Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks

The "Screwiest" Degree in Free-Masonry

Within the often solemn and allegorical world of Free-Masonry, there exists a "fun" degree known as Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks. Often described as an "outlier" or even "decidedly screwy", the Order of Corks is an informal body allied to Free-Masonry. It operates with a clear and singular paradox: its primary, stated goal is to conduct itself with a profound lack of seriousness.

This philosophy is perhaps best articulated by Donald McAndrews, the head of the Order in the Americas, who holds the unique title of "Grand Bung." He explains, "The only thing we take seriously is how unserious we take the degree and ourselves".

However, this commitment to mirth is not frivolous. It is the core mechanism for achieving the Order's one and only true purpose: "to have a good time for a good cause". The Corks exist to leverage fellowship and "boisterous affairs" into tangible philanthropic action, with a pronounced focus on raising money for children's charities. All fees collected must be paid in full to the designated charity, with no deductions for administrative costs.

This "screwy" nature is perfectly encapsulated by the Order's central emblem: the cork of a wine bottle, often depicted with a corkscrew inserted at an angle. The humor and libations are not a distraction from the Order's work; they are the engine that powers it. The organization functions as a "release valve" for the formality of Craft Masonry, providing a space where members can engage in unstructured fellowship while still fulfilling the Masonic obligation to charity.

Lost in the Flood: The Antediluvian Mystery

When inquiring into the history of the Noble Corks, one is met with a consistent and enthusiastic answer: its origins are "unknown". This is not a failure of Masonic historiography but rather a central, satirical feature of the Order's lore. The ritual itself, "distinctly nautical in form", is a "tongue-in-cheek" parody based on the era of Noah and the Great Flood.

The ritual script explains that the Order's origin is "so ancient that its origin has been entirely lost in obscurity". It "fancifully" claims to have originated with Noah himself, and even includes references to Adam and Eve. This claim is, in itself, the joke. The Order is playfully mocking the "time immemorial" trope common in many fraternal organizations by taking it to its most absurd, antediluvian extreme.

This places the Order within a broader 19th-century fraternal trend obsessed with "Antediluvian" themes, most famously represented by the (non-Masonic) Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB), founded in 1822. The Noble Corks, being a "spoof," are likely parodying this entire genre of fraternalism.

More specifically, the degree is identified as a "kindly and affectionate spoof" of the Royal Ark Mariners degree. Both degrees share the common theme of Noah and the Ark, but where the Mariners are serious and allegorical, the Corks are satirical and comical.

The earliest surviving records of the Order are held by the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England. However, this is not considered proof of origin, and the evidence states "there is absolutely no proof of any connection with the Mark Degree". It is noted, however, that before the Second World War, some English Mark lodges did work the Cork degree at their "Festive Boards" after the conclusion of their formal meetings.

A Ritual of Libations, Laughter, and Fines

A meeting of the Noble Corks, known as a "Cork Lodge" or, fittingly, a "Cellar", is an event defined by its informal and "boisterous" atmosphere. Dress is informal, and some lodges encourage "silly" hats, with the "sillier the better". Throughout the proceedings, the "claret jug tends to be passed around liberally".

The ritual is a case of structured subversion. It takes the formal structure of a Masonic meeting and parodies every component. The lodge is not led by a "Worshipful Master" but by a "Rather Worshipful Admiral", who is assisted by a crew of similarly titled officers.

Officers of a Cork Lodge

This table details the key officers of a "Cellar" and their stated, satirical duties as defined in the ritual.

The ceremony begins with the Admiral calling the officers to their stations, followed by the singing of an opening ode, such as "What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor?".

Candidates for initiation are examined "jocularly" by the Doctor and Cook, who may check their pulses or tongues. They are then presented to the Admiral, who delivers a long, satirical history of the Order. The candidates are then required to take a solemn promise, not on a holy book, but while holding two corks. The penalty for revealing the Order's secrets is to be branded a "worthless bottle-stopper".

This is followed by a "Test" of "intelligence and dexterity," where the new member must rapidly seize a cork from a table on the count of three. The "most unskilful" (the last to grab the cork) is fined for charity.

Perhaps the greatest parody is the presentation of the "Working Tools." The Cook presents the "Spurtle, the Hammer, the Gas Bracket, and the Saucepan Lids". He then solemnly informs the candidate that these tools are of immense importance because "They have no connection with the Degree whatsoever".

A key feature of the ritual is the libation. At multiple points—on the presentation of candidates, before the obligation, after the test—the "Bosun" blows his whistle, at which point all members must "solemnly rise and take a libation". This ritualizes the drinking, transforming it from a simple social act into a collective, ceremonial part of the degree.

The "real highlight" of the meeting, however, is the "board of corks". This is the festive board where the Order's true purpose is fulfilled through the "frequent and boisterous levelling of fines against fellow members for breaches of Cork protocol". This mechanism is the very core of the Order: it gamifies charity, turning the boisterous fun directly into funds for a good cause.

The Quirks of a Noble Cork

After completing the tests, the new member is entrusted with the "secrets" of the Order, which, in keeping with the theme, are performative, comical, and designed for fellowship. They consist of a sign, token, grip, and word that we will not divulge here.

While these secrets are props for the performance of fun, the most important "secret" is a tangible object: the Pocket Cork. Members are required to carry a "pocket cork" at all times. This emblem can take various forms, such as a miniature cork in a silver clasp or a cork suspended from a ribbon.

This object functions as a "challenge coin". At any time, a member may challenge another by demanding, "Show me your Cork". Any member "unable to produce the jewel is fined, the fine being given to the Purser at the next meeting for contribution to charity". This is the genius of the Order: a perpetual, gamified fundraising mechanism that extends the Order's charitable purpose and fellowship far beyond the walls of the "Cellar."

Membership and Masonic Prerequisite

The Noble Corks, while informal, is an "appurtenant" body of Free-Masonry, and membership is not open to the public. The absolute baseline requirement is that a candidate must be a Master Mason in good standing.

Beyond this, the specific qualifications vary significantly by jurisdiction, reflecting an evolution from an exclusive "in-joke" for high-ranking Masons to a more accessible social club.

• Traditional Requirement: Historically, the bar was set higher. A candidate had to be a Master Mason and either a companion in the Holy Royal Arch, a Mark Mason, or a Warden or Past Warden of a Craft Lodge.
• United States: The American branch, "Ye Antiente Order of Corks," maintains a high barrier to entry. A candidate must be a member of Royal Arch. The Order forms an informal part of the Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) in the US.
• Scotland: The Cork tradition is particularly strong in Scotland, where its lodges are supervised by Royal Arch Masonry.
• Modern / Australia: A more liberal, modern trend has emerged. In Australia, which is a relatively new jurisdiction for the Order, membership is "open to all Master Masons in good standing". This simpler requirement is also found in some lodges in England.

This lowering of the barrier to entry was likely a pragmatic move to ensure the Order's survival after a period of decline, thereby increasing the pool of members and, consequently, the potential for charitable fundraising.

A key feature of the Order is its ease of entry. There are "no subscriptions or joining fees". Candidates can be "proposed and initiated on the same night", with the initiation fee (typically around £10.00) being given directly to charity.

A Global Order with a Complicated Structure

Despite its "unserious" nature, the Order of Corks is an international body, with lodges (or "Cellars") in Scotland, England, Wales, Australia, Belgium, Italy, and the United States. Its global governance, however, is as "screwy" as its ritual. The Order was formally "exported to US in 1933 by the Marquis of Ailsa". This individual was Archibald Kennedy, the 4th Marquess of Ailsa (1872-1943). As a confirmed Free-Mason and, critically, the "First Grand Principal of Scotland's Grand Royal Arch Chapter", he was the perfect emissary. The American body, Ye Antiente Order of Corks, is governed by the Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) and led by the "Grand Bung".

In England and Europe, the situation is famously "complicated". There is no single, monolithic governing body. Instead, three distinct entities co-exist:

• The 'Great Board of Corks': This is the "official" body, which warrants recognized lodges. For many years, this board was presided over by the 'Great Admiral' and "consisted almost exclusively of senior Grand Officers of the Mark Grand Lodge". The Order "went into decline" for a time, but by 2002, this board was "completely recovered".
• 'Autonomous' Lodges: A number of lodges in England operate "independently of the Great Board".
• The 'Grand Fleet of Cork Lodges': Formed in 2012, this is a separate federation of "independent Cork lodges" from the UK and mainland Europe that are "not associated with the Great Board of Corks".

This fragmentation is a direct result of the Order's informal history. The "Great Board" likely became dormant during the Order's period of decline, leading to a "bottom-up" revival by "autonomous" lodges. When the Great Board was revived, these independent lodges had no incentive to submit to its authority, eventually formalizing their own network as the "Grand Fleet."

Fellowship, Philanthropy, and "GNUB"

The Ye Antient Order of Noble Corks endures as a fascinating and beloved paradox within Free-Masonry. It is a "spoof" with no moral teachings, a ritual that is "satirical", and a history that is "fanciful". By all conventional metrics of a fraternal order, it should not have survived.

Yet it thrives. Its endurance reveals the true, simple "secret" of fraternal success. The Order has distilled the Masonic experience down to its two most essential, practical components: fellowship and philanthropy. It provides a "boisterous," informal, and purely social environment that is explicitly and effectively tied to a tangible, positive outcome.

Behind the nautical puns, "silly hats", jocular officers, and libations, the Corks have created an international fellowship and a genuine engine for charity. It perfectly encapsulates the ideal of having "a good time for a good cause".

For those Masons who have been entrusted with its secrets, the Order of Corks provides a cherished opportunity for pure fellowship, all while raising vital funds for children. And, of course, it answers the all-important challenge: "GNUB.

Article By Antony R.B. Augay P∴M∴