THE SUPREME ORDER

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THE SUPREME ORDER OF THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH
THIS PRESENTATION INCORPORATES THE RESOLUTIONS
WHICH WERE APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY SUPREME
GRAND CHAPTER ON WEDNESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER
2004
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THE SUPREME ORDER OF THE HOLY 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.
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ON THE 10TH MARCH 2004 THE MOST WORSHIPFUL THE
GRAND MASTER, HRH THE DUKE OF KENT SAID IRRESP
ECTIVE OF THE CHANGES PROPOSED (AND ADOPTED IN
NOVEMBER 2004) THE ROYAL ARCH IS TO REMAIN
INDISSOLUBLY LINKED TO THE CRAFT AND SHOULD BE
REGARDED BY ALL AS THE FINAL STEP IN PURE
ANTIENT FREEMASONRY.
HRH THE DUKE OF KENT
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THIS PRESENTATION CONSISTS OF A BRIEF SUMMARY OF

• WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE ROYAL
• ARCH

• ITS LINKS TO CRAFT MASONRY

• CURRENT (REVISED) PRACTICES

• THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER

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WHEN DID ROYAL ARCH MASONRY START ?
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WHILST THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH INTO
THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARCH, THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT ITS ORIGIN DUE TO THE
ABSENCE OF WRITTEN RECORDS.
WE DO KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT THE ROYAL ARCH WAS
WORKED IN IRELAND, YORK AND PROBABLY SCOTLAND IN
THE 1740s.
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WHEN DID THE ROYAL ARCH BECOME RECOGNISED AND
ALLIED TO CRAFT MASONRY ?
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IN THE EARLY YEARS, NO ONE THING MORE CLEARLY
DISTINGUISHED THE MODERNS AND THE ANTIENTS
THAN
THE MODERNS OFFICIAL IGNORANCE OF THE ROYAL
ARCH, AND
THE ANTIENTS EAGER ADOPTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT
OF IT.
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LAURENCE DERMOTT, SECRETARY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF
THE ANTIENTS DESCRIBED THE ROYAL ARCH AS
THE ROOT, HEART AND MARROW OF FREEMASONRY
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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 THE THIRD TO THE FOURTH DEGREE.
CONFERMENT OF THE DEGREE WAS THE HIGHEST
PRIVILEGE THAT A MASON COULD OBTAIN.
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WHILST THE MODERNS GRAND LODGE OFFICIALLY
DISOWNED ROYAL ARCH, MANY OF THEIR LODGES WORKED
IT AND SOME PROMINENT MEMBERS, INCLUDING
THEIR GRAND MASTER, WERE ROYAL ARCH MASONS
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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 ROYAL ARCH
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HOWEVER,
At the Quarterly Communication of the 10th
December 2003 The United Grand Lodge of
England acknowledged and pronounced the status of
the Supreme Order of the Royal Arch to be an
extension to, but neither a superior nor a
subordinate part of, the Degrees which precede
it
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TO SUMMARISE THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN
INDEPENDENT ORDER IN FREEMASONRY.
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TO SUMMARISE THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN
INDEPENDENT ORDER IN FREEMASONRY.
IT IS NOT THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE IN
CRAFT MASONRY, WHICH IS COMPLETE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
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TO SUMMARISE THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH IS AN
INDEPENDENT ORDER IN FREEMASONRY.
IT IS NOT THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE IN
CRAFT MASONRY, WHICH IS COMPLETE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
AND ALL REFERENCES IN THE RITUAL RELATING TO A
FOURTH DEGREE OR THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH DEGREE
BEING THE COMPLETION OF THE THIRD DEGREE HAVE
BEEN REMOVED.
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EVERY ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER WAS ORIGINALLY ATTACHED
TO A CRAFT LODGE AND TOOK ITS NUMBER FROM THAT
LODGE
HOWEVER, SHOULD THE CRAFT LODGE HAND IN ITS
WARRANT, THE CHAPTER ORIGINALLY ATTACHED TO IT
CAN CONTINUE TO RETAIN 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).
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WHY ARE MASTER MASONS ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE
ROYAL ARCH ?
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AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE TRUE SECRETS OF A MASTER
MASON WERE LOST AND WERE SUBSTITUTED BY OTHER
SIGNS AND A WORD
THESE SECRETS WERE LOST FOR NEARLY 500 YEARS AND
THE ROYAL ARCH DESCRIBES THEIR RECOVERY
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THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH

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

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

• IT TRULY LEADS TO A FULLER
• UNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSES
• AND SPIRIT OF FREEMASONRY

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THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH
BRETHREN IN THE CRAFT REFLECT ON THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR FELLOW MAN
THE ROYAL ARCH MASON REFLECTS ON HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS GOD
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HOW WERE THESE SECRETS DISCOVERED ?
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ROYAL ARCH DESCRIBES IN A DRAMATIC MANNER HOW THE
LOST SECRETS OF A MASTER MASON WERE DISCOVERED.
IT IS THE STORY OF JEWISH HISTORY DURING SOME OF
ITS DARKEST HOURS.
JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY TEMPLE ARE DESTROYED, AND
THE PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE AS SLAVES IN
BABYLON.
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A CANDIDATE FOR EXALTATION JOINS WITH HIS
COMPANIONS AS THEY ARE SET FREE FROM CAPTIVITY
TO RETURN HOME AND ENGAGE IN THE REBUILDING OF
THE SECOND TEMPLE
IT IS DURING THIS REBUILDING THAT THE LONG LOST
TRUE WORD OF A MASTER MASON IS DISCOVERED
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EXALTATION INTO THE ROYAL ARCH IS BOTH A
COLOURFUL AND DRAMATIC CEREMONY, A RE-ENACTMENT
OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE LONG LOST TRUE WORD OF A
MASTER MASON
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IS THE ROYAL ARCH A CHRISTIAN ORDER ?
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ORIGINALLY THE ORDER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
CHRISTIAN AND THERE ARE SOME SMALL ASPECTS OF
THE RITUAL WHICH REFLECTS THAT HISTORY SUCH
AS THE OPENING PRAYER WHICH IS THE FIRST PRAYER
OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION SERVICE
TODAY, THE ROYAL ARCH EMBRACES ALL FAITHS
CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF CRAFT MASONRY
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ROYAL ARCH CEREMONIES MAY, HOWEVER, VARY FROM
CHAPTER TO CHAPTER AND THIS ADDS TO THE
ENJOYMENT, INTEREST AND BEAUTY OF THE ROYAL
ARCH.
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CHANGES 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 TO BE SHARED AMONGST THEIR
COMPANIONS.
THERE ARE VERY 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.
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WHY A CHAPTER AND NOT A LODGE ?
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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 CHAPTER FROM THEIR RULES OR
CHARGES, OR FROM THE SCRIPTURES
THUS THE GATHERING ITSELF BECAME KNOWN AS A
CHAPTER
THE ROYAL ARCH ALSO OPENS WITH THE READING OF A
PRAYER
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THE TENDENCY TO SUBSTITUTE THE WORD CHAPTER
INSTEAD OF LODGE COMMENCED IN THE 1750s TO MARK
IT AS THE SUPREME DEGREE
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WHY ARE MEMBERS REFERRED TO AS COMPANIONS
AND NOT BROTHERS ?
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INITIALLY MEMBERS WERE REFERRED TO AS BROTHERS,
BUT SINCE 1770 MEMBERS GRADUALLY BECAME KNOWN AS
COMPANIONS.
IN SOME ORDERS OF CHIVALRY A MEMBER IS ALSO
KNOWN AS A COMPANION
The Most Noble Order of the Garter  
Knight Companions
IN LATIN THE WORD MEANS TOGETHER WITH
BREAD INFERRING COMPANIONS SHARE MEALS TOGETHER
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IS THE ROYAL ARCH ORGANISED SEPARATELY FROM THE
CRAFT ?
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
WHILST THE ROYAL ARCH HAS ITS OWN ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE, H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT LEADS BOTH
THE CRAFT AND ROYAL ARCH
EQUALLY THE HOLDERS OF SENIOR OFFICES IN GRAND
LODGE HOLD SIMILAR RANKS IN THE ROYAL ARCH AND
THE PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER IS USUALLY THE M.E.
GRAND SUPERINTENDENT OF PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
THERE ARE NO PLANS, AND NEVER HAVE BEEN ANY
PLANS, TO FURTHER SEPARATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE CRAFT AND THE HOLY ROYAL ARCH
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THE MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES THE
TRADITIONAL LINKS TO THE CRAFT
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THE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATE STILL RETAINS CRAFT
FEATURES WHICH APPEARED IN THE R.A.
CERTIFICATE DESIGNED BY LAURENCE DERMOTT IN 1753
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THE ROYAL ARCH CERTIFICATE
IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE
UNIVERSE
MOSAIC PAVEMENT OF A CRAFT LODGE
COMMON SEAL EXCEPT FOR SURROUNDING LETTERS
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WHAT DOES THE REGALIA LOOK LIKE AND SIGNIFY ?
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THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF
A R.A. MASON
REGALIA OF A ROYAL ARCH MEMBER
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THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF
A R.A. MASON
REGALIA OF AN EXCELLENT COMPANION
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THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF
A R.A. MASON
REGALIA OF A PROVINCIAL OFFICER
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THE APRON, SASH AND JEWEL REFLECTS THE RANK OF
A R.A. MASON
REGALIA OF A GRAND OFFICER
NOTICE, THE COLLAR IS WIDER AND THE DIAMONDS
ARE COMPLETE ON THE APRON
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THE BREAST JEWEL IS THE ONLY JEWEL OF ANOTHER
ORDER WHICH CAN, INDEED MUST, BE WORN BOTH IN
THE ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER AND IN A CRAFT LODGE. THE
JEWELS ARE IDENTICAL, IT IS JUST THE RIBBON THAT
CHANGES,
PROVINCIAL OR GRAND OFFICER
EXCELLENT COMPANION
COMPANION
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THE SIX POINTED STAR ON THE JEWEL IS KNOWN AS
THE HEXALPHA OR BLAZING STAR
FRONT OF MEDAL
SPACE WHERE THE NAME OF A COMPANION
WAS TRADITIONALLY ENGRAVED.
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THE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STAR
REVERSE OF MEDAL
SOME BELIEVE THIS WAS THE SEAL OF SOLOMON AND THE
SHIELD OF DAVID
FLAG OF ISRAEL
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THE SIX POINTED OR BLAZING STAR
THE WORDS ON THE STAR ARE WISDOM, PEACE,
STRENGTH, CONCORD, BEAUTY AND TRUTH
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THE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STAR
THE STAR IS WITHIN TWO CIRCLES SIGNIFYING THE
DEITY AND ETERNITY
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THE SIX POINTED STAR OR BLAZING STAR
FOR DATE OF EXALTATION
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THE TRIPLE TAU
ORIGINALLY THE SYMBOL WAS A T OVER A H AN
ABBREVIATION FOR TEMPLUM HIEROSOLYMA LATIN FOR
TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM.
THERE IS A CROSS KNOWN AS THE TAU CROSS, ALSO
SHAPED LIKE A T AND IS A PRE-HISTORIC RELIGIOUS
SYMBOL
THE TAU IS THE 19th LETTER OF THE GREEK
ALPHABET, THE 20th LETTER OF THE ENGLISH
ALPHABET
AFTER THE UNION OF THE GRAND CHAPTERS IN 1817 IT
BECAME THREE Ts - THE TRIPLE TAU
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WHAT DO THE COLOURS OF THE ROYAL ARCH SIGNIFY ?
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TRADITION INFORMS US THAT WITHIN THE TABERNACLE
THERE WERE FOUR VEILS THROUGH WHICH A CANDIDATE
HAD TO PASS IN HIS SEARCH FOR THE LOST WORD
THE SYMBOL OF UNIVERSAL FRIENDSHIP, REPRESENTED
IN THE SYMBOLIC DEGREES THROUGH WHICH A MASON
HAS ALREADY PASSED
BLUE
PURPLE
SYMBOLIC OF UNION, REPRESENTING THE INTIMATE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CRAFT AND THE ROYAL ARCH
SCARLET
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
WHITE
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THE CEREMONY OF PASSING THE VEILS WAS
DISCONTINUED IN 1834 BUT IS STILL PRACTISED IN
NORTH AMERICA, IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND, SINCE 1928
BY SPECIAL DISPENSATION, IN THE BRISTOL
CHAPTERS. MORE RECENTLY SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER
HAVE ALLOWED THIS CEREMONY TO BE WORKED ONCE A
YEAR, IN EACH PROVINCE.
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A CANDIDATE HAD TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRST THREE
VEILS BEFORE EXALTATION AND THE CRIMSON VEIL
DEMANDED A PASS WORD HOLINESS TO THE
LORD WHICH IS, OR SHOULD BE, ENGRAVED ON THE
SCEPTRE OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL
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THE WHITE VEIL WAS THE LAST AND ORIGINALLY
COVERED THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND
WAS GUARDED BY THE SOJOURNERS WHO WERE ALSO
DRESSED IN WHITE
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THERE IS A VIEW THAT THE ORIGINAL PRACTICE HAD
LINKS WITH THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH, WHERE AT LENT A
WHITE SHEET WAS HUNG ACROSS THE ROOD SCREEN
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THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF
THE PRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS
FIRST PRINCIPAL ZERUBBABEL
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THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF
THE PRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS
SECOND PRINCIPAL HAGGAI
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THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF
THE PRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS
THIRD PRINCIPAL JOSHUA
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THESE COLOURS ARE SEEN ON THE ROBES OF
THE PRINCIPALS AND SOJOURNERS
SOJOURNER
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PROVINCIAL GRAND PRINCIPALS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
THE 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
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HOW DOES A COMPANION PROGRESS IN ROYAL ARCH ?
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THERE ARE NO DEGREES IN THE ROYAL ARCH, BUT FOUR
STEPS
EXALTATION
MEANING TO ELEVATE IN DIGNITY AND RANK
QUALIFICATION AND PROGRESSION INTO THE THREE
PRINCIPALS CHAIRS
JOSHUA J THIRD PRINCIPAL
HAGGAI H SECOND PRINCIPAL
ZERUBBABEL Z FIRST PRINCIPAL
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WHAT ARE THESE OTHER OFFICES IN THE ROYAL ARCH ?
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MANY OF THE OFFICES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN A
CRAFT LODGE
ALMONER, DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES, CHARITY STEWARD
AND STEWARD
OTHER OFFICES ARE SIMILAR BUT WITH DIFFERENT
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
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JOSHUA HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST AND
COLLABORATED WITH HAGGAI AND ZERUBBABEL IN THE
REBUILDING OF THE SECOND TEMPLE, WHICH WAS
DEDICATED IN 516BC
HAGGAI WAS A PROPHET OF JUDAH, PROBABLY BORN IN
BABYLON DURING THE CAPTIVITY OF THE JEWS. HE IS
FAMED FOR HIS WORK IN ENCOURAGING THE REBUILDING
OF THE TEMPLE
ZERUBBABEL HE WAS THE BUILDER OF THE SECOND
TEMPLE AND WAS APPOINTED PRINCE OF JUDAH
BY CYRUS, KING OF PERSIA
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TRADITIONALLY ONLY THOSE WHO WERE INSTALLED
MASTERS IN THE CRAFT COULD PROGRESS INTO THE
THIRD PRINCIPALS CHAIR.
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CHAPTERS NOW HAVE THE DISCRETION TO INSTALL,
IN EXCEPTIONAL 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
WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME AN INSTALLED MASTER IN THE
CRAFT
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IT FOLLOWS, THEREFORE, THAT AT THE INSTALLATION
OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL THE RITUAL HAS BEEN
AMENDED AS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE THIRD PRINCIPALS
CHAIR DOES NOT DEMAND THE CANDIDATE TO PROVE
THAT HE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AS MASTER OF A LODGE.
THE WORD GIVEN TO A MASTER AT HIS
CRAFT INSTALLATION MUST NOT, THEREFORE, BE
USED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE THIRD
PRINCIPAL. AN ALTERNATIVE PASS-WORD HAS BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND APPROVED BY SUPREME GRAND
CHAPTER FOR FUTURE USE.
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WHEN CAN A MEMBER OF THE CRAFT JOIN THE ROYAL
ARCH ?
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WHEN A BROTHER HAS ATTAINED THE RANK OF A MASTER
MASON, HE IS THEN ENTITLED, AFTER A PERIOD OF
ONE MONTH, TO BE EXALTED INTO THE ROYAL ARCH
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HOW OFTEN DO CHAPTERS MEET ?
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MOST CHAPTERS MEET FOUR TIMES EACH YEAR THE
MEETINGS ARE KNOWN AS CONVOCATIONS
CONVOCATION LITERALLY MEANS CALLING TOGETHER
ONE OF THESE CONVOCATIONS WILL BE THE
INSTALLATION MEETING
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WHAT COSTS ARE INCURRED ?
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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

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WHY DO MASONS JOIN THE ROYAL ARCH ?
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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY ROYAL ARCH
COMPANIONS ENJOY BEING A MEMBER OF A CHAPTER
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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
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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
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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
AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE OF THE SOCIAL BOARD
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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
AND FRIENDLY 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
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WHAT EVER REASON A MASON CHOOSES FOR BECOMING A
MEMBER HE CAN BE CERTAIN THAT HE WILL RECEIVE A
WARM WELCOME AND WILL QUICKLY EXPERIENCE THE
DESIRE OF ALL ROYAL ARCH MASONS
TO PLEASE EACH OTHER AND UNITE IN THE GRAND
DESIGN OF BEING HAPPY AND COMMUNICATING HAPPINESS
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A QUOTE FROM THE OPENING ADDRESS IF EVERYTHING
WISE, EVERYTHING VIRTUOUS AND PRAISEWORTHY WERE
UNITED, THE RESULT WOULD PRODUCE ROYAL ARCH
MASONRY. ITS 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.
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IF YOU ARE READY TO TAKE YOUR FINAL STEP IN PURE
ANTIENT FREEMASONRY
WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US ?
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• SPEAK TO YOUR
• LODGE ROYAL ARCH REPRESENTATIVE
• HIS NAME SHOULD APPEAR ON THE
• LODGE SUMMONS
• OR
• YOUR LODGE SECRETARY WHO CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE
  CONTACT DETAILS OF THE
• DISTRICT OFFICER ROYAL ARCH DORA
• FOR YOUR DISTRICT.