Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter

What is Royal Arch?

This is a question many Master Masons ponder and some even ask out loud. A short answer...It
is the sequel and completion of the legendary story of Craft Masonry.

This, however, is not enough to satisfy the eager questing Master Mason's legitimate desire for
knowledge on the subject and he is entitled to know why he should consider becoming a Royal Arch
Mason.

Actuated by a desire to help such Brethren, here now is the fuller information sought and
needed.

Every serious Master Mason aspires to attain the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry, but there
comes a time to every deep thinking Brother when he realizes he has not reached finality in one
important respect that he is not yet in possession of the ultimate information and he is likely to feel
some disappointment at the inconclusive finale that left him with but a substitute for it.

What he doesnt realize is that the key to his aspiration is near at hand in the Royal Arch Degree.
This has a very dramatic action in an historical setting; also, a reverential moral significance. It is the
sequel and the completion of the Degree of Master Mason; the unfolding into a second volume of the
story of that which was lost to its final recovery. Without the Royal Arch Degree the Master Mason
Degree is a tale but partly told, with a satisfactory denouncement unfulfilled. This is made clear in the
declaration to which the three original Grand Lodges mutually subscribed in 1814, when the resolution
of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, dated 1st December of that year, never rescinded, so presumably still
holding good declared and pronounced that pure Ancient Masonry consists of three Degrees, and no
more, viz.: those of the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and the Master Mason, including the Supreme
Chapter of the Holy Royal Arch. From this it necessarily followed that the education of a Brother of the
Craft in Ireland was not considered complete until he became a Royal Arch Mason. When the Grand
Chapter came into being in 1829 it was with the Grand Lodge's blessing and approval, but it does seem
odd that it was not until 1931 that the Grand Lodge, in response to a memorial supplicating it to
recognize the Royal Arch Degree formally, added this new law; Pure Ancient Masonry consists of the
following Degrees and no others, viz.: The Entered Apprentice, The Fellow Craft, The Master Mason and
the installed Master, but the Degrees of Royal Arch and the Mark Master Mason shall also be recognized
so long as the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ireland shall work only those two Degrees in the
form in which they are worked at the passing of this law.

The central esoteric theme of the entire system of Symbolic Freemasonry became the loss and
the recovery of the Word, symbolizing death and resurrection the ending of the present and the
beginning of the future life. The Word is the focal point around which the entire system of Masonic
symbolism must revolve. In brief: Its possession is the consummation of Masonic Knowledge; when
lost, its recovery is the object of symbolic labour.

No event in the history of Speculative Freemasonry had so great an influence upon its
development as a system of symbolism as the emergence of the Royal Arch Degree with its discovery
and recovery of that which had been lost. The loss without a recovery would be an absurdity; to
complete the symbolism of Freemasonry, the Word must be recovered, hence the necessity for the
Royal Arch drama. In Royal Arch Masonry is found the essential symbolism and philosophy required by a
Master Mason to understand fully that which he has already received only in part. The Royal Arch
Degree is the culmination of Ancient Craft Masonry for in it is found that which was lost the Word for
which is a substitute only is given in the Master Mason Degree, thereby providing the sole legitimate
and historically true completion of the Craft story.

Royal Arch Masonry is, therefore, the logical further step for every serious minded Master
Mason seeking to complete his Masonic education, and we would desire all such to receive that light
which can be communicated only in a Royal Arch Chapter.

In the Royal Arch, solicitation for new members is not prohibited but generally very little is
actually done; so, if any Master Mason of over one years standing wishes to become a Royal Arch
Mason, he should not wait to be invited to join but, remembering that he entered Freemasonry of his
own free will and accord, he should again take the initiative himself and approach a Brother of his
acquaintance he knows to be a Royal Arch Mason, tell him of his desire and request his assistance in the
matter. It would normally be readily given with full information as to the procedure. He cannot but be
happy and satisfied when he has received this additional Masonic Light.

Royal Arch membership consists only of those who have been regularly Initiated, Passed and
Raised in a regularly constituted Masonic Lodge, who are properly vouched for as being in good standing
in their own Lodge and in the community in which they reside and work.

Royal Arch Chapter dues and fees are normally much lower than for Craft Lodges and will be
found to be comparatively moderate. Meetings, or Convocations as they are called in Royal Arch
Masonry, are normally four or five a year.
 Before exaltation into the Royal Arch Chapter, a qualifying Degree entitled Mark Mater
Mason, in the Lodge of Mark Master Masons attached to the Chapter he has decided to join, must be
given. The subscription for the Mark Master Mason Degree is included in that of the Royal Arch and
there are no separate dues.

The Mark Master Mason Degree teaches us to discharge our several duties with precision and
accuracy. The duty of assisting a Brother in need is dramatically demonstrated. Historically the Degree
illustrates the process by which the building of the Temple was accomplished and the work of the
individual Craftsman identified.

Amplifying the Fellowcraft Degree we are taught that the knowledge we received from it can be
employed most usefully for our credit and the benefit of others. A beautiful lesson is exemplified
inculcating the truth that although we are often misunderstood, underrated and traduced there is One
who will make the rejected stone the head of the corner.

The Mark Lodge is opened only when a candidate is to be received for Advancement and for
the installation of the Very Worshipful Master each year.