at the carved bench ends

and other woodwork and so miss some of the gems of mediaeval or Victorian
craftsmen. In Cheddar church there are some delightful 15th century carvings
on the ends of pews. In a triangle about 2" x 3" x 5" there are two small faces
with long tongues intertwined depicting “gossips” and in the opposite corner
the face of a man, which, if you cover one half or the other there is a
silhouette of a face depicting a two-faced person. Look again brethren at the
wonderful craftsmanship in the woodwork of the churches! Whereas stone is a
dead medium to work in, wood is a living one and now that wood has almost
disappeared from modern furniture and fittings and even coffins are made of
chipboard and plastic, there has been a revival in looking at the grain of the
wood with quite an industry in stripping paint from your cupboards etc. I have
floated away rather from the Ark, but in these days of technology, intellect is
more important than wisdom and utility than beauty. Wisdom and beauty
being the two points of our triangle.
The third point, strength, is the one we need in our lives so that we shall not
be blown about like a reed by conflicting interests with which we are all
continually being bombarded by the media. This inner strength comes to us
from knowing that the promises made to us through Noah, by God, after the
deluge. Scientifically we all know what a rainbow is, but spiritually a rainbow
reminds us every time we see one that God has promised to save us from our
follies, if we cooperate with Him. The supreme commander of the universe
has made His promise to be always with us to help us. He gives us a vision of
the “beauty” of the inward man. He gives the “strength” which comes from the
belief that He “will support us under difficulties”. He gives us “wisdom” to know
that He “will direct us in all our undertakings”. This is the part of the covenant
made between God and us, which we Royal Ark Mariners recall in our
ceremony and how grateful to the supreme commander of the universe we
should be for this covenant and thank him for our press thank Him in our
prayers.
Noah and his family were saved from drowning in the great flood because
Noah was a God-fearing man and tried to lead a good life. This Royal Ark
Mariner degree sets before us many lessons and warnings and all the way
through our ceremonies there are obvious parallels to Christian teaching. As
Noah was saved from drowning in the waters, Christians believe that until the
life, death and the rising of Christ all people were drowning in sin. God saves
Noah. Christ saves us. In the explanation of the working tools in this degree
we are told that “as the Ark was built by these tools, we are shown that by
perseverance in faith, hope and charity - the three Christian virtues we may
be shut into an Ark of safety, when the elements shall melt with fervent heat
and the whole earth shall be dissolved”. In other words no matter what
happens around us in the world, if our complete faith is in the saving power of
the supreme commander of the universe we shall experience “the peace of
God which passes or goes beyond our understanding”, as taught us by the
steps we take in our elevation to this degree.
Brother Founders, you will shortly be members of this Cerdic Lodge of Royal

Ark Mariners. Shortly Bible readings and prayers will be said and incense
used in the consecration of your lodge. As the smoke rises may your prayers
ever ascend to the supreme commander of the universe. May you build up
your lodge to the Glory of God and the benefit of all connected with you.
May all your steps be safe and secure, so that you may all pass through the
waves of this troubled world, but when you are called hence you may rest in
those mansions of bliss where the rainbow ever circles round the throne of the
Commander of Heaven and earth.
Very Worshipful Brother, the Reverend Prebendary, Ronald Denman. Past
Grand Chaplain. Provincial Grand Chaplain of the Mark Province of Somerset.