Hands Across the Border is back

After a 12-year break, Hands Across the Border –celebrating the close relationship between NSW & ACT and Queensland Freemasonry has resumed with great vigour.

In early February, Craft, Mark, Royal Arch and Royal Ark Mariner masonry united for a weekend of cross­border cordiality at Tweed Heads.

The resumption of the event was the initiative of the United Supreme Grand Chapter of Mark and Royal Arch Masons of NSW & ACT.

‘It was a great pleasure to be able to demonstrate what is for NSW & ACT a true bond of union between the Craft and the Royal Arch.’ said First Grand Principal and Grand Master, Robert Drake.

The sentiments were echoed by Grand Master MW Bro Les Hicks, who also appreciated the rare occasion he didn’t have to make a long trip south to attend a major masonic event.

‘The weekend was a success, and there was a lot of enthusiasm from the Queenslanders who said they wanted to keep the momentum moving and resume holding the event annually.’ he said.

‘I want to thank all those who make the weekend possible, especially the brethren of Tweed Heads such as Ray

Weblin, Graham Moon, local DGIW Joe Corrigan, the 10 candidates who are now ‘marked men’, and the leaders of the Queensland Craft, Mark and Chapter whose enthusiasm was clear to see.’

Some 90 masons made the journey, all supporting the four heads of the Orders who attended and of course getting to see each other’s ceremonial teams on display.

There was also some pretty serious socialising going on, including a welcome dinner, the expected banquet on the Saturday night and the many small impromptu gatherings that took place.

The masonic programme started with a rare presentation of the Ark Mariner Tracing Board, demonstrating that the two pillars of our Craft ritual were not always those of Solomon’s temple and the masonic story of the Ark and its survival predates a lot of our current Craft ritual.

USGC NSW & ACT and UGL NSW & ACT combined to demonstrate the Mark Man ceremony, conferring the degree on 10 Craft masons as an steppingstone to their joining a Royal Arch Chapter.

The ceremony adds information to the Second Degree and paves the way to the Mark Master Mason Degree, (a part of the NSW and ACT Royal Arch series where the Royal Arch degree completes part of the Craft Third degree i.e. ‘Substituted Secrets’).