Why does the Royal Ark Mariner ceremony speak of a great deluge?

The legend of the deluge forms the central theme of the Royal Ark Mariner degree, taking its subject matter directly from Sacred Law as recorded in Genesis to commemorate the providence and mercy of God. As the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Dorset states, the flood serves in the degree as a story of cleansing and rebirth, wherein the wicked perished while the faithful, represented by Noah and his family, were saved to repopulate the earth.

In the Royal Ark Mariner degree, the ritual centers on Noah, his family, and the building of the vessel by which mankind was preserved from perishing in the Universal Deluge, as observed by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Cornwall. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire notes that its broader ethos concerns events before, during, and after the flood, depicting a biblical cycle of creation, desolation, and re-creation in which the Ark plays a pivotal role.

Moral instruction within the degree relies heavily on this biblical catastrophe. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Kent explains that during the ceremony, analogies are drawn between the dangers of the flood and the dangers of life, teaching candidates to strive to reach the Ark as a haven of rest and refuge. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Dorset adds that the ceremony uses the narrative of the deluge to demonstrate that mankind can survive chaos and catastrophe, emphasizing family strengths, facing adversity together, and helping those less fortunate.

Historically and symbolically, such an event produced a lasting effect on religious observances throughout antiquity, preserving the memory of those rescued from utter ruin 1. Masonic tradition records that following the deluge, Noah erected an altar to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, whereupon God established His covenant with Noah that the earth should never again be destroyed by a flood 1.

The dove and the olive branch hold central symbolic importance within the tradition of the Royal Ark Mariner degree, drawing directly upon the Biblical narrative of Noah and the Great Flood. Following the catastrophic deluge, Noah released a dove from the Ark to determine whether the floodwaters had receded from the earth. The bird returned bearing an olive leaf in its beak, serving as the first tangible proof that dry land had reappeared and that divine mercy had renewed the face of the earth.

In the Royal Ark Mariner degree, the olive branch is presented as an emblem of hope and commemorates the abatement of the waters, as Mark Mason's Hall notes. Symbolically, the return of the dove carrying the branch signifies peace, reconciliation, and the restoration of tranquility after a period of affliction and trial. It reminds the Mason of divine providence and the assurance that even during times of overwhelming hardship or turmoil, hope remains steadfast.

Beyond its immediate reference to the Biblical narrative, the emblem carries a moral mandate regarding a Mason's conduct toward others. Just as the dove returned bringing glad tidings of peace and safety to those preserved within the Ark, brethren are encouraged to act as messengers of peace, charity, and goodwill, striving to soothe discord and promote harmony wherever they go.

The Noahic covenant and its symbolism find expression in the Royal Ark Mariner degree through the distinctive visual emblem of the rainbow 2. Associated directly with the Biblical narrative of the flood, the degree adopts rainbow colouring as its representative hue to signify the promise and preservation granted to Noah and his descendants following the deluge 2.

While the Scottish Rite includes a degree centered on Noah—the Noachite degree—it adopts a different visual symbolism, using black to represent the night and the full moon under which its chapter meets 2. In contrast, the Royal Ark Mariner degree highlights the post-deluge covenant through the rainbow spectrum, serving as a reminder of divine mercy following the universal flood 2.