THE SUPREME ORDER THE SUPREME ORDER OF THEOF THE

HOLY ROYAL ARCHHOLY ROYAL ARCH

THIS PRESENTATION INCORPORATES THERESOLUTIONS WHICH WERE APPROVED AND

ADOPTED BY

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER ON WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2004

THE SUPREME ORDER OF THETHE SUPREME ORDER OF THE HOLY ROYAL ARCHHOLY ROYAL ARCH

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS A SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT ORDER, STANDING CO-EQUALLY

WITH OTHER MASONIC ORDERS BUT WITH A CONTINUING BOND TO THE CRAFT.WITH A CONTINUING BOND TO THE CRAFT.

                                                 

ON THE 10TH MARCH 2004 THE MOST WORSHIPFULTHE GRAND MASTER, HRH THE DUKE OF KENTSAID:

“IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CHANGES PROPOSED (AND ADOPTED IN NOVEMBER 2004) THE ROYAL ARCH IS TO REMAIN INDISSOLUBLYLINKED TO THE CRAFT AND SHOULD BE REGARDED BY ALL AS THE FINAL STEP INPURE ANTIENT FREEMASONRY”.

HRH THE DUKE OF KENT

THIS PRESENTATION CONSISTS OF A BRIEFSUMMARY OF :

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE ROYAL ARCH

ITS LINKS TO CRAFT MASONRY

CURRENT (REVISED) PRACTICES

THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER

WHEN DID WHEN DID ROYAL ARCH ROYAL ARCH

MASONRY START ?MASONRY START ?

WHILST THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTRESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY OF THEROYAL ARCH, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT ITS ORIGIN DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF WRITTEN RECORDS.

WE DO KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT THEROYAL ARCH WAS WORKED IN IRELAND, YORK AND PROBABLY SCOTLAND IN THE 1740s.

WHEN DID THE ROYAL WHEN DID THE ROYAL ARCH BECOME ARCH BECOME

RECOGNISED AND ALLIED RECOGNISED AND ALLIED TO CRAFT MASONRY ?TO CRAFT MASONRY ?

IN THE EARLY YEARS, NO ONE THING MORE CLEARLY DISTINGUISHED THE ‘‘MODERNS’MODERNS’ AND THE ‘ANTIENTS’‘ANTIENTS’ THAN :

THE MODERNS’MODERNS’ OFFICIAL IGNORANCEOF THE ROYAL ARCH, AND

THE ANTIENTS’ ANTIENTS’ EAGER ADOPTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF IT.

LAURENCE DERMOTT, SECRETARY OF THEGRAND LODGE OF THE ANTIENTS DESCRIBEDTHE ROYAL ARCH AS :

““THE ROOT, HEART AND MARROW THE ROOT, HEART AND MARROW OFOF

FREEMASONRY”FREEMASONRY”

THE ANTIENTS’ GRAND LODGE, ESTABLISHED IN 1751, CONSIDERED ROYAL ARCH TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF CRAFT MASONRY.

THE CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED IN THE CRAFT, AFTER BEING OPENED FROM THETHIRD TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.

CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE WAS THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGE THAT A MASON COULDOBTAIN.

WHILST THE MODERNS’ GRAND LODGEOFFICIALLY DISOWNED ROYAL ARCH, MANY

OF THEIR LODGES WORKED IT AND SOME PROMINENT MEMBERS, INCLUDING THEIR

GRAND MASTER, WERE ROYAL ARCH MASONS

THE ACT OF UNION BETWEEN THE MODERNS AND THE ANTIENTS IN 1813 :

“DECLARED AND PRONOUNCED THAT PURE ANTIENT MASONRY CONSISTS OF THREE DEGREES AND NO MORE, VIZ THOSE OF ENTERED APPRENTICE, THE FELLOW CRAFT AND THE MASTER MASON, INCLUDING THE SUPREME ORDER OF THE HOLY ROYALTHE SUPREME ORDER OF THE HOLY ROYALARCH”ARCH”

At the Quarterly Communication of the 10th December 2003The United Grand Lodge of England

acknowledged and pronouncedthe status of the

Supreme Order of the Royal ArchSupreme Order of the Royal Archto beto be

““an extension to, but neither a superior an extension to, but neither a superior nor a subordinate part of, nor a subordinate part of,

the Degrees which precede it”the Degrees which precede it”

HOWEVER,

TO SUMMARISE:

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN INDEPENDENTTHE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN INDEPENDENTORDER IN FREEMASONRY.ORDER IN FREEMASONRY.

TO SUMMARISE:

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN INDEPENDENTORDER IN FREEMASONRY.

IT IS NOT THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRDIT IS NOT THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRDDEGREE IN CRAFT MASONRY, WHICH ISDEGREE IN CRAFT MASONRY, WHICH ISCOMPLETE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.COMPLETE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

TO SUMMARISE:

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN INDEPENDENTORDER IN FREEMASONRY.

IT IS NOT THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRDDEGREE IN CRAFT MASONRY, WHICH ISCOMPLETE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

AND ALL REFERENCES IN THE RITUALAND ALL REFERENCES IN THE RITUALRELATING TO A ‘FOURTH DEGREE’ OR THERELATING TO A ‘FOURTH DEGREE’ OR THEHOLY ROYAL ARCH DEGREE BEING ‘THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH DEGREE BEING ‘THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE’COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE’

HAVE BEEN REMOVED.HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

EVERY ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER WAS ORIGINALLYATTACHED TO A CRAFT LODGE AND TOOK ITS NUMBER FROM THAT LODGE

HOWEVER, SHOULD THE CRAFT LODGE HANDIN ITS WARRANT, THE CHAPTER ORIGINALLYATTACHED TO IT CAN CONTINUE TO RETAINCAN CONTINUE TO RETAINITS NUMBER AND ITS NAME IF IT SO WISHES.ITS NUMBER AND ITS NAME IF IT SO WISHES.

ALTERNATIVELY, IT CAN CHOOSE TO ATTACH ITSELF TO ANOTHER LODGE AND CHANGE ITS NUMBER ACCORDINGLY (ONLY ONE CHAPTER TO A LODGE).

WHY ARE MASTERWHY ARE MASTERMASONS ENCOURAGEDMASONS ENCOURAGED

TO JOIN THE TO JOIN THE ROYAL ARCH ?ROYAL ARCH ?

AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE TRUESECRETS OF A MASTER MASON WERELOST AND WERE SUBSTITUTED BY OTHER SIGNS AND A WORD

THESE SECRETS WERE LOST FORNEARLY 500 YEARS AND THE ROYALARCH DESCRIBES THEIR RECOVERY

REVEALS THE FULL LIGHT OF ANCIENT REVEALS THE FULL LIGHT OF ANCIENT CRAFT MASONRY, PRESENTING IT AS ACRAFT MASONRY, PRESENTING IT AS A COMPLETE UNIFIED SYSTEMCOMPLETE UNIFIED SYSTEM

NO OTHER ORDER IS SO INTIMATELYNO OTHER ORDER IS SO INTIMATELY LINKED TO THE CRAFT LINKED TO THE CRAFT

IT TRULY LEADS TO A FULLERIT TRULY LEADS TO A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSES UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSES AND ‘SPIRIT’ OF FREEMASONRYAND ‘SPIRIT’ OF FREEMASONRY

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCHTHE HOLY ROYAL ARCH

THE HOLY ROYAL ARCHTHE HOLY ROYAL ARCH

BRETHREN IN THE CRAFT REFLECT ON

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIRFELLOW MAN

THE ROYAL ARCH MASON REFLECTS

ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS GOD

HOW WERE THESEHOW WERE THESESECRETS DISCOVERED ?SECRETS DISCOVERED ?

ROYAL ARCH DESCRIBES IN A DRAMATICMANNER HOW THE LOST SECRETS OF A MASTER MASON WERE DISCOVERED.

IT IS THE STORY OF JEWISH HISTORYDURING SOME OF ITS DARKEST HOURS.

JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY TEMPLE AREDESTROYED, AND THE PEOPLE ARE BEINGHELD CAPTIVE AS SLAVES IN BABYLON.

A CANDIDATE FOR EXALTATION JOINS WITHHIS COMPANIONS AS THEY ARE SET FREE FROM CAPTIVITY TO RETURN HOME ANDENGAGE IN THE REBUILDING OF THE SECONDTEMPLE

IT IS DURING THIS REBUILDING THAT THE THE LONG LOST TRUE WORD OF A MASTER LONG LOST TRUE WORD OF A MASTER MASON IS DISCOVEREDMASON IS DISCOVERED

EXALTATION INTO THE ROYAL ARCHEXALTATION INTO THE ROYAL ARCHIS BOTH A COLOURFUL AND DRAMATICIS BOTH A COLOURFUL AND DRAMATICCEREMONY, A RE-ENACTMENT OF THECEREMONY, A RE-ENACTMENT OF THEDISCOVERY OF THE LONG LOST TRUE DISCOVERY OF THE LONG LOST TRUE

WORD OF A WORD OF A MASTER MASONMASTER MASON

IS THE ROYAL ARCHIS THE ROYAL ARCHA CHRISTIAN ORDER ?A CHRISTIAN ORDER ?

TODAY, THE ROYAL ARCH EMBRACES TODAY, THE ROYAL ARCH EMBRACES ALL FAITHS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALL FAITHS CONSISTENT WITH THE

PRINCIPLES OF CRAFT MASONRYPRINCIPLES OF CRAFT MASONRY

ORIGINALLY THE ORDER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHRISTIAN AND THEREARE SOME SMALL ASPECTS OF THE RITUALWHICH REFLECTS THAT HISTORY – SUCH AS THE OPENING PRAYER WHICH IS THE FIRST PRAYER OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION SERVICE

ROYAL ARCH CEREMONIES MAY, ROYAL ARCH CEREMONIES MAY, HOWEVER, VARY FROM CHAPTER HOWEVER, VARY FROM CHAPTER TO CHAPTER AND THIS ADDS TO TO CHAPTER AND THIS ADDS TO

THE ENJOYMENT, INTEREST THE ENJOYMENT, INTEREST AND BEAUTY OF AND BEAUTY OF

THE ROYAL ARCH. THE ROYAL ARCH.

CHANGES TO THE RITUALCHANGES TO THE RITUAL

A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDED CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE RITUAL, BOTH TO AID UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CANDIDATE AND TO SIMPLIFY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, THUS MAKING THE RITUAL A LITTLE

EASIER TO LEARN.

IN ADDITION, THE PROVINCE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT AND APPROVE THAT RITUAL AND LECTUES CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO SECTIONS FOR THOSE CHAPTERS WHO WOULD PREFER THEM TOBE SHARED AMONGST THEIR COMPANIONS.

THERE ARE VERY FEW MANDATORYVERY FEW MANDATORY CHANGES AND THESE TEND TO RELATE TO THE OMISSION OF SPURIOUS DATES IN THE HISTORICAL LECTURE AND ALL REFERENCES TO A FOURTH DEGREE OR EXALTATION BEING THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE.

WHY A ‘CHAPTER’ WHY A ‘CHAPTER’ ANDAND

NOT A ‘LODGE’ ?NOT A ‘LODGE’ ?

THE ROYAL ARCH ALSO OPENS WITH THE READING OF A PRAYER

WHEN CANONS OF A CATHEDRAL CHURCH, THE MONKS OF A MONASTERY,

OR THE KNIGHTS OF AN ORDER

HELD FORMAL MEETINGS, THE PROCEEDINGS BEGAN WITH THE READING OF A CHAPTERCHAPTER FROM THEIR RULES OR CHARGES, OR FROM THE SCRIPTURES

THUS THE GATHERING ITSELF BECAME KNOWN AS A CHAPTER

THE TENDENCY TO SUBSTITUTE THE WORD ‘CHAPTER’ INSTEAD OF LODGE

COMMENCED IN THE 1750’s

TO MARK IT AS THE SUPREME TO MARK IT AS THE SUPREME DEGREEDEGREE

WHY ARE MEMBERSWHY ARE MEMBERSREFERRED TO ASREFERRED TO AS

‘‘COMPANIONS’ ANDCOMPANIONS’ ANDNOT ‘BROTHERS’ ?NOT ‘BROTHERS’ ?

The Most Noble Order of the Garter

 

Knight Companions

INITIALLY MEMBERS WERE REFERRED TO AS BROTHERS, BUT SINCE 1770 MEMBERS GRADUALLYBECAME KNOWN AS COMPANIONS.

IN SOME ORDERS OF CHIVALRY A MEMBER IS ALSO KNOWN AS A COMPANION

IN LATIN THE WORD MEANS ‘TOGETHER WITH BREAD’INFERRING COMPANIONS SHARE MEALS TOGETHER

IS THE IS THE ROYAL ARCHROYAL ARCH

ORGANISED SEPARATELYORGANISED SEPARATELYFROM THE CRAFT ?FROM THE CRAFT ?

WHILST THE ROYAL ARCH HAS ITS OWN WHILST THE ROYAL ARCH HAS ITS OWN ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE, ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE,

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT LEADS BOTH THE H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT LEADS BOTH THE CRAFT AND ROYAL ARCHCRAFT AND ROYAL ARCH

EQUALLY THE HOLDERS OF SENIOR OFFICES EQUALLY THE HOLDERS OF SENIOR OFFICES IN GRAND LODGE HOLD SIMILAR RANKS IN GRAND LODGE HOLD SIMILAR RANKS

IN THE ROYAL ARCH AND THE PROVINCIAL IN THE ROYAL ARCH AND THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER IS USUALLY THE M.E. GRAND GRAND MASTER IS USUALLY THE M.E. GRAND

SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVINCIAL SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTERGRAND CHAPTER

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTUREORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTUREORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

THERE ARE NO PLANS, AND NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY PLANS, TO FURTHER SEPARATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF

THE CRAFT AND THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH

THE MEMBERSHIPTHE MEMBERSHIPCERTIFICATE EVIDENCESCERTIFICATE EVIDENCES

THE TRADITIONAL THE TRADITIONAL LINKS TO THELINKS TO THE

CRAFT CRAFT

THE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATE THE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATE STILL RETAINS CRAFT FEATURES STILL RETAINS CRAFT FEATURES

WHICH APPEARED IN THE WHICH APPEARED IN THE R.A. CERTIFICATE DESIGNED R.A. CERTIFICATE DESIGNED

BY LAURENCE DERMOTT IN 1753BY LAURENCE DERMOTT IN 1753

IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT

ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE

MOSAIC PAVEMENT OF A

CRAFT LODGE

COMMON SEAL EXCEPT

FOR SURROUNDING LETTERS

THE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATETHE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATE

WHAT DOES THEWHAT DOES THEREGALIA LOOKREGALIA LOOK

LIKE AND SIGNIFY ?LIKE AND SIGNIFY ?

THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF A R.A. MASON

REGALIA REGALIA OF AOF A

ROYAL ARCHROYAL ARCHMEMBERMEMBER

THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF A R.A. MASON

REGALIA REGALIA OF ANOF AN

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT COMPANIONCOMPANION

THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF A R.A. MASON

REGALIA REGALIA OF AOF A

PROVINCIAL PROVINCIAL OFFICEROFFICER

THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF A R.A. MASON

REGALIAREGALIA OF AOF A

GRAND GRAND OFFICEROFFICER

NOTICE, THE COLLAR IS WIDER AND THE DIAMONDS

ARE COMPLETE ON THEAPRON

THE BREAST JEWEL IS THE ONLY JEWEL OF ANOTHER THE BREAST JEWEL IS THE ONLY JEWEL OF ANOTHER ORDER WHICH CANORDER WHICH CAN, INDEED MUST, BE WORN BOTH IN INDEED MUST, BE WORN BOTH IN THE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER AND IN A CRAFT LODGE.THE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER AND IN A CRAFT LODGE.THE JEWELS ARE IDENTICAL, IT IS JUST THE RIBBON THE JEWELS ARE IDENTICAL, IT IS JUST THE RIBBON THAT CHANGES, THAT CHANGES,

COMPANIONCOMPANION EXCELLENTEXCELLENTCOMPANIONCOMPANION

PROVINCIALPROVINCIALOR GRANDOR GRANDOFFICEROFFICER

THE SIX POINTED THE SIX POINTED STAR ON THE JEWELSTAR ON THE JEWEL

IS KNOWN AS IS KNOWN AS THE HEXALPHATHE HEXALPHA

OR BLAZING STAROR BLAZING STAR

FRONT OF MEDALFRONT OF MEDAL

SPACE WHERESPACE WHERETHE NAME OF ATHE NAME OF A

COMPANION WASCOMPANION WASTRADITIONALLYTRADITIONALLY

ENGRAVED.ENGRAVED.

THE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STARTHE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STAR

SOME BELIEVE THIS WAS THESEAL OF SOLOMON ANDTHE SHIELD OF DAVID

FLAG OFISRAEL

REVERSE OF MEDAL

THE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STARTHE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STAR

THE WORDS ON THE STAR ARE :

WISDOM, PEACE, STRENGTH, WISDOM, PEACE, STRENGTH, CONCORD, BEAUTY AND TRUTHCONCORD, BEAUTY AND TRUTH

THE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STARTHE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STAR

THE STAR IS WITHIN TWO CIRCLES SIGNIFYING THE

DEITY AND ETERNITY

THE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STARTHE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STAR

FOR DATE OF EXALTATION

THE ‘TAU’ IS THE 19th LETTER OF THE GREEK ALPHABET, THE 20th LETTER OF THE ENGLISH ALPHABET

THERE IS A CROSS KNOWN AS THE TAU CROSS, ALSO SHAPED LIKE A

TT AND IS A PRE-HISTORIC RELIGIOUS SYMBOL

ORIGINALLY THE SYMBOL WAS A

TT OVER A HH AN ABBREVIATION FOR

‘TEMPLUM HIEROSOLYMA’LATIN FOR

TEMPLE AT JERUSALEMTEMPLE AT JERUSALEM.

AFTER THE UNION OF THE GRAND CHAPTERS IN AFTER THE UNION OF THE GRAND CHAPTERS IN 1817 IT BECAME THREE Ts - THE TRIPLE TAU1817 IT BECAME THREE Ts - THE TRIPLE TAU

THE TRIPLE TAUTHE TRIPLE TAU

WHAT DO THEWHAT DO THECOLOURS OF THECOLOURS OF THE

ROYAL ARCHROYAL ARCHSIGNIFY ?SIGNIFY ?

TRADITION INFORMS US THAT WITHIN THE TABERNACLE THEREWERE FOUR VEILS THROUGH WHICH A CANDIDATE HAD TO PASSIN HIS SEARCH FOR THE LOST WORD

BLUEBLUE

PURPLEPURPLE

SCARLETSCARLET

WHITEWHITE

THE SYMBOL OF UNIVERSAL FRIENDSHIP, REPRESENTED IN THE SYMBOLIC DEGREES THROUGH WHICH A MASON HAS ALREADY PASSED SYMBOLIC OF UNION, REPRESENTING THE INTIMATE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CRAFT AND THE ROYAL ARCH

SYMBOL OF FERVENCY AND ZEAL AND THE DISTINCT COLOUR OF ROYAL ARCH MASONRY

SYMBOL OF PURITY AND A REMINDER THAT ONLY BY PURITY OF HEART AND LIFE CAN A ROYAL ARCH MASON BE FOUND WORTHY OF THE RECEPTION OF DIVINE TRUTH

THE CEREMONY OF PASSING THE VEILS THE CEREMONY OF PASSING THE VEILS WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1834 BUT IS WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1834 BUT IS

STILL PRACTISED IN NORTH AMERICA, STILL PRACTISED IN NORTH AMERICA, IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND, SINCE 1928 BY IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND, SINCE 1928 BY

SPECIAL DISPENSATION, INSPECIAL DISPENSATION, INTHE BRISTOL CHAPTERS.THE BRISTOL CHAPTERS.

MORE RECENTLY SUPREME GRAND MORE RECENTLY SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER HAVE ALLOWED THISCHAPTER HAVE ALLOWED THIS

CEREMONY TO BE WORKED CEREMONY TO BE WORKED ONCE A YEAR, IN EACH PROVINCE.ONCE A YEAR, IN EACH PROVINCE.

A CANDIDATE HAD TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRST THREE VEILS BEFORE EXALTATION AND THE CRIMSON VEIL DEMANDED A PASS WORD

‘‘HOLINESS TO HOLINESS TO THE LORD’THE LORD’

WHICH IS, OR SHOULD BE,ENGRAVED ON THE SCEPTRE OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL

THE WHITE VEIL WAS THE LAST AND ORIGINALLY COVERED THE ENTRANCE TO

THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND WAS GUARDED BY THE SOJOURNERSTHE SOJOURNERS WHO WERE ALSO

DRESSED IN WHITE

THERE IS A VIEW THAT THE ORIGINAL THERE IS A VIEW THAT THE ORIGINAL PRACTICE HAD LINKS WITH THE PRACTICE HAD LINKS WITH THE

MEDIEVAL CHURCH, WHERE AT LENT MEDIEVAL CHURCH, WHERE AT LENT A A WHITE SHEETWHITE SHEET WAS HUNG ACROSS WAS HUNG ACROSS

THE ROOD SCREENTHE ROOD SCREEN

THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THETHESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THEPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERSPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS

FIRST PRINCIPALFIRST PRINCIPAL

ZERUBBABELZERUBBABEL

THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THETHESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THEPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERSPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS

SECOND PRINCIPALSECOND PRINCIPAL

HAGGAIHAGGAI

THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THETHESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THEPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERSPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS

THIRD PRINCIPALTHIRD PRINCIPAL

JOSHUAJOSHUA

THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THETHESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF THEPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERSPRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS

SOJOURNERSOJOURNER

PROVINCIAL GRAND PRINCIPALS : FROM LEFT TO RIGHTPROVINCIAL GRAND PRINCIPALS : FROM LEFT TO RIGHTTHE SECOND PROVINCIAL GRAND PRINCIPAL – E.COMP. DAVID H. THOMPSON

THE DEPUTY GRAND SUPERINTENDENT – E.COMP. WILLIAM J. PORTER

THE THIRD PROVINCIAL GRAND PRINCIPAL – E.COMP. THE REV. DONALD K. PRYCE

HOW DOES AHOW DOES ACOMPANION PROGRESSCOMPANION PROGRESS

IN ROYAL ARCH ?IN ROYAL ARCH ?

THERE ARE NO DEGREES IN THE ROYAL ARCH, BUTTHERE ARE NO DEGREES IN THE ROYAL ARCH, BUTFOUR STEPS :FOUR STEPS :

EXALTATION

QUALIFICATION AND PROGRESSION INTO THE THREE PRINCIPALS CHAIRS :

JOSHUA J THIRD PRINCIPAL

HAGGAI H SECOND PRINCIPAL

ZERUBBABEL Z FIRST PRINCIPAL

MEANING TO ELEVATE IN DIGNITY AND RANK

WHAT ARE THESE WHAT ARE THESE OTHER OFFICESOTHER OFFICES

IN THEIN THEROYAL ARCH ?ROYAL ARCH ?

MANY OF THE OFFICES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSEMANY OF THE OFFICES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSEIN A CRAFT LODGE :IN A CRAFT LODGE :

ALMONER, DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES, CHARITYSTEWARD AND STEWARD

OTHER OFFICES ARE SIMILAR BUT WITH DIFFERENT OTHER OFFICES ARE SIMILAR BUT WITH DIFFERENT NAMES :NAMES :

SCRIBE EZRA : THE SECRETARY

SCRIBE NEHEMIAH : SITUATED IN THE SOUTH AND HE PERFORMS SIMILAR DUTIES TO THAT OF A CRAFT INNER GUARD

THE SOJOURNERS : THEY UNDERTAKE SIMILAR DUTIES TO THE DEACONS

THE JANITOR : THE TYLER OF THE CHAPTER

JOSHUA : HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST AND COLLABORATED WITH HAGGAI AND ZERUBBABELIN THE REBUILDING OF THE SECOND TEMPLE, WHICHWAS DEDICATED IN 516BC

HAGGAI : WAS A PROPHET OF JUDAH, PROBABLYBORN IN BABYLON DURING THE CAPTIVITY OF THEJEWS. HE IS FAMED FOR HIS WORK IN ENCOURAGINGTHE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

ZERUBBABEL : HE WAS THE BUILDER OF THE SECOND TEMPLE AND WAS APPOINTED PRINCE OF JUDAH BYCYRUS, KING OF PERSIA

TRADITIONALLY ONLYTHOSE WHO WERE INSTALLED MASTERSINSTALLED MASTERS IN THE CRAFT COULD PROGRESS INTO THE THIRD PRINCIPAL’S CHAIR.

CHAPTERS NOW HAVE THE DISCRETION TO INSTALL, INEXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, A MASTER MASON WHO HAS NOT FULFILLED THE ROLE OF MASTER OF A LODGE AS THIRD PRINCIPAL.

HE MAY THEN PASS THROUGH THE CHAIRS TO BECOME THE MOST EXCELLENT ZERUBBABEL.

HOWEVER, THE PERSON SO SELECTED MUST HAVE FULFILLED,FOR ONE YEAR, THE OFFICE OF SCIBE E., SCRIBE N., PRINCIPAL SOJOURNER OR ASSISTANT SOJOURNER.

HE MUST ALSO HAVE DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT AND ABILITY TO TAKE ON THIS SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

FINALLY, IT IS EXPECTED THAT AT SOME TIME HE WILLEVENTUALLY BECOME AN INSTALLED MASTER IN THE CRAFT

IT FOLLOWS, THEREFORE, THAT AT THEINSTALLATION OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL THE RITUAL HAS BEEN AMENDED AS ELIGIBILITYFOR THE THIRD PRINCIPAL’S CHAIR DOES NOTDOES NOTDEMAND THE CANDIDATE TO DEMAND THE CANDIDATE TO ‘PROVE’‘PROVE’ THAT THATHE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AS MASTER OF A LODGEHE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AS MASTER OF A LODGE.

THE ‘WORD’ GIVEN TO A MASTER AT HIS CRAFTTHE ‘WORD’ GIVEN TO A MASTER AT HIS CRAFTINSTALLATION MUST NOT, THEREFORE, BE USEDINSTALLATION MUST NOT, THEREFORE, BE USEDFOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL.FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL.

AN ALTERNATIVE ‘PASS-WORD’ HAS BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE ‘PASS-WORD’ HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND APPROVED BY SUPREME GRAND IDENTIFIED AND APPROVED BY SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER FOR FUTURE USE.CHAPTER FOR FUTURE USE.

WHEN CAN A MEMBERWHEN CAN A MEMBEROF THE CRAFTOF THE CRAFT

JOINJOINTHE ROYAL ARCH ?THE ROYAL ARCH ?

WHEN A BROTHER HAS ATTAINED THE RANK OF A MASTER MASON,

HE IS THEN ENTITLED, AFTER A PERIOD OF ONE MONTHONE MONTH,

TO BE EXALTED INTO THE ROYAL ARCH

HOW OFTEN DO HOW OFTEN DO CHAPTER’S MEET ?CHAPTER’S MEET ?

MOST CHAPTER’S MEET FOUR TIMESEACH YEAR – THE MEETINGS AREKNOWN AS CONVOCATIONS

CONVOCATION LITERALLY MEANS‘CALLING TOGETHER’

ONE OF THESE CONVOCATIONS WILLBE THE INSTALLATION MEETING

WHAT COSTS AREWHAT COSTS AREINCURRED ?INCURRED ?

AS WITH LODGES, COSTS CAN VARY BUT :

THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TENDS TO BE AROUND £45 PLUS A ONE OFF JOINING FEE OF A SIMILAR AMOUNT

THE REGALIA OF AN EXALTEE, IF BOUGHT NEW COSTS ABOUT £65

REGALIA CAN OFTEN BE BOUGHT ‘SECOND HAND’ OFTEN IN RETURN FOR A DONATION TO CHARITY

WHY DO MASONSWHY DO MASONSJOIN THE JOIN THE

ROYAL ARCH ?ROYAL ARCH ?

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER

IT WIDENS MASONIC FRIENDSHIPS – MEMBERS TEND TO BE DRAWN FROM DIFFERENT LODGES, EVEN FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER

IT WIDENS MASONIC FRIENDSHIPS – MEMBERS TEND TO BE DRAWN FROM DIFFERENT LODGES, EVEN FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

MEMBERS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE MASONIC SYSTEM

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER

IT WIDENS MASONIC FRIENDSHIPS – MEMBERS TEND TO BE DRAWN FROM DIFFERENT LODGES, EVEN FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

MEMBERS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE MASONIC SYSTEM

CHAPTERS AIM TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN DIGNIFIED CEREMONIES AND THE AMIABLE ANDFRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE OF THE SOCIAL BOARD

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER

IT WIDENS MASONIC FRIENDSHIPS – MEMBERS TEND TO BE DRAWN FROM DIFFERENT LODGES, EVEN FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

MEMBERS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE MASONIC SYSTEM

CHAPTERS AIM TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN DIGNIFIED CEREMONIES AND THE AMIABLE ANDFRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE OF THE SOCIAL BOARD

SOME OTHER APPENDANT DEGREES REQUIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL ARCH BEFORE A MASON CAN BECOME A MEMBER, SUCH AS KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

WHAT EVER REASON A MASON CHOOSES FORBECOMING A MEMBER HE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT HE WILL RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME AND WILL QUICKLY EXPERIENCE THE DESIREOF ALL ROYAL ARCH MASONS :

““TO PLEASE EACH OTHER ANDTO PLEASE EACH OTHER ANDUNITE IN THE GRAND DESIGNUNITE IN THE GRAND DESIGN

OF BEING HAPPY ANDOF BEING HAPPY ANDCOMMUNICATING HAPPINESS”COMMUNICATING HAPPINESS”

A QUOTE FROM THE OPENING ADDRESS

“IF EVERYTHING WISE, EVERYTHING VIRTUOUS AND PRAISEWORTHY

WERE UNITED, THE RESULT WOULD PRODUCE ROYAL ARCH MASONRY.

IT’S AIM IS THE PROMOTION OF VIRTUE AND ITS SOLEMN BUSINESS THE COMMUNICATION OF THE HOLY NAME OF THAT GREAT BEING

WHO ALONE CAN EXALT US TO JOYS IMPERISHABLE IN THEIR NATURE AND

ETERNAL IN THEIR DURATION”.

WHY NOT COMEWHY NOT COMEAND JOIN US ?AND JOIN US ?

IF YOU ARE READY IF YOU ARE READY TO TAKE YOUR FINALTO TAKE YOUR FINAL

STEP IN PURE ANTIENT STEP IN PURE ANTIENT FREEMASONRYFREEMASONRY

SPEAK TO YOUR

LODGE ROYAL ARCH REPRESENTATIVE

[HIS NAME SHOULD APPEAR ON THE

LODGE SUMMONS]

ORYOUR LODGE SECRETARY WHO CAN PROVIDE

YOU WITH THE CONTACT DETAILS OF THE

DISTRICT OFFICER ROYAL ARCH [DORA]

FOR YOUR DISTRICT.