Structure and Degree of The Cork
Membership is not onerous—the only costs on top of membership being dining fees, drinks, etc. The idea and aim being to raise money for children's charities, and with Corkies having fun in so doing.
Candidates can be proposed and initiated on the same night. Compared with masonic meetings, dress is informal - as meetings tend to be boisterous affairs, in good spirits. The ritual and initiation part takes up the first part of the evening, followed by festivities that are “closer to a Scottish Harmony than an English Festive Board”. Hats are worn during the meeting, with head-gear style being of personal choice - the sillier, the better.
All lodge officers have naval titles, roughly equating to the Officers in a craft Lodge, with jewels of office (when used) often being borne on strings of corks. Titles vary, but the following may be considered a typical list:
- Rather Worshipful Admiral
- Uncommonly Worshipful Mate
- Highly Worshipful Purser
- Hardly Worshipful Lookout
- Nearly Rather Worshipful Vice Admiral
- Undoubtedly Ship's Writer
- Little Less Worshipful Doctor
- Barely Worshipful Cook
- Mainly Worshipful Bosun
- Particularly Worthy Screw
- Almost Worthy Carpenter
- Particularly Worthy Shipmate
Read more about this topic: Ye Antient Order Of Noble Corks
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