|
Post by irishmason on Feb 11, 2009 12:52:09 GMT
I visited my chapter in Cork yesterday evening and the question cam up, why are we saluting the Excell. King after the chapter closed?
Secondly what is the old degree of Black Mark / Link Mason?
Would appriciate any info on that.
Greeting from Ireland
|
|
ricardo
Member
Australia
Posts: 161
|
Post by ricardo on Feb 11, 2009 13:24:44 GMT
Good questions. I have passed them onto another list at YahooGroups, where there are a few erudite members of the Irish Lodge of Research No.CC and the Irish Royal Arch Chapter of Research No.222. Lets see what they come up with.
S&F
|
|
|
Post by mrmason on Feb 11, 2009 21:07:21 GMT
The Black Mark was apparently brought from Ireland to Scotland by irregular Encampments, and as it was considered irregular the Grand Encampment and Grand Council of Rite in Scotland refused to work it. It was a christian degree connected with the KT. A similar degree in the USA, titled "Christian Mark" or "Knights of the Conclave" were also worked. The degree consists of the Pope mistrusting his Italian nobles and chooses his body guard from the Knights of Malta. During the degree one of the officers represents an angel and is dressed in a white robe carrying an inkhorn. He proceeds to "Mark" the candidate in order to preserve him from general destruction. Some versions of the degree involves the candidate representing the angel as opposed to an officer.
The Link degree is one of a series which was worked in the Early Grand Rite of Scotland. The degrees in the series were Ark, Mark, Link and Wrestle, which were usually number 13 in the list of degrees. The workings involve Noah, raising the Ark lodge to the 13th and mystical degree of Link and Chain. There was also the early Irish ritual of Ark, Link and Wrestle degrees which had links to the Mark degree in the early 1800's. I have a copy of the ritual as worked in the 1820-30's in an Irish lodge in Gibraltar. It is basicly an early Ark Mariners degree which is now not worked under the Irish Const.
|
|
ruffashlar
Member
Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
|
Post by ruffashlar on Feb 17, 2009 17:51:24 GMT
Presumably "Wrestle" had something to do with Jacob and the Angel.
|
|
|
Post by mrmason on Feb 18, 2009 16:17:25 GMT
Presumably "Wrestle" had something to do with Jacob and the Angel. Yep spot on.
|
|