Page 13 - Keystone Summer 2018 Issue 1

Somerset Antient Mark Masons(SAMS)

then Provincial Grand Master for His Royal Highness Prince

Somerset, The late Right Michael of Kent was present and
Worshipful Brother David enjoyed himself so much that he
Palmer. agreed to be photographed with
the team.
We gave our first demonstration
at Yatton to the George Norman
Mark Lodge in 1995 and since
then we have given a number of
performances throughout our
own Province, and also in
Devonshire, Cornwall, Dorset,
Our ceremony, of making a Mark
Wiltshire Gloucestershire and
Man, is taken verbatim from Herefordshire, Warwickshire,
ancient hand written manuscripts Oxfordshire, Monmouthshire,
belonging to the Royal South Wales, Essex, Kent,
Cumberland Mark Lodge meeting Surrey and Middlesex.
at Bath since Time Immemorial.
It was in use in that Lodge We can rightly call ourselves the Whilst the SAMM’s do not set out
certainly in 1795 and probably Somerset Antient Mark Masons to be a fund raising organization
long before that. There was a International, as we have as such, in the event, a donation
book for each participating presented our demonstration in is usually made to the “Team”
officer. In those days a junior which we, in due course,
officer was not permitted to see
distribute to charity. We have, to
the book of a senior officer until date, been able to distribute over
he was appointed to that office. £12,000 to a number of charities;
The Obligation itself was
some have received more than
apparently contained in a one donation. Of this sum £4030
separate sheet, and is missing was given to the Children’s
from the manuscripts in our
Hospice South West to assist in
possession.
developing the new facility at
However there is a complete Wraxall North Somerset.
version of an Obligation in
We make no charge for
another hand written Royal presenting our demonstration
Cumberland Mark Lodge
and the members cover all
manuscript set, describing a expenses themselves, including
ceremony drawn up in 1885; Just travel, overnight stops and our
prior to the formation of Mark
costumes.
Grand Lodge. A study of these
two ancient manuscript versions This then is a little background of
lead us to suppose that the the Somerset Antient Mark
Germany, Spain and Belgium.
missing early Obligation would Masons. Otherwise known as
have been virtually identical to We were requested to go to SAMM’s.
the surviving version, so that is Carlisle in 2006 as part of the If you would like to organise a
the one we use with a celebration of 50 years in Mark demonstration then contact:
reasonably clear conscience. It Masonry of the Pro Grand W.Bro Barrie Baker email
was in 1993, when the idea of a Master the Most Worshipful barrie.j.baker@btinternet.com
Somerset Mark Demonstration Brother Bro. John Hale. The
Team was first mooted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Or phone him 01460 281553

Summer Issue 2018 Page13