To mark the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in London, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry is putting on display many unique documents and rarely seen objects relating to the early years of this Grand Lodge.
Mark Masonry developed from an ancient ceremony during which each craftsman selected for himself a private mark with which to designate his work and registered this mark with an appropriate authority. As with other Masonic organisations, its ceremonies centre on the story of the building of Solomon’s Temple. These ceremonies were first performed in 1769 and a separate governing body or Grand Lodge was established in 1856.
Included in the display will the membership certificate of Oscar Wilde (showing his “mark”), a detail of which is shown here, a silver gilt casket presented to Sir Francis Burdett, etc and many objects displaying the distinctive symbol of Mark Masonry, a key stone engraved with letters, the meaning of which is revealed during the ceremonies. The exhibition ran until 21st December 2006.
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To mark the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in London, the Library and Museum of Freemasonry is putting on display many unique documents and rarely seen objects relating to the early years of this Grand Lodge.
Mark Masonry developed from an ancient ceremony during which each craftsman selected for himself a private mark with which to designate his work and registered this mark with an appropriate authority. As with other Masonic organisations, its ceremonies centre on the story of the building of Solomon’s Temple. These ceremonies were first performed in 1769 and a separate governing body or Grand Lodge was established in 1856.
Included in the display will the membership certificate of Oscar Wilde (showing his “mark”), a detail of which is shown here, a silver gilt casket presented to Sir Francis Burdett, etc and many objects displaying the distinctive symbol of Mark Masonry, a key stone engraved with letters, the meaning of which is revealed during the ceremonies. The exhibition ran until 21st December 2006.