The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners , attached in the British Isles to Mark Masonry, was introduced into France on 3 rd February 1972 with the Consecration of Paris Lodge No 1192, in Paris, warranted by the Grand Master’s Royal Ark Council of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas.

The development of this Order, in parallel with Mark Masonry, saw the creation of the following Royal Ark Mariners Lodges, each attached to the Mark Lodge with the same number:

• Flanders n° 1496, on the 7 th March 1981 in Boulogne-sur-Mer,
• Le Luc n° 1610, on the 15 th June 1987 in Le Luc-en-Provence,
• Occitania n° 1611, on the 16 th June 1987 in Toulouse,

and was such that the Grand Lodge of England &c decided to place the French Lodges under the supervision of a Grand Inspector as from 1 st January 1990. Four years later, after the Consecration of the following Lodges:

• Lutèce n° 1171, on the 20 th April 1990 in Paris,
• Mount Bardon n°1595, on the 3 rd May 1990 in la Rochelle,
• Exile n°1644, on the 29th October 1992 in Paris,
• Nemausus n°1654, on the 31 st October 1992 in Nîmes,

the eight Royal Ark Mariners Lodges in France were, conjointly with their Mark “moorings”, formed into the District Grand Lodge of France, constituted on the 19 th March 1994.

Growth was such that the District Grand Master, in the Spring 1995, asked from the various Lodges for their views regarding the formation of a Sovereign Grand Lodge for France. The results being largely positive, the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent and his Royal Ark Council instructed the Grand Secretary, Right Worshipful Brother Peter Glyn Williams, G.M.R.A.C ., to proceed with a preliminary consultation which took place between 15 th March and 31 st May 1996. In view of its results, a referendum was ordered in accordance with Article 24 of the Constitution and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England &c.

Further to the outcome of the referendum carried out within the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges in France, between 21 st July and 31 st October 1996, as proclaimed by the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges overseas, and with the express permission of this latter body, a Convention of Mark Master Masons, being Royal Ark Mariners members of the Lodges in question, was held on the 11 th January, 1997 in Toulouse in order to formulate a legal structure with a view to founding a Body corporate in conformity with French laws.

At last, on the 31 st May 1997, an important delegation of Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges overseas, chaired by the Right Honourable The Lord Swansea, Pro Grand Master, came to Paris to constitute two Sovereign Bodies for France : The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of France, and the Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners for France.

The Lord Swansea presided over the Election of the first Grand Master of these two Grand Lodges, and proceeded to Install him. The new Grand Master then appointed and invested the first Grand Officers of the Fraternity in France.

At the present time, the Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners of France has 69 Lodges, 67 working in France, and two overseas in foreign nations.