Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Sussex

         Almost One Hundred and Twenty Five years of beneficent administration in Mark Masonry is the proud achievement of this province. It has been a period of progress; of steady, unremitting endeavour despite difficulties and occasional setbacks.

         There have been two World Wars, spectacular advances in science, travel and entertainment and vast changes in people's social and economic life. Who could ever have imagined that the 'Internet' would be sweeping the world and that we are able to communicate in such a way?

         Amid all these vicissitudes, Provincial Grand Mark Lodge has brought prosperity to the Order throughout the County. It has brought fellowship and inspiration to members in all walks of life, and has amply demonstrated the truth of an impressive part of our ritual, that Among Mark Master Masons you will ever find friends...

         The Mark Order of freemasonry as we know it to-day began regular working in Sussex under the Authority of the Mark Grand Master, Viscount Holmesdale (later Earl Amherst) with the issue of a Warrant in 1865 to the Royal Sussex Lodge No. 75.

         There is evidence of the Degree being worked at Arundel in 1801, within a Craft Lodge, the Howard Lodge of Brotherly Love No. 56.

         Formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex had its origin in a 'combined operation' by the Royal Sussex Lodge No. 75 and three Lodges that it had sponsored, namely, Southdown No. 164, East Sussex No. 166 and Hova No. 168.

         It was decided among these four Lodges 'that it will be for the best interests of Mark Masonry in the County of Sussex if they were formed into a Provincial Grand Lodge'.

         The Grand Master at the time was the Rt. Hon. Earl Percy, and after studying the reasons for forming a Province in Sussex, he gave his approval and his acceptance of the recommendation of Sir John Cordy Burrows as the Provincial Grand Master. He had been the first Master of the Hova Lodge. Mark Masonry in Sussex had entered upon a new era and now has 35 Lodges forming the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex.

         The Centenary meeting of the Province was held on 9th April 1974, when the then Grand Master, the Earl of Stradbroke, graced the meeting with his presence.

         The Royal Ark Mariner Degree (now known as the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners) came into being in Sussex in 1887, being known to have existed for almost 100 years before that time. Currently consisting of 21 Lodges in Sussex, it was taken under the administration of Grand Mark Lodge in 1871.

         The 32 Marks reproduced in the panel below were used by Masons employed at the building of Truro Cathedral, and are now used by the brethen of Hova Mark Lodge No. 168.

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