A Great Evening for RTTV members at the Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Assembly!
Freemasonry is about friendship, tradition, celebrating achievements and, of course, enjoying a good meal together!
Yesterday evening, several members of Round Table Thames Valley Lodge No. 9697 (RTTV) attended the Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Assembly for Oxfordshire, and what a splendid evening it was!
There was a particularly proud moment for our lodge as one of our own members, W.Bro. Tony Wright, was honoured with Provincial Grand Rank. A fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved. Congratulations, Tony, from all of us at RTTV!
But what exactly is Royal Ark Mariner?
If you're not a Freemason, you might be surprised to learn that joining a Craft lodge is just the beginning of what can become a fascinating journey.
Freemasonry has numerous additional orders that members can explore, each with its own history, ceremonies, traditions and distinctive regalia.
The Royal Ark Mariner (RAM) is one such order, with its ceremonies drawing inspiration from the story of Noah and the Ark.
And if you've ever seen Freemasons wearing their familiar blue aprons and collars, you might be surprised by the colourful regalia worn in other orders. The Royal Ark Mariners certainly bring a splash of colour to proceedings!
Ceremony, Friendship and a Fantastic Festive Board!
The Provincial Assembly was presided over by our Provincial Grand Master, supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Officers.
Following the formal proceedings, we enjoyed an excellent festive board, which, for anyone unfamiliar with Freemasonry, is the traditional meal and social gathering that follows a meeting.
It's a chance to relax, enjoy some good food, share a few laughs and catch up with friends, both old and new.
There's So Much More to Freemasonry Than You Might Think!
One of the wonderful things about being a Freemason is that there are so many opportunities to explore beyond your own lodge.
There are numerous additional orders, each with its own unique character, customs, history and traditions. Some are wonderfully colourful, others steeped in centuries of symbolism, but all offer something a little different.
And perhaps the greatest benefit? The opportunity to meet even more people, develop lasting friendships and enjoy experiences you might otherwise never have had.
For us at RTTV in Henley-on-Thames, that's a huge part of what Freemasonry is all about.
Friendship, tradition, a sense of belonging, and plenty of fun along the way.
And once again, congratulations to Tony on his well-deserved honour!
Interested in finding out more about Freemasonry in Henley-on-Thames? We'd be delighted to have a chat. No pressure, no mysterious initiation over a cup of coffee, just a friendly conversation about who we are and what we do!
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