The History of the Guild Companions of the Ark
 

​The Guild Companions of the Ark  (G.C.A) started out as an additional or higher Order available to members of Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.). Unlike the K.G.H., however, which broke away from the R.A.O.B., becoming a Sovereign body in its own right, the Guild Companions of the Ark only survived for about 21 years.
 
In keeping with many Fraternal Societies in the Nineteenth Century, the Guild Companions of the ARK (G.C.A.) was heavily influenced by Masonic ritual and protocol. Indeed three out of its five founders were Past Masters in Masonry and as such, the constitution of the Order was very simple being instituted for “philanthropic purposes upon what could be called a ‘Masonic’ basis.” As stated earlier the G.C.A. was formed as a higher degree (although it was always in reality a distinct organisation) for those who had attained the second degree in the R.A.O.B..
 
The first meeting of the G.C.A. was held on Wednesday October 8th 1873 at the “Coach & horses,” opposite Somerset House in the Strand, where it met for some years. The five founders were Byrnes; Bullock T. Rushton; E. Michael-Banister & W. E. Harland-Oxley. Unfortunately information about these founders is scarce, owing to many of the R.A.O.B. records being at Harrogate destroyed in a flood [not that Flood]. There was only one Lodge of the Guild ‘The Armenia,’ or Armenia Lodge Number One, as it was deemed desirable by the founders to limit its membership.
 
As in all Fraternal Societies the Guild changed the venue for its meetings and over the years it met at the “Peacock,” Maiden Lane, Covent Gardens; then at “Ye Savoy Palace,” Savoy Street, Strand; and  finally at the “ Portugal Hotel,” Fleet Street. During the nearly twenty one years of its existence a large number of members joined its ranks; but by 1894 the Guild had fallen into decline and was not in a flourishing condition and we assume that very shortly afterwards it ceased to exist as a viable organisation.
 
Through some research in the libraries / museums at Grove House, Harrogate (R.A.O.B.) and Great Queen Street, London (United Grand Lodge of England), a number of jewels and aprons of the Guild were discovered which bear a striking similarity to those used by Ancient Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners. The jewels have a dove shaped bar from which a representation of an All Seeing Eye and Noah’s Ark is suspended on a plain or rainbow collared ribbon. The aprons have a boarder of rainbow ribbon, but unlike the Royal Ark Mariner degree, the apron is curved at the bottom and bears an All Seeing Eye and Noah’s Ark device similar to that of the jewel.  Some jewels discovered bear the name of the New Armenia Lodge and we can only assume from this that at some time after 1894 the Guild was reformed, but it cannot have lasted long as there is no documental proof of its existence.

 

Reinstitution of the Guild Companions of the Ark

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On Saturday 30th April 2011 at a Grand Camp meeting of the Knights of the Golden Horn, five of its members were discussing the history of the KGH over lunch when the subject of the Guild Companions of the ARK came up in the conversation as the GCA is closely linked historically to the KGH and it was therefore resolved that they would, together, research this now defunct organisation. After much investigation into the Guilds history, it was determined to look into the possibility reinstituting the Order.

The five founders (Clive Warham, Robin Todd, Keith Foreman, Steven Turner and Cliff Constable) met again and as all of them were members of a number of fraternal organisations: KGH, RAOB and Masonic they decided that the qualification for membership would be, to be a subscribing member of a recognised Fraternal Society.

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A ritual book was written by Clive Warham using the information gained from the research and incorporating the traditions of all three of aforementioned societies, but as the Guild had obvious links with the Royal Ark Mariner degree and great care was taken to make this a very different ceremony. The result was an Order with its ceremonial based on the Story of Noah and linked to traditions of the Medieval Guilds.

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The new lodge would be called ‘Armenia Lodge Time Immemorial’ in the hope that it would grow and expand. With this in mind it was decided not to restrict the membership as in the past, but to accept members from other societies and to run the lodge in a peripatetic fashion, travelling and meeting in different areas of the country, thereby enlarging the catchment area from which to draw prospective members. In addition, it was decided that if the Guild should grow, that there would be an opportunity to form additional lodges of the Guild throughout the Country.

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On the 10th March 2012 the Guild Companions of the Ark was re launched as a fraternal organisation when the Armenia Lodge, Time Immemorial held its first meeting at the Tall Tree Hotel, Yarm , Stockton on Tees. The Ceremony of Reception into the Guild was worked by the Supreme Grand Companion, Clive Warham, after which the Companions retired for a celebratory Lunch to which family and friends were invited.