Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

Since "time immemorial", man has used stone as a material for the construction of buildings and the stonemason preparing the stones marked each stone with their own unique mark to identify their work.

There are examples of this practice at Masada, Jerusalem where some stone was taken from quarries some 2,000 years ago. However, the practice continues today and each stonemason at Lincoln Cathedral still carves his own distinctive mark on his work.

The CRAFT and MARK MASONRY are very close to each other in origin & nature and even in the form of rituals. Their histories are very intimately connected and both have their origin in the building of King Solomon’s Temple 1000 years before the beginning of the Christian era. While building the temple an immense number of masons were employed and they were divided into two classes of Entered Apprentice and Fellow Crafts, the Fellow Crafts being more privileged than the Entered Apprentices. They laid stone over stone, duly carved, shaped and chiseled with the help of their working tools.

Since the fellow crafts were more skilled and their wages were to be paid according to the work done, it was felt necessary to allot a mark to them. These marks served two useful purposes:

1. It established a craftsman's entitlement to wages and in the event of faulty work, enabled the foreman or overseer to identify the workman responsible. The ceremony of advancement to the degree of Mark Master Mason is centred on this practice. Thus came into existence the Mark Degree among operative masons.
   
   The ceremony in a Mark Lodge, unlike the Craft Lodge is a very dramatic one and leaves an everlasting impression on the candidates mind. The scenario for the Mark ceremony is, of course, King Solomon's Temple, during the final stages of construction. Completed blocks of stone are brought by the craftsmen who prepare them, for examination by the Overseers, and the candidate plays the part of one of these craftsmen. Events take an unusual turn and the candidate experiences both the joys and sorrows of professional life. Unlike the Craft, there is simply one ceremony, the ceremony of Advancement; there are no subsequent stages to pass through.
   
   The legend of Mark Degree revolves around the keystone, which takes upon itself and distributes the load on other stones in the structure, the other stones symbolize men who have developed themselves to take the burden of humanity. As the keystone is required to complete the Arch and if removed will cause the whole structure to collapse, so through this degree it is impressed upon the candidate to prepare himself through learning and practice of Masonic Virtues to become a responsible member of society and thereby serve the great overseer.
   
   The brother is taught to develop and make a mark in life. His work is as important in society as the keystone in a building. It encourages us to complete our allotted task honestly and that even if our work be not appreciated, we should not despair, for the time will soon come when we will be required and receive due recognition and appreciation. The teachings of Mark Masonry are profound. It inculcates order, regularity, diligence and discipline.
   
   
2. Like the Fellowcraft Degree of the Craft, it is less concerned with the past and future, but more with the here and now of our present life. It places emphasis not on judging people or situations on outward appearances, but to seek hidden truths and excellence. Mark degree encourages development of special talents, not for self-glorification, but for the common good and the fulfillment of the common endeavor. It teaches humility and patience and inculcates the need to wait patiently, until recognition is forthcoming in due time.

Mark Masonry, as a speculative degree is known to be more than 200 years Old. However, it was not until 1856 that the first Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was constituted in London.

Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18, functioning from Vijayawada as the oldest Lodge on the rolls of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India and the Seventh Mark Lodge in the South Region. Prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India, this Mark Lodge Coromandel No. 659 E.C., was on the rolls of the District Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, Madras and was affiliated to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England & Wales, Mark Mason Hall, London. Whereas a petition had been addressed to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England & Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown, by 25 Brethren, who regularly registered Mark Master Masons, praying that they may be constituted a regular Lodge and the Grand Master has confidence in the prudence and the fidelity of these Brethren. Thus the Mark Lodge Coromandel No. 659 constituted with the following Twenty-five Brethren:

1. John Blois Lutman
2. James Muckle Ainslie
3. George Edward Farlowe
4. Framroze Byramshaw Taraporewala
5. Tandalam Madhava Rao
6. Dinawahi Venkata Hanumantha Rao
7. Sreemushnam Srinivasachary
8. Varahabhotla Seetarama Sarma
9. Kovvuri Chendra Reddi
10. Panchanatha Rajagopala Iyer
11. Bangalore Mopurappah
12. Avadhanam Venkata Subbaiah
13. Veda Siromani Gnana Prakasham
14. Alfred Clarence Pettigrew
15. Jagat Subbaji Raghunadha Rao
16. Alexander Plendee Leith
17. Ankitam Venkata Jagga Rao
18. Tandalam Gopala Rao
19. Tanduri Sree Jagannadha Rao
20. William Charles Sefton
21. Rajanala Seshaiah Naidu
22. Sistla Arunachalaiah
23. Cheruvu Somayajulu
24. Nemum Echimbadi Krishnaiah
25. Vilvanabha Ramamurthy Iyer

On the register of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, to be held under the Grand Master and his successors in office forever and do appoint Brother John Blois Lutman to be the Founder Master, Brother James Muckle Ainslie to be the First Senior Warden and Brother George Edward Farlowe to be the First Junior Warden of the said Lodge, giving to them and their successors regularly elected and installed authority to convene a Lodge of Mark Master Masons at Bezwada (now Vijayawada), Krishna District in the Presidency of Madras State, India, upon the Friday preceding to the penultimate Saturday during the months of January, March, August, September and November or such other time as they may appoint.

1. W. Master: John Blois Lutman
2. S. Warden: James Muckle Ainslie
3. J. Warden: George Edward Farlowe
4. M. Overseer: Nemum Echimbadi Krishnaiah
5. S. Overseer: Framroze Byramshaw Taraporewala
6. J. Overseer: Tandalam Gopala Rao (TG Jivaji Rao)
7. Chaplain: Tanduri Sree Jagannadha Rao
8. Reg. of Marks: Panchanatha Rajagopala Iyer
9. Treasurer: Tandalam Madhava Rao
10. Secretary: Dinawahi Venkata Hanumantha Rao
11. Dir. of Cer.: Veda Siromani Gnana Prakasham
12. S. Deacon: Vilvanabha Ramamurthy Iyer
13. J. Deacon: Avadhanam Venkata Subbaiah
14. Inner Guard: William Charles Sefton
15. Steward: Kovvuri Chendra Reddi
16. Tyler: Cheruvu Somayajulu

17. Sreemushnam Srinivasachary
18. Varahabhotla Seetarama Sarma
19. Bangalore Mopurappah
20. Alfred Clarence Pettigrew
21. Jagat Subbaji Raghunadha Rao
22. Alexander Plendee Leith
23. Ankitam Venkata Jagga Rao
24. Rajanala Seshaiah Naidu
25. Sistla Arunachalaiah

It is thereby declared and those Brethren with their successors in office, on behalf of themselves and the Coromandel Lodge by the Warrant became bound by them and thereafter to preserve the landmarks of the order to observe its ancient usages and established customs and to obey and confirm to all the regulations from time to time made by the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons for the government of the Mark Degree and strictly to enforce them within their own Lodge.

• Most of the Advancements in those days were done by W.Bro. CC Turner, England.
  
  
• From 19th April, 1975 the regular meetings of the Lodge were held on 3rd Saturdays of January, April, July and October. Again the regular meetings of the Lodge from 31st October, 1987 onwards, were held on the Sundays very next to the penultimate Saturdays of January, April, July and October.
  
  
• The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Mark Lodge Coromandel were conducted along with the Convocation of the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India, at Rice Millers Association Hall, Vijayawada on 15th October, 1978. (A dispensation to this effect has been taken to hold this as an emergency meeting.) R.W.Br. AS Raja Sabai, the then Regional Grand Mark Master of the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India, occupied the Eastern Chair and appointed his Regional Grand Officers. The Regional Grand Director of Ceremonies acted as the Lodge D.o.C and all the Lodge members were taken the Oath of rededication by the Regional Grand Chaplain.
  
  
• A proposal was made on 19th April, 1992 to apply for Warrant to find a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge at Vijayawada at Vijayawada which was ratified on 16th July, 1992 and both times Brethren of the Lodge voted unanimously to the recommendation for the issue of a Warrant to organize the RAM Lodge at Vijayawada. Accordingly the Warrant was issued on 1st September, 1992 and the RAM Lodge Coromandel No.18 was consecrated on 30th October, 1992.
  
  
• The Lodge was participated in the Ritual Working Competitions, for the first time, held in the year 2002 and the Certificates of merit were awarded to W.Bro. P. Aravind, W.Master, Bro. B. Amarnaath, Senior Deacon and Bro. SVS Ramakrishna, Junior Deacon.
  
  
• A Trophy was awarded by the Regional Mark Lodge of Southern India to our Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18 for the maximum number of candidates Advanced in a Mark Lodge during the calendar year 2011 ( Total 10 Advancements) in the Southern Region. W. Bro. B. Amarnaath received the Trophy on behalf of the Lodge at Rajahmundry on 8th September, 2012 by the hands of R.W.Bro. Retnaraj Susheel Raj the Regional Grand Mark Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India.
  
  
• The Long Term Service Jewels were awarded to the following Brethren in Mark Lodge Coromandel by the Grand Lodge Mark Master Masons of India: