For thousands of years and across many civilizations, humanity has been fascinated with the sea. Those who have journeyed on the ocean have experienced the duality of human existence: our smallness in the immensity of the world and our significance through our ability of invention. It brings clearly into focus the degree to which each of us relies upon others. It reminds us that DUTY, KNOWLEDGE and HONOR are the foundations of civilization.
We understand these principles through degrees which present lessons and symbols which serve to enrich our lives. We live these principles in our interactions with each other and the acts we carry out as Mariners.
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OUR PRINCIPLES, DEGREES & STRUCTURE
DUTY, KNOWLEDGE and HONOR are the three tenets by which the Mariners operate. We begin with Duty as the subject of our first degree. The duty we owe to and rely upon from others is the foundation of daily life and, as such, serves as the foundation of the local unit of the Mariners which is called a Ship. The imagery of a ship reminds us that we are 'all in the same boat' and need to work together and each do the individual duties we owe to ourselves and to others. Members are mustered into a Ship where they receive the first degree. There are no requirements to complete any other degrees to be fully involved in your Ship and serve as one of the officers. Ships choose their own frequency of meetings and the activities in which they are involved.
Our second degree focuses on Knowledge. It is conferred upon those who seek it at the Fleet level of the Mariners. Everything we have today has been attained through the efforts of those who discovered, invented or adapted it and shared that knowledge. No matter how seemingly insignificant or momentous a particular piece of knowledge, it fits as an essential piece of the larger advancement of civilization. This is symbolized by the coming together of various Ships into a Fleet. A member may choose to seek the second degree by attending a Fleet meeting where it is conferred. Fleets are collections of Ships that vary over time depending on the number of Ships and their needs. They are organized and reorganized by the Admiral Commanding as needed to further the purposes of the Mariners and governed by officers appointed by the Admiral Commanding. All members who have attained the second degree are entitled to vote at meetings of their Fleet and to hold office in the Fleet, but there is no requirement to be involved at the Fleet level in order to obtain the degree.
The third degree delves into the complex principle of Honor. Knowledge is applied to discern duty as a path to conducting oneself with honor. It is the pinnacle of the Mariners teaching and is presented by the Admiralty upon those who seek it. Its significance is attested both by its being at the apex of our degree structure and its being presented by the apex of our organizational structure. A member wishing to receive the third degree must attend a meeting of the Admiralty where it is conferred. The Admiralty is the governing body of the Mariners and the Admiral Commanding is its presiding officer when in session and its agent at all other times. All members who have attained the third degree are entitled to vote at meetings of the Admiralty and to hold office therein. As with the second degree, there is no requirement to be involved at the Admiralty in order to obtain the degree.
MEMBERSHIP
The Mariners accept all Odd Fellows who are at least 18 years of age. A particular Ship may have additional requirements, provided those requirements are nondiscriminatory. For example, a Ship may require that applicants already be a member of another fraternal society in order to be admitted if the meeting place of that Ship is in the hall of that other fraternal society. If you are interested in joining the Mariners, but are unable to join a Ship in your area because there is no Ship nearby or due to not meeting some secondary requirement, you can join unattached to a Ship and will be assigned to be under the jurisdiction of a Fleet.
Membership in the Mariners itself carries no annual dues. (However, a Ship may choose to collect dues if it deems them necessary for its purposes at the discretion of its members.) The Mariners charge degree fees which cover the cost of degree expenses. These fees are modest and are published with the degree applications. Degree fees cover your degree card, degree certificate, and a registration fee. An individual wishing to join the Mariners must complete a membership application and pay the degree fee for the first degree. (If rejected for membership, your fee will be returned.) Once admitted to membership, you must obtain a uniform and be ready to receive the first degree within 90 days or you will be discharged and your degree fee forfeited. No one may attend meetings of or receive degrees in the Mariners if not in proper uniform, except by dispensation from the Admiralty.
Once you are a member of the first degree, you are eligible to seek the second degree by filling out a request and submitting the degree fee for that degree. Likewise, once you are a member of the second degree, you are eligible to seek the third degree by filling out a request and submitting the degree fee for that degree.
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UNIFORMS
The Mariners is a uniformed society and wearing a proper uniform to all meetings is required. The uniform serves to symbolically unify the members as one unit and to make our members stand out when participating in a public event such as a parade. The duty uniform for members is simple and inexpensive. Its main components can be purchased from a large array of suppliers and in various quality to fit any budget. Our unique insignia for degrees, ranks, offices and awards is obtained though the Mariners. There are also dress uniforms which are optional and intended for use in certain public events and ceremonial banquets. They are available from an array of suppliers and modestly priced. Click here to view the Uniform Regulations.
