Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

Like the Mark Master Mason's Degree, which is based on an established fact (i.e. the construction of the Temple at Jerusalem), so the degree of Royal Ark Mariner is also based on an actual happening, i.e. the Great Flood, as recorded in the Bible and as verified in 1929 by the archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley, who not only found clear evidence of the flood, but established that it had occurred some 6,000 years previously. The Degree, as its name suggests, has a nautical flavour taking for its setting the circumstances leading up to the Great Flood and the steps taken by Noah to build the Ark by which mankind was preserved from perishing in the ‘Universal Deluge’.

The events mentioned in this degree working are pre-historical when VSL were not existent and as such they do not form part of the furniture of the Lodge.

Elevation into the Royal Ark Mariner Degree commemorates the providence and mercy of God and relates to the legend of the deluge. The subject matter being taken directly from The Bible is naturally both beautiful and instructive. When the candidate enters the Lodge room his attention is directed to three pillars and at one stage the Ark is momentarily symbolized in terms similar to the Ark of Salvation. The candidate is finally instructed to advance in the spirit of the Cardinal Virtues.

During the ceremony analogies are drawn between the dangers of the flood and the dangers of life. We are reminded of how we should strive to reach the Ark, the haven of rest, just as did Noah's family and the other occupants of the Ark in the Biblical tales of the deluge. The officers of a Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners are similar to those in a Mark Lodge although they bear different names. The principal officers represent Noah (Worshipful Commander) and his two sons Japheth (Senior Warden) and Shem (Junior Warden. There is only one ceremony (apart from installation of a Worshipful Commander) and that is the ceremony of elevation. Only one ritual is used throughout the constitution and the peculiar thing is that only 3 Royal Ark Mariners are enough to open a R.A.M. Lodge.

The teaching of the Degree emphasizes the importance of the family strengths and the need for each member of society to play his part for the benefit of all. We are taught that out of chaos and catastrophe mankind can survive and that we should face adversity together, helping to look after those less fortunate than ourselves. When a brother is elevated or admitted into the R.A.M. Lodge he is literally entering the Ark – The heaven of rest, peace, happiness and contentment.

Traditionally R.A.M. is linked with the Mark Degree and as such only a Mark Master Mason can join a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge.

The Ark Mariners degree unlike the Craft is more to do with wood workers whose working tools, the Axe, Saw and Auger indeed have special significance as because of them Noah was skilfully able to build the Ark of Safety. In fact the very opening of this degree kindles our curiosity, since it is said to have its origins when sacred writings were not in existence.

The Brethren of Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18, Vijayawada applied through a petition of request for granting to organize the RAM Lodge at Vijayawada, and M. W. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India, M.W.Bro. Gowtam Ramanlal Divan, OSM sanctioned the petition and thus fulfilled the long felt need for such a Lodge. R.W.Bro. M. H. Contractor, SRAMGO, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India acted as Consecrating Officer. R.W.Bro. K. L. Reddi, SRAMGO, the Regional Grand Mark Master of the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India, ably assisted by his team of officers as per the consecrating ceremony acted as Installing Officer. Thus an occasional RAM Lodge was opened. V.W.Bro. V. Sarangapani, the Chaplain read on the oration. Then the RAM Lodge Coromandel No.18 was consecrated, constituted and installed at Freemasons Hall, Vijayawada and the following officers were acted as the installing officers of the Lodge.

• The Byelaws of the Lodge were approved by the Regional Grand Mark Master on 23rd November, 1992 and duly ratified by the then Grand Secretary W.Bro. NL Duggal on 15th December, 1992.
  
  
• The RAM Lodge Coromandel No.18, Vijayawada moored with the Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18, Vijayawada.
  
  
• The Lodge shall meet at Freemasons Hall, Vijayawada on Sundays very next to the Penultimate Saturdays in the months of March, June, September and December.
  
  
• The W.C.N., the Treasurer and the Warder shall be elected annually, by ballot at a regular meeting to be held in the month of September.
  
  
• The W.C.N. elect shall be installed and he shall appoint and invest his team of officers at the next regular meeting to be held in month of December.
  
  
• Every Mark Master Mason is eligible for Elevation in the RAM Lodge.
  
  
• In those days, no Brother shall be Elevated, if on ballot, TWO black balls appear against him. In the event of such unfavourable ballot, he shall not again be proposed until the lapse of ONE year from the date of his rejection.
  
  
• Earlier subscription of the Lodge was Rs.50 per annum (consisting of 4 meetings).
  
  
• Members who are under the arrears for six months, not eligible to vote, propose or second, for over one year exclusion and for two years automatic cessation.
  
  
• Both the Lodge Regular and Charity accounts were opened at The Krishna District Cooperative Central Bank, Vijayawada-2 and ever since both accounts were continued at the same Bank for all these years.
  
  
• Previously the summonses of the meetings were hand typed or cyclostyled and distributed but now are printed for circulation.
  
  
• On 22nd September, 1996 the Brethren of RAM Lodge Waltair No.15, Vishakhapatnam held their meeting at Vijayawada by Dispensation, guided by Prof. B. Mallikharjuna Rao.
  
  
• On 23rd March, 1997 a special meeting was held by Dispensation Kirlampudi Masonic Temple, Rajahmundry to Elevate 16 Brethren from Rajahmundry and Kakinada.
  
  
• On 20th June, 1999 a Masonic Lecture was given by R.W.Bro. IVSS Murthy, DSM, SRAMGO in the open Lodge about the importance of RAM and why a Mark Master Mason should prefer to get Elevated in RAM.
  
  
• As per the prevailing practice of having both the meetings of MARK and RAM on the same day, and most of the Lodges are following this practice in almost all major cities, even the Brethren of RAM Lodge Coromandel, proposed to amend the byelaws in accordance to the present situation. Accordingly it is proposed by W.Bro. B. Amarnaath and seconded by R.W.Bro. N. Harinath on 23rd December,2012 to amend the Byelaws that:
  
  
  1. The Lodge shall meet on Sundays, very next to the Saturdays in the months of January, April, July and October.
  2. The W.C.N., The Treasurer and The Warder shall be elected by ballot in the regular meeting to be held in the month of July.
  3. The W.C.N. elect, shall be installed and he shall appoint his team of officers.
  
  All the above amendments are duly considered and confirmed on 24th March, 2013 and the same were sent for the approval of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India through the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India and which were duly approved and adopted on 29th July, 2013.
  
  Then onwards all the regular meetings of Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18 and RAM Lodge Coromandel No.18 are being conducted on the same days.
  
  
• For the second time in the history of RAM Lodge Coromandel, FOURTEEN members of Mark Lodge Coromandel No.18 were proposed by W. Bro. B. Amarnaath and seconded by W. Bro. KV Suresh Kumar in the open Lodge held on 20th October, 2013 for Elevation. Out of which only TWELVE candidates were elevated in the same year.
  
  
• The following Brethren were awarded with the Respective Ranks:
  1. R.W.Bro. AB Rajendra Prasad, SRAMGO., RAMRGO.,
  2. R.W.Bro. N. Harinath, SRAMGO., RAMRGO.,
  3. V.W.Bro. Y. Sambasiva Rao, SRAMGO., RAMRGO.,
  4. V.W.Bro. K. Ranga Rao, JRAMGO., RAMRGO.,
  5. W.Bro. P. Subba Rao, RAMRGO.,
  6. W.Bro. P. Sivaji Rao, RAMRGO.,
  7. V.W.Bro. B. Amarnaath, JRAMGO., RAMRGO.,
  8. W.Bro. MS Krishna, RAMRGO.,
  9. W.Bro. KS Ramachandra Rao, RAMRGO.,
  
  
• The ROYAL ARK MARINERS LODGE COROMANDEL No.18, VIJAYAWADA celebrated the SILVER JUBILEE year in 2017 and conducted the ceremonial function on a grand and lavish scale.